AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. » 
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3 Arr. si On the Idea of Physical and Meaphysical Jie ; ae 
Lieut. E. B. Hunt, Corps of Engineers, U 
| Few. eee of reflection have engaged the shedielieatt ner- 
gies of so large a portion of the leading intellects of all ages | as 
that great idea which.under a vast diversity of forms and mani- 
_ festations is expressed by the word infinity. So true is te. that. 
» the charge of rash confidence would naturally arise who- 
| _ ever should now profess to contribute any great additional light 
where so much thinking has already been expe ended. In spite 
| of this resumption, I shall venture some suggestions towards a 
» precise “definition of the idea of infinity, ‘which have served to 
Sar aga to my own mind what before was vague and in- 
a: Teh seemed to me a correct criticism on the usual modes of 
E e sidering the iden i ieee a wey Bg it too exclu- 
ok ed usive u 
peste ognizance and pence bis the a ‘eeich nature “affords 
n intedpneenie it to our finite comprehension, That such a hasty 
ransfer from the conerete to the abstract form of contemplation 
involves a fault, may be appreciated at once by a simple consid- 
tion in w hich all | healthful minds will doubtless agree. The 
a of infinity must dwell in the divine creative mind in its 
up ae bea memes its aptsal embodi- 
z OS? 
