uniform; and had even attempted to phenomenon always happened when ascertain those parts of her orbit, she was in the same part of the where it was greatest and least. We heavens in which the Sun then was. are also assured by Ptolemy, that they The tower of Belus, described by Hewere not unacquainted with the mo- rodotus, being surrounded with stars tion of the Moon's nodes, and that of on the outside, with landing places her apogee. They supposed that the covered over, is thought to have been former accomplished a complete revo- built for the purpose of making astrolution in 6585 days, or 18 years, 15 nomical observations. days, 8 hours; which period containing 223 complete lunations, is usually called the Chaldean Suros: and although, as far as we can find, they did not attempt to assign the quantity of the last-mentioned motion, and differed in the former from what modern and more accurate observations shew; yet, when we consider the numberless disadvantages under which they laboured, we have great reason to admire their assiduity and skill, and to lament that so very small a portion of their labours has been handed down to us. It has been supposed, that few only of these observations were made with any tolerable degree of accuracy; and that much the greater part consisted only of the achronical, cosmical, and heliacal risings and settings of the fixed stars and planets: some of them, however, we are assured, were of more consequence, and deserved to have been preserved with greater care than they have been. Ptolemy, from Hipparchus, gives us several observations of lunar eclipses, which had been made at Babylon. The oldest of them is above 720 years before Christ; but we are not to conclude, that this industrious astronomer could meet with none of a more early date; the chronology of the Chaldeans was very imperfect, before the æra of Nabonassar, which began 747 years before Christ. It would, therefore, have been very absurd in Hipparchus, to employ eclipses which had been observed before that period, in determining the motion of the Moon, when the times of such eclipses could not be ascertained on this account. We are informed by Aristotle, that there were amongst them, many observations of the occultations of fixed stars and planets, by the Moon: and from hence, by a very natural and easy inference, they were led to conclude, that eclipses of the Sun were caused by the interposition of the same body; and so much the more so, as they were well aware, from their knowledge of the Moon's motion, that this one. That the Chaldeans had a considerable share in forming the fixed stars into constellations, is allowed by every This indeed appears from the names of several; but more especially from those which are mentioned in the book of Job, and other parts of the holy scriptures. Their Saros, as mentioned above, consisting of 223 lunations, is an undeniable instance of their having made considerable advances in the knowledge of the motions of the two luminaries. Geminus calls this period a revolution, and attributes it to the Ancients; by which word he means the ancient Chaldeans, or Babylonians, before the conquest of Babylon. The mean solar year of the Chaldeans, which results from this period, is 365 d. 5h. 49′ 30′′, or 30′′ longer than De la Hire and Cassini made it, and 33" longer than Newton; but shorter by 6' 25" than Hipparchus supposed it to be. What has hitherto been said of the Chaldeans is much to their honour, since it shews the great proficiency which they had made in the knowledge of the nature and the motions of the heavenly bodies. But it is to be regretted, that with these vast acquirements, they should be so deluded by such a vain and senseless belief of judicial astrology, that a Chaldean became a common name for any one, who made a profession of foretelling future events by observing the position of the stars and planets. [To be continued.] INTERESTING TRIAL OF A BLAS- We copy the following article from an American paper of a recent date: There is in the American code, an unrepealed Act of Assembly, of the year 1700, which punishes with a fine of ten pounds, for the use of the poor, or an imprisonment to hard labour for three months, every person, who" shall wilfully, premeditatedly, and despite and Moon more exactly than they were known during some ages after the flood. Pliny says of Hipparchus, that "he published an account of the motions of the Sun and Moon for 600 years to come." This makes it probable, that this industrious astronomer had the knowledge of the period in question, and gave an account of eclipses for 600 future years; which could not be done without tables, unless they had something equivalent, such as the Indian numbers, brought from Siam by Loubere, and explained by Dom. Cassini, in the Regles d'Astronomie Indienne, pour calculer les Mouvements du Soleil, et de la Lune, expliquées. ww The Chaldeans boasted of their temple of Belus, built by Semiramis; and their Zoroaster, whom they placed 5000 years before the destruction of Troy: while the Egyptians opposed to them their College of Priests, who studied Astronomy at Diospolis, Neliopolis, and Memphis; and to prove their claims, they produced the famous monument of Osymandyas. This, Diodorus tells us, was a golden circle of 365 cubits in circumference, and one cubit thick. This circle the Persians are said to have carried away when Cambyses invaded Egypt. The upper face was divided into 365 parts. In every cubit was written the day of the year, and the rising, heliacally, of the stars If we look into heathen authors, for that day; together with the progtheir oldest writers are the poets; they,nostications from that rising, accordand some of their historians, mentioning to their notions of astrology. It Uranus as the most ancient astronomer. is probable, however, that their preThe story of Atlas supporting the dictions related chiefly to the weather; heavens, is thought to arise from his for to this, as appears from their having invented a sphere: that of Pro- calendars, the ancients paid great metheus being chained upon Caucasus, attention. and having his liver preyed upon by a ravenous bird, might be nothing more than a poetical image of an astronomer, wasting his spirits in observing the stars from the mountain: and when they talk of an amour between the Moon and Endymion, they mean only to express the great assiduity with which that shepherd observed the Moon, and the several changes in her appearance. The writings of the Greeks are the most ancient on astronomy now extant. They do not pretend to be the inventors of that science, but own they received it from the Barbarians; for by this name they called all those who were not inhabitants of Greece, or the islands under the Grecian government. The story of the Rhodians carrying Astronomy into Egypt, related by Diodorus Siculus, is rejected by learned men. When Alexander took Babylon, Callisthenes inquired after the astronomical observations made by the Chaldeans; and found some that had been made more than 1903 years before that time. This will carry us back very nearly to the time of the dispersion of mankind, which was occasioned by the confusion of language. We have now nothing left of the Chaldean Astronomy, except some periods of years, which they had formed for the more readily computing the motions of the heavenly bodies. Yet, that they had begun to make astronomical observations at a very early period, will appear highly probable, if we consider the extent to which they had carried their knowledge of this science, and the slow progress which they must have made in it, from the want of proper instruments, and their inexperience in applying such as they had. Yet, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, if we may believe Geminus, as quoted by Petavius, they had determined, with tolerable exactness, the length both ofa periodical and synodical month; making the former to consist of 27d. 13h. 20', and the latter of 29d. 12h. 43. 38": the former only differing from the calculations of modern astronomers 1'. 17", and the latter no more than 6'. They had, acChaldeans and Egyptians pre-cording to the same author, discovered, an extravagant antiquity. that the motion of the Moon was not It was disputed between the Egyptians and the Chaldeans, which of them first cultivated this science. The Chaldeans pretended, that Bel carried Astronomy into Egypt. Bel signifies Lord. Probably the leader of the Chaldeans, from the dispersion, had that title. He was deified after his death, as many of the inventors of useful arts were, and was called Jupiter uniform; and had even attempted to ascertain those parts of her orbit, where it was greatest and least. We phenomenon always happened when she was in the same part of the heavens in which the Sun then was. The tower of Belus, described by Herodotus, being surrounded with stars on the outside, with landing places covered over, is thought to have been built for the purpose of making astronomical observations. are also assured by Ptolemy, that they were not unacquainted with the motion of the Moon's nodes, and that of her apogee. They supposed that the former accomplished a complete revolution in 6585 days, or 18 years, 15 days, 8 hours; which period containing That the Chaldeans had a consider223 complete lunations, is usually call-able share in forming the fixed stars ed the Chaldean Suros: and although, into constellations, is allowed by every as far as we can find, they did not one. This indeed appears from the attempt to assign the quantity of the names of several; but more especially last-mentioned motion, and differed in from those which are mentioned in the the former from what modern and more book of Job, and other parts of the accurate observations shew; yet, when holy scriptures. we consider the numberless disadvantages under which they laboured, we have great reason to admire their assiduity and skill, and to lament that so very small a portion of their labours has been handed down to us. It has been supposed, that few only of these observations were made with any tolerable degree of accuracy; and that much the greater part consisted only of the achronical, cosmical, and heliacal risings and settings of the fixed stars and planets: some of them, however, we are assured, were of more consequence, and deserved to have been preserved with greater care than they have been. Ptolemy, from Hipparchus, gives us several observations of lunar eclipses, which had been made at Babylon. The oldest of them is above 720 years before Christ; but we are not to conclude, that this industrious astronomer could meet with none of a more early date; the chronology of the Chaldeans was very imperfect, before the æra of Nabonassar, which began 747 years before Christ. It would, therefore, have been very absurd in Hipparchus, to employ eclipses which had been observed before that period, in determining the motion of the Moon, when the times of such eclipses could not be ascertained on this account. Their Saros, as mentioned above, consisting of 223 lunations, is an undeniable instance of their having made considerable advances in the knowledge of the motions of the two luminaries. Geminus calls this period a revolution, and attributes it to the Aneients; by which word he means the ancient Chaldeans, or Babylonians, before the conquest of Babylon. The mean solar year of the Chaldeans, which results from this period, is 365 d. 5h. 49 30", or 30' longer than De la Hire and Cassini made it, and 33" longer than Newton; but shorter by 6′ 25′′ than Hipparchus supposed it to be. What has hitherto been said of the Chaldeans is much to their honour, since it shews the great proficiency which they had made in the knowledge of the nature and the motions of the heavenly bodies. But it is to be regretted, that with these vast acquirements, they should be so deluded by such a vain and senseless belief of judicial astrology, that a Chaldean became a common name for any one, who made a profession of foretelling future events by observing the position of the stars and planets. [Fo be continued.] INTERESTING TRIAL OF A BLAS- We copy the following article from an American paper of a recent date: We are informed by Aristotle, that there were amongst them, many observations of the occultations of fixed stars and planets, by the Moon and from hence, by a very natural and There is in the American code, an easy inference, they were led to con- unrepealed Act of Assembly, of the elude, that eclipses of the Sun were year 1700, which punishes with a fine caused by the interposition of the same of ten pounds, for the use of the poor, body; and so much the more so, as or an imprisonment to hard labour for they were well aware, from their know-three months, every person, who "shall ledge of the Moon's motion, that this wilfully, premeditatedly, and despite and Moon more exactly than they were | The Chaldeans boasted of their temknown during some ages after the flood. Pliny says of Hipparchus, that "he published an account of the motions of the Sun and Moon for 600 years to come." This makes it probable, that this industrious astronomer had the knowledge of the period in question, and gave an account of eclipses for 600 future years: which could not be done without tables, unless they had something equivalent, such as the Indian numbers, brought from Siam by Loubere, and explained by Dom. Cassini, in the Regles d'Astronomie Indienne, pour calculer les Mouvements du Soleil, et de la Lune, expliquées. ple of Belus, built by Semiramis; and their Zoroaster, whom they placed 5000 years before the destruction of Troy: while the Egyptians opposed to them their College of Priests, who studied Astronomy at Diospolis, Neliopolis, and Memphis; and to prove their claims, they produced the famous monument of Osymandyas. This, Diodorus tells us, was a golden circle of 365 cubits in circumference, and one cubit thick. This circle the Persians are said to have carried away when Cambyses invaded Egypt. The upper face was divided into 365 parts. In every cubit was written the day of the year, and the rising, heliacally, of the stars for that day; together with the prog ing to their notions of astrology. It is probable, however, that their predictions related chiefly to the weather; for to this, as appears from their calendars, the ancients paid great attention. If we look into heathen authors, their oldest writers are the poets; they,nostications from that rising, accordand some of their historians, mention Uranus as the most ancient astronomer. The story of Atlas supporting the heavens, is thought to arise from his having invented a sphere: that of Prometheus being chained upon Caucasus, and having his liver preyed upon by a ravenous bird, might be nothing more than a poetical image of an astronomer, wasting his spirits in observing the stars from the mountain: and when they talk of an amour between the Moon and Endymion, they mean only to express the great assiduity with which that shepherd observed the Moon, and the several changes in her appearance. The writings of the Greeks are the most ancient on astronomy now extant. They do not pretend to be the inventors of that science, but own they received it from the Barbarians; for by this name they called all those who were not inhabitants of Greece, or the islands under the Grecian government. The story of the Rhodians carrying Astronomy into Egypt, related by Diodorus Siculus, is rejected by learned men. When Alexander took Babylon, Callisthenes inquired after the astronomical observations made by the Chaldeans; and found some that had been made more than 1903 years before that time. This will carry us back very nearly to the time of the dispersion of mankind, which was occasioned by the confusion of language. We have now nothing left of the Chaldean Astronomy, except some periods of years, which they had formed for the more readily computing the motions of the heavenly bodies. Yet, that they had begun to make astronomical observations at a very early period, will appear highly probable, if we consider the extent to which they had carried their knowledge of this science, and the slow progress which they must have made in it, from the want of proper instruments, and their inexperience in applying such as they had. Yet, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, if we may believe Geminus, as quoted by Petavius, they had determined, with tolerable exactness, the length both ofa periodical and synodical month; making the former to consist of 27d. 13h. 20, and the lat ter of 29d. 12h. 43. 38": the former only differing from the calculations of modern astronomers 1. 17", and the latter no more than 6'. They had, acBoth Chaldeans and Egyptians pre-cording to the same author, discovered, tended to an extravagant antiquity. that the motion of the Moon was not It was disputed between the Egyptians and the Chaldeans, which of them first cultivated this science. The Chaldeans pretended, that Bel carried Astronomy into Egypt. Bel signifies Lord. Probably the leader of the Chaldeans, from the dispersion, had that title. He was deified after his death, as many of the inventors of useful arts were, and was called Jupiter Belus. " phenomenon always happened when she was in the same part of the heavens in which the Sun then was. The tower of Belus, described by Herodotus, being surrounded with stars on the outside, with landing places covered over, is thought to have been built for the purpose of making astronomical observations. uniform; and had even attempted to It has been supposed, that few only of these observations were made with any tolerable degree of accuracy; and that much the greater part consisted only of the achronical, cosmical, and heliacal risings and settings of the fixed stars and planets: some of them, however, we are assured, were of more consequence, and deserved to have been preserved with greater care than they have been. That the Chaldeans had a considershare in forming the fixed stars into constellations, is allowed by every one. This indeed appears from the names of several; but more especially from those which are mentioned in the book of Job, and other parts of the holy scriptures. Their Saros, as mentioned above, consisting of 223 lunations, is an undeniable instance of their having made considerable advances in the knowledge of the motions of the two luminaries. Geminus calls this period a revolution, and attributes it to the Ancients; by which word he means the ancient Chaldeans, or Babylonians, before the conquest of Babylon. The mean solar year of the Chaldeans, which results from this period, is 365 d. 5h. 49′ 30′′, or 30' longer than De la Hire and Cassini made it, and 33" longer than Newton; but shorter by 6′ 25′′ than Hipparchus supposed it to be. What has hitherto been said of the Chaldeans is much to their honour, since it shews the great proficiency which they had made in the knowledge of the nature and the motions of the Ptolemy, from Hipparchus, gives us several observations of lunar eclipses, which had been made at Babylon. The oldest of them is above 720 years before Christ; but we are not to con- heavenly bodies. clude, that this industrious astronomer could meet with none of a more early date; the chronology of the Chaldeans was very imperfect, before the æra of Nabonassar, which began 747 years before Christ. It would, therefore, have been very absurd in Hipparchus, to employ eclipses which had been observed before that period, in determining the motion of the Moon, when the times of such eclipses could not be ascertained on this account. We are informed by Aristotle, that there were amongst them, many obser But it is to be regretted, that with these vast acquirements, they should be so deluded by such a vain and senseless belief of judicial astrology, that a Chaldean became a common name for any one, who made a profession of foretelling future events by observing the position of the stars and planets. [To be continued.] INTERESTING TRIAL OF A BLAS- vations of the occultations of fixed We copy the following article from an American paper of a recent date: |