Prelace. 
M. Michelet embodied the results of a loving and persevering study 
of Nature. These works are absolutely unique ; the poetry of 
Science was never before illustrated on so large a scale, or with so 
much vividness of fancy, or in so eloquent a style. The aspects of 
Nature were never before examined with so strong an enthusiasm or so definite 
an individuality,—with so eager a desire to identify them with the feelings, 
hopes, and aspirations of humanity. Michelet approached his subject neither 
as philosopher nor as poet, but yet with something of the spirit of both. His 
philosophy and poetry, however, were both subordinate to his ardent sympathy 
with what he conceived to be the soul, the personality of Nature ; and whether 
his attention was directed to the life of ocean, the bird, the insect, or the 
mountain-plant, he still sought for some evidence of its special and distinct 
existence, with thoughts and emotions, as it were, and a character of its own. 
It was almost as if. he saw in Nature a likeness to, and a kinship with, 
humanity. No doubt, in expressing these views he was occasionally led into 
a certain extravagance, and his enthusiasm not infrequently outran or over- 
mastered his judgment. He lacked the profound insight and sober reflection 
of Wordsworth, and accuracy of detail was often sacrificed for the sake of a 
brilliant generalization. But, after making due allowance for defects insepax- 
able, perhaps, from a genius rather passionate and impulsive than analytic and 
self-composed, it must be admitted that the lover of Nature has cause to be 
grateful for the fine fancies, rich illustrations, and suggestive analogies crowded 
into the books we speak of. 
A recent writer, M. Monod,* has pronounced upon them an animated 
eulogium :—‘ Scientific men may discover in these books errors, inaccuracies, 
and exaggerations ; but, in spite of all, they have shown that the physical 
* Macmillan’s Magazine, July 1874, pp. 231, 232. 
