LET. I.

OF ASTRONOMY.

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the invariable laws by which it is governed.Astronomy has opened to us such a magnificentview of the creation, that we are struck withastonishment at the grandeur of the spectacle,and the powers of Omnipotence. By lookingabroad into the universe, we exalt our ideas ofthe supreme intelligence, and extend the narrowsphere of human conceptions; the faculties arestrengthened and improved ; the understandingis enlarged; and the mind, in the contempla-tion of so many glorious objects, finds itselfdrawn to that Being who informs, directs,and animates the whole.

This formal defence of a science attendedwith so many obvious advantages, would havebeen totally unnecessary, had I consulted onlymy own prepossessions in its favour ; but as youare yet but little acquainted with the subject,and cannot possibly have obtained any rationalconviction of its excellence, I imagined itwould not be unpleasing to you, to receivesome account of its practical utility and im-portance. To enumerate every particular ofthis kind, would be useless and impossible. Anattentive consideration of the subject, will bemore satisfactory than any previous informationthat can possibly be given you.

In order to form a proper judgment of anyscience, it is necessary to have some knowledgeof its nature and design. For want of this

assistance,