436 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



it would surely be superlluous. The study of astronomy was ardently 

 pursued, too, at the time of which we speak. True, some indulged iu 

 the foolish attempt to read the future by the stars. Really this is not 

 more silly than the eiTorts, in our day, of professors of physical branches 

 of study (for they are not sciences) to decide questions of revelation, or 

 to evolve a system of ethics from biology, geology or anatomy. But 

 even in the writings of those who practised astrology, many great astro- 

 nomical truths were tïiught which helped to render more accurate solar 

 and sidereal observations. In 1480 a book of astronomic tables for 

 Constanzo Siiporza was written by Lorenzo Bunnicontri and Cïimillo 

 Lunnrdo. For a number of years previous to that date, the former had 

 been professor of astronomy, both in Naples and Florence. 



A great astronomer, as well as a learned linguist, was Paolo Tos- 

 canelli, born lat Fl'orence in 1397. His biographers attest that he was 

 assiduous in his observations of the heavenly bodie?. and that he ccr- 

 rected the astronomic tables of King Alplion^o and those of the Arab.=. 

 And Cristoforo Landino relates that he himself often heard him ques- 

 tioning minutely those who came from the countries bordering on the 

 Tanais. 



Onef other celebr'ated astronomer of the time may be mentioned, — 

 Mulles of Konigsberg, known as Regiomontanus. lie came to Italy in 

 1463, under the auspices of Cardinal Bessarion, through whose influence 

 he was appointed professor of astronomy at Padua. After a time he 

 went to Venice, later on he returned to Germany. In 1475 Sixtus IV., 

 wishing to reform the calendar, called him to Rome, where he died before 

 beginning the task assigned him. His attainments in astronomy were 

 evidently held in the highest esteem. 



The study of astronomy was, therefore, assiduously prosecuted, 

 the observations taken became more accurate, astronomical tables were 

 published, treatises on geography correcting the errors of Ptolemy 

 appeared, maps, local 'and general were multiplied, and most significant 

 of all, charts showing the harbours, rocks and location of towns were 

 issued. In the great nautical schools of Venice and Genoa these, and 

 not Ptolemy, were the text books. In them was found the latest infor- 

 mation. The best navigators of the Mediterranean had been going for 

 long years to Tanais, had lieen taking, of course, observations with im- 

 proved instruments, and making their calculations by corrected tables. 

 Can we doubt they did not discover the error of Ptolemy, or that, hav- 

 ing discovered, tliey did not report it, or that the correction was not 

 made on the charts ? Venice lived and flourished land waxed powerful 

 by reason of her commerce, her sailors were the most skilful in Europe, 



