259 



they have some grand uses, suited to the magnificence of 

 their nature. To determine what uses, is not possible, in 

 our present state of distance and ignorance. This how- 

 ever is clear, they are disposed in such a manner, as is 

 most pleasing, and serviceable to mankind. They are 

 not placed at such an infinite remove, as to lie beyond 

 our sight: neither are they brought so near to our abode, 

 as to annoy us with their beams." 



12* A year or two after the preceding volumes were 

 published, the little sketch of astronomy therein given, 

 (or rather my doubts concerning it) was warmly attacked 

 in the London magazine. The substance of those objec- 

 tions, and of my answer, I have here subjoined. 



SIR, 



I am obliged to you for your queries and remarks ; 

 and so I shall be to any who will point out any thing 

 wherein they thiiik I have been mistaken. It would not 

 be strange, if there should be many mistakes in the 

 " Compendium of Natural Philosophy :" as philosophy 

 is what for many years I have only looked into at leisure 

 hours. Accordingly in the preface of that treatise I 

 said, " I am thoroughly sensible, there are many, who 

 have more ability, as well as leisure, for such a work 

 than me. But as none of them undertakes it, I have 

 myself made some little attempt in the following vo- 

 lumes." 



Q. 1. " You say, the sun is supposed to be abundantly 

 larger than the earth ? Is it not demonstrable, that he 

 is so." 



I do not know whether it is, or no. 



Q. 2. ." Why do you say, the moon is supposed to be 

 forty-five times smaller than the earth, when the moon's 

 bulk is nicely known?" 



It is not known by me, nor, I doubt, by any man 

 else. 



