If we inquire into the opinions of men in a state of barbarism, we shall find reason to conclude, that the foundations of astrological delusion are laid at a very early period. In climates where the sky is almost al ways serene, the magnificence of the starry heavens could not fail to excite the wonder of the first inhabit ants. The most obvious impression would be, that the blue expanse was an arch of immeasureable dimensions, studded with brilliant spots. But this idea would be overturned in an instant. Though savages are not much disposed to speculate concerning causation, they always ascribe motion to the impulse of a living being ; and as the simplest solution of every such appearance, they suppose life to be inherent in the body which moves. There is no language which does not bear the traces of this belief. Every fountain and every stream, is at first conceived to be " living water ;" every motion of the air is the breathing of a spirit ; and the clouds floating on high are upborne on "the wings of the wind." Whence can the motion of the planets proceed, but from anima tion ; and, if they are animated, it is easy to imagine that their power is incomparably superior to human. When such an idea gains admission, the imagination knows not where to stop.
In more advanced stages of society, the opinion, that the stars have an influence over terrestrial things, might appear to be confirmed by observations which are not quite s- visionary. Certain appearances in the heavens being associated' with corresponding changes in the sea sons, were supposed to be either the efficient causes, or the invariable signs of these changes. The variations in the temperature and gravity of the atmosphere, the ebbing and flowing of the sea, and the fertility of the earth, were very early ascribed to the power of the sun and moon. And why should the planetary bodies be excluded from a share of the same dominion ? or why may we not conceive, that their influence is as great over the bodies and minds, the actions and fortunes of men, as the rule of the greater lights is over the vast king doms of the ocean, the air, and the earth ? Nay, is it not conceivable, that those apparently minute lumina ries, whose number defy human calculation, may have been appointed to regulate the destinies of the number less individuals who inhabit the earth, to each of whom it is possible that a particular star has been appropriated, as the guide of his conduct, and the arbiter of his fate ? And might not this opinion seem to be strengthened by the consideration, that as many of them have no appa rent connection with the great changes, it may be their exclusive province to preside over the incidents which occur in the minuter portions of the world ? We shall here take notice only of another opinion, still less nnphilosophical, which might have a tendency to confirm the belief, that the stars exercise a certain degree of influence over the moral world. All men
have aserved, that the bodily constitution is sensibly affected by the modifications of the atmosphere. All men of reflection know also, that the state of the body, and that of the mind, are intimately connected. If the heavenly bodies have an influence on the atmosphere, why may they not, through the medium of the atmo sphere, affect the human body ? and why may they not, through the intervention of the body, affect the dispo sitions and passions of the mind ? Is it not very gene rally believed, that climate has great efficacy in forming the human character ? and, if a few degrees of the ther mometer are capable of accounting for the varieties of intellectual capacity, for the strength or weakness of passion, for the liveliness or defect of imagination, for the activity or torpor of all the faculties, is it irrational to conclude, that these varieties are to be ascribed to influences from the celestial regions ? Is it not possible, also, that other modifications of the air, besides tempe rature, gravity, dryness, or moisture, may descend from the different parts of the solar system ? What we call light is an influence of the sun, without which the or gan of vision would be useless ? Is it not possible, that influences from some other parts of the system may be necessary to enable us to hear, to smell, and to taste; to reason, to remember, to love, and to desire ? These influences, indeed, are not perceptible to sense ; nor are they deducible from any general principles ; but they are not inconsistent with analogy. We suggust these ideas as not altogether destitute of plausibility ; and we think we have observed something resembling them in the writings of some of the ancients, who believed in two kinds of influence, the one immediate, and the other remote ; the one discoverable by the senses, the other eluding the most inquisitive observation ; the one called lyvvSLEv iYvota, the other xer icteYrog There is certainly little solidity in the greater num ber of these opinions. But if we were even to admit all that has been suggested, the foundations of astrolo gical science must be regarded as very infirm. How can such influences, as those which have now been hint ed at, be reduced to any calculation ? Were we even to abandon all, except what is called natural astrology, it would require a series of the most correct observations, for thousands of years, to enable us to form tables, sheaving the connection between the position of the stars and the changes of the weather. This would be only an approach to science ; and, with regard to the more recondite influences, these tables could scarcely furnish matter for any rational conjecture.