xpression, "Universe," I shall take a phrase of limitation--"the
Universe of stars." Why this distinction is considered necessary, will
be seen in the sequel.

But even of treatises on the really limited, although always assumed as
the _un_limited, Universe of _stars_, I know none in which a survey,
even of this limited Universe, is so taken as to warrant deductions from
its _individuality_. The nearest approach to such a work is made in the
"Cosmos" of Alexander Von Humboldt. He presents the subject, however,
_not_ in its individuality but in its generality. His theme, in its last
result, is the law of _each_ portion of the merely physical Universe, as
this law is related to the laws of _every other_ portion of this merely
physical Universe. His design is simply synoeretical. In a word, he
discusses the universality of material relation, and discloses to the
eye of Philosophy whatever inferences have hitherto lain hidden _behind_
this universality. But however admirable be the succinctness with which
he has treated each particular point of his topic, the mere multiplicity
of these points occasions, necessarily, an amount of detail, and thus an
involution of idea, which precludes all _individuality_ of impression.

It seems to me that, in aiming at this latter effect, and, through it,
at the consequences--the conclusions--the suggestions--the
speculations--or, if nothing better offer itself the mere guesses which
may result from it--we require something like a mental gyration on the
heel. We need so rapid a revolution of all things about the central
point of sight that, while the minutiae vanish altogether, even the more
conspicuous objects become blended into one. Among the vanishing
minutiae, in a survey of this kind, would be all exclusively terrestrial
matters. The Earth would be considered in its planetary relations alone.
A man, in this view, becomes mankind; mankind a member of the cosmical
family of Intelligences.

And now, before proceeding to our subject proper, let me beg the
reader's attention to an extract or two from a somewhat remarkable
letter, which appears to have been found corked in a bottle and floating
on the _Mare Tenebrarum_--an ocean well described by the Nubian
geographer, Ptolemy Hephestion, but little frequented in modern days
unless by the Transcendentalists and some other divers for crotchets.
The date of this letter, I confess, surprises me even more particularly
than its contents; for i