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LXIII. 071 Planetary Influences on the Atmosphere. By the 

 Reu. T. DfttiMMOND. 



, ^ To Mr. Tillnch. 



Sir, — JVlANKiND has from a very remote period exhibited 

 two classes of characters, — the credulous and the incredulous. 

 It has frequently occurred that credulity has predominated with- 

 or.t evidence or argument to give it sanction, and tliat incre- 

 dulity has been cherished without any attempt to investigate the 

 truth or falsehood of the positions in question. 



Tlie credulous and the incredulous have perhaps in no in- 

 stance been more tenacious in opinion than on the subject of 

 planetary influence. As the object of this paper is confined to 

 the consideration of planetary influences on the atmosphere, 

 it is not necessary for us to investigate the ground on which 

 phiIoso])hers of precedino; periods contended for the universal 

 prevalence of starrv influences. 



The hypothesis I am disposed to advocate is of great anti- 

 quity ; we can trace its vestiges in remote periods — its origin 

 baffles all chronological precision. 



The doctrine of planetary influence was the foundation of the 

 Sabian system of religious v.orship. It engaged the attention 

 of Babylonian and Egyptian sages; and in every civilized state 

 of huuian existence, as amongst the Perses, the Hindoos, and 

 the Cliinese — people whose antiquity distances all competition — 

 we find that astrological science was accounted worthy the at- 

 tention oi the most intelligent persons. Modern philosophers 

 have limited the title of science to astronomy, i. e. the elemen- 

 tai-v part; and consigued astrology, i. c. the uppl'crition of ele- 

 mentary knowledge combining observation and inferences, to 

 disre])Utc, if not to oblivion. 



Indiscriminate ridicule, censure, or contempt, are not worthy 

 of admission within the pale of philosophy. — Whilst the fabulous 

 stories of the Pleiades or tlie tlyades having been the daughters 

 of Atlas, are mere modern romances, comparatively speaking, or aC 

 best enigmatical vehicles of some concealed truth, and most pro- 

 bably of Grecian iuvcntion, — we must look to the extensively 

 prevalent Sabian system of theology as far more ancient, and 

 we mav rationally infer that in its primitive reception it was not 

 chargeable vvith idolatry. 



The etymology of tlie term is uncertain, — perhaps fromSabos 

 in Aral)ia*, — but Sabianism or Sabism is now generally under- 

 ttood to imply the worshij) of the heavenly bodies. 



If 



• There can lie little rloiiLt, 1 think, about the etymolotty of this word. 

 1 1 i< derived from m3V tsulu, connnoiiiy pronounccii subu, an army or 



Vol. 48. No. 223. Nov. 1816. X I'o.t. 



