6 LETTER JII. 



and certainly no one can lift up his eyes to the sky in 

 u clear evening without feeling a variety of solemn as 

 well as pleasing reflections arise in his mind. This 

 indeed is natural to the most ignorant observer ; and 

 the most uninformed peasant, as well as the most en- 

 lightened philosopher, cannot contemplate so stupen- 

 dous a view withovt a mixed emotion of pleasure and 

 astonishment. If, however, the bare view of the al- 

 most innumerable stars that sparkle in the firmament 

 be capable of thus forcibly attracting your attention 

 and commanding your admiration, what would be 

 your astonishment if you were acquainted with their 

 magnitudes, their regular motions, and their immense 

 distances from this earth which we inhabit ! 



Your inexperienced judgment, my dear Sir, may 

 perhaps suppose that thb stars are no more than little 

 shining dots ; but this notion., which is very natural 

 to your tender years, and consequently excusable 

 until you are better informed, you will, as soon as 

 your mind is enlightened by instruction, discover to 

 be very erroneous. As you advance in your studies 

 you will endeavour to acquire at least such a general 

 knowledge of astronomy as will unfold to your ex- 

 panding mind such wonders as cannot fail to impel 

 you to admire and adore the infinite perfections of 

 the great Creator. As I wish to communicate to you 

 both pleasure and instruction, without puzzling your 

 understanding, 1 shalh at present confine myself to 

 give you a few such general and striking ideas, of the 

 structure of the universe, and of the nature, of the 

 starry heavens, as may excite you to make suitable 

 reflections on the power, the wisdom and the good- 

 ness of God, -who has constructed the magnificent 

 fabric. 



The sun is an immense and woilJerful globe or ball 

 of fire, which gives light and heat to all that part of 

 the Creation called the solar system. It is placed 

 near the common centre of the orbits of seven largo 

 globes, which have no light or , heat but what they 

 derive from it. The diameter of the sun is eight 

 hundred .and ninety thousand miles, so that although 



