Tuesday.
16.
BERLIN, _Oct. 24, 1834_.
I begin the printing of my work (the work of my life). I have the
extravagant idea of describing in one and the same work the whole
material world—all that we know to-day of celestial bodies and of life
upon the earth—from the nebular stars to the mosses on the granite
rocks—and to make this work instructive to the mind, and at the same
time attractive, by its vivid language. Every great and sparkling idea
must be noticed, side by side with its attendant facts. The work shall
represent an epoch of the intellectual development of mankind in their
knowledge of nature. The prolegomena are, for the most part, ready. They
are my amended “discours d’ouverture” as they were delivered from
memory, although immediately afterwards carefully written down; the
picture of physical nature—incentives to the study of nature in the
spirit of our age—these latter are threefold: 1. “Poesie descriptive”
and vivid description of natural scenery in modern works of travels. 2.
Landscape pictures, sensitive description of an exotic nature—when it
originated, when it became a necessity and a pleasure to the mind; the
reason why antiquity (too passionate) could not feel it. 3.
Plants—grouping of them, according to the physiognomy of plants (no
botanic gardens).—History of the physical description of the world. How
the idea of the world—of the connexion of all the phenomena, became
clear to the nations of the world in the course of centuries. These
prolegomena are the most essential. They contain the general part of the
work, which is followed by the special part, the particulars of which
are arranged in systematic order. I send also a part of the tabular
register; space of the universe; the whole physical astronomy; our
globe, its interior, exterior; electro-magnetism of its interior;
vulcanism, that is, the reaction of the interior of a planet upon its
surface; organization of the masses; a concise geognosy; ocean;
atmosphere; climate; organic matter; vegetable geography; animal
geography; human races and languages; the physical organization of which
(articulation of sounds) is controlled by the intellect, the product and
manifestation of which is language. In the special part all numerical
results, the most minute, as in “_Laplace’s_ Exposition du Systéme du
Monde.” As these particulars do not admit the same literary perfection
of style as the general combinations of natural science, the simple
facts are stated in short sentences, arranged in tabular order. The
attentive reader will find condensed in a few pages all results on
climate, magnetism of the earth, etc., which it would take years of
application to learn by study. The intimate relations of the fundamental
details, for the sake of literary harmony with the general plan, are
effected by brief introductory remarks to each chapter. Otfried Mueller,
in his ably written “Archæology,” has very successfully pursued the same
method.
It was my wish that you, my dear friend, should get a clear perception
of my undertaking from myself. I have not succeeded in concentrating the
whole in one single volume, however magnificent the effect of such
conciseness would have been. I hope, however, that two volumes will
contain the whole. There will be no notes under the text, but at the end
there will be notes appended, containing solid erudition, and minuteness
of detail; these, however, may be left unread.
The work is not what is commonly called “_Physical Description of the
Earth_.” It comprises heaven and earth—everything existing. I began to
write it fifteen years ago in French, and called it “_Essai sur la
Physique du Monde_.” In Germany I thought first of calling it “_The Book
of Nature_;” a title already adopted in the middle age by Albertus
Magnus. But all this is too vague. The title shall be _“Kosmos,” Sketch
of a Physical Description of the World, by A. v. H., enlarged outlines
of his Lectures in 1827 and 1828_. Cotta, Publisher.
I wanted to add the word _Kosmos_, and to force people to call the book
by this name in order to avoid their calling it “Humboldt’s Physical
Geography,” which would throw the thing in the class of Mittersacher’s
writings. “Description of the World” (formed after History of the World)
would, as a designation seldom used, always be confounded with
“Description of the Earth.” I know that “Kosmos” sounds rather
pretending, and the word is indeed not without a certain “Affetérie;”
but this title says in one and the same striking word, “_Heaven and
Earth_,” and is quite opposed to “_Gaea_,” the title of that rather
imperfect description of the earth by Professor Zeune. My brother is
also for the title “Kosmos.” I myself hesitated for a long time. Now,
grant me a favor, my dear friend. I cannot prevail upon myself to send
away the commencement of my manuscript without entreating you to cast a
critical eye over it. You possess such an eminent talent for style, and
you have at the same time so much genius and independence of judgment,
that you do not quite discard the style of others because it differs
from your own. Please read the “Discours,” and put in a little sheet on
which you write—without giving any reasons.—“So ... I would better like,
so ... instead of....” Do, however, not condemn without _assisting_ me!
and do also ease my mind as to the title.
With the utmost confidence, yours,