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CHAPTER I. 



DELINEATION OF NATURE. GENERAL REVIEW OP 

 NATURAL PHENOMENA. 



WHEN the human mind first attempts to subject to its 

 control the world of physical phenomena, and strives by 

 meditative contemplation to penetrate the rich luxuriance of 

 living nature, and the mingled web of free and restricted 

 natural forces, man feels himself raised to a height from 

 whence, as he embraces the vast horizon, individual things 

 blend together in varied groups, and appear as if shrouded in 

 a vapoury veil. These figurative expressions are used in 

 order to illustrate the point of view from whence we would 

 consider the universe both in its celestial and terrestrial 

 sphere. I am not insensible of the boldness of such an un- 

 dertaking. Among all the forms of exposition to which these 

 pages are devoted, there is none more difficult than the general 

 deliDeation of nature, which we purpose sketching, since we 

 must not allow ourselves to be overpowered by a sense of the 

 stupendous richness and variety of the forms presented to us, 

 but must dwell only on the consideration of masses, either 

 possessing actual magnitude or borrowing its semblance from 

 the associations awakened within the subjective sphere of 

 ideas. It is by a separation and classification of phenomena, 

 by an intuitive insight into the play of obscure forces, and by 

 animated expressions, in which the perceptible spectacle is 

 reflected with vivid truthfulness, that we may hope to com- 

 prehend and describe the universal all (TO irav) in a manner 

 worthy of the dignity of the word Cosmos in its signification 

 of universe, order of the world and adornment of this universal 

 order. May the immeasurable diversity of phenomena which 

 crowd into the picture of nature in no way detract from that 

 harmonious impression of rest and unity, which is the ultimate 

 object of every literary or purely artistical composition. 



Beginning with the depths of space and the regions of 

 remotest nebulae, we will gradually descend through the starry 



