PREFACE.

T a time when the sciences are gene-

ii rally cultivated, and a love of literatureand knowledge has pervaded every rank andorder of society, an easy and familiar account ofthe most interesting parts of Astronomy, will,it is presumed, be found an useful performance.Many, who are not sufficiently acquainted withthe Mathematics, to read, with satisfaction, theworks of Newton, and other eminent writersupon this subject, are yet very desirous of ob-taining such an idea of it, as will enable themto comprehend the leading principles uponwhich it is founded, and to partake of thosepleasures, which enquiries into Nature, and theinvestigation of some of her grandest operations,must necessarily afford to every ingenuous andinquisitive mind.

To this class of readers, the following Lettersare particularly addressed. They were at firstdesigned for the private use of an individual,without any immediate view to publication ;but as nothing of the kind, sufficiently clearand explicit to answer the purpose of generalinformation, had hitherto appeared in our lan-guage, the Author was induced to make thempublic, in hopes of their affording some informa-

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tion