Be7ttarks on its importance. 351 



pai'ts of the globe ; of the laws of horizontal and vertical 

 forms of the dry land, in its contact with the sea ; of cli- 

 mate, &c.;" and Professor Felton reuiai'ks, " That although 

 physical science in general lies beyond his sphere of studies, 

 he may venture to express the opinion, that physical geo- 

 graphy, as treated of late years by Humboldt, Ritter, and 

 other European investigators, has risen to a rank of para- 

 mount importance, in its bearing upon the history and the 

 destinies of the human race. It is not too much, perhaps, 

 to say, that the history of man cannot be properly under- 

 stood unless it rest on the basis of this science ; and to come 

 nearer to my own pursuits, I know that comparative philo- 

 logy, especially in connection with the affinities of the differ- 

 ent branches of the family of man, receives important light 

 from the great conclusions of physical geogi'aphy. The 

 physical characteristics of our globe, and their influences 

 upon human societies, are described in these Lectures with 

 vivacity and elegance. The contrasts between the different 

 portions of the earth, their reactions upon each other, their 

 adaptation to the special part that each, in the oi'der of Pro- 

 vidence, has been called upon to perform in the drama of 

 human history, are given in a most interesting manner. It 

 cannot escape the attention of the readers of these Lectures, 

 how constantly the relations of the earth to the Creator — 

 the reference of all things to the designs of Infinite Goodness, 

 Wisdom, and Power — and how earnestly the moral and re- 

 ligious lessons drawn from a profound conviction of the truth 

 of Chi'istianity, are brought forwai'd and enforced by Pro- 

 fessor Guyot, as forming the great central and binding facts 

 which give a living energy to the system of natm^e, and ex- 

 plain the course of the world." As Guyot' s work is scarcely 

 known in Britain, we embrace this opportunity of laying be- 

 fore our readers one of the Lectures (the 1 1th Lecture), as 

 a specimen of the manner in which the Swiss naturalist 

 treats his subject. 



