Chapter I: Front Matter

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BRIDGEWATER TREATISES.

CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD

HAVE PUBLISHED,

ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS, considered with reference to Natural Theology, by the Rev. WILLIAM WHEWELL, M. A., Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, Cambridge; being the _Third Part_ of the Bridgewater Treatises on the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation.

The series of Treatises, of which the present is one, is
published under the following circumstances:--

The Right Honourable and Rev. FRANCIS HENRY, Earl of Bridgewater,
died in the month of February, 1825; he directed certain
trustees therein named, to invest in the public funds, the sum
of eight thousand pounds sterling; this sum, with the accruing
dividends thereon, to be held at the disposal of the President,
for the time being, of the Royal Society of London, to be paid
to the person or persons nominated by him. The Testator farther
directed, that the person or persons selected by the said
President, should be appointed to write, print and publish one
thousand copies of a work, on the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness
of God, as manifested in the Creation; illustrating such work,
by all reasonable arguments, as, for instance, the variety and
formation of God’s creatures in the Animal, Vegetable, and
Mineral Kingdoms; the effect of digestion, and, thereby, of
conversion; the construction of the hand of man, and an infinite
variety of other arguments; as also by discoveries, ancient and
modern, in arts, sciences, and the whole extent of literature.

He desired, moreover, that the profits arising from the sale of
the works so published, should be paid to the authors of the
works.

The late President of the Royal Society, DAVIES GILBERT, Esq.,
requested the assistance of his Grace, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and of the Bishop of London, in determining upon
the best mode of carrying into effect, the intentions of the
Testator. Acting with their advice, and with the concurrence of
a nobleman immediately connected with the deceased, Mr. Davies
Gilbert appointed the following eight gentlemen to write separate
Treatises in the different branches of the subjects here stated:--

I. The Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and
Intellectual Constitution of Man, by the Rev. THOMAS CHALMERS, D.
D., Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh.

II. The Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical Condition
of Man, by JOHN KIDD, M. D., F. R. S., Regius Professor of
Medicine in the University of Oxford.

III. Astronomy and General Physics, considered with reference to
Natural Theology, by the Rev. WILLIAM WHEWELL, M. A., F. R. S.,
Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

IV. The Hand: its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as evincing
Design, by Sir CHARLES BELL, K. H., F. R. S.

V. Animal and Vegetable Physiology, by PETER MARK ROGET, M. D.,
Fellow of and Secretary to the Royal Society.

VI. Geology and Mineralogy, by the Rev. WILLIAM BUCKLAND, D. D.,
F. R. S., Canon of Christ Church, and Professor of Geology in the
University of Oxford.

VII. The History, Habits, and Instincts of Animals, by the Rev.
WILLIAM KIRBY, M. A., F. R. S.

VIII. Chemistry, Meteorology, and the Function of Digestion, by
WILLIAM PROUT, M. D., F. R. S.

_The whole of these Treatises are nearly finished, and will be
put to press as soon as received, and published in a cheap and
handsome form._

THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY; containing the Doctrines, Duties, Admonitions, and Consolations of the Christian Religion, by JOHN BURNS, M. D., F. R. S. From the fourth London edition. In the press.

CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION. By J. KENNEDY, M. D. 12mo.

GLEANINGS IN NATURAL HISTORY, WITH LOCAL RECOLLECTIONS. By EDWARD JESSE, Esq. To which are added, Maxims and Hints for Anglers. From the second London edition, in one volume, being a Companion to the Journal of a Naturalist.

We have occasionally selected a paragraph from a very pretty
volume, by Mr. Jesse, published under the above title. The
author lives in the neighbourhood of Kew, and like Mr. White
of Selborne,--who made a small village of Hampshire one of the
most interesting spots to the lover of nature, by his ample
descriptions of the natural objects which he saw around him,--Mr.
Jesse has rendered his walks a vehicle for much instruction and
amusement to himself and to others. He principally confines
his attention to zoology--the most generally attractive of the
departments of natural history; and he looks upon the animal
world with so much practical wisdom, being disposed to be happy
himself, and to see every creature around him happy, that there
are few persons who will not read his slight sketches with
improvement to their hearts and understandings.--_Penny Magazine._

THE MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS. By Mrs. SOMERVILLE. In 18mo.

Is it asking too much of Mrs. Somerville to express a hope that
she will allow this beautiful preliminary Dissertation to be
printed separately for the delight and instruction of thousands
of readers, young and old, who cannot understand, or are too
indolent to apply themselves to the more elaborate parts of the
work? If she will do this, we hereby promise to exert our best
endeavours to make its merits known.--_Literary Gazette._

SALMONIA; OR, DAYS OF FLY FISHING. By Sir H. DAVY.

We are surprised in meeting with an American reprint of this
delightful volume, that a work so universally popular has not
been before republished in this country.--_N. Y. American._

One of the most delightful labours of leisure ever seen; not a
few of the most beautiful phenomena of nature are here lucidly
explained.--_Gent. Magazine._

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. By the late Rev. GILBERT WHITE, A. M., Fellow of the Oriel College, Oxford; with additions by Sir WILLIAM JARDINE, Bart. F. R. S., E. F. L. S., M. W. S., author of “Illustrations of Ornithology.”

White’s History of Selborne, the most fascinating piece of rural
writing and sound English philosophy that has ever issued from
the press.--_Athenæum._

JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST. With Plates.

----Plants, trees, and stones we note;
Birds, insects, beasts and rural things.

We again most strongly recommend this little unpretending volume
to the attention of every lover of nature, and more particularly
of our country readers. It will induce them, we are sure, to
examine more closely than they have been accustomed to do, into
the objects of animated nature, and such examination will prove
one of the most innocent, and the most satisfactory sources of
gratification and amusement. It is a book that ought to find its
way into every rural drawing-room in the kingdom, and one that
may safely be placed in every lady’s boudoir, be her rank and
station in life what they may.--_Quart. Review_, No. LXXVIII.

This is a most delightful book on the most delightful of all
studies. We are acquainted with no previous work which bears
any resemblance to this, except “White’s History of Selborne,”
the most fascinating piece of rural writing and sound English
philosophy that ever issued from the press.--_Athenæum._

THE FAMILY CABINET ATLAS, constructed upon an original plan: being a Companion to the Encyclopædia Americana, Cabinet Cyclopædia, Family Library, Cabinet Library, &c.

[This Atlas comprises, in a volume of the Family Library size, nearly one hundred Maps and Tables, which present equal to _fifty thousand names of places_; a body of information three times as extensive as that supplied by the generality of _Quarto Atlases_.]

This beautiful and most useful little volume, says the Literary
Gazette, is a perfect picture of elegance, containing a vast sum
of geographical information. A more instructive little present,
or a gift better calculated to be long preserved and often
referred to, could not be offered to favoured youth of either
sex. Its cheapness, we must add, is another recommendation; for,
although this elegant publication contains one hundred beautiful
engravings, it is issued at a price that can be no obstacle to
its being procured by every parent and friend to youth.

This Atlas far surpasses any thing of the kind which we have
seen, and is made to suit the popular libraries which Dr.
Lardner and Mr. Murray are now sending into every family in the
empire.--_Monthly Review._

Its very ingenious method of arrangement secures to the
geographical student the information for which hitherto
he has been obliged to resort to works of the largest
dimensions.--_Athenæum._

THE RECTORY OF VALEHEAD. By the Rev. ROBERT WILSON EVANS, M. A.

Universally and cordially do we recommend this delightful volume.
Impressed with the genuine spirit of Christianity; a diary, as it
were, of the feelings, hopes, and sorrows of a family,--it comes
home to all, either in sympathy or example. It is a beautiful
picture of a religious household, influencing to excellence all
within its sphere. We believe no person could read this work, and
not be better for its pious touching lessons.--_Literary Gaz._

We fearlessly pronounce this delightful little volume to be
not only one of the most faultless, but every way valuable
works it has ever fallen to our lot to recommend to public
perusal.--_Stamford Herald._

The Rectory of Valehead is a beautiful model of domestic life
in the Christian home of a well-regulated family, and combines
literary amusement with the most refined and intellectual
improvement.--_Scotsman._

A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY, chiefly during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. By Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH, M. P. In 8vo.

The best offspring of the pen of an author who in philosophical
spirit, knowledge and reflection, richness of moral sentiment,
and elegance of style, has altogether no superior--perhaps no
equal--among his contemporaries. Some time ago we made copious
extracts from the beautiful work. We could not recommend the
whole too earnestly.--_National Gazette._

THE BOOK OF THE SEASONS; OR THE CALENDAR OF NATURE. By WILLIAM HOWITT. In one volume, 12mo.

THE BRIDGEWATER TREATISES

ON THE POWER, WISDOM, AND GOODNESS OF GOD
AS MANIFESTED IN THE CREATION.

TREATISE III.

ON ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS.

BY THE REV. W. WHEWELL.

ET HÆC DE DEO, DE QUO UTIQUE EX PHÆNOMENIS DISSERERE AD
PHILOSOPHIAM NATURALEM PERTINET.

NEWTON, CONCLUSION OF THE PRINCIPIA.

ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS

CONSIDERED WITH REFERENCE TO

NATURAL THEOLOGY.

BY THE

REV. WILLIAM WHEWELL, M. A.
FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.

Philadelphia:
CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD,
CHESTNUT STREET.

1833.

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND

CHARLES JAMES,

LORD BISHOP OF LONDON.

MY LORD--

I owe it to you that I was selected for the task attempted in the following pages, a distinction which I feel to be honourable; and on this account alone I should have a peculiar pleasure in dedicating the work to your lordship. I do so with additional gratification on another account: the Treatise has been written within the walls of the College of which your lordship was formerly a resident member, and its merits, if it have any, are mainly due to the spirit and habits of the place. The society is always pleased and proud to recollect that a person of the eminent talents and high character of your lordship is one of its members; and I am persuaded that any effort in the cause of letters and religion coming from that quarter, will have for you an interest beyond what it would otherwise possess.

The subject proposed to me was limited: my prescribed object is to lead the friends of religion to look with confidence and pleasure on the progress of the physical sciences, by showing how admirably every advance in our knowledge of the universe harmonizes with the belief of a most wise and good God. To do this effectually may be, I trust, a useful labour. Yet, I feel most deeply, what I would take this occasion to express, that this, and all that the speculator concerning Natural Theology can do, is utterly insufficient for the great ends of Religion; namely, for the purpose of reforming men’s lives, of purifying and elevating their characters, of preparing them for a more exalted state of being. It is the need of something fitted to do this, which gives to religion its vast and incomparable importance; and this can, I well know, be achieved only by that Revealed Religion of which we are ministers, but on which the plan of the present work did not allow me to dwell.

That Divine Providence may prosper the labours of your lordship, and of all who are joined with you in the task of maintaining and promoting _this_ Religion, is, my lord, the earnest wish and prayer of

Your very faithful
And much obliged servant,

WILLIAM WHEWELL.

Trinity College, Cambridge,
Feb. 25, 1833.

NOTICE.

The series of Treatises, of which the present is one, is published under the following circumstances:

The RIGHT HONOURABLE and REVEREND FRANCIS HENRY, EARL OF
BRIDGEWATER, died in the month of February, 1829; and by his last
Will and Testament, bearing date the 25th of February, 1825, he
directed certain Trustees therein named to invest in the public
funds the sum of Eight thousand pounds sterling; this sum, with
the accruing dividends thereon, to be held at the disposal of the
President, for the time being, of the Royal Society of London, to
be paid to the person or persons nominated by him. The Testator
further directed, that the person or persons selected by the said
President should be appointed to write, print, and publish one
thousand copies of a work _On the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of
God, as manifested in the Creation; illustrating such work by all
reasonable arguments, as for instance the variety and formation
of God’s creatures in the animal, vegetable, and mineral
kingdoms; the effect of digestion, and thereby of conversion;
the construction of the hand of man, and an infinite variety of
other arguments; as also by discoveries ancient and modern, in
arts, sciences, and the whole extent of literature_. He desired,
moreover, that the profits arising from the sale of the works so
published should be paid to the authors of the works.

The late President of the Royal Society, Davies Gilbert,
Esq. requested the assistance of his Grace the Archbishop of
Canterbury and of the Bishop of London, in determining upon
the best mode of carrying into effect the intentions of the
Testator. Acting with their advice, and with the concurrence of
a nobleman immediately connected with the deceased, Mr. Davies
Gilbert appointed the following eight gentlemen to write separate
Treatises on the different branches of the subject as here stated:

THE REV. THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D.

Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh.

ON THE ADAPTATION OF EXTERNAL NATURE TO THE MORAL AND
INTELLECTUAL CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

JOHN KID, M. D. F. R. S.

Regius Professor of Medicine in the University of Oxford.

ON THE ADAPTATION OF EXTERNAL NATURE TO THE PHYSICAL
CONDITION OF MAN.

THE REV. WILLIAM WHEWELL, M. A. F. R. S.

Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

ON ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS.

SIR CHARLES BELL, K. H. F. R. S,

THE HAND: ITS MECHANISM AND VITAL ENDOWMENTS AS EVINCING
DESIGN.

PETER MARK ROGET, M. D.

Fellow of and Secretary to the Royal Society.

ON ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY.

THE REV. WILLIAM BUCKLAND, D. D. F. R. S.

Canon of Christ Church, and Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford.

ON GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.

THE REV. WILLIAM KIRBY, M. A. F. R. S.

ON THE HISTORY, HABITS, AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS.

WILLIAM PROUT, M. D. F. R. S.

ON CHEMISTRY, METEOROLOGY, AND THE FUNCTION OF DIGESTION.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, President of the Royal
Society, having desired that no unnecessary delay should take
place in the publication of the above mentioned treatises, they
will appear at short intervals, as they are ready for publication.

CONTENTS.

[Within the last year or two, several works have been published in this country on subjects more or less closely approaching to that here treated. It may, therefore, be not superfluous to say that the author of the following pages believes that he has not borrowed any of his views or illustrations from recent English writers on Natural Theology.]

Page.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I. Object of the Present Treatise 13
II. On Laws of Nature 17
III. Mutual Adaptation of Laws of Nature 20
IV. Division of the Subject 23

BOOK I. TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS 25