PREFACE. Vll 



him with my then unpublished edition of Cosmos, I announced 

 my intention of proceeding with his other works, and con. 

 suited him on the subject. He replied in the kindest spirit, 

 without intimating any previous engagement, and honoured 

 me with several valuable suggestions. A portion of one of 

 his letters is annexed in facsimile. In consequence of what I 

 then presumed to be his recommendation, I determined to 

 make the Ansichten my next volume, and announced it, long 

 before any one else, though not at first by its English name. 

 At that time I had reason to hope that I should receive the 

 new German edition at least as early as any one, but was 

 disappointed. This circumstance, added to the delay already 

 alluded to, has brought me late into the field. In now, how- 

 ever, presenting my subscribers with what I have taken every 

 available means to render a perfect book, I hope I shall 

 afford them ample atonement. 



A few words respecting the work itself. The first edition 

 was published forty-three years ago, the second in 1826, and 

 the third, of which the present volume is a translation, in 

 August last. The difference between the three editions in 

 respect to the text (if I may so distinguish the more enter- 

 taining part of the work from the scientific " Illustrations") 

 is not material, excepting that each has one or more new 

 chapters. Thus to the second edition was actded the Essay on 

 Volcanos and the curious allegory on vital force, entitled The 

 Rhodian Genius, and to the third The Plateau of Caxamarca. 



The additions to the " Illustrations" however in the third 

 edition are considerable, and comprise a rapid sketch ol 

 whatever has been contributed by modern science in illustra- 

 tion of the Author's favourite subjects. 



No intellectual reader can peruse this masterly work 



