XXX AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



ated their paths on the celestial map, which I had 

 copied from the above-mentioned celestial globe. 



By observing what constellations the ecliptic 

 passed through in that map, and comparing these 

 with the starry heaven, I was so impressed as 

 sometimes to imagine that I saw the ecliptic in the 

 heaven, among the stars, like a broad circular 

 road for the sun's apparent course ; and fancied 

 the paths of the planets to resemble the narrow 

 ruts made by cart-wheels, sometimes on one side 

 of a plain road, and sometimes on the other, 

 crossing the road at small angles, but never going 

 far from either side of it. 



Sir James's house was full of pictures and prints, 

 several of which I copied with pen and ink : this 

 made him think I might become a painter. 



Lady Dipple had been but a few weeks there, 

 when William Baird, ESQ. of Auchmedden, came 

 on a visit : he was the husband of one of that 

 lady's daughters, and I found him to be very in- 

 genious and communicative ; he invited me to go 

 to his house, and stay some time with him, telling 

 me that I should have free access to his library, 

 which was a very large one ; and that he would 

 furnish me with all sorts of implements for draw- 

 ing. I went thither, and stayed about eight 

 months ; but was much disappointed in finding no 

 books on astronomy in his library, except what 

 was in the two volumes of Harris's Lexicon Tech- 

 nicum, although there were many books on geo- 

 graphy and other sciences : several of these in 



