XVI SUxMMARY OF THE CONTENTS. 



tjf palms and ferns in the Himalaya Mountains — p. 29. European v*'^. 

 etable forms in the Indian Mountains — p. 30. Northern and southern 

 limits of perpetual snow on the Himalaya; influence of the elevated 

 plateau of Thibet — p. 30-33. Fishes of an earlier world — p. 46. 



Limits and MetJiod of Exposition of the Physical Description of the 

 Universe Page 56-78 



Subjects embraced by the study of the Cosmos or of physical cosmog 

 raphy. Separation of other kindred studies — p. 56-62. The urauo- 

 logical portion of the Cosmos is more simple than the telluric ; the im- 

 possibility of ascertaining the diversity of matter simplifies the study 

 of the mechanism of the heavens. Origin of the word Cosmos, its sig- 

 nification of adornment and order of tlie universe. The existing can 

 not be absolutely separated in our contemplation of nature from the 

 future. History of the world and description of the world — p. 62-73. 

 Attempts to embrace the multiplicity of the phenomena of the Cos 

 nios in the unity of thought and under the form of a purely rational 

 combination. Natural philosophy, which preceded all exact observa- 

 tion in antiquity, is a natural, but not unfrequently ill-directed, eftbrt 

 of reason. Two forms of abstraction rule the whole mass of luiowl- 

 edge, viz.: the quantitative, relative determinations according to num- 

 ber and magnitude, and qualitative, material characters. Means of 

 submitting phenomena to calculation. Atoms, mechanical methods of 

 construction. Figurative representations ; mythical conception of im- 

 ponderable matters, and the peculiar vital forces in every organism. 

 That which is attained by observation and experiment (calling forth 

 phenomena) leads, by analogy and induction, to a knowledge of empir- 

 ical laws ; their gradual simplification and generalization. Arrange 

 ment of the facts discovered in accordance with leading ideas. The 

 treasure of empirical contemplation, collected through ages, is in no dan 

 ger of experiencing any hostile agency from philosophy — p. 73-78. 



[In the notes appended to p. 66-70 are considerations of the general 

 and comparative geography of Varenius. Philological investigation 

 into the meaning of the words Koaiiog and mundus.'] 



Delineation of Nature. General Review of Natural Phenomena 



p. 79-359 



Introduction — p. 79-83. A descriptive delineation of the world 

 embraces the whole universe {to nav) in the celestial and terrestrial 

 spheres. Form and course of the representation. It begins with the 

 depths of space, of which we know little beyond the existence of 

 laws of gravitation, and with the region of the remotest nebulous spots 

 and double stars, and then, gradually descending through the starry 

 stratum to which our solar system belongs, it contemplates this terres- 

 trial spheroid, surrounded by air and water, and, finally, proceeds t^ 

 the consideration of the form of our planet, its temperature and mag- 

 netic tension, and the fullness of organic vitality which is unfolded on 

 its surface under the action of light. Partial insight into the relative 

 dependence existing among all phenomena. Amid all the mobile and 

 unstable elements in space, mean numerical values are the ultimate aim 

 of investigation, being the expression of the physical laws, or forces of 

 the Cosmos. The delineation of the universe does not begin with the 

 earth, from which a merely subjective point of view might have led ua 

 to start, Imt rather with the objects comprised in the regions of space. 

 Distribution of matter, which is partially conglcmerated into rotating 



