Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-05-06
Astronomy.
A LECTURE DEIrvERED BEFORE rnE xrscArrSE LY-
cErN, APRIL /, 1854, BY .. FRANKLIN WELLS.

LECTURE DEfIrERED BEFORE THE ACScATiNE Lf-
crra APRIL !, 1854, BY D. rnASKLrS WELLS.
i Mn. PaEsrDEsT THE subject " ich
f.present before you to-nish, is not
new one--it is as old as the creation,
and venerable for its very antiquity.
In all ages of the world, men have
delighted to view the starry armament,
and contemplate tie goodness OF ths
Creator, who has there furnished q vsst
source of delight to his intelligent and
rational creatures.
The shepherds OF ChAldea, "a thew
watched their focks by night. were
won't to while the weary hours By gizing
at the blue vault Of heaven, and watch
ing the thousands Of shining orbs that
bedeck ia surface. until the morningI
star anno1nced the approach Of day. sndt
thus relieved them Of their vigils.
The study Of Astronomy must have
l commenced with the exisience Of the
human race. Indeed, il would be con-
trary to the knows laws which govern
mind, TO suppose that an intelligent
creature, created in the express image Of
God, could view without admiration
AMI delight, the moon walking with ma
Jesty among the planetary worlds and
hosts OF stars that adorn its pathway.
and not be led TO inquire mos, earnestly
as to its nature aud destination.
Among the early natisns that cult.
vated this science. might be mentioned
the Egyptians, Chaldeans and Chinese.
as those who carried it TO the grsaiesp
perfection. The Chinese. it is general
ly conceded, have the oldest authentic |
observations on record; some of them, |
it is said. extending back 10 period loo
years prior to the food. The one 10
which | allude is the conjunc: ion Of Ave
planets, which, by calculation. is found
sc;ually to have taken place at that
time, They also have recorded an
eclipse OF the san, which took place SEQ
years after the deluse.
Josephus informs Us that The sons Of
Seth employed themselves in the study
OF astronomy. and tha. they wro:e their
observations upon two pillars. one Of
stone, and The other OF bIick, in order 10
preserve them from the destruction
which Adam had foretold should come
upon the earth. He also states. that
Abraham read lectures on astronomy
and arithmetic to the Egyptians, Of
which they understood nothing until
he brought these sciences from Chaldea-
Whsn Alexander took Babylon, an sll
most unbroken series Of observations
was found, extending nearly 5000 years,
which would carry W back to the dis.
peTsion of mankind by the confusion of
tongues.
Thus we sec that all classes of socic.
ty, in all ages Of the world, have fur.
nished their devotees TO this ennobling
science. Humble men have looked and
wondered, poets hare sang, philoso.
piers have theorizsd. kings have de.
scended from their thrones to do it
homage, divines have viewed with won
der and delight these evidences Of the
, infinite power and wisdom Of their G reat
Architect. and all have been improved
by the contemplation. And where, let
me ask, would the humble and lowly
| find objects that would more excite
their admiration and reverence, and
which would have greater tendency TO
elevate their minds above the srovsl.
ling pursuits of this mundane spherei
Where would the poet hnd a more e1-
alling and inspiring theme than is ,heSc
traced in characters Of lightf Where
would the philosopher fnd more e1.
tended field for observation and the ex-
ercise Of genius In what way might
kings and princes better employ their
time, than in extending the knowledge.
Of science. which has done so lrpch.
and is still doing, to enlighten the .h9.
man mind and relieve it from the scr
troll of superstition and dresdl And
lastly, where might the holy man OF
God find objects that would So expaad
and exalt his ideas of Him, who can
(" loose the bands Of Orion." and .. bind
the sweet influences Of the Pleiades -
Of Him, who " commandeth the sun and
sealeth up the stars" and who alone
spreadeth out the heavens and the
f" chambers of the south?
Independently from the sublime OBJ.
fjects which it introduces 10 our notice.
the study Of astronomy is Of utility in
consequence of its connection with ter
restrial scie=ce. To it we look for the
explanation Of many phenomena which
are Of daily, or frequent occuIreacs.-.
Among the more commen might be
mentioned the change OF day and. night.
the succession Of the seasons, the tides
Of :he ocean, meteoric showers, and
eclipses.
The science OF Navigation depeaaA
almos. wholly upon a knowledge Of thd
heavenly bodies. Wi,hpu,,a knowledge
Of them, the mariner would be unable TO
fnd his way across the traeklesS main !;
but 70 such Perfection is the science
now Carried. that after being tossed for
days and weeks upon tie wild surses.
when the storm ssbsides. by few sim
| pie calculations be can determine the
precise poin: which1his vessel occspies.
To assist him IN these caiculs tiohs, in.
straments and tables agS ., hand. By
measuring the mefidinh' sllitude Of the
sun or Of star, be esh' determine his
precise distance north o. s0u2h' Of the
equator. aud BY Gndins the distance Of
the moon from certain stars neaf' which
it passes. bis longitude is desermineI.
and he is thus enabled 10 direct his
! conyse IN ths sfasiral h.van Wishont