2 OF THE USE AND ADVANTAGE

mote your views, and contribute to your in-formation, by every means in my power.

Astronomy seems to be the science you aredesirous of being first acquainted with; and Iknow not that you could have made a betterchoice. This subject will awaken every facultyof your mind, and is, of all others, the best cal-culated to excite your curiosity and admira-tion. Not that I would wish to engage you inlong calculations and laborious enquiries, whichare of use chiefly to the practical proficient,who makes this the principal object of his pur-suit; but there is a general knowledge of themost interesting particulars, which is so easilyobtained, that it is inexcusable for a person of aliberal education to be totally destitute of it.

It is this most pleasing part of the sciencethat I would at present recommend to'yourattention : and as you are but little acquaintedwith mathematical principles, I shall endea-vour to treat of it in as easy and independenta manner as the nature of the subject will admit.To divest it entirely of its usual terms wouldbe a vain and ridiculous attempt; but, if I donot deceive myself, I fliall be able to removeevery obstacle of this kind which is in the leastlikely to impede your progress, or prevent yourimprovement.

Not to detain you, therefore, by enteringinto a long dissertation on its origin and pro-gress,

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