,,an                                    
,,epitome of ,,astronomy1               
,,with                           ,,the  
,,new ,,discoveries3                    
,,including ,,an ,,account ,,of ,,the   
,edouranon1                             
,,or                                    
,,transparent ,,orrery2                 
7,,invented ,,by ,a4 ,,walker7          
,,as ,,lectured ,,upon ,,by ,,his ,,son1
                                ,w4     
,,walker4                    ,,stars    
,,teach ,,as ,,well ,,as ,,shine6       
,,young4                    ,,os        
,,homini ,,sublime ,,dedit2 ,c,,lumque  
,,tueri                  ,,jussit1 ,,et 
,,erectos ,,ad ,,sidera ,,tollere       
,,vultus4                               
,,ovid ,,met4 #a4 #he4                  
,,the ,,fourteenth ,,edition4           
,ipswich2                               
,,printed ,,for ,,the ,,author1         
,,by ,,burrell ,,and ,,bransby2         
,,and ,,sold ,,by ,j4 ,,robson ,,and ,w4
 ,,clarke1 ,,bond-,,street2             

,,and ,g4 ,,kearsley1 ,,fleet-,,street1 
,,london4                               
#ahjj4          ,,an    ,,epitome of    
,,astronomy2    ,,as ,,illustrated ,,by 
,,the    ,edouranon1    ,,or            
,,transparent ,,orrery4      ,this      
elaborate ,machine is #bj feet diameter3
 it stands vertical before  the         
spectators2 and its globes are so large1
 that they are distinctly  seen in the  
most distant part of a ,theatre4 ,every 
,planet and ,satellite  seems suspended 
in space1 without any support2          
performing its annual  and diurnal      
revolutions without any apparent cause4 
,it is certainly the  nearest approach  
to the magnificent simplicity of nature1
 and to its just  proportions1 as to    
magnitude and motion1 of any ,orrery yet
 made3 and  besides being a most        
brilliant and beautiful spectacle1      
conveys to the  mind the most sublime   
instruction3 rendering astronomical     
truths so plain  and intelligible1 that 
even those who have not so much as      

thought upon  the subject1 may acquire  
clear ideas of the laws1 motions1       
appearances1  eclipses1 transits1       
influences1 c4 of the planetary system4 
,scene #a4    ,,the ,,sun ,,and ,,earth3
    ,with the ,zodiacal ,constellations4
      ,as information is the primary    
object of this lecture1 it is thought   
more  useful to exhibit ,,parts of the  
solar system1 separately1 before a grand
  display was made of the whole4 ,this  
scene therefore1 opens with only the    
,sun and the ,earth4 ,the ,sun seems    
suspended in the middle of the system1  
and by spots on his face1 is seen to    
turn round on his axis in #be days2     
light issues from his orb in all        
directions2 in the blaze of which is    
suspended the ,earth1 turning on its    
axis to produce day and night1 and      
revolving round the ,sun to produce the 
seasons3 its axis inclines #bc  degrees 
from a perpendicular to the plane of its
 orbit2 and by that axis  keeping       
parallel to itself during this annual   

journey1 the northern and  southern     
hemispheres are alternately addressed to
 the ,sun2 shewing1 when  it is summer  
in one1 it is winter in the other1 and  
vice vers4 ,this  scene so naturally    
exhibits the cause of day1 night1       
twilight1 summer  and winter1 spring and
 autumn1 long and short days1 c4 that a 
bare  inspection of the ,machine is     
sufficient to convey the clearest idea  
of  these phnomena4           99        
99       99       99       99    ,the   
,earth in this scene ought to be        
unshackled with meridians or  parallels 
of latitude3--to be a free and          
independent ball1 with land and  water  
represented as they would appear to a   
distant spectator looking at  the real  
,earth4 ,but as globes are seldom seen  
without these appendages1 a  globe of   
two feet in diameter1 equipped with     
meridians and parallels of  latitude    
7being requisite for illustration7 will 
perform a diurnal and  annual motion    
round the ,sun1 and explain the above   

phnomena on so large  a scale1 that     
their effects on the smallest island may
 be seen from the  most distant part of 
the theatre4    ,this scene is          
surrounded by transparent paintings of  
the twelve signs of  the ,zodiac1       
shewing how the ,sun1 or rather the     
,earth1 enters and passes  thro' ,aries1
 ,taurus1 ,gemini1 ,cancer1 c4          
99       99       99       99       99  
,auxiliary scenes accompany this1 to    
shew the principles of planetary        
motion2 the formation of the            
constellations and their allegorical    
history2 the oblate1 yet nearly globular
 figure of the ,earth2 how ships  and   
mountains appear at sea2 with ships     
moving round a large globe of six  feet 
diameter1 c4 proving that the ,earth can
 contain inhabitants on all  sides1 c4  
,scene #b4    ,,sun1 ,,earth1 ,,and     
,,moon3    ,,phases ,,and ,,eclipses4   
,consists of the ,sun1 the ,earth1 and  
the ,moon4 ,the object of this scene  is
 to display the cause of the waxing and 

waning of the ,moon1 and of  solar and  
lunar eclipses3 for this purpose the    
,earth perform its annual  and diurnal  
motions1 and projects a conical shadow  
opposite to the ,sun  during its journey
 round him4 ,the ,moon borrows her light
 from the ,sun2  and which1 in          
reflection to the ,earth1 is not more   
than one three hundred  thousandth part 
so strong3 and performing her rotation  
round the ,earth1  every #bi;,d4 #ab;,h4
 #dd,m4 will sometimes shew us more and 
sometimes less of  the enlightened part 
of her body4 ,hence1 when she is between
 the ,earth  and the ,sun1 her dark side
 is towards us1 and we lose sight of    
her1 and  call this part of her period  
the ,,change2 but as she revolves round 
the  ,earth from ,west to ,east 7the    
same way the ,earth turns on its axis7  
in a  few days we see her above the ,sun
 in the ,west1 and seeing a small part  
of  her enlightened face1 call the      
appearance the ,horned1 or ,,new ,moon3 
7for  her dark side1 receiving no       

reflection of light from any            
neighbouring  body1 cannot be seen      
except in very clear weather74 ,as she  
proceeds on  her monthly journey1 when  
the ,sun sets in the ,west1 we see her  
near our  meridian1 and then she appears
 an ,,half ,moon1 and we say she is at  
the  first quarter2 as she approaches   
the ,,full1 more of her enlightened side
  may be seen1 and she assumes an ,,oval
 or ,,gibbous appearance4 ,at the ,,full
  she is opposite to the ,sun1 when the 
inhabitants of the ,earth look at her   
in the same direction as the rays of    
that luminary1 and of course see  the   
whole of her enlightened face4 ,in      
performing the other half of her        
journey1 she wanes2 and exposing less   
and less of her enlighted side to  us1  
again disappears4    ,this scene        
receives also auxiliary illustration1   
before the grand scene  opens3 and in   
maps of the ,moon during its exhibition1
 particularly one  of five feet         
diameter1 made from telescopes of the   

largest magnifying  powers1 and laid    
down with the most minute correctness1  
with maps of  the appearance of the     
,earth as seen from the ,moon1          
indicating from this  similarity1 that  
they are worlds of nearly similar       
construction4    ,in the thirteen       
revolutions she will make while the     
,earth travels round  the ,sun1 it will 
evidently appear that the ,earth is a   
,moon to her1 but  appearing thirteen   
times as large as the ,moon to us2 that 
she does not  shine by her own light2   
that she has no diversity of seasons2   
that she  keeps the same side always    
turned towards the ,earth1 and therefore
 turns  on her axis every #bi days2 that
 her surface is mountainous#a2 and that 
she shines without setting1 every second
 fortnight1 on the arctic or  antarctic 
parts of our globe1 during winter3 a    
very sublime and simple  provision for  
the otherwise long continued darkness   
that at opposite  seasons of the year   
would invelope the polar regions of the 

,earth4    ,if the ,moon moved in the   
same plane or level with the ,earth1 we 
should  have an eclipse every full and  
change2 but as she travels #e degrees to
  the ,north of it1 and the same to the 
,south of it1 every lunation1 she  only 
crosses the plane of the ,earth's orbit 
in two places1 which points  of         
intersection 7called the ,moon's        
,,nodes7 though in a trackless path1    
move #ai degrees towards the ,west every
 year1 and therefore pass round  the    
,heavens in #ah years and #bbe days2    
which is the golden number of our       
calendar4 ,hence1 when one of these     
nodes is between the ,earth and the ,sun
  at the change1 the ,moon's shadow is  
thrown on the ,earth1 and she eclipses  
the ,sun2 and if she comes to the full  
when either node is opposite to the     
,sun1 she falls into the ,earth's       
shadow1 and loses for a short time her  
borrowed light3 hence1 as she mostly    
passes above or below the ,earth's      
shadow1 we have ,eclipses very seldom4  

,these phnomena are produced in the     
,eidouranion as they are in nature1 and 
perfectly evident on inspection4        
,scene #c4    ,,theory ,,of ,,tides1    
,,illustrated4      ,this ,scene also   
consists of the ,sun1 the ,earth1 and   
the ,moon4 ,but the  intention is to    
shew how the ,earth and ,moon agitate   
each other round  their common centre of
 gravity1 causing two tides every #be   
hours4 ,it is  a circumstance truly     
astonishing1 to see in calm weather1 and
 under a  serene sky1 the violent       
agitation of the great fluid mass of the
 ocean1  whose waves roll against the   
shore with so grand impetuosity4--,this 
spectacle invites to reflection1 and    
rouses a desire to penetrate  into its  
cause3 hence the ,earth's ,,three-,,fold
 motion appears in this  scene3--that1  
on its axis1 to produce day and night3  
that1 round the  ,sun1 to produce the   
year and our seasons2 and that1 round   
the centre  of gravity with the ,moon1  
to produce spring and neap tides1 by    

their  combined and opposite influences4
 ,the ,moon is so near the ,earth       
7#bdj1jjj  miles at a medium7 in        
comparison of the ,sun 7near #ajj       
millions of miles7  that the ,moon's    
attraction on the waters of the ocean   
and on the air of  our atmosphere 7for  
there are tides in both7 is to that of  
the ,sun as  ten is to three4 ,so at the
 change of the ,moon1 the attraction of 
the ,sun  and ,moon being in the same   
direction1 a power of thirteen          
influences the  sea1 and we have        
,,spring tides2 but at the quarters of  
the ,moon1 the two  luminaries          
counteract the attractions of each      
other1 so the ,sun's power  of three    
being taken from the ,moon's of ten1    
leaves only seven operating  upon the   
sea1 and ,,neap tides take place4    ,a 
tumbler filled with water1 may be       
whirled by a string vertically round    
the head1 without any danger of the     
water falling out of it4 ,those parts   
of the ,earth that come successively    

,,opposite to the ,moon1 perform a much 
larger circle round the centre of       
gravity1 than the parts immediately     
,,under the ,moon3 hence the waters     
opposite the ,moon are ,,thrown ,,off1  
as it  were1 by their centrifugal       
motion1 and rise above the common level1
 as  well as the waters exposed to the  
,moon's immediate attraction2 thus two  
tides are produced in #be hours1        
opposite to each other2 and by the      
,earth  turning through those           
protuberances1 its waters rise and fall4
    ,the ,sun would produce two small1  
but similar tides1 if the ,earth had no 
,moon2 therefore at the full of the     
,moon the ,sun's centrifugal tide being 
reinforced by the ,moon's attraction1   
and the ,moon's centrifugal tide  being 
also assisted by the ,sun's attraction1 
spring tides take place at  the full1 as
 well as at the change1 of the ,moon4   
,this ,scene also receives collateral   
assistance1 exhibiting      and         
explaining the setting of the tides in  

all the large oceans      and the       
principal seas of the ,earth4           
,scene #d4    ,,the ,,solar ,,system4   
,this displays the whole ,copernican or 
,solar ,system1 with every planet and   
satellite in diurnal and annual motion6 
,with awe and deference ,i offer  this  
daring but humble transcript of         
creation6 ,enough1 if one idea can be   
added1 to the ingenuous mind1 of the    
attributes and perfections of the       
,deity4    ,the ,,sun1 a huge globe of  
fire 7#ieg1idb miles diameter1 and      
consequently  a million times as large  
as our ,earth1 and intended to give     
light1  heat1 and vegetation1 to seven  
primary and at least eighteen secondary 
worlds7 is placed in the centre of the  
system2 and by spots on his disk  is    
discovered to turn on his axis in about 
#be of our days4 ,these spots  cannot be
 permanently fixed1 because they are    
frequently altering in  their shape1    
situation1 number1 c4 tho' some have    
supposed they have  seen small          

indentations on the edge of the ,sun1 as
 the spots have passed  it1 and         
conjectured that a fluid matter         
surrounded a dark nucleus1 which        
sometimes becoming bare1 might occasion 
the transient appearance and            
disappearance of the spots4    ,,mercury
 is the first planet in the order of the
 system2 about #cdih  miles diameter3 he
 moves round the ,sun with the greatest 
velocity of  any of the ,planets        
familiar to our system 7as being nearest
 the ,sun7 in  about #hh of our days2 at
 the rate of #aaj1fhj ,english miles    
every hour1  but the angle of his       
distance from the ,sun1 as seen by us1  
is so small1  that unless by the        
telescope1 we can seldom discern him#b2 
7and even  then an equatorial instrument
 to direct to its place1 as indicated by
  the ,ephemeris1 will be requisite27   
and when we do1 it is for so short a    
time1 and in twilight1 that we can      
discover no spots on his face1 and      
therefore to this hour know nothing of  

the length of his days and nights3  we  
see him partially enlightened like the  
,moon1 sometimes like a small  crescent1
 in other situations half enlightened1  
and sometimes gibbous or  oval1 and are 
therefore certain he derives his light  
from the ,sun1 as she  does3 so that no 
doubt he is a fellow world1 with        
inhabitants adapted to  the heat of his 
situation3 altho' this heat is seven    
times as great as  that of the ,earth4  
,he is not much larger than the ,moon4  
,our ,earth1 viewed  from ,mercury1 must
 appear much larger and more luminous   
than any of the  ,planets1 except       
,venus1 appears to us4    ,,venus is the
 next planet in the order of the system1
 and distinguished  by her superior     
brilliancy1 as the ,sun's light is twice
 as great to  this planet as to the     
,earth2 from this cause she is sometimes
 visible to  the naked eye in full      
day-light4 ,she is about #gj millions of
 miles from  the ,sun1 or about twice   
the distance of ,mercury2 and like him1 

but much  longer and more conspicuously1
 appears under the different phases of  
the  ,moon4 ,these1 as we have said1 are
 proofs that both planets borrow their  
light from the ,sun4 ,the orbits of     
these planets 7as well as those of the  
rest of the system7 are inclined to the 
orbit of the ,earth4 ,hence when  ,venus
 and ,mercury are found in the nodes of 
their orbits between the  ,earth and    
,sun1 they are transferred upon the     
,sun's face like small round  black     
spots1 and which in fact are partial    
,eclipses of the ,sun2 these are  called
 the ,,transits of ,mercury1 or ,venus4 
,venus is a little larger than the      
,earth1 or #icfj miles diameter2  and   
moves round the ,sun in #bbd of our     
days1 at the rate of #hj1iee  miles     
every hour4 ,from faint spots seen upon 
her surface1 ,mr4 ,shroeter  apprehends 
she revolves on her axis in #bc hours1  
#ba minutes2 that her  surface is       
irregular like that of the ,moon1 and   
some of her mountains  four miles high4 

,the atmosphere of ,venus has been      
calculated to be #ej  miles high3 and   
the ,sun would appear to the inhabitants
 of this planet  twice as large as to   
us4 ,when ,venus is to the west of the  
,sun1 she is  a morning star2 when to   
the east of him1 an evening star3 her   
orbit or  track is included by the      
,earth's1 and as both move the same way1
 she  appears to be on one side of the  
,sun longer than the #bbd days she is in
  going round him4 ,the axis of ,venus  
is said by some astronomers to incline  
#ge degrees to the axis of her orbit3   
and therefore her seasons vary very     
fast1 the ,sun passing over more of her 
from pole to pole in one day1 than  over
 the ,earth in a quarter of a year4     
,hence the heated places of this  planet
 have time to cool3 which suggest to our
 ideas that provision has  been made for
 inhabitants1 that they might not suffer
 by their vicinity  to the ,sun2 this   
circumstance also gives her two winters 
and two summers  at her equator1 and    

indicates her inhabited4 ,the discovery 
lately made  by ,mr4 ,shroeter1 of a    
light faintly extended beyond the bounds
 of direct  solar illumination1 when she
 has her falcated appearance like the   
,moon  near to her change1 strengthens  
this probability3 as these are signs of 
twilight1 and of an atmosphere4 ,this   
astronomer has also observed her  to    
have considerable mountains2 another    
character of a globe suited for         
habitation4    ,the ,,earth is the third
 planet in the order of the system3     
#hbdd miles  diameter--moves at the rate
 of #fh1hef miles every hour1 and hence 
completes its revolution in its orbit   
7the ,ecliptic7 in #cfe days and 4  ,the
 ,,moon's diameter is #bahc miles2 she  
moves with respect to the ,earth  #bbij 
miles in her orbit every hour2 and goes 
round the ,earth from change  to change 
in #bi days and a half4 ,but having     
devoted so much of this tract  to the   
phnomena of the ,earth1 as well as its  
satellite the ,moon1 we  proceed to     

,,mars1 known in the heavens by his     
peculiarly red appearance1 arising  from
 a very thick and dense atmosphere4     
,this ,planet is next above the  ,earth1
 and hence has considerable less light  
from the ,sun than we have2  is much    
smaller than the ,earth1 or about #ddgj 
miles diameter4 ,he is near  #aej       
millions of miles from the ,sun1 and    
goes round him in something less  than  
two of our years1 moving at the rate of 
#ee1ghc miles every hour4 ,his  day and 
night is rather longer than ours1 or    
#bd;,h4 #ci,m4 #bb,s4 and uniform       
throughout his year1 so that his axis   
being perpendicular1 he has no  variety 
of seasons4 ,when we pass between the   
,sun and him he has a most  fiery and   
alarming appearance1 and is often       
mistaken for a ,comet2 but  when we are 
on the opposite side of our orbit1 he   
appears small1 and  scarcely to be      
distinguished from a fixed star4        
,,jupiter1 far the largest of our       
,planets1 near #acjj times the size of  

the ,earth1 or #ic1ccc miles diameter1  
is the next above ,mars1 at five  times 
the distance from the ,sun that we are2 
so that he enjoys but a  twenty-fifth   
part of the light1 heat1 and attraction 
of that luminary  we do4--,though indeed
 of the light and heat he may still     
possess1 we are  not so certain as of   
the degree of attraction3 that being    
invariably  proportioned to the         
distance2 while these will be relative  
to the density  and other circumstances 
of the atmosphere1 and the aptness of   
the surface  of the ,planet to acquire  
and retain heat3 after ,venus he appears
 the most  brilliant ,planet of the     
,universe4 ,he is attended with four    
satellites  that revolve very regularly 
round him4 ,the three first are eclipsed
  every revolution1 and every seventh   
day come in conjunction with him and    
one another1 as may be seen on the      
,eidouranion4 ,longitude1 at land1  can 
be ascertained by the eclipses of       
,jupiter's satellites1 as well as  by a 

transit of ,venus2 and these would      
supercede the necessity of a            
time-keeper1 if they could be observed  
at sea2 hence1 in the ,nautical         
,almanack1 these eclipses are very      
exactly calculated for the meridian  of 
,greenwich1 and answer very good        
geographical as well as nautical        
purposes4 ,jupiter is near twelve years 
in making his way round the ,sun1       
altho' he moves at the rate of #cj1aic  
miles every hour2 he turns round  his   
axis in about ten of our hours1 so that 
his days and nights are  but five hours 
each3 and he has no variety of seasons2 
for his axis  is perpendicular to the   
plane of his orbit4 ,turning so swiftly 
on his  axis1 his figure becomes more   
oblate than that of the ,earth1 being   
more  than #fjjj miles longer in        
diameter from one side of his equator to
 the  other1 than from pole to pole1 or 
in the proportion of #ac to #ad4c ,this 
swiftness of his diurnal motion also    
draws his clouds and vapours into       

streaks or lines over his equatorial    
parts1 forming what are called          
,jupiter's ,belts4 ,an eclipse of the   
,sun1 by this great planet1 would be a  
striking object even to the unassisted  
sight as viewed from ,saturn4           
,,saturn1 #he1ghb miles in diameter or  
about #ajjj times as large as the       
,earth1 is still a more remote planet   
from the ,sun1 round which he  revolves 
in about #cj of our years1 at the       
distance of #iaf millions of  miles4 ,he
 moves in his orbit at the rate of      
#bb1bih miles every hour1  and upon his 
axis in #aj;,h4 #af,m4 by this swift    
revolution on his axis his  figure      
becomes oblate in the proportion of #aa 
to #aj1 and his atmosphere  and vapours 
are drawn like a quintuple belt of #c   
darker parts and #b  lighter upon his   
body4 ,saturn is attended by seven      
,satellites1 the  outermost has been    
long known to have a period of apparent 
augmentation  and diminution1 and hence 
probably to have a revolution on its    

axis1 and  be composed of land and      
water4    ,a large1 broad1 double1 and  
luminous ring of #bjj1aeg miles         
diameter1  surrounds ,saturn1 at a      
distance from the planet equal to the   
breadth  of the ring4--,this ring       
inclines about #cj degrees to the plane 
of  the ecliptic1 and must appear like a
 great arch of light to the  inhabitants
 of ,saturn4 ,it has a revolution every 
eleven hours on an axis  perpendicular  
to its plane1 and keeps parallel to     
itself at all times2  hence it          
disappears twice every #cj years1 when  
its edge is presented to  us2 the ,sun  
shines for near #ae of our years        
together on the northern  plane of the  
ring2 and then leaving it1 illumines the
 southern side for  the same period2 so 
there is but one day and one night on   
each side of  the ring1 but each will be
 of #ae years continuance without       
intermission4    ,the ,sun's direct     
light being but about a #ijth part so   
strong to ,saturn  as to the ,earth1    

this ring is no doubt intended to       
increase it1 by  reflecting a very      
considerable portion upon the planet1   
which added to  that from his seven     
,satellites1 must render him a very     
comfortable abode  for rational and     
brute inhabitants4    ,the ,,georgium   
,,sidus1 or ,georgian ,planet 7so called
 by ,dr4 ,herschell1  its ingenious and 
indefatigable discoverer7 makes the     
seventh in the  order of the system2 the
 other planets we have described have   
been  known as such to the highest      
antiquity1 but from its extreme         
smallness1  this has escaped            
ascertainment till the year #agha1      
although it had been  recognized as a   
very minute star by several astronomers4
 ,it is near  twice ,saturn's distance  
from the ,sun1 and will be near         
eighty-two years  and six months in     
going round him2 is of a pale colour1   
and much larger  in its telescopic      
appearance than the fixed stars1 being  
#ajj times as  large as the ,earth1 or  

#cg1bcj miles diameter1 and1 on a clear 
evening1  is visible to the naked eye4  
,the ,dr4 has discovered six satellites 
to  this planet1 some of which are said 
to move retrograde4 ,as familiarity  is 
the principal design of this ,treatise  
and ,lecture1 it may be useful  to      
exhibit the distances of the planets    
from the ,sun in the most concise  form1
 and in numbers they will stand         
thus3--if the distance from the ,sun of 
,mercury--,venus--,earth--,mars--,jupite
r--,saturn--,georgium ,sidus      is #d 
will be #g #aj    #ae    #eb      #ie   
#aij    or1 if a body projected from the
 ,sun should continue to fly at the rate
  of #dhj miles per hour1 7which is     
about the swiftness of a cannon-ball71  
it could reach the orbit of ,mercury in 
#i years1 ,venus in #af years1 the      
,earth in #bc years1 ,mars in #cd years1
 ,jupiter in #aah years1 ,saturn in #baf
  years1 and the ,georgium ,sidus in    
#dcb years4    ,these we consider as the
 regular bodies of our system2 so       

regular1  indeed1 that every phnomenon  
respecting them is calculated for years 
before hand1 and it is almost considered
 as a criminal error to be a  minute of 
time wrong in the calculation4 ,but we  
are sometimes visited by  ,,comets1     
which may also be recognized as a part  
of our system3 of these  our knowledge  
is very imperfect4 ,by supposing that   
the same ,comet has  appeared at equal  
intervals of time2 by observing that1   
like the planets1  they describe equal  
areas in equal times2 and by having     
three points in  an ellipsis given to   
make out its eccentricity2 from these   
data it was  natural for mathematicians 
to suppose they could calculate the     
return of  all ,comets that had been    
scientifically observed3 but the actual 
return  even of that conspicuous one    
expected by ,dr4 ,halley1 has been      
thought by  some not to be sufficiently 
ascertained3 yet1 on examining the      
balance  of probability1 as stated by   
,maupertius1 ,lalande1 ,messire and     

,martin1  for its re-appearance1        
probably this doubt will be greatly     
lessened1 if  not removed4 ,as new      
,comets are almost perpetually          
appearing1 on which  calculation        
hitherto has been silent1 there is      
reason to expect1 in a  proper period of
 time1 an adequate number of            
observations to decide the  question1   
whether in general they revolve at      
stated times1 or traverse  our system   
without probability of return4 ,perhaps 
,comets of each  description time and   
observation may confirm to us4 ,we know 
that ,comets  accompanied with tails    
come very near the ,sun1 and from all   
quarters  of the ,heavens6 that the     
tails keep opposite to the ,sun2        
consequently  they are only visible to  
us when seen obliquely to the ,sun4     
,thus the  ,comet of ,august1 #agig1 was
 observed to have little or no train    
during  any part of its appearance2 but 
a faint hazy light diffused round it2   
these trains1 like electrical and       

borealean light1 do not refract the     
light of the fixed stars1 c4 ,the       
appearance of the ,comet of #afhb1 is   
copied in the ,eidouranion4 ,it descends
 from the top of the ,machine2  its     
train increasing in length and lustre   
till it arrives at the ,sun1            
diminishing as it ascends4 ,its orbit is
 so eccentric that the small part  of it
 visible is not sensibly to be          
distinguished from the parabolic  curve2
 and in this representation it finally  
disappears in the roof of  the ,theatre2
 it being impossible1 if its return were
 ascertained1 to  represent the extent  
of such an orbit1 and its motion in it1 
with any  degree of suitable proportion4
 ,the velocity of such of these as      
approach  nearest to the ,sun1          
particularly of the ,comet of #afhj1    
7whose appearance  was tremendous7      
exceeds any swiftness that falls within 
observation2  except that of the rays of
 light2 it being nearly #bjjj times     
greater  than the swiftness of a        

cannon-ball1 at the instant of its      
discharge2  yet scarcely a thousandth   
part of the velocity of light passing   
from  the ,sun#d4 ,this ,comet          
approached to within #dj1jjj miles of   
the ,sun's  surface1 and was calculated 
to be heated #bjjj times hotter than red
 hot  iron2 a globe of iron the size of 
the ,earth in this heat1 would be       
#ej1jjj  years in cooling4 ,these       
amazing visiters1 whom philosophy       
contemplates  with awe very different   
from that terror with which superstition
 had  long viewed them1 moving in such  
amplitude of space1 so numerous as they 
are1 and so great as some of them1 must 
have functions assigned to them         
proportionally important3 either        
occasionally of terrific revolution2  or
 more generally of recruiting the       
atmosphere of the planets in their      
successive appulse to any of them1 and  
supplying the diminution of the  solar  
fires4 ,perhaps too they are useful in  
preventing the central  tendency of the 

planets to the ,sun1 from increasing    
more than in a  certain degree2 so that 
the apparent disturbances1 thus         
produced1 will be  part of the necessary
 order and harmony of the system4    ,it
 is probable 7though their orbits are so
 much oblique in all  directions to     
those of the planets1 that it can rarely
 happen7 that  ,comets may be           
instrumental to great shocks2 either by 
direct collision1  the effect of which1 
considering the velocity and mass of    
some of them  cannot be estimated1 or by
 near approach3 and of this latter a    
possible  result1 and such as seems1 in 
one instance at least1 to have already  
taken place1 is noticed in the ,remarks 
annexed to this account of the          
,eidouranion4 ,but the philosophic      
observer will have this reflection      
presented to him from the phnomena of   
the ,universe2 that the apparently      
disturbing and destructive powers are   
secondary and subservient2 while  those 
of the preserving and meliorating kind  

are primary1 continued1 and  universal4 
,and those incidental causes of a       
melancholy and distressing  aspect1 when
 resolved into their ultimate tendency  
and necessary effects1  manifest        
themselves1 in so far as we can trace   
them1 to be parts  essential to the     
system of pure and perfect benevolence4 
,stability and  duration are stamped on 
the ,universe1 and the imagination is   
lost in  the immensity of the prospects2
 and whether we turn to the past or to  
the future1 our conception vainly pants 
to grasp the idea of boundless          
,eternity4           99       99        
99       99       99    ,but when we    
launch in idea into infinite space1 and 
contemplate  the systems without number 
that fill it2 here indeed we have a     
subject  truly worthy of the ,,deity6   
,whoever supposes the fixed stars placed
 in a  concave sphere1 as they appear to
 us1 must have a narrow and contracted  
idea of the ,,supreme ,,being2 for one  
star appears large and another small1   

because one is immensely distant from us
 in comparison of another4  ,through    
,dr4 ,herschell's large telescope many  
fixed stars appear double3  the ,polar  
star is double2 7but they are only stars
 at different distances  from us        
appearing nearly in the same line7 some 
appear like a topaz1  others azure1     
others red2 all are round1 and many as  
perfectly defined  as a shilling is on  
black cloth4 ,by telescopes we formerly 
could see  three times the number we can
 by the naked eye2 and now1 telescopes  
having received further improvement1 in 
the most crouded part of the  milky way1
 #aaf1jjj have passed before the        
instrument in a quarter of an  hour4    
,the ,nebula of ,andromeda must be      
composed of the united lustre of  many  
millions of stars4 ,agreeably to this1  
,dr4 ,herschell has noticed  single     
nebulous stars surrounded with a faint  
equable whiteness2 such as  a system of 
,planets viewed at that distance from us
 might be supposed  to give3 others he  

has seen1 which have the appearance of  
yet unformed  systems4 ,and there are1  
we may presume1 points of view1 in the  
immensity  of the ,universe1 in which   
all the fixed stars1 accessible to the  
eye  or telescope from this station of  
ours1 and all the inconceivable  space1 
through which they extend1 vanish into a
 nebula1 and almost an  indiscernible   
point4 ,such is the order and greatness 
of that ,empire1  which these           
,discoveries1 the farther they are      
pursued1 must for ever  more and more   
present to our increasing admiration4   
,such the relation of  parts so         
astonishingly remote6 ,such the unity of
 intelligence1 power1  and preserving   
goodness which pervades the whole6 ,and 
why may not stars  be so remote1 that   
their light may not have reached the    
,earth even since  the creation6 ,we    
know that light takes more time in      
travelling from  the nearest stars to   
us1 than we in making a ,west ,india    
voyage1 7which  is usually performed in 

six weeks7 a sound would not arrive to  
us from  thence in #ej1jjj years1 nor a 
cannon-ball in a much longer time4 ,the 
,sun's light could not therefore reach  
the fixed stars1 and be reflected  back 
again with their lustre2 of course they 
shine by their own light--if  so1 they  
shine as our ,sun1 and consequently are 
,suns themselves4--,now1  as a principal
 of uniformity runs through the variety 
of nature1 it is  reasonable to conclude
 these ,suns to be centres of systems   
like ours2  and destined for the same   
noble purposes1 viz4 that of giving     
light1  heat1 and vegetation1 to various
 worlds that revolve round them1 but    
which are too remote for discovery1 even
 with our best telescopes6  ,this idea  
is infinitely too great for the human   
mind2 or indeed for  that of any created
 ,being6 ,for how inadequate must the   
utmost stretch  of finite faculties be  
to represent infinity6 ,the stars1      
disposed in  constellations1 and        
surrounded by concentric circles1 may   

perhaps assist  the imagination a       
little3 ,the attempt in ,,scene ,v4 if  
not admired1 we  hope will be forgiven4 
,but was it possible we could actually  
take our  flight into infinite space1 or
 be borne on the wings of lightning1 to 
the  most distant fixed ,star we can now
 see1 even there1 perhaps1 we should    
find ourselves on the confines of       
creation1 and see as many stars before  
us as we left behind6 ,for space has    
neither top nor bottom in it3 it  is a  
circle whose centre is every where1 but 
whose circumference is no  where6 ,even 
systems themselves may have revolutions 
round one another2  and account for that
 difference of distance that we are     
constantly  observing to arise amongst  
the fixed stars2 for new stars appear1  
rise  into magnitude1 and then diminish 
and disappear1 which would also be      
accounted for by supposing that our ,sun
 himself is in progressive motion       
towards some part of infinite space1 and
 carrying his system of worlds  along   

with him4 ,stars of the first magnitude1
 in ,flamsted's time1  dwindle into     
those of the third or fourth1 in our    
time4 ,some of  the stars change their  
magnitude periodically3 as ,algol1 in   
,medusa's  ,head1 which rises from the  
third magnitude to the second1 in two   
days  and twenty-one hours4--,where such
 periodical disappearances are short1   
they have been referred with probability
 to quick revolutions of such  stars on 
their axis1 with part of their disk     
opaque2 or to the regular  intervention 
of some very considerable ,planet to    
intercept them from  us4 ,but           
re-appearances of this kind1 after very 
long intervals1 would  indicate rather a
 revolution in a great orbit4 ,by       
analogy we conclude1  that at a proper  
distance our ,sun would dwindle into a  
fixed ,star among  the rest1 and his    
system of worlds disappear4 ,now as we  
see that almost  every particle of our  
globe swarms with life and animals1 we  
cannot  suppose the other bodies of our 

system to be only intended as a faint   
spangle for mortals to gaze at2 more    
especially as they are as well          
calculated for inhabitants as ours1     
revolving as regularly round the same   
,sun1 and seeming to have every other   
convenience for rational and brute      
inhabitants#e4 ,but to carry this idea  
into infinite space2 to recognize  ,suns
 and ,systems1 above us1 below us1 to   
the ,east1 the ,west1 the ,north1  the  
,south2 to consider each ,sun as the    
centre of a system like ours1 and  every
 world inhabited6--,in short1 the       
astonished fancy turns round1 and is    
entirely lost and sunk in the abyss of  
nature6 ,well might the ,psalmist  say1 
that1 8,the heavens declare the glory of
 ,god1 and the firmament  sheweth his   
handy work40 ,well might he express     
himself as overwhelmed  with the idea of
 the power and omnipresence of the      
,deity2 since all our  discoveries serve
 only to convince us1 that a progress of
 inexpressible  extent1 continued       

through ages without number1 would find 
us every where1  as here1 surrounded    
with his infinite energy1 eternity1 and 
immensity1  filled with his vital       
presence4    ,illustration              
,,footnotes      #a ,her mountains by   
some have been calculated nine miles    
high2 but  ,dr4 ,herschell's telescopes1
 which magnify #fejj times1 have reduced
 her  highest hills to about two miles4 
,mr4 ,shroeter apprehends that the      
mountain ,leibnitz is not less than     
#be1jjj feet high4 ,the ,craters of the 
,moon are from #d to #ae miles diameter4
 ,he discovers some new spots on the    
,moon1 and calculates her atmosphere to 
be #ecgf feet high1 an height so        
inconsiderable that it might escape our 
best telescopes or most minute          
observations4    #b ,it is rather       
curious how the antients saw so much of 
him as that  his period was tolerably   
guessed1 at least so far back as the    
days of  ,cicero4--,de ,nat4 ,deor4     
,,ii4 #bj4 ,they knew it to be less than

 the ,earth's3  which1 though far from  
accurate1 was a nearer calculation than 
could be  then expected4 ,and this is   
the more remarkable if ,cicero had it   
from  ,plato1 and he from gypt and      
,syria4    #c ,if the ,earth turned     
round its axis in #hd minutes and #dc   
seconds1  the centrifugal force would be
 equal to the power of gravity at the   
equator2 and all bodies there would     
entirely lose their weight4 ,if the     
,earth revolved quicker1 they would all 
fly off and leave it4    #d ,the        
velocity of a cannon-ball is about eight
 miles per minute4        ,of the ,comet
 in its perihelion    #ad1fjj      ,of  
,light                      #ab1jjj1jjj 
#e ,perhaps the inhabitants of one      
system may be destined successively  to 
pass from planet to planet1 and from    
systems to other systems4 ,this  would  
answer1 on an immense scale1 to the     
analogy existing on ,earth4 ,it  is     
stated as a conjecture with much energy 
and beauty in a late work4  ,illustrat4 

of ,proph4 ,t4 ,,ii4 p4 #eeg1 ,anno     
#agif4          ,,dissertation    ,,on  
,,the ,,probable ,,cause ,,of ,,the     
,deluge4      ,so perfect are the laws  
by which this wonderful system is       
regulated1 and  so effectual that       
,self-physic which the ,almighty has    
instituted through  all his works1 that 
if any seeming disorder happens in the  
system1 there  requires no immediate    
interposition to prevent or cure the    
mischief3 each  body carrying within    
itself the principles of preservation   
and cure2 an  argument of wisdom and    
foresight worthy of the ,deity6    ,the 
,planet ,jupiter was attracted out of   
his orbit by the enormous ,comet  which 
appeared in the year #afhj4 ,the ,comet 
coming across the plane of  his track1  
had a temporary influence upon him2 and 
it is observable1 he  has not travelled 
by the same fixed stars since that      
period which he did  before it2 and no  
doubt but his usual motion was          
momentarily retarded1  and the shape of 

his orbit altered4 ,now if ,jupiter     
consists of land and  water 7and by the 
spots seen on his face it is more than  
probable7 it is  possible he might      
experience a revolution something       
similar to our flood2  for that our     
flood was occasioned by the near        
approach of a ,comet1 is a  most natural
 supposition1 and in no wise militates  
against the scriptural  doctrine of that
 event3 it being as easy1 and as        
consistent for the  ,almighty1 to render
 justice by a secondary cause1 as by an 
immediate  interposition4 ,nor is his   
attribute of mercy arraigned by the     
promiscuous  destruction the deluge     
occasioned2 for it is evident1 by       
reasoning from  his works1 that he      
governs the universe by 8general1 not by
 partial laws40    ,the vestiges of the 
,deluge are so remarkable1 both on the  
surface and  within the bowels of the   
,earth1 that if examined without        
prejudice1 they  prove1 ,i think1 beyond
 a doubt1 that awful revolution to have 

been the  work of a ,comet4 ,not that   
the moisture of its tail drowned the    
,world1  as was unphilosophically       
suggested by ,whiston2 but if the       
attraction of  the ,moon be capable of  
raising the water of the sea above its  
common  level1 what effects might not be
 supposed from the near approach of a   
body perhaps many thousand times larger 
than the ,moon8 ,if a tide by such  an  
attraction was raised three or four     
miles above the level of the ,sea1  the 
,earth1 by turning on its axis1 would   
have that protuberance dragged  over the
 land1 and its surface would be plowed  
up into those inequalities  we call     
mountains2 for that mountains are not of
 eternal duration1 is  evident from     
their growing less1 even in the memory  
of man4 ,for every  thing tends to a    
level4 ,rains falling on mountains wash 
down their  asperities2 this matter     
bemuds the rivers1 and banks out the    
sea2 rocks  themselves yield up their   
fantastic forms to the effects of air1  

water1  and heat2 and land has been     
growing into the water ever since the   
,deluge4  ,but why should all           
assemblages of mountains be arranged    
like little  ridges of sand on the sea  
shore8 ,doubtless by having been        
produced by a  superior tide1 and left  
to dry by an unreturning sea4 ,almost   
all great  ranges of mountains run      
,north and ,south2 the ,andes of the    
,cordelleras2  the mountains of the     
,moon in ,africa2 the ,dophranes1       
,caucasus1 ,allegany1  c4--the ,alps and
 ,pyrenees excepted4    ,as ,comets     
visit our system in all directions1 why 
might not that in  question have its    
motion from ,north to ,south1 and       
dragging the sea after  it1 determine   
the mountains to those points of the    
compass8 ,whence  come the shells and   
fish bones we meet with on the tops of  
the highest  mountains8 ,we have not    
discovered any power in nature disposed 
to work  such quantities of them thro'  
the bowels of the ,earth2 and indeed    

imagination has not yet been so wild as 
to carry them thither3 they are  not a  
fortuitous assemblage of atoms assuming 
such forms2 not lusus  natur1 but bona  
fide1 shells and fish bones1 such as we 
meet with on  the sea shore6 ,we find   
them also deep buried in the bowels of  
the ground1  far from the sea2 we find  
them in rocks1 and often converted into 
stone3  nay1 may not the fat of fish1   
joined with vegetable substances1 form  
the  bitumen of coal8 ,we have          
experiments that warrant such a         
suggestion4  ,now if ever the ,sea was  
dragged over the surface of the ,earth  
by the  attraction of a ,comet1 these   
effects must naturally follow4    ,in   
digging into the bowels of the ,earth1  
we have still stronger evidence  that   
the flood was occasioned by the near    
approach of a ,comet4 ,it is well       
ascertained1 that the united attraction 
of every atom of the ,earth forms  that 
,earth into a dense ball1 and not any   
particular attraction in its            

centre4--,all matter being therefore    
affected by this power in proportion  to
 its density1 one might conclude that   
the heaviest bodies would lie  deepest1 
and the lightest near the surface1 but  
this is by no means the  case3 ,coal is 
lighter than stone2 various minerals lie
 upon light earths1  c4 evidently       
proving1 that the general order of      
nature has at some time  been disturbed1
 and the manner in which matter obeys   
the laws of gravity  disarranged4 ,hence
 the philosophic miner finds strata of  
various density  in digging downwards2  
and in pursuing his vein of ore1 finds  
these  strata broken and divided2 nay1  
if he loses the vein1 he can easily tell
  where to find it again1 by the manner 
in which it broke off4 ,in this he      
never is mistaken3 ,he sees1 as it were1
 through many fathoms of ,earth6        
evidently suggesting1 that some         
revolution on the ,earth has broken up  
its  naturally arranged strata1 and     
introduced this 8regular confusion40    

,the various strata of the ,earth seldom
 lie on one another horizontally3  they 
generally dip2 and near the shore       
commonly incline towards the  sea4 ,on  
the ,south coast of ,england1 the rocks 
incline ,southerly2 on the  opposite    
coast of ,france they incline to the    
,north4 ,is it not probable1  that at   
the ,deluge1 the horizontal stratum was 
broken between these  countries3 and the
 ends falling lowest at the breach1     
formed the channel1  into which the sea 
flowed1 when it lost the influence of   
the ,comet1  and again obeyed the power 
of gravity8 ,countries separated by     
narrow  channels1 universally have their
 shores inclining towards the sea2      
shewing that the general geography was  
at that time altered4    ,it is true1 we
 have an old doctrine revived1 and      
supported by  respectable authority1    
that mountains were formed originally by
 those  eruptions we call volcanos4 ,the
 votaries of this theory pronounce the  
hollows and cavities on the tops and    

sides of mountains1 ,craters1 or  the   
cups of extinguished volcanos2 and if   
the stone of the mountain  be of a      
bluish colour1 then it is declared      
,lava2 and the proof of a  volcano      
having existed there becomes            
incontrovertible6 ,history1 however1    
affords us very few instances of        
mountains so formed4 ,yet this doctrine 
seems to have received very just        
authority from the last scientific      
circumnavigators4 ,the rocks which      
surround the islands of the ,pacific    
,ocean1 generally break off             
perpendicularly about a mile out at sea1
 which  makes their approach very       
difficult and dangerous2 and as the     
stratum  immediately under the loam of  
the surface has an ashy1 or lava-like   
appearance1 the voyagers very naturally 
concluded1 that the immense  number of  
small islands which stud that extensive 
ocean1 were the product  of subaqueous  
eruptions4 ,still if ,i might be allowed
 to hazard an opinion  against such     

respectable authority1 ,i should rather 
apprehend that the  ,pacific ,ocean had 
been once a continent1 and that at the  
,deluge1 when  the ,earth's surface was 
disarranged and broken up by the violent
 motion  of the waters1 the general body
 of it sunk beneath the level1 or was   
washed away to other parts1 leaving only
 the more elevated and solid part       
remaining4 ,for volcanos throw up matter
 piece-meal2 islands1 therefore1  formed
 by them1 would have a sloping1 or      
gradually sinking shore3 whereas  the   
islands of the ,great ,south ,sea are   
surrounded by perpendicular rocks1  that
 sink in that direction to an almost    
unfathomable depth in the sea4          
,besides1 how can we account for that   
similarity of manners1 customs1  colour1
 and even1 language1 among the          
inhabitants of islands so distant1  that
 no mode of navigation they practice    
could ever make them acquainted1  or    
have any communication with one another8
 ,if these islands were thrown  up from 

the bottom of the sea1 their inhabitants
 would not be thrown up  with them1 and 
all with the same custom and language4  
,now if this immense  part of the globe 
was a continent before the ,deluge1 the 
inhabitants  might be alike2 and if the 
elevated parts were above the subsiding 
water1 7a circumstance more than        
probable7 inhabitants might be saved    
upon them1 with every circumstance of   
similarity we find among them2 for  that
 revolution is not of so remote a date1 
but remains of antediluvian  manners    
might exist at this time4           99  
99       99       99       99           
,sic undique omni ratione concluditur1  
mente consilioque      divino omnia in  
hoc mundo ad salutem omnium             
conservationemque      administrari4    
,quo ,spectaculo nihil potest           
admirabilius esse1      nihil pulchrius4
 ,quid tam apertum1 tamque perspicuum1  
cm clum      suspeximus1 clestiaque     
contemplati sumus1 qum aliquod esse     
,numen prstantissim mentis1 qua hc      

regantur8        ,,cic4 ,,de ,,nat4     
,,deor4          ,heads of ,mr4 ,walker1
 sen4's    ,lectures1    ,,in           
,,conduit-,,street1 ,,hanover-,,square1 
,read every ,monday1 ,wednesday1        
,friday1 during ,winter1    ,,at ,,one1 
,on an ,explanatory ,apparatus1    ,the 
most extensive and elegant4    ,,one    
,,guinea ,,the ,,course4          ,i4   
,on the general ,properties of ,matter1 
,magnetism1 c4        ,,ii4 ,on the     
,laws of ,motion1 ,mechanics1 ,machines 
of ,agriculture1      ,mills1 ,cranes1  
c4        ,,iii4 ,on the ,principles of 
,chemistry4        ,,iv4 ,on            
,pneumatics1 or the ,weight and ,spring 
of the ,air1 ,musical      ,vibrations1 
c4        ,v4 ,on the ,gasses and new   
,discoveries in the ,air4        ,,vi4  
,on the ,hydrostatics1 or the ,motion   
and ,pressure of ,water1      ,canals1  
,aqueducts1 ,machines1 ,ships1 c4       
,,vii4 ,on ,electricity1 its ,laws1     
,effects1 ,circuits1 ,shocks1 c4        
,,viii4 ,ditto1 negative and positive1  

,lightning1 ,thunder1      ,galvanism1  
,medical ,electricity1 c4        ,,ix4  
,on ,optics1 ,laws of ,light1 ,vision1  
,lenses1 c4        ,x4 ,on the ,figure  
and ,motions of the ,earth4        ,,xi4
 ,on the ,phases1 ,eclipses1 c4 of the  
,moon1 and on the ,tides4        ,,xii4 
,on the ,solar ,system in general1 with 
the new ,discoveries4    ,this ,course  
may be read privately for #ej ,guineas1 
or to ,general  ,subscription amounting 
to #gj ,guineas1 on application to      
,mess4 ,walker1  sen4 or jun4           
,ipswich3 printed by ,burrell  ,bransby4