XI. TO WALT1JAM ABBEY. l(3l 



without having enjoyed the majestic specta- 

 cle of night, which is so capable of eleva- 

 ting- the mind! How admirable is the fre- 

 quent return of this enchanting spectacle! 

 What wonders succeed each other in the 

 space of a day ! Indulgent Nature renews 

 them thus often, in order that men may con- 

 template them by turns. 



Those who have never been struck at such 

 a spectacle as that we now enjoy, are more 

 culpable, since Nature so frequently displays 

 it to their view. 



A second reflection, which the view of 

 the starry heavens gives rise to, is, that 

 even the appearance of contusion visible in 

 the arrangement o.t these innumerable stars 

 is of such advantage to us, that, without this 

 circumstance, astronomy would never have 

 made any progress. The stars are disposed 

 in different groups in the heavens, and 

 sp:irkle with different degrees of lustre. 

 Those different groups have received names, 

 and it is by these namc.i that astronomers 

 recognize them. Ilo\v should we have 



