SIDEREAL ASTRONOMY. 325 



on the phraseology of Humboldt. As a treatise on the actual 

 state of astronomy it is undoubtedly able and complete. 

 Without entering upon demonstrations, it seizes all the salient 

 points in this wonderful department of human science ; and 

 discusses in a spirit of high philosophy, both the results 

 hitherto obtained, and the great problems remaining open 

 for future research. So much, however, has been written on 

 this subject of late years both for Scientific and popular 

 purposes, that we shall not follow our author formally 

 through it ; but merely make such comments as may occur 

 to us on particular portions of the volume, and especially on 

 those which relate to the progress of discovery among the 

 Fixed Stars. This is the part of their vast domain in which 

 astronomers have recently laboured with the greatest assiduity 

 and success; availing themselves at once of the increased 

 perfection of instruments, and of those improved methods 

 which are best fitted to obviate all sources of error. The 

 results obtained, and the inferences thence derived, are such 

 as may well astonish even those familar with such studies. 

 Following the order of the volume before us, we shall advert 

 to the points which may especially illustrate the latest pro- 

 gress of these researches, and convey to our readers some idea 

 of their boldness and grandeur. 



The first chapter, C 0n Cosmical Space,' brings us at once into 

 this great field. After remarking that only separate parts of 

 this space are accessible to measurement, our author adds, 



The results, which surpass all our powers of realisation, are 

 brought together with complacency by those who take a childish 

 pleasure in large numbers ; and even imagine that, by means of 

 images of physical magnitude creating astonishment, they peculiarly 

 enhance the sublimity of astronomical studies. 



If we understand this remark rightly, it rather surprises 

 us; in the first place, because Humboldt himself and the 

 best astronomers constantly and needfully employ such illus- 



