Sect. VIII.] Astronomy. 73 



inferred that the polar degree must be part of a 

 larger circle*. 



At the be.2^inning of the eighteenth century, our 

 knowledge of the Moon was extremely defective. 

 Since that period, so many discoveries have heeu 

 made respecting this attendant on our earth, and 

 the laws of her motion have been so ably and dili- 

 gently investigated, that this part of astronomy 

 may now be ranked among those which are most 

 fully known and understood. For these investiga- 

 tions we are mdebted to Clalrault, d'Alembert, 

 Euler, Mayer, Simpson, AValmsly, Burg, Bouvard, 

 de la Grange, de la Place, and others. By the 

 labours of these great astronomers, the inequalities 

 in the moon's motion have been detected, ascer- 

 tained, and reduced to a system ; accurate Lunar 

 7\ibles have been formed; and the theory of this 

 satellite has been carried to such a degree of per- 

 fection, that her place in the heavens may be com- 

 puted with a degree of precision, which would 

 have been pronounced, a few years ago, altogetlier 

 impossible. With respect to the condition and 

 aspect of the moon^s siirfac€y many important dis- 

 coveries have been made, and much valuable in- 

 formation given to the world, by Mr. Schroeter f, 

 a celebrated astronomer of Goettingcn, and hy 



•^ It is impossible to recollect the attempt by M. Bernartlin ^'e 

 St. Pierre, in his Studies of Nature, to revive the opinion of Cns- 

 6uii on this subject without surprise. That so learned and inge- 

 nious a man should oppose such distinct mathematical demonstra- 

 tion, is one of those caprices of respectable minds not easily to be 

 iiccounted for. 



f See SdenotopograpJiisch'c Fnr^viaiW, kc. by JoIiMn, H: ro- 

 py rnus Schroctei'j 'ito, l/Oi. 



