40 INFLUENCE OF MATHEMATICAL 



taut prospect is hidden by the clouds ; knowing, indeed, that 

 this half transparent misty veil is itself not altogether without 

 a secret charm for the imagination. I too ought to fear, that 

 from the height to which fchis physical description of the 

 universe aspires, many parts of the wide horizon may appear 

 dimly lighted and imperfectly defined, that much of the 

 prospect may remain vague and obscure, and this not only 

 by reason of the want of connection arising from the im- 

 perfect state of some branches of science, but also still more, 

 (and how, in so comprehensive a work, should I not will- 

 ingly own it ?) because of the deficiencies of the guide 

 who has imprudently ventured to attempt to scale these 

 lofty summits. 



The object of this introductory discourse has been less to 

 represent the importance of natural knowledge, which is 

 admitted by all, and may well dispense with any eulogium, 

 than to shew how, without prejudice to the thorough and 

 fundamental study of separate branches, a higher point of 

 view may be indicated, from whence all the forms and the 

 forces of nature may be contemplated in intimate and living 

 connection. 



The idea of physical geography, extended so as to embrace 

 ail that we know of the material creation in space as well 

 as on our own globe, passes into that of physical cosmogra- 

 phy ; the one term is moulded upon the other. But the 

 science of the Cosmos, as I understand it, is not the mere 

 encyclopaedic aggregation of the most general and impor- 

 tant results, extracted from separate works on natural history, 

 physics, and astronomy. Such results are only to be used 

 as materials, and in so far as they illustrate the concurrent 

 action of the various forces in the universe, and the manner 



