outlasted its functions, and have no longer any concern in its indications.

The space, between the two extremities of the scale, is marked by ETERNITY; that stupendous state, which preceded the origin of our being, and which will immediately follow the termination of its present temporary condition. And the dial begins and ends upon the verge of ETERNITY, because human life begins from eternity past, and ends in eternity to come.

From that point, a celestial effulgence appears to be emitted; and because the lightsomeness and glee of infancy displays so lively and affecting an evidence of the divine brightness from which it springs; and because we are humbly to hope, and to believe, that the gloom of age will finally merge and settle in the same divine brightness; the rays of that effulgence are represented as diffusing their lustre, equally over the beginning and end of life; thereby contrasting the clouds, and storms, which more or less attend the middle stages of every human life.

Lastly, a MOVEABLE INDEX is affixed, which may be directed to any degree marked upon the scale.

To the dial, thus disposed, the name of BIOSCOPE has been assigned, as a term simply and clearly expressive of its design; being formed from two Greek words, BIOS, Bios, signifying life; and SCOPEO, σxoñɛw, to observe, or survey. For, as the name of HOROSCOPE-goσxoдоs*, was anciently given to a scale, formed to show the number, and the progress, of the hours of the day; there. seemed a strict propriety in calling, by the name of BIOSCOPE, a scale, designed to exhibit the general measure, and progress, of

THE HUMAN LIFE.

Note. Hardouini in Plin. Hist. Nat. ii. c. 64. et Steph. Lex. Græc. tom. iv. col. 789.

THE USE

OF

THE BIOSCOPE

EXPLAINED.

1. By the use of the Bioscope is meant, not its mechanical use, which is too plain to need any explanation, but the moral, and practical use, which a regular and continued attention to its simple mechanism is abundantly able to afford. And in order to exemplify that use, and to render it familiarly apparent, I shall lay before the reader some of the reflections, which a continued observation of its indications has already suggested; leaving it to him to extend and multiply them hereafter, by the exercise of his own meditation. These reflections I

shall endeavour to detail, as they have occasionally risen in the mind; observing, at the same time, as much order in the arrangement, as the nature of the subject will permit.

2. And first: If I mistake not, the aspect of the dial alone, presented for the first time to a mind capable of any serious reflection, must awaken some new and unexpected sensations. That unfinished circle, representing to our view the utmost averaged measure of time in which we can have any personal concern in the affairs of this earth; sending the memory back to the beginning of life, and the imagination forward to its termination; exhibiting a discernible end, and that end in immediate contact with ETERNITY; that aspect, alone, must of necessity work a strong effect upon any ingenuous and contemplative spirit, even before we proceed to consider the particular uses to which it may be applied. For,

Should not THE DIAL strike us as we gaze?

Portentous as the written wall which struck,