PREFACE. man more valuable, both to himself and in society, than a much greater accumulation of knowledge without the capacity of applying it. This is proved by the very generally established fact that men of abundant and ready memory, especially in small matters, are generally weak or wavering, and not unfrequently erroneous, in their judgments. That some degree of this mode of knowledge is common to all mankind is proved by the fact, that they all proceed upon it, from the very earliest period of life, and the very earliest stage of society. But this, as is the case with all the faculties and aptitudes of man, only shows that it admits of cultivation-not that it does not stand in need of any, but rather the reverse. Neither of these modes of knowledge, and not that of the relation of succession especially, can be properly brought home to the mind of the reader in a treatise upon any one particular science or branch of knowledge, how important soever that may be in itself, or how ably soever it may be treated; because, any attempt to blend two subjects of equal importance in the work would necessarily confuse both; and besides, this relation of succession is general, and though almost every subject may be brought in illustration of it, it cannot be properly illustrated by any one subject. Succession of some kind or other must always be the means by which it is brought before the mind. The succession must be one which is recognised by the great body of mankind, if the explanation is intended for general use; and the nature of it must be striking if it is intended for the young, or the otherwise imperfectly informed, who are in search of knowledge by inviting, plain, and easy paths. These are the societies for whom chiefly I write, because there would be no small arrogance, and very small thanks, in attempting to school the learned, even if one had, as one at times will have, a slight conviction that they are not altogether without the need of it. I have accordingly chosen the succession of the year, nominally divided into the apparent seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as a subject for illustrating the relation of succession, in like manner as I have chosen the allocated departments of material nature, the Heavens, Earth, Air, and Sea, for illustrating the general principles of the relation of coexistence. And, I would have stated this in the preface to "The Heavens "-the first published of the former series, had it not been that I wished to try the effect of one part of my attempt before making any specific declaration of my general object. In alluding to the four seasons, I have made use of the word " apparent;" and I have done so advisedly; for though this is the conversational mode of speaking on the subject, among those who have their seasons pretty strongly marked, yet it is not descriptive of many parts of the globe, and it is not strictly true of any of them. A season of waxing to maturity and a season of waning to repose, are really the only two seasons which affect the successive states of every thing seasonal upon the earth; and they may occupy the whole year, or less, or more, according to circumstances. In some of the insect races, they are probably not a day in length, in some plants they are not a month, in some they are an age; in a continent, they are beyond our calculation; and in a planet they are beyond our imagining: and, to understand any of those, in so far as it is understandable, would require a very different induction of circumstances. These, and many other successions, are constantly blending themselves with each other in nature, so that it is impossible to be natural, and consequently to be popular, if one of them is taken apart from the connexion. Thus, in treating of SPRING, we must see how it arises from WINTER in the preparations made for it, and also trace its passage into SUMMER in its results; and we must notice also the varied successions of the causes and energies. A systematic enumeration of the appearances of Spring would probably have a much more scientific air; but in this volume, as in former ones, my object is but a humble one,—it is to open the gate, so that all may enter, to assure them that the way is pleasant and profitable; to bid those be of good cheer, and to wish them good speed; well knowing that if I succeed in this, my labour, though unentitled to distinction among the learned, will not be every where wholly in vain. Grove Cottage, Chelsea, ROBERT MUDIE. ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND REFLECTIONS. General definition...Spring of the air...Springs of a watch... Day- spring...Spring time of life-" Day-spring from on high"... Nature GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPRING. Complication of the subject... Observation and thought... Nature and revelation...General definition... Influence of the sun... Sources of error... Errors of assumed learning...Nature of the earth, and its influence...Sun's influence invariable in itself... Plane of the earth's motion... The hemisphere... Seasons, in the hemispheres... General Adaptation of the earth... Of the atmosphere...Atmosphere at different |