ON 



ASTRONOMY 



AND 



GENERAL PHYSICS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



CHAPTER I. 

 Object of the Present Treatise. 



THE examination of the material world brings 

 before us a number of things and relations of 

 things which suggest to most minds the belief of 

 a creating and presiding Intelligence. And this 

 impression, which arises with the most vague and 

 superficial consideration of the objects by which 

 we are surrounded, is, we conceive, confirmed 

 and expanded by a more exact and profound 

 study of external nature. Many works have been 

 written at different times with the view of show- 

 ing how our knowledge of the elements and their 

 operation, of plants and animals and their con- 

 struction, may serve to nourish and unfold our 



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