Unfortunately for every reader it sated by the value of his political influence arately. in the encouragement of the labors, and possesses neither table of contents nor distinction of the merits of others. No index, and these deficiencies add considerhuman being breathes who is more free ably to the difficulty of our proposed task. from personal jealousy and literary enmity. Of the prolegomena, or initiatory essays, than the Prussian philosopher. It may well we have not much to say. They consist be believed that he has not an enemy, and in the first place of a preface in the next, many are the warm friends whom his ur- of a popular discourse on the pleasures and banity and generosity have attached to him. advantages of science-and the third is enWe shall have occasion to show in this titled an attempt to define the limits and article that he seems to feel more pleasure materials of a physical description of the in claiming for others the reputation which world.' In this triple preface, covering, he thinks they deserve, than in demanding with the notes, nearly eighty pages of the honor for himself. Nor is his influence original, we find some repetition and a want confined to his own country. Domestica- of definiteness, together with a tendency ted equally in Paris as in Berlin, two of to digression, which we think calculated to the chief European Academies regard him convey an unfavorable impression in openalmost as an oracle; and in States with ing a volume of which by far the greater which he has no connexion his influence part is not liable to any one of these objechas, to our own knowledge, been efficiently tions, for the Picture of Nature which folexerted, not merely for the promotion of lows is concise, methodical, and perspicuscience, by making suggestions for carry-ous. We are the more sorry that the ing on extended schemes of observation, Introduction should be uninviting. The but with two at least of the most jealous first discourse told very well, we have no governments of Europe in procuring per- doubt, in the circumstances under which it sonal favor, and the relaxation of political was delivered, as an oration in presence of decrees, on behalf of persons engaged in the Prussian royal family and a mixed scientific pursuits. audience, where consecutive exposition and unity of argument are not missed, unless by a few critical auditors, their place being supplied by a series of rather lively pictures connected with the personal history of an expositor dignified by rank as well as fame, and by the interest which the mention of illustrious contemporaries always produces in oral discourse. Did our limits permit, there are, however, several passages which we should like to transfer to our pages; and even as it is, we cannot omit to mention the manner in which the somewhat delicate national question of the merits of his German countrymen as expositors of the physical sciences is treated : We turn then to the work immediately before us the first volume of three which are intended to embrace a summary of physical knowledge, as connected with a delineation of the material universe; for such, as well as we can define it, appears to be the scope of an undertaking, worthy certainly of this author's accurate and extensive acquirements and mature experience, with which he proposes to sum up the labors of an energetic and thoughtful life. The scheme is great, and he does not disguise to himself its difficulty. The volume before us includes some comparatively short prefatory dissertations-and then Naturgemälde,' or a descriptive account of the material universe. The remaining two volumes are to treat of the ways in which the study of nature may be promoted and rendered attractive; the history of natural investigations, or the progress of the human mind towards the discovery of physical truths; and, finally, a systematic development of individual natural sciences. The first volume, which alone is published, includes in itself so wide a range, and treats of subjects so peculiarly fitted for Humboldt's genius,-(the pictures to proof-sheets of the French translation, revised of nature)-that we do not fear any inby the author himself, in which some modificajustice to the author in treating of it sep-tions are noticeable. *We regret that the appearance of an English translation of the Kosmos undertaken by Colonel Sabine, with the concurrence of the author, has been anticipated by the publication of another translation in the form of Parts or Fasciculi. This translation may, we dare say, be, on the whole, decently executed, but we should much prefer, of course, a deliberate version bearing the guarantee of a name so eminent as Colonel Sabine's, and authenticated by Baron Humboldt's approbation. We hope and trust, therefore, that Colonel Sabine has not dropped his design. In our quotations in the present article, we have gen erally consulted the German original alone; but in the extracts from the first eighty pages of preliminary matter, reference has likewise been made It is not perhaps, without reason,' he says, author, and are well expressed; and the 'that our scientific literature has been re- candor with which he exposes the errors proached with not sufficiently distinguishing which have unspeakably injured the characthe General from the Special, the enlarged ter of German authors on the economy of view of the results of knowledge from the examination of the facts in detail by means of the material universe, should have led, we which they have been obtained; which has think, to a plainer recognition of the suled the first poet of our time (Göthe) impati-periority of the English school in this ently to exclaim, "The Germans possess the respect. But Humboldt himself is perhaps gift of rendering the sciences inaccessible." not beyond the reach of his own censure: If we let the scaffolding remain we are de- for he becomes involved and obscure, and prived of a full view of the building.'-Kosseems to feel his ground shake under him, mos, p. 29. whenever his subject inevitably leads him for a moment from the detail of phenomena and their classification, to speak of, or hint at, the remotest idea of causation. The most distinct passage to be found on this subject is the following: any In a subsequent passage he disclaims participations in the metaphysical dreams of the German Natur-philosophie,' which, erring as far on the other side of the standard of Bacon and Newton as the merely laborious compilers of facts without regard to principles do on this,-show how easy it is first to degrade science and then to trample it under foot. Humboldt says, in his second essay historical events to the exercise of the reflecting In submitting physical phenomena and faculty, and in ascending by reasoning to their causes, we become more and more penetrated by that ancient belief that the forces inherent in matter, and those regulating the 'The exposition of the totality of observed moral world, exert their action under the facts does not exclude the desire to trace by empire of a Primordial Necessity, and accordprinciples of reasoning their mutual connex-ing to movements periodically renewed at ion, to generalize where it is practicable longer or shorter intervals. It is this Necesamongst the mass of individual observations, sity, this secret but permanent bond, this and to tend to the discovery of laws. Con- periodical return in the progressive developeceptions of the universe founded solely on ment of forms, of phenomena, and of events, abstract principles of speculative philosophy, which constitute Nature, obedient to a primæwould assign, no doubt, to the science of the val impulse given.' material universe, a more elevated aim. I am far from blaming efforts which I have not at- We have here used the French version, tempted, merely because their success remains corrected by Humboldt himself. In his as yet very questionable. Contrary to the original German text the definition of Nadesire and advice of those profound and pow-ture is somewhat different :erful thinkers who have given a new life to the speculations which the ancients originated, systems of the philosophy of nature have, in our Germany, withdrawn attention for a time from the important studies of mathematical physics. The intoxication of pretended conquests already made, a new and extravagantly symbolical language, a predilection for formulæ of scholastic reasoning more contracted than were known to the middle ages, have distinguished, by the youthful abuse of noble powers, the short saturnalia of a purely ideal system of nature. I repeat the expression, abuse of power; for eminent persons attached both to speculative studies and to the sciences of observation have not taken part in these saturnalia. Results obtained by experimental observation cannot be in contradiction with the true philosophy of nature. When contradiction appears, the fault lies either in the hollowness of the speculation-or in the exaggerated pretensions of an empiricism which attempts to prove from experience more than can really be deduced from it.'-Kosmos, pp. 68-9. of Nature:-it is nature herself in both spheres "This Necessity is the essence (Wesen) of its existence, the material and the intellectual.'--Kosmos, p. 32. But Humboldt's views of the restriction under which physical philosophers are placed in their inductive speculations is more limited than the men of science of our own country will readily concede. It is easy to say that the ultimate end of the experimental sciences is to ascend to the existence of laws, and to generalize them progressively; but where is the inductive process to end? Where is the generalization of the last and highest group of laws? The contemplation of a law of Nature derived from the generalization of individual facts, is as purely a subject of abstract intellectual conception as any founded on moral phenomena; and the reasoning through a chain of causes must evidently bring us at These sentiments are honorable to the last to the first cause of all-be it Neces sity, or be it God. Our author seems even | possible for any well-constituted mind to to admit as much, although he excuses contemplate the sum and totality of creahimself from prosecuting his own generalizations up to the point whither they must ultimately carry him : tion, to generalize its principles, to mark the curious relations of its parts, and especially the subtle chain of connexion and unity between beings and events apparent 'We are yet far,' he adds in the second discourse, 'from the period when it will be possi-ly the most remote in space, time, and conble to reduce all the manifestations of our stitution, without referring more or less to senges to the conception of unity in Nature. the doctrine of final causes, and to the deIt may even be doubted whether that epoch sign of a superintending Providence.will ever arrive. The complication of the We call it the highest pedantry of intellect problem, and the immensity of the universe to put to silence suggestions which arise almost quell the hope of it. But if the whole spontaneously in every mind, whether culbe impossible, there remains the partial solution of the problem. and to strive after the tivated or not, when engaged in such concomprehension of natural phenomena must templations; and we are sorry to observe be the highest and perpetual goal of all scien- in the work before us a silence on such tific inquiry. True to the character of my topics so pointed as must attract the attenearlier writings and to the nature of my occution of at least every English reader. We pations, which were devoted to experiments, must consider it as part of the same prinmeasures, and search after facts, I confine ciple that in treating of works on the genmyself strictly to empirical considerations. eral objects and ends of science, Dr. It is the only ground upon which I feel myself Whewell's History and Philosophy of the competent to move without a sense of insecurity.'-Kosmos, pp. 67–8. Inductive Sciences are never mentioned, and even Dr. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise is quoted by a wrong title. We think that this is too humble an estimate of the province of an author who We had something to say (if time perproposes to map creation in its length and mitted) upon the special subject of the breadth, and to explain the connexion and second discourse-the limitation (Begrenmutual dependence of its parts; a province zung) and treatment of a physical descrip well entitled to the name of NATURAL tion of the world; which, however, in PHILOSOPHY founded on the principles of reality, only occupies a portion of it. induction, as opposed to that scholastic perceive that the English translator has science of presumptuous Deduction, which our author has so justly condemned, and which in Germany seeks to monopolize a name rendered at once sacred and classical by its adoption by Newton. Far other was his estimate of the end and limit of natural investigations. To exclude the idea of cause would have been, in his estimation, to have degraded his science. 'Hæc de Dɛo,' said the author of the Principia, de quo utique ex phenomenis disserere, ad Philosophiam Naturalem pertinet.' been sorely puzzled by the Germanisms, the subtleties, and the digressive nature of this composition. For ourselves, we can only say that, after a careful study of it, our notions of the subtle something which the author wishes to define under the name of Cosmos remain invested with a somewhat hazy want of precision. Nothwithstanding the declaration (p. 61) of our author's dislike to new terms, and of his attachment to facts instead of words, we venture to think his introduction of the word Cosmos into our vocabulary unnecessary, and the We are far indeed from delighting in the word itself, after all, indefinite. As to its tendency of some authors on natural sci- necessity, we perceive that our author finds ences to drag in religious views at every fault with physical geographers in the treatturn, thus secularizing things sacred in the ment of their science on two grounds-1st, attempt to sanctify things profane. We as limiting it to a mere detail of terrestrial avow our belief that the province of Natu- peculiarities, such as heights of mountains, ral Theology is confined within narrow and declivities of rivers, or forms of continents, very definite limits, although within these without reference to any governing or prelimits it exercises a just and incontestable dominant principle by which these facts jurisdiction; but we delight not in the may be classified, which he reserves to the pedantry of converting treatises of science to the science of Cosmos (p. 53): and into doctrinal compilations. There is, 2ndly, as treating of our globe only incihowever, an opposite pedantry as worthy of dentally as a member of the planetary condemnation. We conceive it to be im-system, and not treating of sidereal and plan ceed to analyze the main body of the work, the Descriptive account of the Material World, which occupies (with copious notes citing authorities,) five-sixths of the volume. Baron Humboldt thus sums up his purpose in this portion of his work: etary systems first, and our earth as a mem- authority, eminently entitle him to promulber of one of them. As to the first of these gate. But we have already dwelt long objections, we are satisfied that no physical enough upon these preliminaries, and progeographer of the least merit ever thought that his task was completed by a bare enumeration of facts in geographical and not in systematic order; and to systematize is in such a case to compare-which is all that Cosmos does. Our physical geographers, have therefore been cosmographers without knowing it. They may say like Lagrange, when Monge's new science of Descriptive 'We commence with the consideration of Geometry was explaiued to him, Ah! Jethest nebulæ, gradually descending through the depths of space and the region of the farne savais pas que je savais la Géométrie the mass of stars to which our system belongs, Descriptive.' As to the supposed exclusion to the terrestrial spheroid surrounded by air of terrestrial from celestial physics, it does and water, to the consideration of its form, not really appear to us of much consequence temperature, and magnetic tension, and to the whether the relation of our globe to the world of life which, under the excitement of other heavenly bodies be treated of, as we light, expands itself upon its surface. . . . believe it has almost invariably been by Every thing sensible, which a persevering study of Nature in every direction and down physical geographers, as a preliminary or to our own times, has brought to light, is the introductory chapter to the physical descrip- material from which our delineation is to be tion of the earth, or whether the two be drawn; it includes its inherent testimony of wrought up together into a connected dis- truth and fidelity.-Kosmos, p. 80. course; at least for so trifling a distinction, it seems scarcely worth while to introduce a fresh nomenclature. And farther on after referring to a future section of the work for the history of science, he adds 'My duty is to depict generally the state of knowledge, according to its measure and limits, at the present time. Mean results are the laws, as regards what is subject to motion and ultimate aim, nay, the expression of physical change. They exhibit to us Constancy in the midst of Change and the ceaseless course of events. So, for example, the progress of the modern measuring and weighing science of physics is eminently indicated by the attainment or the correction of the mean values of certain magnitudes; so numerical cyphers present themselves again, but with an enlarged meaning, as they formerly did in the schools of Italy, the last and only remain of hieroglyphics in our writings, but all-powerful in Čosmi We should also have wished to consider how far the philosophy of physical geography can be accurately restricted in the manner which we understand to be the wish of our author (although that wish and these restrictions are, we must add, rather to be collected from the sense than submitted to definition.) We are at some loss to perceive why all the most certain part of physical astronomy is omitted, and yet we have a very interesting and minute dissertation upon the hypotheses proposed to explain the fall of aerolites, volcanic eruptions, and many questions of geological and atmospherical dynamics. We are at a loss also to see why the philosophy of botany is to be confined to the geography of plants-cal science.'—p. 82. why the general doctrines of crystallography and the broad outlines of the sciences of mineralogy and zoology do not form as much a part of the science of Cosmos as the prior existence and succession of extinct species, or as the varieties of the human race now peopling the globe? These and other questions we could have dwelt upon, with the wish that we might see these preliminary dissertations re-modelled so as to display, without circumlocution and without ambiguity, the actual division of human knowledge which the author appears to contemplate, and which his systematic acquirements, great experience and acknowledged He thus proceeds in a more lively strain: The zealous philosopher is delighted by which the dimensions of space, the magnithe simplicity of the numerical relations by tudes of the planets, and their periodical disturbances, are denoted; or the threefold elements of the earth's magnetism, the mean pressure of the atmosphere, or the quantity of heat which the sun sheds daily or yearly on any spot of the fixed or fluid surface of our the ever-curious multitude. To both of these, globe. But unsatisfied is the poet, unsatisfied Science seems as if desolate, many questions being rejected as dubious or insoluble which formerly were entertained. In her more rigid form and stiffer drapery she loses the more seductive charm with which she was invested present time is decidedly unfavorable to it, as every one conversant with the scientific by a philosophy of forms and symbols calcu- literature of the day is aware of; as a phylated to deceive the judgment and amuse the fancy. Long before the discovery of the New sical description of what exists, it is inacWorld it had been supposed that land was curate, because it is uncertain; as a physivisible from the Canaries and Azores. But cal account of what has been and what will these were phantoms, not caused by extraor- be, it can rank at best amongst the numerous dinary refraction, but due only to the conjec-list of bold but unestablished inductions. tures of the spectators, whose longing eyes Nor can we think more favorably of an strove to penetrate the distant haze. The nat-idea of Humboldt's own, that there exists ural philosophy of the Greeks, and the physics of the middle ages, and even of a later period, abundantly offered similar airy visions. At the limits of exact knowledge (as from a lofty island shore,) we cast a sanguine gaze towards unknown regions. The belief of the unusual and the marvellous lends a distinct outline to every creation of fancy; and the realms of imagination, with their cosmological, geognostical, and magnetic dreams, are immediately confounded with the domain of reality Kosmos, p. 82-3. an analogy between the distribution of plants and that of satellites in groups round their primary and planets round the sun. A still more palpable similarity would, we imagine, permit us to compare the individuals of celestial groups to the stamens and pistils of flowers; to call our earth and moon of the order Monundria Monogynia, Jupiter's system Monandria Tetragynia, and the like.* This shows how mere analogies from collocation, without reference to the end or design of the whole, may retard science. What is barely tolerable in the poetry of Darwin, cannot come well from the matterof-fact pen of the astronomer.† It is not to be supposed that much of novelty should be elicited in the purely astronomical part of the subject. But starting with the Nebular Hypothesis, our author manages with much ingenuity to consider In the astronomical part of Cosmos, our author invariably treats the so-called nebular hypothesis as an ascertained physical fact, and in so far appears for once to abandon the cautious limits of descriptive writing and simple classification which he has imposed upon himself. Not only does he maintain Herschel's doctrine of the progressive consolidation of nebulous matter (which, however, he ascribes (p. 87) to An-in succession a series of phenomena which aximenes and the Ionic school;) not only lead into one another, and which convey does he affirm this process to be going on us, by easy steps, from the celestial to the under our eyes,' and to be in all respects terrestrial part of the science of Cosmos. similar to the 'development' of organic Surveying in succession the heavenly bobeings thus assimilating the universe to dies with whose density we are tolerably a garden or a forest. He also accepts as acquainted, the sun and planets, he next established, and apparently not admitting passes to comets, whose rarer texture forms of a doubt, the theory peculiar to Laplace of a step to that inconceivable attenuation of the genesis of nebulous rings by centrifugal force, and the subsequent still more incom-000,) indicates a degree of oblateness quite inconceivable under the circumstances, the planet prehensible agglomeration of these rings whose centrifugal force is supposed to have geneinto solitary rotating planets and satellites rated it being almost spherical, or flattened at the and he even assumes it as established (p. poles only by one-eleventh part (Laplace, Sys89, 95,) that the zodiacal light arises (astème du Monde, I. 79.) Cassini imagined) from a still uncondensed ring of world-vapor, (welt-dunst) between the orbits of Venus and Mars. On all this doctrine we retain the most energetic doubts. The progress of discovery at the The sole phenomenon of our system which might lend countenance to Laplace's notion (and which perhaps suggested it) is the unique and imposing one of Saturn's ring. We observe a very good remark on this subject in Mr. Monck Mason's Creation by the immediate Agency of God,' p. 50, which is undoubtedly correct; to wit, that the excessively small and uniform thickness of this vast expansion of matter, (estimated at only 100 miles, with an extreme diameter of nearly 200,- | * So Milton and other suns perhaps, Par. Lost, viii. 148. ↑ Botanic Garden., iv. 359, commencing'So, late descry'd by Herschel's piercing sight.' A noble passage, though in Darwin's inflated style. His cosmogony seems to have some analogy with that in the work before us, (Kosmos, p. 86,) which appears to ascribe to matter generally a power of indefinite development' and regeneration, such as is usually admitted only to exist in living plants and animals, and that to a limited degree. |