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planet Mars to the meridian, after which the Saturnine place was free." Where was the Saturnine place good, Mr. Lilly, Junr.? and how was it left free by the arrival of Mars?

However it seems that this champion can appreciate true science in others, accordingly J. S. and J. W. are the present astrological luminaries in his estimation, and certainly his stile of commendation is curious and elegant, they are "earth's rarities," &c. I have, Sir, too good an opinion of these writers from what has appeared of theirs to believe that his mode of panegyric will please them, and trust, that instead of being lulled into indifference and torpidity, as to the true base of astrology, they will be on the alert to vindicate its injured principles. by abjuring elucidations on vague grounds and false calculations.

66

Ere I close this letter, Sir, I beg to observe, that I hope, when you hear from this gentleman again, he will explain his real sentiments on the infant Marr's nativity, as I do assure you, that I scarcely know even now, whether he meant to be serious or sarcastic with J. W.; and let me add, that his remark about his being compelled to lay himself into some serions and entertaining disquisition to calm his agitation of soul" is, in my humble opinion, quite out of place, as it is very doubtful how far he will find himself entertained with this discussion, or that the perturbation of his mind was such as to hinder his tranquility.

Let Lilly, Junr. confine himself in his correspondence with you, to extracting from different authors, the furnishing a day for the calculation of a nativity, and the solution of stale astronomical paradoxes; but never let him presume to dive into the arcana of real science, or to attempt to explain its principles, without the ardent dis

position of genius, or the experience of protracted contemplation. Reserving to myself, at a future period, any further observations that may appear necessary,

I remain, Sir,

Your humble Servant,

J. W. P.

P. S. In a future letter I shall have the pleasure of pointing out the real astrological reasons which have sympathised with Buonaparte's decline of fortune.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Correspondent.

I HAD not taken in your correspondent from its commencement, but a few days ago, I purchased the set, for the sake of the Astronomical Tables. I shall in future avail myself of your valuable publication, on account of its intrinsic worth. Astrology has been my favorite study for some years. I am entirely unknown to any of your correspondents. Swift pleases me most, and with his nativity of Buonaparte I am delighted, as a master-piece of genuine science.

Your correspondent J. W. you may truly call valuable; his writings bear the strong mark of acute penetration: with the fortiter in re, I have no doubt that Gentleman combines the suaviter in modo. He will therefore not take it amiss, if I state that his account of the nativity of Mrs. Marr in your last number, has occasioned me to trouble you Mr. Editor, with a few observations, not by way of censure, for I believe the majority of students in the present day may learn from J. W.; and though what I shall observe may perhaps be very plain towards him, I trust some of your readers will be benefitted thereby.

Indeed as I am but a learner, I would propose it to J. W. by way of Quere. In all nativities, supposing the watch to be accurately set to mean time, and the time of birth exactly ascertained by such watch, is it

not indispensably necessary to apply the equation, in order to convert it into solar time? J. W. thinks the time of Mrs. Marr's birth was seven or eight minutes later than the time set down; but at that period of the year the equation of time is about nine minutes and a half, to be added; or in other words, clocks properly set to mean time would be that much slower than the dial.

At the beginning of the month of November the clocks and watches are about sixteen minutes behind solar time, and suppose a child born precisely at twelve in the day, by the watch, it would never do to erect the figure for noon, and place the Sun on the cusp of the tenth house; for at the instant of birth the Sun would have passed the meridian sixteen minutes of time.

If Mr. Editor, you think these remarks likely to be of any service, I shall be much obliged by their insertion; and as occasion may offer for the exercise of my humble abilities you may hear further from

Your most obedient servant,

London, July 21st, 1814.

MERCATOR.

To the Editor of the Monthly Correspondent.

SIR,

IN looking over the Town and Country Magazine for July, 1771, the following attracted my notice: "Her Majesty was taken in labour June 5th, half past four, and was delivered of a son, a little before six in the morning." Led by curiosity to see how far the astrological cause would agree with a certain deplorable event, I set the figure for twelve minutes before six, and have transmitted it to you for the contemplation of the studious as a most irrefragable and convincing proof of astral influence, as it leaves it to those who understand any thing of astronomy and disbelieve in astrology, either to prove that the time and calculations are wrong, or

H. R. H. The Duke of Cumberland's Nativity. 241

acknowledge candidly that they never looked into the rules of astrology to see how far they agree or disagree with truth; but that they wish to retain their own opinion without examination, like the Florentine physician mentioned by Bullialdus, who would not be prevailed upon to look through Galileo's telescope himself, for fear of seeing someting which should oblige him to desert some of Aristotle's opinions; and as for any discoveries made by glasses, which others told him of, he would have no regard at all to them; and however strange it may appear that such philosophical bigotry should exist in the nineteenth century, I can positively and solemnly affirm, that I never met with any person I knew to be acquainted with astronomy, and where conversation touched upon astrology, but I have invariably offered to convince them of its real existence, and they have almost as invariably declined being convinced. To assist in removing this prejudice, I have sent you the following calculation, and I believe no one will venture to say that the effect did not correspond with the cause agreeably to the rules of every author that ever wrote upon the science.

The right ascension of Mars is

His declination is 18° 56' north, and its
ascensional difference under the pole
of the ascendant or 51° 31' is
Which subtracted from the right as-
cension as it is with north declination,
gives for the oblique ascension of
Mars

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And it leaves the arc of the direction of

the ascendant to the conjunction of
Mars

133° 38'

25 32

108

69 40

38 26

Which agreeably to Naibod's measure of time corresponds with near 39 years of age, the time the lamentable affair with Sellis happened.

Now if any one can produce a nativity like this, where Saturn and Mars were in conjunction in a violent sign, with other similar positions, and the ascendant came to their bodies without producing something of a similar effect, it would shew that astrology is delusive, and its votaries are deceived; but if on the contrary no proof of its fallacy can be adduced, let this nativity stand amongst the numberless proofs which may be advanced of its verity.

I am, Sir, Yours, &c.

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LATITUDE OF THE PLANETS.

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