Professor Scliouw's Specimen of Phyucal Geography. 169 



Art. XXVL—ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS AND ME- 

 MOIRS. 



Specimen GeographicB Physicoe Comparativoe. Auctore Dr Joach. Fred.. 

 ScHOuw, in Universitate Hauniensi Botanices Prof. Cum Tab. Litho- 

 graph. 3. Hauniae, 1828. Pp. Q5. — Specimen of Comparative Physical 

 Geography. By Dr Joach. Fred. Schocjw, Professor of Botany in the 

 University of Copenhagen. With three Lithographic Plates. Copen- 

 hagen, 1828. 



The science of physical geography is yet, it must be admitted, in a very 

 imperfect state. Nor is this wonderful. The vast multiplicity of objects 

 it must embrace, even in the survey of a small district, require much pa- 

 tience and general information ; and the attempt to classify our researches 

 over any considerable portion of the globe, requires a comprehensiveness of 

 mind and power of generalization, of which very few are capable. 



Unlike the distinctive branches of knowledge, such as geology, botany, 

 and meteorology, any one of which is usually considered a fit engagement 

 for a philosophic mind, physical geography demands the union of all ;. 

 and nothing requires more acuteness, as well as profound knowledge, than 

 to compare different countries and climates, analytically to discriminate be- 

 tween the points of similarity and discrepancy, and by iavestigating the 

 primary causes of each, to point out where results which are alike are pro- 

 duced by circumstances essentially distinct. For example, on the great 

 ranges of the Armenian Caucasus, we have at different elevations exam- 

 ples of every climate, from the tropics to the pole ; we have at the base 

 ' the region of the tree-fern and palm, then the chestnut, the oak, the beech, 

 the pine, the stunted shrub, the creeping lichen, and finally, the region of 

 eternal snow. If we compare the zone of pines with our Scotch moun-. 

 tains, we must consider two essentially distinct conditions before a proper 

 comparison can be instituted, the soil, and the climate. In estimating the 

 former, we must know the geology of the two districts, and the relations 

 of the vegetable physiology to soil in general ; and in the latter, two dis- 

 tinct functions must be kept in view, the isothermal lines, as depending on 

 the latitude, and the decrease of heat by altitude, varying also irregularly 

 jn different parts of the globe. This shows that even in the simplest cases 

 great knowledge and experience are indispensable to the physical geogra- 

 pher, and we cannot be surprised that conclusions so important, and of 

 such a general nature as the problems of this study unfold, should be pur- 

 sued with success by few of our physical inquirers. 



At the head of the list, Humboldt undoubtedly stands, — a man who is 

 certainly a philosopher sui generis, the boldness and generality of whose 

 investigations are only equalled by his own enlarged conceptions and exten- 

 sive experience. His " Personal Narrative" with all its voluminous appen- 

 dages, is an effort of a single mind, (for M. Bonpland acted a very subordi- 

 nate part), which is truly surprising, nor less so the zeal of its author, who, 

 though now past his grand climacteric, after surveying and comparing the 



