fectly with Herder's very probable hypothesis (which is also corroborated by Diodorus Siculus) that the Egyptians were a people of Southern Asia, who travelled westward over the Red Sea, and from Æthiopia, by degrees spread themselves over Upper Egypt.”*

But Count Volney has collected evidence which appears very credible, of alliances subsisting in the remoter depths of time, between the monarchs of Yemen or Arabia Felix, (the seats of the aboriginal Cushites)— and the most ancient of the Babylonian kings: which evidence conspires with the presence of Chepheus and Cushiopeia (whom I promise myself the honour of introducing to public notice), and with other proofs afforded by the celestial sphere and by our, antique cylinders, in establishing this fact of the Ethiopian origin of astronomy-I shall not say incontrovertibly, but with a weight of evidence that will probably be thought preponderating: unless our enterprising young countrymen who are reported to have lately penetrated to Saba, should have any thing important to throw into the alternate scale.

In doing myself the honour, Sir, of addressing the present speculation to you, I ought not perhaps to dissemble, that the hopes of my pride have been stimulated by a circumstance to which I have not yet adverted. I am taught to reckon Sir Henry Englefield and yourself, among the most sceptical of my antiquarian friends (if I may here presume to use these words)- I mean the most sceptical in those branches of knowledge which are involved in the present inquiry: as my subject is unexplored, unexpected, and far out of the common track, I ought perhaps to anticipate that the conviction of most readers will be but slow; when, as I proceed, it shall gradually be perceived that the reasons I adduce, are at once concentric, and capable of indefinite accumulation, the result may be expected with more of the confidence of geometricians, than of the apprehensive anxieties which are attendant on the discoveries of taste.

* Tooke's Lucian, vol. i. Note to p. 606. In another note the translator adds that, "Lucian in this speech of Philosophy, presents the reader with a no less elegant, than accurately drawn, outline of her ancient history; which affords a fresh proof of his, not common erudition; and describes the progress of the arts that polish life and the refinement of the human race from one people to another, with historical veracity."

Yet a system of correlative parts, cannot by any human means, be brought into instantaneous existence. If I engage to construct an arch, time must be allowed for the arrangement of my materials; for the affixation of my key-stone; and for the application of that superincumbent weight which a scientific eye regards as being the surest test of firmness and durability.—I can say however with the astronomer in Rasselas, that "Not to be easily credited, will neither surprise nor offend me;” and I beg to add, that I am no stranger to the worth, or the consciousness, of that sentiment which on such a subject, prefers beyond all ratio, the belief that is founded in scepticism, to that which springs from credulity.

Has this latter feeling dictated the selection of the signet from an impression of which was copied the etching which stands at the head of the present address?-I confess that I think this particular cylinder bears on its face, at least as strong internal evidence of being an antique astronomical monument, as any other which is likely to appear in the present work, unless that belonging to Sir William Boughton should be excepted. Being for the most part (as I understand it) composed of constellations that have suffered little change or disguise in passing through the refrangible media of Greece and Rome, it may justly claim to be regarded as more entirely trust-worthy and convincing than its predecessor; and having fortunately escaped damage from chemical decomposition, as well as almost escaped accidental fracture from the blows of those Arabian pick-axes which have for ages been employed in removing the bricks of Babylon, and consequently in the disinterment of these curious antiques, its engraved contents still appear to shine with a clear radiance of primitive truth and simplicity, from amid the scintillations of clashing authorities; the clouds of doubt; and the artificial haloes of national vanity with which our friends the Greek poets and philosophers have surrounded all the barbarian asterisms.

In short, I think, that-excepting a certain pristine antique physiognomy, which in fact does but assist our conviction of their identity and their great age,—Aquarius, Engonasis, Boötes, and the Bear, as displayed on the present monument, are unequivocally the same which we so frequently see vulgarised on the spheres and stellar charts of modern

M

Europe. And they no less unequivocally prove that we have derived those constellations from the Chaldeans-and not from the Egyptians ;for among the astronomical antiquities of Egypt, I find nothing that can be put in competition with them in point of resemblance to the constellations of the modern sphere. Without at present presuming either to controvert, or corroborate, Lucian's opinion, which was also that of Voltaire and others, that Philosophy came originally from the Bramins of Hindostan, I question whether she proceeded down the Nile, in passing from Æthiopia to Babylon.

Concerning the inferences to be drawn throughout these antiquarian investigations, from the juxta-position of rude simplicity with complex refinement, in the styles of art that may fall under the view of the general reader, he must permit me, with our old friend Mat. Prior, to apprize him that he is not to "look for Versailles," whilst I am shewing him "Down Hall;"* and that our present celestial sphere having in the course of its descent, passed through Greek, and Roman, if not through Egyptian, versions, we have no right to expect the asterisms of Chaldea, to bear any very striking resemblance to those on Senex's or Cary's globes.

Where, through obscure, and sometimes scanty, premises, we can perceive or infer, enough to establish in our better judgment, the identity of a constellation or star; we must accept the omen, and learn to be satisfied: better satisfied indeed we ought to be, if we see also that attendant air of primitive art of which I have attempted to suggest the idea, than if we beheld them "trick'd and flounc'd" with our present foppish refinement, sophisticated grace, and irrelevant appendages-Boötes for example, of whom I shall first proceed to treat, with his theatrical buskins, and his anomalous† club.

It has been well observed by a writer of more sincerity than art, that "the ancients allude so often, and sometimes so particularly, to the figures

* "I shew'd you Down Hall-Did you look for Versailles?"-Song by Prior.

+ His collared and coupled hounds, which are also a modern addition by Hevelius, are not liable to the same objection; as we shall presently see that one of the characters in which Boötes anciently presented himself, was that of a Hunter.

on their globes in their poems; that there is no understanding the latter, without having some acquaintance with the former. This goes so far that Quintilian, where he is giving instructions how to form his young orator -after speaking of his reading the Poets, says it is necessary for him to study astronomy in order to understand them. This (continues the author of the Polymetis) is become still more necessary at present, for we have been used not only to be unassisted by the figures of the constellations as they were represented on the ancient globes; but to be misled too by the figures of them as they are represented on the modern. For though the constellations in general are pretty much the same in both; yet, either their characters, or dress, or air, or attributes, have been somehow or other changed in almost every instance, as will easily appear to any one who would take the trouble of comparing the figures on the Farnese globe, with those on any of the most received globes among the moderns. This has been so little regarded hitherto, that on asking some celebrated mathematicians of our own country, what were the principal differences between the figures of the constellations on the ancient and on the modern globes, their constant answer has been that they had always imagined that there was not any difference at all."*

Yes, strange as it may seem, notwithstanding their intrinsic interest, and their importance to chronology and history, sculptured astronomical monuments, have neither been sought for, nor examined when accidentally found, with any thing like a sound tact of critical inspection; and the changes in almost every instance, that (as Mr. Spence regrets) have been so little regarded hitherto; are become to an antiquary, serious and weighty, but at the same time stimulating, considerations; as they tend to shew the utility and value of the science which he professes, and are fraught with important information.

But he has to labour with little help in tracing the descent of the modern asterisms of the sphere from those of remote antiquity. Since the resuscitation of the Babylonian signets, we seem to possess the two ends of an immense and magnificent chain, somewhat resembling that of Jupiter in

* Spence's Polymetis, p. 164, folio edit.

the Iliad a chain fashioned from age to age by various art, and by means of which short sighted human science, had intended to connect systems of cycles and worlds with each other, if not time with eternity: but where are the intermediate links? If found at all, they must lie disconnected, broken, and buried among the ruins of ancient literature and sculpture. I had not only to dig for them; but to learn where to dig; and ah! how much to distrust what the scholars had fancied themselves to have turned up from time to time. In short, the result of my widest and deepest research into this charmed ground, has been

"but to know how little could be known;"

and, to see others faults:—— -Happy if the wisdom to feel my own could also have reached me.

But, Sir, you will not suppose, that in asserting the necessity-the propriety, at least—of antiquarian scrupulosity, I am putting in a claim for moral wisdom.

In either view, it may be thought that in adverting to this masterpiece of modern moral poetry, I might, with propriety, or without reproach, have gone one verse further back, and addressed you in the words of Pope's apostrophe to Bolingbroke; but I would not be misinterpreted, or run the hazard of being thought capable even of misprision of flattery: and you will perceive that my subject rendered it incumbent on me to attempt something like a critical genealogical examination of the constellations—as far as the regretted scantiness of our documents would allow -before I could claim homage for my kings, and veneration for my patriarchs, of the original sphere.

Working "my little bark" upward on this exploratory voyage, against the stream of time, I soon arrived at Dr. Long's mention of the Syntagma Arateorum of Grotius. He says, "The most ancient pictures we have of them (the constellations) are those published out of an ancient manuscript by Grotius: but these, (he justly observes,) though venerable for their antiquity, are by no means agreeable to the originals in the heavens: As for the figures printed in some editions of Hyginus, the designers of