Pythagoras maintained that the world is actuated by a divine soul; and when we come to examine that miraculous sympathy in nature, so admirably manifested between the heavenly bodies ana the amazing body of water surrounding our earth, which is incessantly agitated by sympathetic influence, we are involuntarily brought to think of the doc-trine of this ancient sage. No fact in philosophy is more indisputable, than that which assures us of the influence of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars, on the Earth and its inhabitants. The continual and periodical change in the weather - the constant and the variable winds to which particular climates are subject - the phenomena peculiar to the several seasons, and many other effects that might, were it necessary, be pointed out; are proofs which render the existence of such planetary influence unquestionable. There is, however, one means more visible, than either of those before mentioned, by which the reality of Astrological influence may be exemplified, and pretty well estimated; and that is, the alternate ebbing and: flowing of the sea, or the theory of the tides; which, even the greatest incredulist in celestial philosophy, is compelled unequivocally to allow, is produced entirely by the Solar and Lunar agency.

The phenomena exhibited in this department of nature, is so analogous to those operations on which Astrological doctrines rest, that it cannot be too closely examined into; and the more scrupulously it is brought into comparison with atmospheric fluctuations, the more these will be understood, and (it is presumed) the science of Astrology venerated. - Those persons who have taken the trouble to examine with attention the immediate influence of the luminaries upon the waters of the ocean, will, no doubt, come to this inference; namely, if those bodies do thus compel so gross a mass of matter as the ocean, to periodically toss and roll in a manner contrary to its own nature, which is inert repose; so must their respective influences operate to disturb and alter, the state of every sort of matter whatsoever, sensible and insensible, that is connected with the earth. - For it is a conspicuous axiom in the Newtonian theory, " That every particle of matter in the universe is, endued with a sympathetic energy or influence, by which it is capable of communicating imperceptibly with every other particle throughout the system of nature.

The whole surface of the human body, when moderately corpulent, is about fourteen feet square; and the pressage which occasions the rise and fall of the mercury in the thermometer shews, by its variation, that at one time, when the air is most heavy, such a body sustains a pressure externally of 33,905lb; while, when the pressure is the lightest, the pressure on the same body is not more than 30,624 lb; and consequently an increase or decrease of weight equal to 3,281 lb may be externally acting on the body of a person; and which change he may suffer every few hours, as the fluctuations of the mercury evidently proves.

Now we well know that this vast external pressure, could not be sustained unless it were properly counterbalanced by some adequate means of resistance within the said body; and some internal means of accom-modating itself to these fluctuations of the atmosphere, which are sup-plied by the Author of Nature to every animal body. Yet that equilibrium which is necessary to ease, is constantly being disturbed; and agitations, which may be compared to the ebbing and flowing of the sea, are constantly being experienced by every living animal. In a body that is robust, and has all its members perfect, pulsation or the natural vibration of its organs will soon effect composure; but where any member or organ is out of order, the free and necessarily rapid circulation of the internal matter is obstructed, and pain, or unpleasant sensations, are the consequence, nor will these cease until a perfect equilibrium between the internal resistance, and external force, has been restored. - Now the human body cannot be materially affected, without the mind partaking at the same time of those effects, whether agreeable or painful, from which it is plainly demonstrated, that the combined or contrary influences of the planets are constantly operating, to produce certain effects on the body and mind of every living being on the face of the earth, in a manner comparatively similar to the phenomena of the tides of the ocean; and that the lives and actions of men, and the fate of individuals and nations, are thus subject in a greater or lesser measure to planetary control.

Therefore (in the words of Ptolemy, that "Prince of Philosophers") "what therefore hinders, but that he who exquisitely knows the motions of the stars, and of the Sun and Moon, and is not ignorant of the times, nor the place, nor any of the aspects, and is further well skilled in their natures, and their efficient powers. - What I say, hinders any man thus furnished from knowing, both naturally, and suitably, the effects of all these mixed together, so that he may be able to foretel, in every season, the proper state of the air; as that it will be hotter or moister, which he may foreknow by a manifest aspect or ray of the stars and Moon to the Sun? - and as it is possible for him that is very well skilled in these matters before mentioned, to foretel the qualities of the seasons, what hinders but he may likewise predict concerning every man ? for, from the state of the ambient at the time of the constitution of each, it is easy to know in general the quality and temperament of each person born; that such he shall be in body, and such in mind, and the future events, advantageous or disadvantageous, foreknown by the state of the ambient. - Therefore it is apparent that a presage is possible to be deduced from these, and such like, of the heavenly causes".

As to the absurd and foolish idea that it is superstitious, unlawful, or sinful, to study Astrology, a moment's reflection will convince to the contrary; since it will be manifest, from the perusal of this volume, that every problem is calculated merely by an arithmetical process, devoid of any thing resembling divinations. Likewise the consequent prediction is deduced therefrom in a demonstrative and strict mathematical way, according to a certain chain of causes, which for ages past have been found uniformly to produce a correspondent train of effects. - Where then consists its sinfulness or its superstition ? since the whole system is founded on the result of actual observation. - If Astrology, which foretels future events by the courses of the stars, is sinful or unlawful, so were the labors of the late celebrated astronomer Herschel, who nightly pored over the starry heavens with his optic instruments, " guaging the Firmament" as he expresses it, in search of discoveries. - And alike unlawful are the present labors of the astronomer royal. - For be it re-numbered, that the Astrologer's horoscope is nothing more than a celestial map, chart, or picture, of the heavens, for a certain hour of the day, erected on paper, judged according to long established rules, which can-not be of itself either meritorious or unlawful; since the map or picture of the heavens so east and erected, as well as the stars and planets placed therein! does certainly exist in the heavens at that time, whether the Astrologer erects his horoscope or not. - And by predicting from the said configuration of the heavenly bodies, the Astrologer does but verify and fulfil that passage of the saeretl scripture which positively declares, that the stars and planets were created expressly for the benefit of man, the terrestrial lord of the creation; and that they were placed in the firmament for "Signs" of that which afterwards should come to pass.* Therefore, the same vindictive and bigotted spirit which would persecute or contemn the Astrologer for contemplating the heavens, and declaring, in deference to the actual conviction of his mind, that the stars have power over all sublunary affairs, would, in the dark ages, have sentenced Galileo to the stake, or banished the immortal Newton from the dwellings of civilized man!