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STATE AND PROSPECTS OF ASTROLOGY.

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surprised, therefore, to see a well-attested fact, which proves beyond dispute the reality of astrology, treated as a fiction, or rather termed a mere "coincidence;" as if it really were not evidence of cause and effect. Blasphemy and fallacy couple well together. At page 908 of the Athenæum we read as follows:

"Among the coincidences of words and things are prophecies of every species, when fulfilled." Pretty fair, this, for professed believers in the Bible. "One remarkable class is that of predictions made in jest." And then the writer goes on to say, that a celebrated prediction of Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royalfulfilled in a most striking and inconceivable, nay, miraculous manner, if astrology did not exist and shew us similar cases every day-was made in jest, forsooth! But our readers shall have it in the exact words of the writer. The case appeared in the London Chronicle in 1771, and the writer states that he had it from Whiston, who had it from Flamsteed himself:

Flamsteed, when Astronomer Royal, was consulted by a poor woman at Greenwich, for the recovery of a large parcel of linen which she supposed to have been stolen. The sage, to amuse himself, drew a figure with circles and squares in it, and then gravely informed the woman, that if she would look in a certain dry ditch, which he described, the parcel would be found. And there it was found, to the dismay of the astronomer; who feared, no doubt, that all who did not take him for a conjuror might believe him to have been the thief: and serve him right!' as it is expressively said."

Only fancy the Astronomer Royal, the mighty Mr. Airy, being consulted by an old woman for the recovery of her lost linen! Think of the honour of the great philosopher, to whom the calculations of Mr. Adams, a Cambridge man, touching the existence of a planet as yet unknown, were so contemptible as to be cushioned, till the prying eyes of a French astronomer detected the treasure on the dusty shelves of Greenwich Observatory! Think of the mighty man being "consulted" about lost linen! And yet it seems the Astronomer Royal who first held the office was not surprised or offended, but quietly sat down to humbug the poor laundress, and "amused himself" (how badly Astronomers Royal must lack amusement!) by drawing a figure with circles and squares in it. (How singular that this should be the very kind of figure that astrologers have ever been in the habit of drawing to represent the appearance of the heavens!) And then "the sage" gravely informed the poor woman, that, if she would look in a certain dry ditch, which he described, the parcel would be found!" Did he? Why, if he really did not believe that the parcel would be so found, he must have known that he would be speedily shewn to be more deserving to be called a fool for

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his pains than to be deemed "a sage ;" and a very heartless fool, too, to play with the feelings of a poor woman already distressed by the loss of her goods. Such was not the character of Flamsteed. But what led the poor woman to think of going to consult" the Airy of his day in the moment of her distress? Why, the fact that it was well known that he believed in and practised astrology. And the evidence of this fact may be seen in Hone's Every-day Book, in which is given the very figure of the heavens that Flamsteed erected for the moment of laying the first stone of Greenwich Observatory. And this said "figure, with circles and squares in it," proves him to have been an excellent practical astrologer, who elected that happy moment for the building an observatory which has been eminently successful, and endured a century without any mishap, we believe; as we trust it may continue to do, under the benevolent and fortunate influences its astrological founder elected for its construction.

But the parcel "was found" where the "figure" pointed out that it should be; a cause of wonderment to the ignorant noodles who write against astrology without even understanding what "a figure of the heavens" really is; though, to the genuine astrologer, the only wonder would have been if the parcel had not been so found, according to the indications of the heavens. And thus their ignorance leads these writers to deny generally the facts of astrology; but where, as in this case, the facts are too patent, too manifest to be denied, they quietly sit down to tell all manner of falsehoods, to deny the philosophy of cause and effect, to uphold chance, and even to cry down the sublime and holy doctrine of an over-ruling Providence, rather than confess the reality of those influences of the stars which the wise men among the Hebrews thought nowise inconsistent with the power, the goodness, and the Majesty of JEHOVAH.

The case we have given proves a great deal; for it proves that, as the Editor of the Athanaeum cannot be ignorant of the history of Flamsteed, and must have seen the Every-day Book, he admits wittingly a very absurd and not less mendacious account of a simple transaction, which stands as an unshaken testimony of the reality of the doctrines of the influence of the stars-in brief, of astrology; and must so continue to stand and uphold the sacred Truth, in despite of the foul malice of all such labourers in the vineyard of Falsehood, the fee-simple of which seems to be vested in the hands of some of our modern public writers. The Editor can have no excuse, as he asserts that he has "examined nativities;" and, therefore, he knew very well what the figure that Flamsteed drew really was. But let us

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charitably hope that this false statement was inserted, without his knowledge, by some one of the base men who pander to the public prejudices against astrology in such publications; mere literary "cheats," under the influence of Mercury, when ill dignified.

AURORA BOREALIS.

Where are thy secret laws, O Nature, where?
Thy torch-lights dazzle in the wintry zone;
How dost thou light from ice thy torches there?
There has thy sun some sacred, secret throne?
See in your frozen sea what glories have their birth,-
Thence night leads forth the day t'illuminate the earth.

LOMONOSOO, a Native Russian.

THE aurora borealis, or northern daybreak, as the name imports from the close resemblance of the aspect of the sky before sun-rise, is one of the most striking and brilliant of all optical phenomena, and particularly in those regions where its full glory is revealed. To give any thing like an adequate description of such a truly magic aspect, the skill of the painter and the graphic art of the poet are demanded.

The appearances exhibited by the aurora are so various, from the first dawning of a summer's morn to the most gorgeous spectacle the most vivid imagination can picture, that to attempt any thing like an adequate description, in a brief essay, would be absurd: a slight glance may excite inquiry, and awaken curiosity to know more of so wonderful a phenomenon.

The history of these phenomena takes us back to the days of Aristotle, who describes them as occurring on certain nights, their appearances "resembling flame mingled with smoke, the predominant colours being purple, bright red, and blood colour." Xenophon, Homer, and Virgil, and other classical writers, notice them; and among the chronicles of the middle ages they are spoken of as "surprising lights in the air," converted by the vulgar and the ignorant, as their imagination led them, into gleaming swords, contending armies, and disastrous prognostics.

Dr. Haley mentions a very brilliant display of aurora in 1716, on which he wrote a paper on the Philosophical Transactions, wherein he states that "nothing of the kind had occurred in England for more than eighty years, nor of the same magnitude since 1574." In 1575, Cornelius Gemma, Professor in the University of Louvain, says, "In the aurora were seen a great many bright arches, out of which gradually issued spears, cities with towers, and men in battle array; after that, there were excur

VOL. I.

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sions of rays every way, waves of clouds wheeling round in a surprising manner."

Torfæus, an Icelander and Danish historian, wrote in 1706, when, he says, he "remembers the time when the meteor was an object of terror in his native land."

In "Traité Physique et Historique de l'Aurore Boreale," published in 1754 by M. de Mairau, is a record of all the aurora from the sixth century to that date, so far, at least, as they are to be met with in the page of history. This writer enumerates no less than 1441 auroral displays, in the following order :

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These are said to have appeared in the following months; viz.

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From which it will be seen that 972 occurred in the winter half of the year, and 469 in the summer half; being rather more than two to one in favour of the winter displays.

Various opinions are prevalent as to the elevation of auroral phenomena. M. de Mairau considers the mean height to be about 175 French leagues, equal to 464 English miles. Dr. Dalton considers them to be about 100 miles; while Captain Parry, who witnessed the aurora in high northern latitudes, considers that some of them did not appear higher than many clouds are seen. Luminous arches frequently precede or accompany auroral displays: one of the most brilliant of these arches appeared on the 27th of August, 1846, about 10 minutes before 9 o'clock P.M. It passed across the heavens at right angles to the magnetic meridian, and a little above the bright star Vega in Lyra. This band was broader than the common rainbow, and of a pure brilliant white, stretched over the deep blue azure sky. The writer of this article, and a gentleman in Norfolk, both attempted to find its altitude. Taking our base line at 100 miles, we found, by a trigonometrical calculation, that its

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altitude was about 140 miles. Euler estimated auroral arches at 1000 miles; Boscovich at 800; Bergman at 460. At whatever height these arches may be determined, there is no doubt but the aurora borealis is of the same height, as they appear to be the result of the same operating cause.

The following notices of a recent auroral display will be read with interest:

The Rev. John Nunn, of Gurleiston, N.B., lat. 54° 46′ N., long. 41° 18′ W., says, "between 9 and 10 o'clock, Nov. 17th, 1848, I looked out and saw rays of light nearly all around, stretching upwards chiefly from NW. to NE. What appeared to me singular in this phenomenon was, that all the rays concentrated in a point exactly over our heads. The rays were of different colours, chiefly of a reddish tinge."

"At Frome," writes the Rev. Walter Sheppard, "at a quarter to 9 P.M., Nov. 17th, the eastern part of the heavens was tinged with a deep roseate hue. This rapidly stretched across the centre of the sky from east to west, with rays of yellow light shooting across the pink arch. Then the band became broken, and the roseate hue, in various shades of colouring, spread over the southern portion of the heavens from E. to NW., with light cumuli rapidly passing across towards the west, the wind at the time rising to a gale, and then dying away. At 10 P.M. the roseate hue had disappeared; but in the NW. and W. a bright light continued until after 2 A.M. on the 18th, with high wind. The barometric column had been falling for twelve hours previous."

Mr. Barnes, of Breton, near Sidmouth, says, "the night of the 17th of Nov. 1848 will be long remembered by those who were watching the heavens. Since 1837 I have seen nothing so brilliant and grand as the phenomenon seen here on the 18th of October last; but the appearance of last night (17th of Nov.) was far surpassing that of last month in magnificence. It appeared first of a primrose colour; and so great was the light, that distant objects could be seen as clearly as in the day. Birds could be distinctly seen roosting on the trees, and the smallest print could be read. After a short time, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the whole heavens became crimson-coloured, and distant objects appeared of a deep crimson colour; after 10, the horizon again became white, and remarkably light."

Geo. Darling, Esq., of Wesler, says, "we had an extraordinary appearance of the aurora borealis last night (Nov. 17th, 1848), which extended from E. to W., as the reflection of some great fire, sending forth innumerable streams of light up to the zenith, the colours of which were intensely brilliant."

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