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time of the full moon. Even in the midst of the ecfipse, 

 the moon has a faint light which is reflected by the at- 

 mosphere of the earth. And to the shadow of this it is 

 owing, that she grows paler and dimmer, before she en- 

 ters into the shadow of me earth. 



2. The planet nearest to the sim is Mercury, which is 

 the smallest of all, supposed to be twelve times less than 

 the earth. It moves round the sun in about three 

 mon'hs, and is believed to be the most dense of all the 

 heavenly bodies. It sometimes moves between the 

 earth and the sun. Arid from its various appearances we 

 may certainly infer, that it has no light of its own, but 

 shines by reflection only. 



3. The next to Mercury is Venus, whose appearances 

 likewise change in the same manner as the moon's. It is 

 supposed to be something less than the earth, and, coin- 

 pleats its period round the sun in nearly seven months. 

 From its situation we may judge, it is more dense than 

 the earth, but more rare than Mercury. 



4. Next to Venus is the earth, which moves round 

 its own axis from west to east in twenty-four hours, and 

 round the sun in three hundred and sixty-five days, rive 

 hours and near forty-nine minutes. 



The difference of seasons, as well as the different de- 

 grees of heat and cold, depend on the different positions 

 of ihe earth with respect to the sun. The natural state 

 of this globe, seems to be what we call temperate. This 

 is what secures springs and other bodies from being 

 frozen. But the obliquity ?nd perpendicularity with 

 winch the rays of the sun fall on the air, are varying 

 continually, according to which the warmth of the air is 

 continually lessening or increasing. Likewise the conti- 

 nuance of the sun's presence, with the slowness of his 

 motion, naturally increase heat : as his absence and the 

 swiftness of his motion, naturally increase cold. Yet 

 this rule does not always hold. There are many acci- 

 dents that prevent it : such as the situation of hills, <uid 



