Page:Baylee's Method of Finding the Longitude.djvu/15

Rh general observation is sufficient: these apparent imperfections shew us that this earth is not our abiding place; they lead us to look for help from on high; they call forth the kindly feelings, and teach us mutual dependence, while they counteract the supineness of corrupt nature, and are thus instrumental in conducting man to the end of his creation— to be virtuous and useful. I am led to make these observations, because those who do not know me may think I affect to despise those helps, which the imperfection or the imbecility of our organs require, when I speak of the efficiency of my Method, and the ease with which a competent knowledge of it may be attained; while the fact is, that my Method tends to render the application of those helps more general, by bringing the objects to which they are applied more within the range of familiar notice. To every enlightened and unprejudiced mind, simplicity in design and facility in execution must prove the strongest recommendations; while to those who think differently, utility must remain for ever undefined, and talent and empiricism become terms of similar import.

The Author of the foregoing Method proposes to engage in a Course of Astronomy, should a sufficient number of Students offer; and accordingly he begs respectfully to present the following

Yet so easy of Attainment, that any Person, though previously unacquainted with Astronomy, may, in a short time, with moderate attention, become profoundly versed in it.

Places of the Fixed Stars and of the Planets; their Rising, Culmination, Setting, Altitude.—The Periods, Distances, Magnitudes of the Planets; their Positions, as affecting their Motions in their Orbits with respect to the Laws of Gravity.—The Aspect of the Firmament at all