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The author of "A Key to the Chronology of the Hindus," is of opinion that the vast periods are only periods of moderate length represented according to the minute subdivisions of time. The lowest subdivision, a Matire, being one-tenth part of an English second, the number 432,000 is the number of Matires in a day of twelve hours. He conceives also that the different Manwantaras (see p. 394.) are only years of different lengths.

But whatever might cause the adoption of this particular base, the Hindus were thus provided with an abstract chronological system. And it was necessary to determine the commencement of one of these periods, in order to connect the system with history: and to frame an astronomical system, of such a nature that the planetary motions should begin with the Kalpa.

Accordingly they fixed upon Feb. 18, 3102 в. c. This they made the commencement of the Kali Yuga of the 28th Maha Yuga, of the 7th Manwantara. They assumed, therefore, as has already been seen (p. 395.), that since the Creation there had already then elapsed a period of 1,972,944,000 years.

Bentley explains at length (Hindu Astron. Part II. 1.) the different adjustments, which were necessary, in order to accommodate the astronomical system to the assumed conditions; and computes several tables in order to shew from internal evidence the time at which

the system was introduced. He gives a table, exhibiting the gradual diminution of the errors in the positions, and in some of the elements, of the several planets, from the commencement of the Kali Yuga, to the year 538 of the Christian æra. The results of that Table, assuming the accuracy of the calculations, are most satisfactory. For instance, the errors in the Moon's place gradually diminish from 8° 55′ 33′′, to 7′ 20′′: those in the position of Venus from 34° 10′ 37′′ to 6'′ 41′′. The errors in the place of Saturn diminish from 19° 59′ 54" to 36′ 24′′.

The inspection of this table, combining the results of the computation for five of the planets, and the Moon, her apogee, and node, all leading to one conclusion, establishes, in his opinion, the fact, that the system was invented about A. D. 538.

The celebrated Surya Siddhanta is shewn, by a similar method, to have been composed about A. D. 1091.

The remaining part of Bentley's Work contains many curious particulars, respecting the alterations in the Hindu Astronomy, which have been since introduced at different periods.

From a comparison of these circumstances, we appear justified in concluding,

That the chronological periods of the Hindus are entirely artificial; that, as even their advocates allow, no astronomical observations are pretended to have been made, except during a period which may be reduced within the range of legitimate history, since the deluge: and that there are very strong reasons for believing that even these pretended observations are the results of calculations, principally made since the Christian æra.

Those who wish for information upon this point may advantageously consult Nare's 5th Bampton Lecture for

1805.

NOTE C. (D.) LECTURE IV. p. 80.

On the Forgeries of the Hindus.

There is a very remarkable paper in the Asiatic Researches, Vol. VIII. p. 245. Art. 7. displaying the ingenuity and audacity of the forgeries which have been practised by the Brahmins. Even Sir William Jones was deceived by them. A person waited upon Mr. Bentley, and told him "that his profession was book-making, and

that he could forge any book whatever, to answer any purpose that might be required." (Bentley on Hindu Astron. p. 194.) The system of forgery in their astronomical treatises seems to be openly avowed. Bentley says that he mentioned to a Hindu Astronomer the circumstance of names, dates, and astronomical epochs being arbitrarily given to books. The Hindu acknowledged the fact, and in defence of it said: “some men make the commencement of the Kalpa the epoch from which they direct the calculations of the planets to be made, for any time required. Others make choice of the beginning of the Kali Yuga, for the same purpose. Have we not, there

fore, a right to make choice of any other epoch, as two, three, or five hundred years, or more, back from our own times for the like purpose?" When asked, whether if he composed an astronomical work, and placed the epoch, from which the calculation should proceed, a thousand years back, he should put his name to it, and own the work; he replied that he could do so: but, in such cases, it was usual to put the name of some ancient sage to it, or that of some fictitious Astronomer, with an account of his birth, parentage, and country, in order to give it the plausible appearance of being ancient and real. See Bentley's Hindu Astronomy, p. 174, and Note, and p. 185, (misprinted 181.) Mr. Colebroke found an astronomical treatise on the shelf of his library, evidently framed for a particular purpose.

NOTE D. (E.) LECTURE IV. p. 83. On the astronomical representations discovered in Egypt.

The astronomical representations which have been discovered in Egypt, have all been found sculptured or painted upon the ceilings of buildings very near Thebes. Those which contain all the signs of the zodiac are four in number, two at Denderah, (Tentyris), and two at Esne,

(Latopolis.) They are accurately delineated in the great work on Egypt, published by the French Government, and are described in a Memoir by Fourier, Secretary of the Institute at Cairo. Three of these sculptures are rectangular, and divided into two parts: the fourth, which has been transported to Paris, is of a circular form. If it be allowed that the figures represent the signs of the zodiac, and that the vernal equinox, at the period when the sculptures were executed, was in the sign which leads the procession, it will still be difficult, especially in the circular sculpture, to determine with any degree of certainty which sign is in reality the first. And since, when the vernal equinox had entered a sign, it would continue in it full two thousand years, there would be an equal ambiguity in thus determining the antiquity of the sculptures. Jollois and Devilliers (in a Memoir of the same work, 3me Livraison, p. 486.) propose the date 2610 B. c. for the temple of Esnè, among other conjectures. Burkhart makes the epoch of the sculptures at Denderah 2200 B. C. and that of the monument at Esnè as remote as 5000 B. C. (Description des Pyramides de Ghizè, p. 119, referred to by Larcher, Herod. Vol. 11. Suppt.)

Francœur

The temple of Denderah is more recent. (Uranologie, Art. 244) supposes 800 B. c. to be an approximate date; but allows that an error may exist of eleven or thirteen centuries. Visconti considers the sculpture to have been executed between the 12th and 120th years of the Christian æra: See Supplement to Larcher's Herodotus, Vol. II. p. 564. edit. 1802. Bentley, in the Appendix to his Treatise on Hindu Astronomy, endeavours to shew that the two sculptures at Denderah represent a calendar with the series of festivals for the year of Rome 708. Upon comparing his explanation of the sculptures with the minute representation of them given in the French work on Egypt, the differences are found to be so material, especially in the ceiling of the portico, that it is to be feared he was misled by an inaccurate copy of the sculptures. However correct the principle of his interpretation

may be, this error in his data must considerably diminish the confidence which can be placed in his conclusion.

The sculptured ceiling of part of the temple of Hermonthis contains the signs Taurus and Scorpio. And there is a sixth astronomical representation painted on the ceiling of a sepulchral apartment at Thebes. There is a Memoir upon this subject by E. Jomard in the work on Egypt, (Tom. I. pp. 255, 261.) He is of opinion that the sign Taurus is pointed out as coincident with the vernal equinox, and Leo as the sign of the summer solstice: and computes that 1923 B. C. is the latest date which will answer both conditions: and 3000 в. c. the mean date. A reference to the Memoir will shew how very uncertain any conclusion must be, which is formed from such data. It is to be hoped that the recent advances, which have been made in the study of the Egyptian hieroglyphics, may lead to some more accurate knowledge of these curious vestiges of science.

NOTE E. (F.) LECTURE IV. p. 84.

Notice of the Life of Horrox.

Jeremiah Horrox was born in the County of Lancaster about A. D. 1618: and admitted of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, May 18, 1632. In 1633 he began to study Astronomy at Toxteth near Liverpool. In calculating an ephemeris from the Lansberg Tables, he observed that they indicated the apparent latitude of the planet Venus for Nov. 24, 1639, to be less than the semi-diameter of the Sun. The disappointment of Gassendi in observing the transit of Venus predicted by Kepler for Dec. 6, 1631, and his want of confidence in the Lansberg Tables, made him consult the Tables constructed by Kepler, according to which the conjunction would happen at 8h 1m A. M. at Manchester. His own corrections induced him to consider 5h 57m P.M. as the probable instant of conjunction. Not confident,

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