THE celestial science termed Astrology, or the doctrine of the stars, may be properly defined the art of foreknowing and predicting future events, by the motions, positions, configurations, and influences of the planetary orbs, and various celestial phenomena; as eclipses, comets, and peculiar aspects of the most powerful stars : deduced from various experimental observations of the philosophical enquirer, through a series of ages, commencing with the earliest known records; whereon is founded a system that neither the revolutions of empires, the fall of the mightiest monarchies, nor the physical changes in the moral and intellectual world, have been able to annihilate: but which, like the fabled phoenix of old, has not unfrequently arisen, splendid and beauteous, even from its own ashes. And while in former times it might be compared to a mighty Colossus that overstrode all other sciences, commanding the submissive homage of kings and princes; or, like "the bright star of the morning", heralding the path of learning, and enlightening the way to knowledge : In modern times, it has not unfrequently, in its etherial circuit, asserted its supremacy above other perishable arts; by some remarkable prediction (or curious coincidence, as the fashion of the day is pleased to term it) that could not have been founded on any natural conjecture, but which like " a meteoric flash" has so enlightened the gloomy atmosphere of incredulity, that the thinking part of mankind, who are not content with judging these mysterious matters upon mere hearsay, have been half inclined to believe in the possibility of prescience by the etherial orbs.

"Knowledge; by favour sent

Down from the empyrean, to forewarn

Us timely

For which, to the infinitely good, we owe

Immortal thanks"

Milton.

The antiquity of the Astrological Science, and of Celestial Observations, may be fairly inferred from what was spoken by the all wise Creator of the universe; who is said in the sublime language of the sacred scriptures, to have "prepared the light*/' to have formed the celestial orbs, and appointed them by the Almighty fiat, "to be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years". Whence it is probable that the human reason never existed, without some portion of this heavenly knowledge being diffused amongst mankind; because, independent of motives of curiosity, which may of themselves ex-* cited the wisest of the ancient philosophers, to contemplate the splendors of the celestial canopy - It is, easy to perceive that some parts of the science answer such essential purposes to mankind, that they could not be dispensed with. Instance, the rising and setting of the planetary orbs and the constellations; peculiar to the seasons - whereby the antediluvians, no doubt, were enabled to order their most important transactions; so as to cultivate the auspices of favourable periods; and apply the benevolent'influences of the "Starry orbs" to the arts and customs of life.

Indeed, the pastoral way of living, the serene unclouded sky and the longevity, not only of the antediluvians, but of the patriarchs of the first ages, were extremely favourable to astronomical observations; and hence we may trace the causes of the symbolically terrestrial signs, which mankind have by common consent placed to occupy the heavens. But those were probably not" exalted to the skies" until mankind had made some progress in poetry; which also is of great antiquity, having been practised in the very first ages of the world, whilst they "tended their flocks/' Hence; also poetry and astrology should be combined together, as accompanying each other from the earliest ages; even in the antediluvian sera. This will not derogate from the dignity of these sciences, when it is remembered, that the ancient shepherds were not merely the vulgar, or illiterate of mankind, for in those times even princes did not think it beneath themselves to act as shepherds, and to "watch their flocks", or attend to pastoral affairs; which can be proved from many instances of the sacred history, of Laban, Jacob, David, Job, &c: nay, we know that several ages afterwards, many of the chief magistrates of ancient Rome, had been husbandmen themselves.

Thus LUCIUS Cin-cinnatus was found at the plough, when he was called to be dictator:: and Fabricius Curius and Camillus were no less skilled in the science of husbandry, than in the art of war. Indeed it appears that husbandmen were in such esteem among the Romans, that they highly resented the least affront offered to any of them, of which SCIPIO Nasica was an instance, for he being a candidate for the place of Edile, meeting. a plain countryman, took him by the hand, and jesting with him on " the hardness of his hands" the Romans so resented it that he lost the Edileship.

In the unrivalled poems of Virgil, particularly the "Georgies", the poet has enriched his work, in almost every page, with an astrological regard to the months, seasons, the ascending and descending signs and constellations, as though he had himself traced effects to their first cause; and by thus availing himself of the accumulated wisdom of past ages, respecting the extensive sciences on which he wrote, he produced the most beautiful poem on the subject of husbandry that the world has ever beheld. While so just, are the greater part of his observations, and so extensively useful, that the principal part of them are put in practice in many places of the world, even at this very day. Amongst other beautiful references to the magnificent machinery of the heavenly host, the following, Georg. I. 335. beginning "Hoc metuens coeli menses et sidera serva, etc". is very appropriate.

" In fear of this, observe the starry signs, Where Saturn's houses and where Hermes join. - The sovereign of the heav'ns has set on high, The moon, to mark the changes of the sky, When southern blasts should cease.*'

It is also reported by the poet Lucan (observes Dr. Johnson with "historical veracity") that Caesar, the imperial " Lord of the world" "noted the revolutions of the stars, in the midst of preparations for battle".