14 OF THE USE AND ADVANTAGE

source; and though their application be attended■with some difficulties, it is of the utmost im-portance to every mariner that they should bewell understood, and properly practised: sincethe lives of his men, and the success of hisvoyage, depend upon the knowledge of them.

The government, in most countries, are sosensible of the truth of these observations, that,of late years, they have paid the utmost attentionto pilotage and navigation. Since the maritimehas become the 'preponderating force, Astro-nomy has been considered as a science of greatpublic utility, intimately connected with theinterest of the state, and deserving the protec-tion of every commercial nation. The great en-couragement given to the professors of thisscience by Louis the XlVth and XVth of France;the noble reward offered by the English for thediscovery of the longitude at sea ; and the ex-pensive voyages that have been undertaken forobserving the transit of Venus over the fun, areall sufficient proofs of its extensive application,and practical importance.

Such are the advantages which society havederived from the cultivation of this science;but there is yet another, which though lessevident to the world in general, is never-theless inestimable in the eyes of a philosopher.This is the knowledge which it affords us ofnature; of^the true system of the world; and

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