[_xiv] COSMOS. 



logy and descriptive geography. Importance and application of Barker's 

 panoramas. The conception of the unity of nature and the feeling of 

 the harmonious accord pervading the Cosmos will increase in force 

 amongst men in proportion to the multiplication of the means for 

 representing all natural phenomena in delineating pictures. 



III. Cultivation of exotic forms. Impression of the physiognomy of 

 vegetable forms, as far as plantations are capable of producing such an 

 impression. Landscape gardening. Earliest plantation of parks in 

 Central and Southern Asia. Trees and groves sacred to the Gods p. 462. 

 The gardens of the nations of Eastern Asia. Chinese gardens under 

 the victorious dynasty of Han. Poem on a garden by the Chinese states- 

 man, See-ma-kuang, at the close of the llth century. Prescripts of 

 Lieu-tscheu. Poem of the Emperor Kien-long, descriptive of nature. 

 Influence of the connection of Buddhist monastic establishments on the 

 distribution of beautiful characteristic vegetable forms p. 465. 



B. History of the Physical Contemplation of the Universe. The 

 history of the recognition of the universe is wholly different from 

 the history of the natural sciences, as given in our elementary works on 

 physics, and on the morphology of plants and animals. This is the history 

 of our conception of the unity of phenomena, and of the reciprocal con- 

 nection existing amongst the natural forces of the universe. Mode of 

 treating a history of the Cosmos : a. The independent efforts of reason 

 to gain a knowledge of natural laws : b. Cosmical events which have 

 suddenly enlarged the horizon of observation : c. The invention of new 

 means of sensuous perception. Languages. Points of radiation from 

 which civilisation has been diffused. Primitive physics and the natural 

 science of barbarous nations obscured by civilisation p. 480. 



Principal momenta of a History of a Physical Contemplation of the 

 Universe. 



I. The basin of the Mediterranean the starting point of the attempts 

 io extend the idea of the Cosmos. Sub-divisions in the form of the 

 basin. Importance of the form of the Arabian Gulf. Intersection of 

 two geognostic systems of elevation from N.E. to S.W., and from S.S.E. 

 to N.N.W. Importance of the latter direction of the lines of inter- 

 section considered with reference to general international intercourse. 

 Ancient civilisation of the nations dwelling round the Mediterranean. 

 The valley of the Kile, the ancient and modern kingdom of the Egyptians. 

 The Phoenicians, a race who favoured general intercourse, were the 

 means of diffusing alphabetical writing (Phoenician signs), coins as 

 medium of currency, and the original Babylonian weights and measures. 

 The science of numbers, arithmetic. The art of navigating by night. 

 West African colonies p. 492. 



Pelasgian Tyrrhenians and Etruscans (Rasence). Peculiar tendency 

 of the Etrurian races to maintain an intimate communion with natural 

 forces; the fulguratores and aquileges p. 504. 



Other anciently civilised races dwelling around the Mediterranean. 

 Traces of cultivation in the East, under the Phrygians and Lycians; 

 and in the West, under the Turduli and the Turdetani. Dawn of 



