EDITOB'S PBEFACE* 



upon the view which has been taken of the Celestial Phe- 

 nomena in the volume now published. 



It has been M. de Humboldt' s wish, and kindly pressed 

 by him, that the Editor should add such notes as he might 

 think desirable, particularly in the branches of science in 

 which he has himself engaged : he has felt the propriety of 

 exercising this privilege very sparingly, and has only availed 

 himself of it in additions to Notes 132, 136, 139, 143, 

 158, 179, 373, and 382*. 



Measures of itinerary distance are expressed in the origi- 

 nal work in geographical miles of 15 to the degree; these 

 have been converted in the translation into geographical 

 miles of 60 to the degree, as more consonant to English 

 usage. Measures of length are expressed by M. de Hum- 

 boldt usually in French feet and toises, v hic'i have been 

 retained in the translation; but the equivalent values in 

 English feet have been added whenever it has appeared de- 

 sirable to do so. In like manner the measures of tempera- 

 ture in Fahrenheit's scale have been given MI addition to 

 those in the Centesimal scale 



"WOOLWICH, AUG. 22, 1846. 



* A short addition has also heen made to Note 381 in the second edition} 

 and an index of names and subjects has been appended. May 7, 1547. 



