BLACKWOOD’S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NO. CCCCLXVIII. OCTOBER, 1854. VOL. LXXVI. CONTENTS. SPECULATORS AMONG THE STARS.—PART II., 371 KING OTHO AND HIS CLASSIC KINGDOM, 403 STUDENT LIFE IN SCOTLAND.—PART II., 422 CIVILISATION.—THE CENSUS, 435 A RUSSIAN REMINISCENCE, 452 RECORDS OF THE PAST.—NINEVEH AND BABYLON, 458 THE OPENING OF THE GANGES CANAL, 475 THE USES OF BEAUTY, 476 SPANISH POLITICS AND CUBAN PERILS, 477 EDINBURGH: WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45 GEORGE STREET, AND 37 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON; _To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed_. SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. BLACKWOOD’S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NO. CCCCLXVIII. OCTOBER, 1854. VOL. LXXVI. SPECULATORS AMONG THE STARS.[1] PART II. Whatever we talk, Things are _as they are_—not as we grant, dispute, or hope; depending on neither our affirmative nor negative.[2]—JEREMY TAYLOR. Let us bear in mind the above passage, pregnant with solemnising reflection, while dealing with the question before us; always remembering that it is one purely speculative, however interesting, however exciting, to imaginative persons; but to weak and superficial ones—to those of unsettled opinions—capable of becoming mischievous.