154 
CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Astronomy Simplified ; or, Distant Glimpses of the Celestial 
* Bodies, described in familiar language, setting forth the Power 
and Goodness of the Creator through Astronomical Facts, by 
Frances Barbara Burton; 8vo, London, 1838, pp. 138. 
Miss Burron’s object in composing this extraordinary group of 
planetary sketches, is, to exhibit such a compendious series in the ce- 
lestial machinery, every where surrounding the earth, as may gradu- 
ally unfold its magnificence to the inquiring mind ; and thus, to place 
a popular view of astronomical knowledge within reach of the intelli- 
gent of all classes, “feeling as she does, daily more and more, the 
heart-reviving joy attending the contemplation of the Creator’s 
works.” 
These “ distant glimpses” themselves form a beautiful and most 
condensed analysis of the facts which establish the inductions of As- 
tronomy; and, consequently, they stand high above any attempt 
at exhibiting their spirit and importance in a better or greater state of 
analytical concentration. Suffice it, then, to state our admiration of 
the experience and judgment displayed by Miss Burton, in the ar- 
rangement of her subjects, and in the dignified simplicity with which 
she popularizes her descriptions of the firmamental systems, and their 
stupendous magnificence. At the same time, and for the purpose of 
enabling our readers to devise an estimate of Miss B.’s aim and the 
extent of its accomplishment, we furnish them with two extracts, in 
which the exquisite didactic powers of this authoress appear in har- 
mony with a fine aptitude to moral reflection. “3 
Our first extract is taken from Miss Burton’s “glimpse” of the 
planet we inhabit; and, at page 34, we find her teaching that “ the 
earth is demonstrated not to attain her perihelion point, by the annual 
retrogradation of one minute and two seconds of the ecliptic. Con- 
sequently her arrival at the perihelion point is found to retrograde in _ 
the proportion of 1 degree 48 seconds in a century, of a whole con- — 
stellation in 1744 years, of a quarter of the ecliptic in 5,232 years, 
of half of it in 10,450 years, and of the entire circumference of the_ 
ecliptic in 20,931 years. From this systematical retardation in the 
Earth’s arrival at her perihelion point, it therefore follows that 
10,450 years hence it will be the 23rd degree from the equator of 
our present northern hemisphere, which shall pass beneath the verti- _ 
cal beams of that era’s perihelion point. Then shall our present 
northern hemisphere (at that far distant period, the southern one of 
this planet) then shall it exhibit the phenomena now displaying in the 
