are considered either as the causes or tics of such events. the prognos From the same source have arisen those foolish notions, so fatal to the peace of mankind, which have been engendered by judicial astrology. Under a belief that the characters and the fates of men are dependent on the various aspects of the stars, and conjunctions of the planets, the most unfounded apprehensions, as well as the most delusive hopes, have been excited by the professors of this fallacious science. Such impositions on the credulity of mankind are founded on the grossest absurdity, and the most palpable ignorance of the nature of things; for since the aspects and conjunctions of the celestial bodies have, in every period of duration, been subject to invariable laws, they must be altogether inadequate to account for the diversified phenomena of the moral world, and for that infinite variety we observe in the dispositions and the destinies of men; and, indeed, the single consideration of the immense distances of the stars from our globe, is sufficient to convince any rational mind that their influence can have no effect on a region so remote from the spaces which they occupy. The planetary bodies, indeed, may, in certain cases, have some degree of physical influence on the earth, by virtue of their attractive power, but that influence can never affect the operation of moral causes, or the qualities of the mind. Even although it were admitted that the heavenly bodies have an influence over the destinies of the human race, yet we have no data whatever by which to ascertain the mode of its operation, or to determine the formula or rules. by which calculations are to be made, in order to predict the fates of nations, or the individual tem peraments and destinies of men; and consequently, the principles and rules on which astrologers proceed in constructing horoscopes, and calculating nativities, are nothing else than mere assumptions, and their pretensions nothing short of criminal impositions upon the credulity of mankind. With equally the same reason might we assert, that the earth, in different positions in its orbit, would have an influence in producing fools and maniacs in the planet Jupiter, or in exciting wars and insurrections among the inhabitants of Saturn, as to suppose, with Mr. Varley, the prince of modern astrologers, that "Saturn passing through the ascendant causes dulness and melancholy for a few weeks,” and that "Jupiter, in the third house, gives safe inland journies and agreeable neighbours or kindred." Notwithstanding the absurdity of the doctrines of astrology, this art has been practised in every period of time. Among the Romans, the people were so infatuated with it, that the astrologers, or, as they were then called, the mathematicians, maintained their ground in spite of all the edicts of the emperors to expel them from the capital; and after they were at length expelled by a formal decree of the senate, they found so much protection from the credulity of the people, that they still remained in Rome unmolested. Among the Chaldeans, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Arabians, in ancient times, astrology was uniformly included in the list of the sciences, and used as one species of divination by which they attempted to pry into the secrets of futurity. The Brahmins in India, at an early period, introduced this art into that country, and, by means of it, have rendered themselves the arbiters of good and evil hours, and of the fortunes of their fellow men, and have thus raised themselves to great authority and influence among the illiterate multitude. They are consulted as oracles, and, like all other impostors, they have taken great care never to sell their answers without a handsome remuneration. In almost every country in the world this art is still practised, and only a short period has elapsed since the princes and legislators of Europe were directed in the most important concerns of the state by the predictions of astrologers. In the time of Queen Catharine de Medicis, astrology was so much in Vogue, that nothing, however trifling, was to be done without consulting the stars. The astrologer Morin, in the seventeenth century, directed Cardinal Richelieu's motions in some of his journeys, and Louisa Maria de Gonzaga, Queen of Poland, gave 2000 crowns to carry on an edition of his Astrologia Gallica; and in the reigns of Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth of France, the predictions of astrologers were the common theme of the court conversation. Even in the present day, and in the metropolis of the British empire, this fallacious art is practised, and its professors are resorted to for judicial information, not only by the vulgar, but even by many in the higher spheres of life. The extensive annual sale of more than 240,000 copies of "Moore's Almanack," which abounds with such predictions, and of similar publications, is a striking proof of the belief which is still attached to the doctrines of astrology in our own age and country, and of the ignorance and credulity from which such a belief proceeds.* Parhelia, parselenæ, shooting That the absurdities of astrology are still in vogue among a certain class, appears from the publication of such works stars, fiery meteors, luminous arches, lunar rainbows, and other atmospherical phenomena, have likewise been considered by some as ominous of impending calamities. Such are some of the objects in the heavens, which ignorance and superstition have arrayed with imaginary terrors. On the earth, the objects which have given rise to groundless fears, are almost innumerable. The ignes futui, those harmless meteors which hover above moist and fenny places in the night-time, and emit a glimmering light, have been regarded as malicious spirits, endeavouring to deceive the bewildered traveller, and lead him to destruction. The ticking noise of the little insect called the death-watch--a screech owl screaming at the window-a raven croaking over a house a dog howling in the night-time-a hare or a sow crossing the road-the meeting of a bitch with whelps, or a snake lying in the road—the falling of salt from a table and even the curling of a fibre of tallow in a burning candle,* have been regarded with apprehensions of terror, as prognostics of impending disasters, or of approaching death. as the following:-" A Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy, illustrated by engravings of heads and features, and accompanied by tables of the times of the rising of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and containing also new astrological explana tions of some remarkable portions of ancient mythological history. By John Varley. No. I., large 8vo., pp. 60, to be comprised in four parts. Longman and Co. 1828!" specimen of some of the fooleries and absurdities gravely A treated on by this sapient author, will be found in Nos. III. and IV. of the Appendix to this volume. * Called in Scotland, the dead speal. In the Highlands of Scotland, the motions and appearances of the clouds were, not long ago, considered as ominous of disastrous events. On the evening before new year's day, if a black cloud appeared in any part of the horizon, it was thought to prognosticate a plague, a famine, or the death of some great man in that part of the country over which it seemed to hang; and in order to ascertain the place threatened by the omen, the motions of the clouds were often watched through the whole night. In the same country, the inhabitants regard certain days as unlucky, or ominous of bad fortune. That day of the week on which the 3d of May falls, is deemed unlucky throughout the whole year. In the isle of Mull, ploughing, sowing, and reaping, are always begun on Tuesday, though the most favourable weather for these purposes be in this way frequently lost. In Morven, none will, upon any account, dig peat or turf for fuel on Friday. The age of the moon is also much attended to by the vulgar Highlanders; and an opinion prevails, that if a house take fire while the moon is in the decrease, the family will from that time decline in its circumstances, and sink into poverty.* In England, it is reckoned a bad omen to break a looking-glass, as it is believed the party to whom it belongs will lose his best friend. In going a journey, if a sow cross the road, it is believed the party will meet either with a disappointment or a bodily accident before returning home. It is reckoned unlucky to see first one magpie, and then another; and to kill a magpie, it is believed, will certainly be punished with some terrible misfor |