Thus have we endeavoured to give a general view of the origin and progress of the most sublime and perfect of the sciences. Originating in the necessities, or in the superstitious fears of mortals, astronomy was success fully cultivated in Asia during the earliest ages of so ciety. In consequence of some great convulsion in the physical world, the records of wisdom seem to have been destroyed, and the human species itself swept from the face of the earth. The age of darkness which followed this fatal revolution in human affairs, was illuminated by the wrecks of astronomical science that were strewed over the different kingdoms of the East, and that had been preserved on monuments of stone, or in the me mories of those who survived the general desolation. These precious fragments of knowledge were eagerly collected, and led to the cultivation of astronomy in Chi na, Chaldea, and Egypt. From these favoured kingdoms the science passed into Greece, where it received many brilliant accessions front the genius of that refined peo ple. The Grecian astronomers were afterwards allured to Alexandria, by the liberality of the Ptolemies ; and under their generous patronage the study of the sciences was cultivated with unusual success. The conluest of Alexandria by the Arabian Caliphs, transferred to Bag dad the sciences of that illustrious metropolis; and as tronomy flourished under the protection of the Saracen princes, when the fairest portions of Europe were shroud ed in darkness. The sciences, along with the arms, of the Arabs were carried into Spain, from which they be gan to radiate over the rest of Europe. An ardour for celestial observations was now universally displayed. The science advanced with uncommon rapidity, and Co pernicus, Tycho, and Kepler, successively arose to con firm and extend its conquests. But after every obstacle was overthrown, and after the invention of the telescope had removed the barrier which Nature herself seemed to interpose, astronomy had to contend with new cne mies,—with the passions and prejudices of a base super stition. Religion was called down from heaven to sanctify the war of persecution which was waged against science ; but she shrunk form the degrading alliance, and truth finally triumphed over error. The issue of this disgrace
ful conflict, was in every respect glorious to the human mind, and auspicious of its future greatness. By a series of splendid discoveries, which have never been equalled in any department of knowledge, astronomy has advanc ed with accelerated steps, and has reached that com manding station among the.sciences which its sublimity and perfection entitle it to hold.
What attainments it has yet to make, we dare not ven ture to anticipate. The mind shrinks from the awful survey, when it seeks to explore the unfathomable re gions of space, and to mark the innumerable systems of worlds which fill the immensity of the universe. It is bewildered in the magnificence of its own conceptions, and seeks for repose in the midst of its former contem plations. We have already been enabled to ascertain the absolute motion of the solar system, and the direction in which it advances among the stars. We have determin ed the nebula to which it belongs, and its position in that immense group of celestial bodies. It yet remains to trace the orbit of the sun round some distant centre ; to find the centre of gravity of its nebula ; to explain the variations in the light and appearance of the stars ; and to discover the means which the Almighty has employ ed to connect into one great whole the various systems which he has created. * Let not the cold hand of superstition be again stretch ed forth to paralyse the activity of genius, and to in terrupt these brilliant researches which many centuries will be required to complete. The pure religion which we profess, can never authorise an interference so fatal to its best interests. Under her imposing mask, how ever, fanaticsm may yet repeat her fruitless attacks ; but the history of the past is full of consolation, and the victories which science has already achieved over su perstition and error, are the surest pledge of her future triumphs.