tinually exerting itself throughout all the succeeding ages of eternity.

Again, if that grand and terrific event which is to put a final period to the present terrestrial system is to be viewed as a consequence of the introduction of moral evil and the depravity of man, then we are led to conclude that those intelligences which were connected with the systems which are supposed to have been destroyed, must have been involved in the guilt of moral degeneracy, or, in other words, in rebellion against their Creator; otherwise, why were they subjected to such an awful catastrophe, and doomed to be blotted out of existence? We have no ground for entertaining any such supposition. Reasoning from the benevolence of the Deity, it is more probable to conclude that the inhabitants of our world are almost the only intelligences throughout the universe who have swerved from the path of original rectitude, and violated the moral laws of their Maker. Nor is it likely that the whole inhabitants of any system-consisting, perhaps, of thirty or even a hundred worlds would be found uniting in rebellion against the moral government of their Benefactor, so as to warrant the entire destruction of the system with which they were connected. Besides, were the views of the philosophers to which I allude to be adopted, then we must admit that the systems which, in their opinion, were destroyed or annihilated, must have continued in existence only for a year or two; for no luminous bodies occupied the places of the new stars before they burst on a sudden to the view, and no twinkling orbs have been seen in these points of the heavens since they disappeared; but it is surely not at all probable that the Almighty would launch into existence systems of such amazing magnitude and splendour, and suffer them to rush into destruction within a period of so very limited duration.

For the reasons now stated, and others which might have been brought forward, I cannot acquiesce in the views of the respectable philosophers to which I have adverted; but it is easier to set aside an untenable hypothesis than to attempt an explanation of the real causes of so sublime and wonderful phenomena. In investigating the distant wonders of the universe and the arrangements of the Divine government, it becomes us to express our sentiments with modesty and caution. Whatever may have been the causes which produced the sudden splendour and the rapid disappearance of the new

and that, as it gradually declined in its brightness, it was passing along the curve from A towards B and C, till its rapid flight at length carried it beyond the limits of human vision? Had telescopes been in use at that period, there is little doubt it would have been seen, though still diminishing, for a much longer period than that in which it was visible to the unassisted eye; in which case it would have fully corroborated the opinion now stated. In confirmation of this explanation of the phenomena, it has been supposed, with a high degree of probability, that it is the same star which appeared in the year 945 and in 1264, which, of course, would have a period of revolution of about 319 years, which period might vary two or three years in the course of its revolutions, from causes with which we are unacquainted, as we find sometimes happens in the case of comets. This opinion is rendered the more probable from the consideration that the stars of 945 and 1264 appeared in the constellation of Cassiopeia, where likewise the star of 1572 was observed; and if these be identical, then it is probable that it will again make its appear

ance about the year 1891 or 1892 ; and if so, astronomers will then have a better opportunity of marking its aspects and motions, and determining its size and its period of revolu

tion.

If this explanation appear the most probable, it presents to the mind a most magnificent and overwhelming idea, without supposing anything so tremendous and terrific as a sudden conflagration. It presents before us a luminous globe of astonishing magnitude-perhaps not less than a hundred times the size of our sun-winging its course over a circuit perhaps a thousand times more expansive than the orbit of Uranus, and carrying along with it a hundred worlds in its swift career. The motion of such a body must have been rapid in the extreme, when we consider the rapid diminution of its apparent magnitude. In the month of November it first appeared; in December its brightness was sensibly diminished; in the month of April following it had diminished to the size of a star of the second magnitude ; in July, to one of the third magnitude ; in October, to one of the fourth; in the following January, to one of the fifth; in February, to one of the sixth magnitude; and in March it disappeared.

Now, according to Sir W. Herschel's experiments, the light of a star of the first magnitude being supposed 100, the light of one of the second magnitude is 25, one of the third magnitude 12, &c. (see p. 37). If, then, we suppose these classes of stars to be nearly of equal magnitudes, and that their distance is in an inverse proportion to the diminution of their light, it will follow that a star of the second magnitude is four times the distance of a star of the first; a star of the third magnitude four times the distance of the second, or eight times the distance of the first magnitude, &c. Supposing, then, the star of 1572 to have been twenty billions of miles from the earth at its nearest approach to our system: from December, 1572, to April, 1573, when it was diminished to the apparent size of a star of the second magnitude, it must have moved four times that distance, or eighty billions of miles, during these four months, which is at the rate of six hundred thousand millions of miles a day, and four hundred and sixty-two millions a minute, a velocity of which we can have no adequate conception.

If the above explanation be unsatisfactory, I know not to what hypothesis to resort for a solution of this mysterious and

wonderful phenomenon. Whatever view we may be disposed to take of such striking events, we are lost in admiration and wonder. We behold a display of magnitude, of motion, and of magnificence, which overpowers the human faculties, which shows us the littleness of man and the limited nature of his powers, and which ought to inspire us with reverence of that Almighty Being who sits on the throne of the universe, directing all its movements for the accomplishment of his wise and righteous designs, and for the diffusion of universal happiness throughout all the ranks of intelligent existence. However astonishing the conclusions we are led to deduce from the phenomena under consideration, the facts to which we have adverted are not beyond the energies of Him whose perfections are strictly infinite. Nay, from such a Being, who is self-existent and omniscient, who fills the immensity of space with his presence, and whose power is boundless in its operation, we should naturally expect that displays of creating and sustaining energy would be exhibited altogether overwhelming and incomprehensible by mortals. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? In the heights of heaven he doth great things past finding out, yea, and wonders without number. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. Lo, these are but parts of his ways; but the thunder of his power who can understand?"

CHAPTER VII.

ON VARIABLE STARS.

WHEN the starry firmament is attentively surveyed, and the aspects of the numerous orbs it contains particularly marked, it is found that several of these bodies are subject to periodical changes in the brilliancy of their light and in their apparent diameters, indicating in some instances motions and revolutions of considerable extent. The following sketches contain descriptions of the more remarkable phenomena connected with this class of the heavenly bodies, generally known by the name of variable or periodical stars:

The first star of this kind which seems to have been particu. larly noticed is one in the neck of the Whale, whose right ascension is 2h 8′ 33′′, and south declination 3° 57' 25". It was first observed on August 13th, 1596, by David Fabricius, when it appeared like a star of the third magnitude, but disappeared after the month of October in the same year. It was again observed by Holwarda in the year 1637; and after having disappeared during a period of nine months, it again became visible; since which time it has been found every year pretty regular in its period, except from October, 1672, to December, 1676, during which time Hevelius could not perceive it, though it was a particular object of his attention. Bullialdus, a Frenchman, having compared together the observations that had been made on it from 1638 to 1666, determined the periodical time between its appearing in its greatest brightness and returning to it again to be 333 days. He found also that about 120 days elapse between the time that it is first seen of the sixth magnitude and its disappearing; that it continues in its greatest lustre for about fifteen days; that after its first reappearance of the sixth magnitude it increases in size much faster till it comes to be of the fourth magnitude, than it does from that period to its being of the third; and that from its being of the third it increases to the second magnitude by still slower degrees. Modern astronomers give the following description: "It remains in its greatest brightness about a fortnight, being then nearly equal to a star of the second magnitude; it decreases during three months, till it becomes completely invisible, in which state it remains about five months, when it again becomes visible, and continues increasing during the remaining three months of its period; but it does not always return to the same degree of brightness, nor increase and diminish by the same gradations." It appears about twelve times in eleven years. Cassini determined its period to be 334 days; but Sir W. Herschel makes it 331 days, 10 hours, 19 minutes. It appears, then, that this star passes through all the gradations of light and magnitude from a star of the second to a star of the sixth magnitude and under; but after it has disappeared to the naked eye it may be traced to its lowest magnitude by a telescope of moderate power. It is sometimes distinguished by the name of Stella Mira, or the wonderful star, and Omicron Ceti.