20 COSMOS. 



of space, which appear to expand in proportion to the increase 

 of our optic powers, islet on islet of scattered nebulae. The 

 feeling of the sublime, so far as it arises from a contemplation 

 of the distance of the stars, of their greatness and physical 

 extent, reflects itself in the feeling of the infinite, which 

 belongs to another sphere of ideas included in the domain of 

 mind. The solemn and imposing impressions excited by this 

 sentiment, are owing to the combination of which we have 

 spoken, and to the analogous character of the enjoyment and 

 emotions awakened in us, whether we float on the surface 

 of the great deep, stand on some lonely mountain summit 

 enveloped in the ha If- transparent vapoury veil of the atmo- 

 sphere, or by the aid of powerful optical instruments scan 

 the regions of space, and see the remote nebulous mass resolve 

 itself into worlds of stars. 



The mere accumulation of unconnected observations of 

 details, devoid of generalization of ideas, may doubtlessly 

 have tended to create and foster the deeply-rooted prejudice, 

 that the study of the exact sciences must necessarily chill the 

 feelings, and diminish the nobler enjoyments, attendant upon 

 a contemplation of nature. Those who still cherish such 

 erroneous views in the present age, and amid the progress of 

 public opinion, and the advancement of all branches of know- 

 ledge, fail in duly appreciating the value of every enlarge- 

 ment of the sphere of intellect, and the importance of the 

 detail of isolated facts in leading us on to general results. 

 The fear of sacrificing the free enjoyment of natujv under the 

 influence of scientific reasoning, is often associated with an 

 apprehension, that every mind may not be capajble of grasping 

 the truths of the philosophy of nature. It is certainly true 

 that in the midst of the universal fluctuation of phenomena 

 p.nd vital forces in that inextricable network of organisms 

 by turns developed and destroyed each step that we make 

 in the more intimate knowledge of nature, leads us to the 

 entrance of new labyrinths ; but the excitement produced by 

 a presentiment of discovery, the vague intuition of the mys- 

 .eries to be unfolded, and the multiplicity of the paths before 

 us, all tend to stimulate the exercise of thought in every 

 stage of knowledge. The discovery of each separate law of 

 nature leads to the establishment of some other more general 

 law, or at least indicates to the intelligent observer its exis*< 



