64

HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE

and in its best part is a mere exposition of some of themost obvious elements of astronomy; whilst a largeportion of it is occupied with astrological precepts.

The neglect of astronomy among the Romans waspalpably conspicuous in the confusion in which theircalendar became involved. In the time of J. Caesar thedifference between thebeginning of the civil and solar yearhad accumulated so as to amount to three months. Theuniversal genius and penetration of that eminent manled him, among other subjects, to a cultivation ofastronomy. We learn from Pliny that he both madeobservations and composed some works on the subject ;which, however, are entirely lost. In the presentinstance he applied his knowledge, with the assistance ofSosigenes, a Greek astronomer , to the correction of thecalendar. The principle proposed was to take the civilyear as 365 days, and every fourth year to add anintercalary day. This is very nearly exact, hut notquite, since the length of the year is accurately ratherless than 365| days. However, it was then consideredsufficiently precise, and the day added was placed afterthat called “ Sexto Calendas Martii,’' and hence wasnamed “ Bis sexto,” &c., whence the name bissextile.This will be recognised as the mode of computationadopted at the present day, with a slight modificationsubsequently introduced.

A disposition to physical enquiry, where it did existamong the Romans, scarcely ever went further than toproduce an acquaintance with the previous researches ofothers, a just admiration of them, and a diligence in col-lecting and recording them. It never rose to the cha-racter of originality; and the whole remains of Romanliterature do not present us with a single work oforiginal scientific invention or physical discovery. We,nevertheless, possess the writings of several assiduouscollectors of the treasures of amassed knowledge, towhom we are under deep obligations; and some ofwhom have certainly shown themselves possessed oftalents far beyond those of mere compilers.