!x INTRODUCTION. 



may flill be allowed to confider them as a laudable effort to 

 add to the flock of human knowledge, with regard to an ob- 

 je(5t which cannot but deferve the attention of enlightened 

 man. To exert our faculties indevifing ingenious modes of 

 fatisfying ourfelves about the magnitude and diftance of the 

 fun; to extend our acquaintance with the fyftem to which 

 that luminary is the common centre, by tracing the revolu- 

 tions of a new planet, or the appearance of a new comet ; 

 to carry our bold refearches through all the immenfity of 

 fpace, where world beyond world rifes to the view of the 

 aftoniflied obferver ; thefe are employments which none 

 but thofe incapable of purfuing them can depreciate, 

 and which every one capable of purfuing them muft de- 

 light in;, as a dignified exercife of the powers of the human 

 mind. But while we direct our ftudies to diftant worlds, 

 •which, after all our exertions, we mufl; content ourfelves 

 with having barely difcovered to exift, it would be a llrange 

 neglect, indeed, and would argue a mod culpable want of 

 rational curiofiry, if we did not ufe our bell: endeavours to 

 arrive at a full acquaintance with the contents of our own 

 planet; of that little fpot in the immenfe univerfe, on 

 •which we have been placed, and the utmoft limits of which, 

 at leafl its habitable parts, we pofTcfs the means of afceiv 

 taining, and defcribing, by actual examinarion.. 



So naturally doth this reflecflion prefent itfelf, that to know 

 fomething of the terraqueous globe, is a favourite obje6l 

 with every one who can tafte tl>e lowed rudiments of learn- 

 ing. Let us not therefore think fo meanly of thetimes in which 

 we live, as to fuppofe it poffible that full juftice will not 

 be done to the noble plan of difcovery,. fo lleadily and fo 

 fuccefs fully carried on, fmce the acceflion of his Majefty ; 



which 



