muse of Homer (Iliad, lib. ix. v. 381) in a distant land, and at a period when the means of information respecting it were comparatively scanty, is unaccountable, except upon the supposition that this great city had been spoiled, according to the declaration of the prophet. 66 THE CHALDEANS. The magicians, and the astrologers and the sorcerers." Dan. ii. 2. "THE Chaldeans for a long period have made observations on the stars, and know better than all other astrologers, their motions and their influences; they foretel many things that are to happen to mankind; they look upon the theory of the five stars, which they name interpreters," and we call planets, as a point of great difficulty and importance, and pay particular attention to that which the Greeks call Chronos or Saturn. They say, moreover, that the Sun is not only the most brilliant of the heavenly bodies, but that from which they draw most indications of great events. They call the four other planets, Ares or Mars, Aphrodite or Venus, Hermes or Mercury, and Zeus or Jupiter. They style them interpreters, because whilst the fixed stars preserve the same positions and distances, they have a motion of their own which serves to mark the future, and assure mankind of the watchfulness of the gods. Some by their rising, others by their setting, and others again by their color only, announce various events to those who observe them attentively. They give notice of winds, rains, or extraordinary droughts. "They pretend also that the appearance of comets, eclipses of the sun and moon, earthquakes, and all the changes of nature, are presages of good or ill, not only to nations generally, but to individuals. They imagine that the five planets command thirty inferior stars, which they call counsellor gods, half of which rule over all things under the earth, whilst the others notice human actions, or contemplate the affairs of heaven. Every ten days the planets dispatch one of the stars below the earth, and another leaves these subterraneous regions to report what has happened there. These proceedings have taken place throughout all time, and will continue through eternity. "They reckon twelve superior gods, each of whom presides over one of the months and signs of the zodiac. The sun, the moon, and the five planets, pass through these twelve signs, but the sun occupies a year in doing so, whilst the moon completes her course in a month. All the planets have their particular periods, but perform their revolutions with various degrees of rapidity, and in different spaces of time. The stars, according to them, particularly influence the birth of men; and the observation of their aspects at that moment contributes much to the knowledge of the good or evil that will attend them. They allege, as examples, many predictions concerning their kings, but particularly Alexander, the conqueror of Darius, and his successors Antigonus and Seleucus Nicanor; which all appear to have been accomplished. They affirm, moreover, that they have foretold the future to other individuals so correctly, as to excite in them the greatest admiration, and compel them to allow a supernatural agency. They number twenty-four constellations, exclusive of those comprised in the zodiac-twelve in the northern, and as many in the southern hemisphere; the twelve which are visible, governing the living, and those which are unseen, ruling over the dead; and they believe them to be judges of all mankind. The moon is placed below all the stars and planets; as she is the least of all, she is also nearest to the earth, and her revolution is performed in less time, not because she moves more swiftly, but in consequence of the smallness of her orbit. They agree with the Greeks that her light is only borrowed, and that her eclipses are occasioned by the earth's shadow. They have only an imperfect theory respecting solar eclipses, and are unable to calculate or predict them. They have particular notions with respect to the earth, which they pretend is hollow, and adduce a number of probable reasons in favor of this opinion, and of many others, which are peculiar to them, with regard to the operations of nature. "The Chaldeans are the most skilful astrologers in the world, having cultivated this science with greater care than any other nation. We can scarcely believe all that they say regarding the antiquity of their earliest observations, for according to their account, they commenced 473,000 years before the arrival of Alexander in Asia."-Diod. Sic. ii. 22. The king of Babylon is in the scriptures represented as having seen a "watcher and an holy one come down from heaven," in exact accordance with an opinion which the preceding extract shews us was entertained by the Chaldeans of old. For those stars which were called "counsellor gods," are described in this very character of watchers, whose peculiar office it was to inspect terrene affairs, and assure mankind of the interest with which their movements were regarded by "the gods." The passage shews us also what reason there was for designating the Chaldeans, astrologers, star-gazers, and monthly prognosticators, as they are termed by the prophets, and also illustrates the extravagance of their pretensions to antiquity. DEW. THE phenomena of dew were first satisfactorily explained by the late Dr. Wells; who showed by the most decisive experiments, that, apparently, all these phenomena were owing to the effects of the radiation of heat from the earth's surface, during the absence of the sun. When the direct influence of the sun is removed in the evening, and the surface of the earth, thus no longer continues to acquire heat, at that instant, from the ceaseless activity of heat to maintain a state of equilibrium, the surface of the earth, being the warmer body, radiates a portion of its superfluous temperature into the surrounding space; and thus the air immediately in contact with the surface, becomes cooled below the point of saturation and gives off a portion of its water in the form of dew. The deposition of dew is always most abundant during calm and cloudless nights, and in situations freely exposed to the atmosphere. Whatever interferes in any way with the process of radiation, as might be expected, has a great effect on the deposition of dew. Hence the radiation of heat, and consequently the deposition of dew, are obviated, not only by the slightest covering or shelter, as by thin matting, or even muslin; by the neighbourhood of buildings, and innumerable other impediments, near the earth's surface: but matters interposed at a great distance from the earth's surface have precisely the same effect. Thus clouds effectually prevent the radiation of heat from the earth's surface; so that cloudy nights are always warmer than those which are clear, and in consequence, there is usually on such nights, little or no deposition of dew. From dew there is an insensible transition to hoar-frost; which is in fact only frozen dew, and indicative of greater cold. Frosty nights, like simply dewy nights, are generally still and clear. (Prout's Bridgewater Treatise.) INTELLIGENCE. THE YOUTHS' MAGAZINE. Our readers are probably expecting that we should give them some information with regard to the disposal of the profits arising from the sale of this work, as is usually the case at this period of the year. We have much pleasure in acquainting them that a grant of ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY POUNDS was made at the last Committee to the following Societies: It cannot but be gratifying to us that our subscribers still enable us thus to aid the efforts of such institutions; and we take this opportunity of thanking them for what they have already accomplished. But they must not think that they have done all in their power; many in the present age are running to and fro, and knowledge is rapidly increasing. But knowledge without a proper direction is a dangerous thing. They must take care what they learn, and how they apply it. They must "search the scriptures daily," to see whether the things they read are consistent with the pure and perfect rules which God has there given for their instruction. It has been, for thirty years past, our object, in this little work, to present such information and counsel as might lead our young readers to prize more highly that book which is able to make wise unto salvation. We still look to the same mark; and on this plea, if on no other, we think we are justified in asking a continuance and extension of that kindness with which our endeavours to instruct and amuse the young have been hitherto met. The Youths' Magazine, as will be seen by referring to the various grants which it has made from time to time (amounting in the whole to £3140.) recognises none of those minor differences which affect the Christian world, but regards every soul that "worketh good" as a fellow-helper in the great cause which it contemplates; and every doctrine that is "according to godliness," with the deepest and most sincere attach ment. POETRY. THE FIRST OF MARCH. The Summer's in her ark, And this sunny-pinioned day Thou hast fann'd the sleeping earth From their overhanging bowers; The forest seems to listen For the rustle of its leaves, And the very skies to glisten In the hope of Summer eves. The vivifying spell Has been felt beneath the wave, By the dormouse in its cell, And the mole within its cave; At the summons of the Spring. The cattle lift their voices From the valleys and the hills, Fill the poet's song with glee, MRS. HEMANS. |