OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 207 



tiful, and the Sublime, exercise, with the Useful, 

 as if intentionally, a perpetual alternate influence. 

 A knowledge of natural laws must be the first 

 endeavour of all who wish to become acquainted 

 with the physical cosmos. In proportion to 

 this knowledge, will be the enjoyment which 

 nature affords. In the aspect of the visible 

 nature, with its innumerable diversities of form 

 and colour, we trace the Beautiful, and in the 

 ceaseless operations of the resistless forces in 

 nature we discover the Sublime. " An indisso- 

 luble bond unites, and the grain of sand, as 

 an eloquent writer truly said,- which lies the 

 most deeply buried, holds chained to it by 

 these all-pervading forces the uncounted worlds 

 which, like luminous sand, are sprinkled by the 

 hand of the Great Creator throughout the 

 glorious universe I" Such a conception of nature 

 will awaken in us feelings of admiration and 

 adoration, and we shall obtain glimpses of the 

 Greatness of that Spirit whose infinite wisdom 

 ordered all- things, and whose unfathomable 

 love embraces not only innumerable worlds, 

 but also the most insignificant worm in the 

 dust with equal love and compassion ! 



" To Him, whose temple is all space, 



Whose altar, earth, sea, skies ! 

 One chorus, let all being raise ! 

 All Nature's incense rise ! " 



