er--a word.

I. The _material_--is a _geographical_--region, and may be called,
summarily--_The western half of Europe_. Let us regard it as laid out by
languages at this day spoken. Here is a map, roughly sketched:--

A.--ABORIGINAL.

1. NORTH-WESTERN CELTS.--Ireland, Highlands of Scotland, and
the interjacent Isle of Man.

2. SOUTH-WESTERN CELTS.--Wales, Britanny, and the, till lately,
Celtic-speaking Cornwall.

3. NORTHERN GERMANS, or GERMANS BEYOND THE EIDER, or
SCANDINAVIANS.--Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland.

4. SOUTHERN GERMANS, or GERMANS BELOW THE EIDER, or
TEUTONS.--Netherlands, the German empire, Switzerland.

B.--LATIN SPEAKING.

1. ITALY.--Sicily.

2. SPAIN.

3. PORTUGAL.

4. Latin-speaking FRANCE, distinguishing Normandy.

C.--GERMAN AND LATIN MIXED.

1. ENGLAND.

2. SCOTTISH LOWLANDS.

II. From all this tangible territory, we are to sweep up--what? An
overlying _intellectual_ kingdom, _videlicet_--THE KINDS OF THE FAIRIES,
rudely marked out, perhaps, as follows:--

1. The _community_ of the Fairies, monarchal or republican:--The
Fairy folk; Fairies proper.

2. The _solitary_ domestic serviceable Fairy.

3. In the mines, under the water; a Fairy folk.

4. The solitary water Fairy.

5. The Fairy-ancestress.

6. The Fairy, tutelary or persecuting, of the chivalrous metrical
romance.

7. The Fairy, tutelary or persecuting, now giving and now turning
destinies, of the fairy tale proper.

We have then to ask what are the terms, marks, common traits, or by
whatsoever name they are to be called, which are yielded by a comparison
of such seven kinds. Something like the following eight will possibly
arise:--

First, A FAIRY IS A SUBORDINATE SPIRIT.

Secondly, IS ATTRACTED TO THE SURFACE OF OUR PLANET.

Thirdly, AT ONCE SEEKS AND SHUNS MANKIND.

Fourthly, HAS A BODY.

Fifthly, IS ATTENUATE.

Sixthly, IS WITHOUT PROPER STATION AND FUNCTION IN THE GENERAL ECONOMY
OF THE UNIVERSE; OR IS MYTHOLOGICALLY DISPLACED.

Seventhly, IS ENDOWED WITH POWERS OF INTELLIGENCE AND OF AGENCY EXCELLING
HUMAN.

Eighthly, STANDS UNDER A DOOM.

To these eight criteria, taken _in the nature of the thing enquired_,
the reflective inquirer will perchance find himself led on to add two
furnished from within himself, as that--

First, Acknowledging, as in these latter days our mo