ceptible by that circumstance. It may therefore be concluded that 

 this emanation is not occasional but perpetual, and that it is in all 

 directions, and must therefore be equally directed towards us as to 

 other parts of our system. It is therefore to be presumed that our 

 atmosphere receives a share of its influence, and that influence 



in all its departments, is evidently formed on a plan of reciprocal 

 benefits. There is no such thing as a malignant star, as astrolo- 

 gers li \c 1 1 , cd 



Modern discoveries have brought to our knowledge the fact that 



functions. The lungs of animals inhale the atmospheric fluid, 



the animal system. The vegetable then inhales the same atmos- 

 pheric fluid, takes from it, as its salutary food, what was ejected 

 by the animal as noxious, and sends it back to him, thus purified, 

 for a second inspiration, and thus the animal and vegetable breathe 

 into each others' lungs the air which is essential in its qualities to 

 the vitality and nourishment of 

 be supposed that t 



earth may then inhale, take from it what has been 

 ejected as noxious by the moon, but as salutory to the earth, for 

 her reinvigoration in the performance of her proper functions or to 

 be thereby supported (if the phrase may be allowed) in a constant 

 healthy condition. This matter is the phosphoric eufllvium before 

 noticed, as radiating from the moon, and which, being ejected by 

 a strong repulsive pewer, will, like light, continue its course until 

 It is intercepted by the earth. 



These observations apply to the constant and ordinary services 

 of the moon to her mistress. What I have farther to remark is 

 about her extraordinary services, when she steps in between us 

 and the sun, especially when she thereby causes a total eclipse. 



The late Chancellor Livingston favored the Society for the pro- 

 motion of Useful Arts with a very interesting memoir on the com- 



