and lead us to trust solely to that of experience. LIEUT. MORRISON, in his grammar, says, (see Zadkiel's Grammar of Astrology, p. viii.) that his work will be peculiarly acceptable "to those who think EXPERIENCE a safer guide than REASON in natural philosophy." But if our experience be not constantly. brought to the test of reason, we shall ultimately find, that we have been following a will-with-a-wisp, and may make the discovery when it has conducted us to some filthy marsh, and we are perishing through our ignorance and folly. When we gaze upon the starry heavens, we are informed, that there the fates of men are written-there the destinies of nations are inscribed; and, in connection with this subject, I shall select a paragraph from the Grammar already noticed, as a specimen of the awful daring of superstition.

"If the present haughty style of declaiming against a science which the greatest men have taken a pride to cultivate in all ages and all countries, should, by this endeavour to open a clear path to its examination, receive a check, such as the power of truth only can offer to the headstrong course of prejudice, it will not have been written in vain; and if the cause of truth should thereby be assisted, either through public demonstration, by the test of experiment, of the utter fallacy of the doctrines of astrology, or on the other hand, by the conviction of the honest portion of mankind that the Almighty does indeed choose the heavenly bodies as the instruments of his will, in bringing about the ends of Providence; this little work will very well bear the lash of critics, whose pride will not believe that 'there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in their philosophy.""

Our modern philosophers are no dreamers, but are awake to the principles of sound science. But if for a moment, we should suppose the stars and their configurations to be the arranged means by which the ends of Providence are administered, I again ask where did the astrologer obtain the key of the celestial cabinet, to disclose the mysterious symbols-to lay open the hieroglyphical representations of man's destiny? Of the myriads of people scattered over the globe, from age to age, how many have had their nativities calculated? And, with regard to atmospherical astrology, have the ever-varying features of climate been observed constantly to tally with the supposed indications above? Certainly no astrologer has ever pretended to have received a revelation of these things. [The truth is, that some looking at Mars, found him red; others, glancing at Venus, perceived she was fair; the one must therefore be connected with war and bloodshed, and the other with all that is attractive in human nature But who does not here perceive the puny intellect of a worm of the dust, peering after what is infinitely beyond his reach-attempting to grasp the councils of the Most High-and to interpret the will of Heaven by his own wayward fancies. In the fables of Phaedrus is one, in which a frog is represented as envying the great bulk of the ox, and very desirous

that her stature should equal his; and for this purpose she puffed and blowed, and strained and swelled, till at last she positively burst herself.

dum vult validius

Inflare sese rupto jacuit corpore."

In my next I intend to comment upon some of the precious principles of the astrological art, a science falsely so called.

I am, Sir, &c.

November 24th, 1835.

T. H. MOODY.

LETTER II.

SIR,

THE reason why I have not confined my arguments against astrology to the precincts of the Athenæum, but have availed myself of your respectable journal, as a more extensive means of communication, are because I have been informed by two gentlemen, well known to Lieut. Morrison, that the minds of several persons in Cheltenham have been rendered unhappy by astrological predictions, and because the works of that gentleman are publicly vended in our town and other parts of England. At the end of Zadkiel's Almanac for 1836, is the following notice:

"Individuals desiring to become acquainted with any branch of astrology, may receive instructions from the author, by addressing him by letter only, post paid, as follows:-'Zadkiel, care of Mr. Denley, bookseller, Catherine street, Strand, London.' The terms for a sufficient number of lessons to acquire the art of calculating nativities are 10l.; for a single lesson in any branch of the science, 11.; for preparing a figure, 21.; and bringing up the directions through life, 5!."

At the conclusion of the Horoscope for 1834, we have another announcement:

"Persons wishing to consult the editor, may direct as follows: -To Zadkiel, care of Mr. Hyde, Post Office, Cheltenham.' Letters must be post paid. N.B. Nativities cannot be calculated, unless the time and place of birth be stated, and the period of some remarkable events of life be mentioned, to correct the estimated time. Note. The editor will publish an edition of Lilly's Astrology in February, 1835; and the Astrological Tables in a few days."

It is probable Lieutenant Morrison may consider that the sale of his works, and his practice as an astrological professor, are beneficial to the community; but, as I widely differ from him on this subject, and think that both are productive of considerable evil, I am desirous that my refutation of this presumptuous art may have all the publicity possible; and I deeply regret that the talents of this gentleman, which are very considerable, are not embarked in a better cause.

Among the many claims which astrology is thought to have, by its fond adherents, to public patronage, is its extreme antiquity; its professors would have us suppose, that nothing in the shape of solid objection had ever been offered to its principles by the ancients; and that all opposition to their celestial chimeras is comparatively modern. This is intimated in the Grammar of Astrology, already