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lication of mine, between J. W. P. and Lilly, Jun. who whatever may be their respective merits as skilful astrologers, appear to be on a par, as to good wishes and ardour in the pursuit of truth. It is an unfortunate circumstance that when the state of the science requires undivided support, and the most strenous exertions of unanimity, that two gentlemen, who certainly appear by their writings, to be well calculated to serve its true principles, should disagree, (where an uninterested observer would suppose there could be but one opinion) and that too with an unpleasant degree of asperity.

I cannot help expressing my sincere regret at this circumstance, at the same time that I cannot avoid hoping that ere long, Lilly, jun. as well as many of a similar opinion, respecting Buonaparte's nativity, will feel convinced that the position J. W. P. has thought proper to elucidate, is the more consonant to the real principles of the art, and as more congenial to the sublime precepts of Ptolemy; so more agreeable to truth.

However, Sir, I trust I may be pardoned for saying, that the exposition of truth or falshood, in matters of science, is not necessarily connected with that sort of language which savours of personality; and without a wish to give offence any way, I think I may assert, that the cause of truth is better aided by moderation, than a too confident expression of opinion; though certainly there is less room for tenacity where opinions are resting on spurious authority, and insecure foundations.

For the present, I will just add, that Lilly, jun. seems to confound the effects of directions, with the effects of radical positions, and that at this time he does not seem sufficiently to regard the power of Herschel.

I shall feel obliged by the insertion of this letter,

which if so, I shall hold as ominous of a pleasurable intercourse in future. Remaining, Sir,

Your humble servant,

P. J. SWIFT.

Walworth, July 18th, 1814.

Observations on the influence of the Georgian, communicated to the Editor through a private channel.

WHAT an important epoch in the annals of astrology is the discovery of this new primary planet-what a vast field of scientific enquiry its existence opens to our view. A ponderous, vast and magnificent orb, attended by a sublime train of satellites, is seen rolling in its sphere, at the enormous distance of eighteen hundred millions of miles from the Sun, subject to the same circular course, obeying the same centre, and impelled by a like impulse as the rest of the planets.

How deeply genius regrets, how sincerely science deplores the absence of this immense orb from the calculations of planetary influence: what a chasm in the volume of the skies it has filled, and which now it is known to have existed since wisdom reared the fabric of science, impresses on the mind the most fearful sensations and the most poignant pain.

But vain are the regrets-vain are the wishes of the student of astrology; our forefathers in the most towering rise, of the eagle-flight of their intellect never observed the sphere of the Georgian, though the spirit of their boundless mind sought the confines of creation.

Yet true ardour and real soul, will always deplore, for the sake of genuine science, that the knowledge of the existence of this planet was not coeval with the Sun, NO. VIII.

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and the rest of the heavenly host. Had the Deity in his Omniscience but decreed to man a perfect acquaintance with the starry inhabitants of the wide-realms of space, when his mighty energies first gave life to all; then at this forlorn and gloomy period for truth, we might have possessed the luminous details of his power from the unerring land of ancient lore.

Then the legitimate student in the predictive art might have raised his admiring eyes to the beacon light of antiquity, unshorn of its beams and darting its perfect and undiminished splendors through all the mazes of predictive astronomy.

Led by such a light, and under the guidance of such wisdom, those who have sought a knowledge of things below by a contemplation of things above, would have long since given a mortal blow to the base endeavours of their enemies; then would astrology have raised the lofty turrets of its fabric to the elevation of perfection, gilded by the rays of celestial truth.

Neither would they have had to lament the disappointment of their own best hopes, and the failure of many ingenious calculations, as the knowledge of the existence of the Georgian, comprising an acquaintance with the sphere of his influence, seems now to have been all that was wanting in the elucidation of sidereal power.

But is it possible, amid the expressions of real sor, row by the admirer of the sympathies of nature, that the note of triumph should be heard over prostrate truth? Can it be believed that there is to be found the carpings of envy and malice, aided by prejudice and misrepresentation, instead of candid acknowledgements and liberal indulgence towards the ardent pursuers of real knowledge? Yes, it is too true, that in the place of a noble candour, declaring its want of information to enable it

rightly to decide on the merits or demerits of astrology, the most foul and opprobrious abuse is levelled without mercy on students, and science; and the very reason that should induce all to make allowances for the partial imperfection of its details, (the absence of the Georgian from all the calculations up to this period) is converted by many into a means of ridicule, and as final proof of astrological absurdity.

It is not our business to repine at the dispensations of a gracious God, but human nature can scarcely support the patient endurance of such an abominable pervertion of the best faculties belonging to man.

Will the soul teeming with sensibility and generous feelings, animated at the same time by that energizing power that leads to the anxious contemplation of things? Can such a being be influenced against the predictive art by the malignat and frothy declamations of unprincipled persons; men who have no bias but interest, and who have no other rule of conduct; who are infinitely more anxious about their worldly prosperity than about the propagation of truth, and whose whole lives present nothing but a base subserviency to the existing order of things, and the most sordid pursuits of gain-surely not. Rather would it rise into a virtuous and deep indignation against the treacherous slander of servility, and consign the base tool of fashion and interest to the most perfect contempt.

(To be continued.)

INTERESTING ANECDOTE OF DRYDEN.

DRYDEN, the celebrated poet, was extremely fond of judicial astrology, and used to calculate the nativity of his children. When his Lady was in labour with his son

Charles, he being told it was decent to withdraw, laid his watch on the table, and begged one of the ladies then present, in a most solemn manner, to take exact notice of the very minute the child was born; which she accordingly did, and acquainted him with it. About a week after, when his Lady was pretty well recovered, Mr. Dryden took occasion to tell her that he had been calculating the child's nativity; and observed with great sorrow. that he was born in an evil hour; for Jupiter, Venus, and the Sun were all under the earth, and the lord of his ascendant afflicted with a hateful square of Mars and Saturn. "If he lives to arrive at the eighth year," says he, "he will go near to die a violent death on his birth-day; but if he should escape, of which I see but small hopes, he will in the twenty-third year be under the same evil direction; and if he luckily should escape that also, the thirty-third or thirty-fourth year I fear is"here he was interrupted by the immoderate grief of Lady Elizabeth, who could no longer bear to hear so much calamity befal her young son. The time at last came, and August was the inauspicious month in which Charles Dryden was to enter into the eighth year of his age. The court being then in progress, and Mr. Dryden at leisure, he was invited to the country seat of the Earl of Berkshire, his brother-in-law, to keep the long vacation with him, at Charlton, in Wilts. Lady Elizabeth was invited at the same time to her uncle Mordaunt's, to pass the remainder of the summer. When they came to divide the children, Lady Elizabeth would gladly have had Mr. Dryden take John, and suffer her to have Charles; but Dr. Dryden was too absolute, and they parted in some anger: he took Charles with him, and she was obliged to be contented with John. When the fatal day came, the anxiety of the Lady's

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