Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe Vol. 4

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 187

Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe Vol. 1

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 187

Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe Vol. 5

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 187

Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 1877 TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE I CAN not more appropriately introduce the Cosmos than by presenting a brief sketch of the life of its illustrious author.* While the name of Alexander von Humboldt is familiar to every one, few, perhaps, are aware of the peculiar circumstances of his scientific career and of the extent of his labors in almost every department of physical knowledge. He was born on the 14th'' of September, 1769, and is, therefore, now in his 80 th year. After going through the ordinary course of education at Gottingen, and having made a rapid tour through Holland, England; and France, he became a pupil of Werner at the mining school of Freyburg, and in his 21st year published an "Essay on the Basalts of the Rhine." Though he soon became officially connected with the mining corps, he was enabled to continue his excursions in foreign countries, for, during the six or seven years succeeding the publication of his first essay, he seems to have visited Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France. His attention to mining did not, however, prevent him from devotmg his attention to other scientific pursuits, among which botany and the then recent discovery of galvanism may be especially noticed. Botany, indeed, we know from his own authority, occupied him almost exclusively for some years ; but even at this time he was practicing the use of those astronomical and physical instruments which he afterward turned to so singularly excellent an account

Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe Vol. 2

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 1877 TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE I CAN not more appropriately introduce the Cosmos than by presenting a brief sketch of the life of its illustrious author.* While the name of Alexander von Humboldt is familiar to every one, few, perhaps, are aware of the peculiar circumstances of his scientific career and of the extent of his labors in almost every department of physical knowledge. He was born on the 14th'' of September, 1769, and is, therefore, now in his 80 th year. After going through the ordinary course of education at Gottingen, and having made a rapid tour through Holland, England; and France, he became a pupil of Werner at the mining school of Freyburg, and in his 21st year published an "Essay on the Basalts of the Rhine." Though he soon became officially connected with the mining corps, he was enabled to continue his excursions in foreign countries, for, during the six or seven years succeeding the publication of his first essay, he seems to have visited Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France. His attention to mining did not, however, prevent him from devotmg his attention to other scientific pursuits, among which botany and the then recent discovery of galvanism may be especially noticed. Botany, indeed, we know from his own authority, occupied him almost exclusively for some years ; but even at this time he was practicing the use of those astronomical and physical instruments which he afterward turned to so singularly excellent an account

Cosmos: a sketch of a physical description of the universe Vol. 3

Retrieved from "Biodiversity Heritage Library" Translated from the German by E.C. Otte. New York: Harper & Brothers - 187

Aspects of Nature

Translated by Mrs. Sabine Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard - 1850 AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. IT is not without diffidence that I present to the public a series of papers which took their origin in the presence of natural scenes of grandeur or of beauty-on the Ocean, in the forests of the Orinoco, in the Steppes of Venezuela, and in the mountain wildernesses of Peru and Mexico. Detached fragments were written down on the spot and at the moment, and were afterwards moulded into a whole. The view of Nature on an enlarged scale, the display of the concurrent action of various forces or powers, and the renewal of the enjoyment which the immediate prospect of tropical scenery affords to sensitive minds, are the objects which I have proposed to myself. According to the design of my work, whilst each of the treatises of which it consists should form a whole complete in itself, one common tendency should pervade them all. Such au artistic and literary treatment of subjects of natural history is liable to difficulties of composition, notwithstanding the aid which it derives from the power and flexibility of our noble language. The unbounded, riches of Nature occasion an accumulation of separate images; and accumulation disturbs the repose and the unity of impression which should belong to the picture. Moreover, when addressing the feelings and imagination, a firm hand is needed to guard the style from degenerating into an undesirable species of poetic prose. But I need not here describe more fully dangers which I fear the following pages will show I have not always succeeded in avoiding. Nevertheless, notwithstanding faults which I can more easily perceive than amend, I venture to hope that these descriptions of the varied Aspects which Nature assumes in distant lands may impart to the reader a portion of that enjoyment which is derived from their immediate contemplation by a mind susceptible of such impressions. As this enjoyment is enhanced by insight into the more hidden connection of the different powers and forces of nature, I have subjoined to each treatise scientific elucidations and additions. Throughout the entire work I have sought to indicate the unfailing influence of external nature on the feelings, the moral dispositions, and the destinies of man. To minds oppressed with the cares or the sorrows of life, the soothing influence of the contemplation of Nature is peculiarly precious; and to such these pages are more especially dedicated. May they, "escaping from the stormy waves of life," follow me in spirit with willing steps to the recesses of the primeval forests, over the boundless surface of the Steppe, and to the higher ridges of the Andes. To them is addressed the poet's voice, in the sentence of the chorus- "Auf den Bergen isl Freiheit! Der Hauch der Gruefte Steigt nicht hinauf in die reinen Luefte, Die Welt ist vollkommen uberall, Wo der Mensch nicht hinkommt mit seiner Qual.

Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent during the Years 1799-1804 Vol. 7

Written in French by Alexander von Humboldt, and translated into English by Helen Maria Williams. - London 1818 CONTENTS VOL. I. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Preparations.-Instruments.-Departure from Spain. --Landing at the Canary Islands. ... 1 CHAPTER II. Stay at Teneriffe.-Journey from Santa Cruz to Orotava.-Excursion to the top of the Peak of Teyde. 111 VOL. II. CHAPTER III. Passage from Teneriffe to the coasts of South America. -The Island of Tobago.-Arrival at Cumana. BOOK II. CHAPTER IV. First abode at Cumana.-Banks of the Manzanares. 175 CHAPTER V. Peninsula of Araya. - Salt-marshes. - Ruins of the Castle of San Giacomo. . . . . 23

Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent during the Years 1799-1804 Vol. 2

Written in French by Alexander von Humboldt, and translated into English by Helen Maria Williams. - London 1818 CONTENTS VOL. I. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Preparations.-Instruments.-Departure from Spain. --Landing at the Canary Islands. ... 1 CHAPTER II. Stay at Teneriffe.-Journey from Santa Cruz to Orotava.-Excursion to the top of the Peak of Teyde. 111 VOL. II. CHAPTER III. Passage from Teneriffe to the coasts of South America. -The Island of Tobago.-Arrival at Cumana. BOOK II. CHAPTER IV. First abode at Cumana.-Banks of the Manzanares. 175 CHAPTER V. Peninsula of Araya. - Salt-marshes. - Ruins of the Castle of San Giacomo. . . . . 23

Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent during the Years 1799-1804 Vol. 5

Written in French by Alexander von Humboldt, and translated into English by Helen Maria Williams. - London 1818 CONTENTS VOL. I. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Preparations.-Instruments.-Departure from Spain. --Landing at the Canary Islands. ... 1 CHAPTER II. Stay at Teneriffe.-Journey from Santa Cruz to Orotava.-Excursion to the top of the Peak of Teyde. 111 VOL. II. CHAPTER III. Passage from Teneriffe to the coasts of South America. -The Island of Tobago.-Arrival at Cumana. BOOK II. CHAPTER IV. First abode at Cumana.-Banks of the Manzanares. 175 CHAPTER V. Peninsula of Araya. - Salt-marshes. - Ruins of the Castle of San Giacomo. . . . . 23