SYSTEMS OF ASTRONOMY. 223 



neitbtr encreasing nor diminisk'mg ; the contrary of 

 which most clearly appears; for between seven and 

 eight hundred years ago, the errors were least, 

 and encrease gradually, whether we go back into 

 antiquity, or forward from that period ; which de- 

 monstrates, beyond the power of contradiction, that 

 the work was written at or about that time. 



The formation of the numbers, given in xhtSur- 

 ya Slddhmita, will shew likewise, that no other mo- 

 tions could have been given to correspond to the 

 positions of the planets, with which they must 

 agree. Therefore, I say, it is indispensibly requi- 

 site that the Edinburgh Ptcviewer, if he does not 

 choose to acknowledge his error with the candour 

 due from a gentleman, should distinctly point out 

 to his readers, and the world at large, that precise 

 period of time, so prodigioitsli/ anterior to that given 

 by me, at which tlie Sioya Siddhanta, in his ideas, 

 gave the positions of the heavenly bodies nearer 

 the truth than between seven and eif>;ht hundred 

 years ago. And not only point out the precise 

 time, but also the then actual mean positions of 

 the planets, &c. according to the Siirya Siddhanta, 

 and the best modern European tables. It is by 

 these means only he can convince his readers of his 

 candour, truth, and abilities. 



As I have, in the preceding pages, stated fully 

 all that can be necessary respecting the principles 

 of the Hindu artificial systems of astronomy, the 

 Sdrya Siddhanta, and the antiquity of the system 

 it contains, 1 shall now take leave of the Reviewer, 

 and proceed to other matters of more importance 

 to tho-^e who wish to form a true judgment of the 

 real antiquity of the Hindu Iristory, &c. 



Most cf the Easttrn nations, and the Hindus m 

 particular, appear to have employed, from time 



