They may be regarded as an amusement, as well as a useful and innocent branch of knowledge;--I think that we may include them provisionally.

'Yes; that will be the way.' The next question is, whether astronomy shall be made a part of education.

About the stars there is a strange notion prevalent.

Men often suppose that it is impious to enquire into the nature of God and the world, whereas the very reverse is the truth.

'How do you mean ?' What I am going to say may seem absurd and at variance with the usual language of age, and yet if true and advantageous to the state, and pleasing to God, ought not to be withheld.