10 LETT Ell 14 F. 



Little ako is known, or can perhaps be discovered, 

 in regard to the fixed stars which bespangle every 

 part of the firmament. Astronomy has, however, 

 proceeded so far as to prove, or at least to shew that 

 it is in the highest degree probable, that they are 

 suns illuminating other systems or worlds. But no 

 mode of calculation can compute their distances from 

 our earth or from each other. One observation, how- 

 ever, I shall here venture to make, which is not wholly 

 above your comprehension. Whenever you view 

 distant objects you will easily remark that as yon 

 change your place in travelling on the road, they seem 

 to change their relative situation, and the nearer they 

 are, this change is more perceptible, but less apparent 

 the farther they are from you. The earth is always 

 above one hundred and ninety millions of miles dis- 

 tant from the opposite points of its orbit in which it 

 was half a year before, arid yet so great a change of 

 situation does not make any change in the relative 

 positions of the fixed stars perceptible even by the 

 assistance of the best astronomical instruments, so that 

 their distance is not incapable by any mathematical 

 process, but absolutely inconceivable by human com- 

 prehension. 



The immense distance of the fixed stars from the 

 earth and from each other is of all considerations the 

 best adapted to impress on our minds the most exalted 

 ideas of the immensity of the universe and of the in- 

 finite power, wisdom and goodness, of its Creator. 

 The number of stars which may at any time be seen 

 by the naked eye is not much above a thousand, but 

 the gradual improvement of the telescope has afforded 

 such assistance to our natural optics, that the celebra- 

 ted Dr. Herschel has discovered no less than forty- 

 four thousand ; arid how r many more the. still greater 

 perfection of these instruments may yet render visible 

 to us, it is, at present, impossible to know. 



When we contemplate the distance between this 

 earth and the sun it seems astonishing, and to those 

 who are ignorant of astronomy almost incredible. 

 This distance however, great as it is, is small when 



