of the firft magnitude; the next to them in luftre, ftars of the Second magnitude, and fo on to the fixth, which are the fmalleft vifible to the naked eye. The stars which cannot be feen without the affiftance of telescopes, are called telescopic stars. The fixed ftars are diftinguished by different conftellations, or collections of ftars. The chief of these are the figns of the Zodiac, fo called, because, by the antients, they were fuppofed to resemble the animals from which they take their names, which are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pifces. In the conftellation Aries, 66 ftars were obferved by Mr. Flamftead, Aftronomer Royal at Greenwich; and in the conftellation Taurus, no less than 141. The Zodiac is fuppofed to go round the heavens: it is about 16 degrees broad, fo that it takes in the orbits of all the planets, and the orbit of the moon. The other conftellations are 57 in number; 29 on the north, and 28 on the fouth fide of the Zodiac. There are, according to Profeffor Flamstead, 3000 fixed stars; many of which cannot be difcerned without a telefcope; to each of which he has annexed its longitude, latitude, right afcenfion, and diftance from the pole. Dr. Herfchel has added a multitude to this number.. Thefe fixed ftars are all fuppofed to be funs, as they fhine with their own native light, and each See the article Aftronomy in the Encyclopædia Brit. vol. iii. Part 1. p. 73. 124 therefore, turne the body of the fun. The earth .. motion of 94 annual motion round the fun. of night and d is turned to tl. and day is pr from the fun, on. It is pl fimple means this antients imagined was fixed, and th to be of an imme round the earth c CHAPTER III. The Mathematics continued. IT is much to the honour of fcience that its purfuits have a very favourable effect upon the moral habits of its votaries, as they are generally remarkable for correctnefs of conduct: their minds are refined and exalted by the abstract fpeculations in which they are engaged; and the close and conftant application neceffary for the fuccefs of the Mathematician and the Aftronomer in their ftudies, excludes the tyranny of the paffions, and produces an indifference or a contempt for those objects of avarice or ambition, which dazzle the eyes and captivate the hearts of the generality of mankind. Thefe remarks, it is prefumed, will be found ftrictly applicable to thofe illuftrious philofophers about to be mentioned. Felices animæ ! quibus hæc cognofcere primis, Non Ven & vinum fublimia pectora fregit, Offici Nec le militiæve labor. erfufaque gloria fuco, o fuppofuêre fuo. Ovid. Fafti. Lib. i. The is placed in the centre of a fyftem in which planets revolve round them, as ours do round the fun. If, therefore, a fpectator were placed as near to any of them as we are to the fun, that ftar would appear to him as large as the fun appears to us, and our fun would appear no larger than a fixed ftar. Every ftar, therefore, may be confidered as the centre of a fyftem confifting of planets regulated by laws, and revolving with rapid, continual, and regular motion, like the planets of our folar fyftem. What a moft magnificent and moft ftupendous profpect does this idea fuggeft, of the almighty power of God, extended through the unfathomable and boundlefs regions of space! I will confider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers, the moon and the ftars which thou hast ordained. What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the fon of man that thou vifiteft him? O Lord, our governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world! Pfalm viii. The reader is referred to Ferguson's Aftronomy for the most easy and familiar proofs of the truth of the Copernican fyftem. Keill's Introduction is more fcientific, and, confidered as an elementary book, is as useful and fatisfactory as any work upon the fubject. For a fyftem of Aftronomy complete in all its branches, fee the article Aftronomy in the Encyclopædia Britannica. CHAPTER CHAPTER IIL The Mathematics continued. IT is much to the honour of fcience that its purfuits have a very favourable effect upon the moral habits of its votaries, as they are generally remarkable for correctnefs of conduct: their minds are refined and exalted by the abstract fpeculations in which they are engaged; and the clofe and conftant application neceffary for the fuccefs of the Mathematician and the Aftronomer in their ftudies, excludes the tyranny of the paffions, and produces an indifference or a contempt for thofe objects of avarice or ambition, which dazzle the eyes and captivate the hearts of the generality of mankind. These remarks, it is prefumed, will be found ftrictly applicable to thofe illuftrious philofophers about to be mentioned. Felices animæ ! quibus hæc cognofcere primis, Non Venus, & vinum fublimia pectora fregit, Ovid. Fafti. Lib. i.... The |