valent throughout the East .... 191 XVI. The twelve Signs of the Zodiac.. 203 XVI. The Northern Constellations which PREFACE. When we reflect on the present state of society, and contemplate the energy employed in drawing into exercise the various faculties of the human mind, the delight arising from the consideration that so much has been achieved, may sometimes lead to the exclamation, What yet remains to be done! To the hasty traveller the spacious building may appear complete; though to the attentive examiner many defects will be seen in this edifice, however grand. The love of literature is, it is true, on the advance; but the symptoms of superficial attainments are also prevalent. Education is highly prized, but it is too often an education, which excites momentary admiration, without yielding lasting respect, or procuring solid advantage. To prevent this, no pains should be spared. The selection of popular truths from sciences the most profound, so that with ease they may be wrought into the youthful mind, forms one barrier against those temptations to display and vanity, which unavoidably present themselves to the youth of either sex. Stimulated by this idea, I have carefully inquired for all elementary books connected with the subject of Astronomy, and am obliged to confess that I have found but one in all respects calculated to become an introduction to this sublime science; and that is the interesting volume of Bonnycastle. Ferguson's work is, indeed, most valuable; but since Bonnycastle appears to have selected much that is important from this author, and to have given it a modern dress, the advantages of that work are now in some degree superseded. But, notwithstanding the high merit of Bonnycastle, his work is too extensive to be committed to memory; and, as it is written in a fluent and connected manner, to select detached passages would destroy the beauty and consistency of the whole. The examination of pupils from the contents of this work, in a connected series of questions and answers, at first suggested the idea of the benefit that might arise from an Astronomical Catechism. Intimately connected with one important division in astronomy, is the mythology of the heathen world. I have, therefore, also collected a number of the mythological works, usually put into the hands of young people. From the publication of Tooke's Pantheon, to that of Miss Hatfield's delicate, interesting, and recent production, perhaps few have escaped my perusal. But since at a very early period of life it was my unparalleled happiness to read Mr. Bryant's ample and masterly performance, it is not wonderful that the facts he has brought together, and displayed in his inestimable pages, make it obvious to me that another volume is yet wanted for the perusal of the youthful inquirer. Grecian fables may indeed be clothed most delicately, but they remain fables still. It is indispensable, that at an early period of life, the fallacy of all this beauty, of all this Grecian vivacity should be seen through, that the child should be taught to inquire what is the FOUNDATION on which this pleasing superstructure stands. Deeply impressed with this idea, I have asserted, and I hope proved, that the Greeks seized upon a sphere formed by other hands, relative to more ancient, and more important transactions; that they retained the constellations on our globe, but misapplied or new-modelled historical facts to their own fabulous mythology. Mr. Maurice's varied, yet unique productions, are treasures of inestimable worth; but it is obvious, that they are altogether unsuitable to be the common class-books of young persons at school. The vast and varied quantity of information they contain, the consequent bulk of the volumes, and the necessary expense attending their purchase, place them on a shelf not to be found in a school girl's library. Therefore, should this trifling production have only the one happy consequence of forming in the minds of my pupils the fixed resolution of hereafter reading the works of Mr. Bryant, and of Mr. Maurice, the end, in its consecration to their service, will be answered. Even within these walls, a death-blow to infidelity will be given in the mind of each indi |