Yea, long as Nature's humblest child Earth's fairest scenes are all his own, He is a monarch, and his throne Is built amid the skies! Some acquaintance, however, with the laws by which the universe is governed, tends eminently to increase and elevate the gratification arising from the contemplation of the objects which surround us on every side. Earth has still Some traces of her youthful beauty left; and though the perception of this may be open to all, the harmony and glory of creation can be fully appreciated only by those who are in some measure acquainted with the laws of nature. The study of these laws possesses at the same time, the advantage of fixing the mind on nature's Ruler; for a law not only necessarily implies a lawgiver, but if these laws are found to be uniformly and universally carried into effect, we are further led to the perception of the continually watchful Providence, by which the natural world is governed and sustained; and consequently, to that both of the Omnipotence and Omnipresence of the Deity. We trace the hand of creative wisdom on every side; each object teems also with evidence of the supreme goodness of the Author of Nature; all things appear arrayed in new and more beautiful colours, and order and harmony are found to pervade the whole. Science, when thus pursued, is not "falsely so called;" for Has eyes indeed; and viewing all she sees As meant to indicate a God to man, Gives HIм the praise, and forfeits not her own. The practical advantages to be derived from physical geography are very considerable, more especially to a nation possessing extensive colonies in various quarters of the globe. It is not every country, nor even every part of a country, that possesses equal advantages for the habitation of man; on the contrary, most countries are naturally divided into a smaller or larger number of parts, materially differing in climate and natural productions, some portions being usually more favoured by nature than others. Diversified, however, as is the surface of the earth, a general agreement is observed to prevail in corresponding climates and situations; and thus, if we are acquainted with the facts relative to one country, or to a certain portion of the earth's surface, we may form some general idea of th capabilities of any other portion, similarly, or nearly similarly circumstanced. Physical geography, by taking into account all these agreements and diversities, and by deducing from various phenomena, actually observed in some particular localities, the class of phenomena likely to occur in others, is, in its practical application, of the greatest utility; for it thus enables us to judge of the fitness of any country to provide man with food, and consequently for his habitation; and forms a guide to direct the settler in the choice of the place in which to fix his abode, and also in the selection of crops, adapted to succeed in the region in which his lot may be cast. Ignorance on these points, has led to much disappointment and many futile attempts, and there can be little doubt that the more this science is generally known, the less liable shall we be to meet with failure. Almost every region of the globe is provided with vegetable productions, all of which require certain conditions to arrive at perfection. Thus, some will thrive in a moist, some in a dry climate; some in the hot regions of the earth, some in the cold, and some only in the temperate,― the greater portion being naturally confined within certain limits. By cultivation, man has been enabled to extend the natural limits of numerous specics of plants, and to give them a wider range on the earth's surface. This, however, can only be advantageously effected, by attending to the conditions they require of soil, temperature, and moisture. An acquaintance with such particulars, and with all the circumstances under which valuable plants will succeed, becomes, therefore, of paramount importance to all settlers in distant or newly acquired lands; nor is it without its utility, in any attempts to introduce new species into our own country. The narratives of travellers, their surprising adventures, the wonders they relate of distant lands, form, both in our earliest youth, and also in more mature age, some of our most favourite works of recreation. In imagination we accompany the enterprising wanderer across the wide ocean, with him ascend the lofty and snow-clad mountain, and trace the river to its source, or descend into the fertile valley, clothed with rich vegetation, and watered by the broad spreading stream; we traverse the parched and sandy desert, or penetrate into the dense forest; we meet with numberless and varied tribes of animals and plants, some approaching in character to the productions of our own land, others presenting new and singular forms. Such descriptions of small and detached portions of the earth's surface, kindle in us a desire to become acquainted with all that is remarkable on the face of the globe; in short, with all that descriptive geography, (for such in fact it is, though perhaps little thought of under that name,) can impart to us. Nor will the inquiring mind rest here; it will further aspire to obtain some knowledge of the causes which give rise to the various phenomena thus brought before its view, and of the laws by which they are governed. Here then physical geography comes to our aid; and not only does it afford an explanation of remarkable phenomena of rare occurrence, displayed, perhaps, in some remote region of the globe, but also of various familiar but interesting facts in natural history, daily passing before our view, though not unfrequently almost without notice, and without our having any perception of the constancy of the laws by which they are governed. This science, therefore, is very excursive in its range, not only directing our attention to the more striking and won derful, because more uncommon, phenomena of the natural world, but leading its student to observe and to reflect, to derive subjects for thought and admiration from all that surrounds him; thus enhancing his pleasure, both in the perusal of every description of the earth's surface, and in the contemplation of all the works of creation. Evident traces of beneficent design present themselves on every side, the student himself may perceive them; the more he knows the more does he wish to know,-his spirit becomes athirst for knowledge; and it is well that it should be so,-for The desire which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify The great Work-master, leads to no excess The more it seems excess. He has entered on a vast and inexhaustible field, full of treasures, which those who seek shall find, hidden treasures of wisdom, power, and goodness: and if these are pursued with a proper spirit, he will learn that "the mind employed on that which is great, becomes itself greater." CHAPTER II. THE EARTH; ITS POSITION IN THE UNIVERSE, FIGURE, MAGNITUDE, AND DENSITY; GENERAL STRUCTURE OF ITS SURFACE. PHENOMENA OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOS. THE earth belongs to a system of planetary bodies, of which the sun forms the centre, and which is hence termed the solar system. We are at present acquainted with eleven principal or primary planets, which revolve round the sun, and eighteen secondary planets, called moons, or satellites, revolving round the planets of which they are the attendants. The orbit of the earth, or path in which it moves round the sun, is elliptical, though it differs very little from a circle; the mean, or average distance of the earth from the sun, being ninety-five millions of miles. The earth is of a globular form; its figure, however, is not that of a perfect sphere, but somewhat elliptical, or flattened at the poles, though the flattening, or difference of diameter is so trifling, that "if a model of similar proportions were turned in wood," says Sir John Herschel, “and placed before us on a table, the most correct eye or hand would not detect the deviation from the spherical form." The globular form of the earth is proved by the circumstance that ships steering in a general direction, either eastward or westward, arrive again at the point of departure. Few individuals, it is true, have it in their power to verify this in their own experience, but there is another mode of observation, by which many may have the opportunity of actually perceiving the shape of the earth; this cannot, however, be accomplished with certainty on land,-the hills, trees, and other objects, which diversify its surface, and break and vary the line of the horizon, although bearing a most minute proportion to the whole earth, are, nevertheless, too considerable with respect to ourselves, to admit of our forming any judgment of the whole. But with the surface of the sea, the case is otherwise; if we stand upon the sea-shore, we observe the surface of the ocean, not losing itself in misty distance, but terminated by a sharp, clear, well-defined line, or offing, as it is called, which constitutes the visible horizon. If we sail out of sight of land, this offing extends in a circle round us, of which our station in the vessel forms the centre. The appearance of this visible horizon, or sea-offing, is a consequence of the curvature of the surface. That such is the case, is in fact proved by the pheno |