OUR PLACE AMONG INFINITIES.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

THE EXPANSE OF HEAVEN. A Series of Essays on the Wonders of the Firmament. Frontispiece. Second Edition. Crown 8vo. 6s.

With a

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A SERIES OF ESSAYS CONTRASTING OUR LITTLE
ABODE IN SPACE AND TIME WITH THE
INFINITIES AROUND US.

To which are added Essays on Astrology and the
Jewish Sabbath.

BY

RICHD. A. PROCTOR,

AUTHOR OF "SATURN AND ITS SYSTEM, THE UNIVERSE,

OF HEAVEN," ETC., ETC.

SECOND EDITION.

"Nous n'avons point la mesure de cette machine immense; nous n'en pouvons calculer
es rapports; nous n'en connaissons ni les premières lois, ni la cause finale."-

J. J. ROUSSEAU.

"Freuedich, höchtes Geschöpf der Natur, du fuhlest dich fähig
Ihr den höchsten Gedanken, zu dem sie schaffend sich aufschwang,
Nachzudenken."
GOETHE.

HENRY S. KING & Co., LONDON.

1876.

PREFACE.

THIS work takes its name from the essays occupying the first seventy pages of the book; but the later essays, as shewing the nature of those parts of the universe which lie nearest to us, are properly included under the same title. Even those on Astrology and the Jewish Sabbath belong to the discussion of our place among infinities; for it was their ignorance of the earth's place among infinities, which led the ancients to regard the heavenly bodies as ruling, favourably or adversely, the fates of men and nations, and to dedicate the days in sets of seven to the seven planets of their astrological system.

It will be seen, that my views respecting the interesting question of life in other worlds have changed considerably since I wrote the work bearing that title. I still consider that work a sound exposition of the theory of the plurality of worlds, though I consider that the weight of evidence favours my theory of the (relative) paucity of worlds. RICHD. A. PROCTOR.

Sept. 27, 1875.