COSMOS. 



DELINEATION OF NATURE. GENERAL REVIEW OF 

 NATURAL PHENOMENA. 



When the human mind first attempts to subject to its con- 

 trol the world of physical phenomena, and strives by medita- 

 tive contemplation to penetrate the rich luxuriance of living 

 nature, and the mingled web of free and restricted natural 

 forces, man feels himself raised to a height from whence, as 

 he embraces the vast horizon, individual things blend together 

 in varied groups, and appear as if shrouded in a vapory vail. 

 These figurative expressions are used in order to illustrate the 

 point of view from whence we would consider the universe 

 "both in its celestial and terrestrial sphere. I am not insen- 

 sible of the boldness of such an undertaking. Among all the 

 forms of exposition to which these pages are devoted, there 

 is none more difficult than the general delineation of nature, 

 which we purpose sketching, since we must not allow our- 

 selves to be overpowered by a sense of the stupendous rich- 

 ness and variety of the forms presented to us, but must dwell 

 only on the consideration of masses either possessing actual 

 magnitude, or borrowing its semblance from the associations 

 awakened within the subjective sphere of ideas. It is by a 

 separation and classification of phenomena, by an intuitive in- 

 sight into the play of obscure forces, and b^"^ animated expres- 

 sions, in which the perceptible spectacle is rt fleeted with vivid 

 trulhfuhiess, that we may hope to comprehend and describe 

 the U7iiversal all {to -ndv) in a manner worthy of the dignity 

 of the word Cosmos in its signification of universe, order of 

 the world, and adornment of this universal order. May the 

 immeasurable diversity of phenomena which crowd into the 

 picture of nature in no way detract from that harmonious im- 

 pression of rest and unity which is the ultimate object of every 

 literary or purely artistical composition. 



Beginning with the depths of space and the regions of re- 

 motest nebulas, we will gradually descend through the starry 

 zone to which our solar system belongs, to our own terrestrial 

 spheroid, circl ^.d by air and ocean, there to direct our atten- 



