sion of the most powerful instruments, ad- this science owes more to his practical vantages for the study of the smaller stars skill than to his happy conjectures. He which had never been enjoyed before was the first who really gauged (to use his This superiority may be best estimated own expression) the heavens. The stars from the fact, that in a small luminous visible in the heavens on a clear night are spot or nebula, in which before him no eye about 5000 in number. Now Herschel, by had ever discerned a star, he was able to reckoning the stars in given spaces where count 14,000 stars! We have seen that he the stellar light is equally diffused, ascerrapidly raised the number of observed nebu- tained that within the space of five degrees lous stars from 96 to 2500. The general in the Milky-way there are at least 331,000 result of his speculations on these pheno- stars. He also clearly established by thoumena is thus explained by his biographer: sands of observations, that the whiteness "On the grounds of probability no reasonable of the Milky way, is due not to these mulperson will refuse to adopt the views of Herschel, titudes of discernible stars, but to gatherand he will remain convinced, that there really ings of stars too small to be distinguished. exist brilliant stars surrounded by atmospheres, The crude luminous matter or raw material luminous of themselves; and the supposition here plays a subordinate part among hosts that these atmospheres, becoming condensed of stars. The Milky-way, though to a unite with or are absorbed in the central stars so careless observer it may appear uniformly as to increase their splendor, will then appear

very plausible. The recollection of the Zodiacal luminous, will yet be found by an experilight-that immense luminous zone surrounding enced eye to be divided into separate the equator of our sun, and extending even as far groups, and this grouping of the light was as the orbit of Venus-will then strike the mind, considered by Herschel as progressive. M. as a new feature of resemblance between our sun Arago shares his belief, and exclaims, and certain stars: and the nebula which have "Every thing justifies the opinion of the in their centre condensations of light more or illustrious astronomer. In the course of less decided, will present themselves to the imagination as the first outlines of stars, or as a ager, the clustering power (this is Herstate of luminous matter intermediate between schel's expression) will inevitably bring the uniformly diffused nebula and the nebulous about the disruption, subdivision, and sepstars properly so called. These speculations of aration of the Milky-way. Herschel conduct to nothing less than the supposition that the formation of new stars is continually going on, and that we witness the slow,

progressive creation of new suns."

For many years Herschel held that all the nebulæ are composed of stars. He subsequently modified this opinion, how. ever, and admitted that there are some nebula which are not of a starry nature. This recognition of luminous matter existing in the universe in a rude, or, as it may be called, elemental state, was of great importance towards the formation of a the ory. The small circular or rather globular nebula may be looked upon as luminaries in a more advanced state of growth, and in some of these, which have an extent equal to about a tenth of the moon's surface, Herschel calculated that there are at least 20,000 stars. To him also belong the important remarks that the nebula lie for the most part in strata, and that the heavens in their immediate vicinity are generally quite free from stars.

The favorite object of Herschel's study and contemplation was the Milky-way. That also he considered to be a stratum of stars, in the middle of which nearly is our

sun.

But this was not the speculation of a mere theorist. Though his bold genius has enlarged the bounds of Astronomy, yet

The sun also shared the vigilant attention of the Astronomer of Slough and here again his opinions have made such an impression on the learned world as can only be effected by those issuing from a master spirit. According to him, the light of the sun does not proceed from the solid nucleus of that body, but from a cloud-like substance which floats in its atmosphere. This doctrine is now generally received, and we need not discuss its advantages in accounting for the spots on the sun, or the phenomena attending the revolution of that luminary on its axis. Herschel believed that the sun is inhabited; but his arguments to this effect only go to prove, that we may conceive the atmosphere of the sun to be so constituted, that the solar nucleus suffers no inconvenience from the proximity of that circumambient heat and light which enliven the solar system. Other and better arguments, as M. Arago intimates, may still be urged in favor of that opinion.

We cannot refrain from turning aside for an instant from the grave review of these speculations and discoveries, to glance at the fate of an unconscious fellow-laborer of Herschel. Had this wonderful man been unpensioned he could never have dared to publish so many new and bold opinions.

Fortunate as he was, and the favorite of apply the common maxim "noscitur a soa king, he has yet been sneered at for what ciis." No definitions can safely decide has been deemed a constant hankering what is monomania and what is not; no after the prodigious; but there can be no act of parliament can mark the exact line doubt that much of what the world ac- which separates madness from philosophy, cepted as philosophy from him, would have poetry, or love. At the present day, when been thought madness in one less advan- there is such a call for a law on monotageously circumstanced. mania which shall settle to a nicety the degree of mental obliquity entitled to humane treatment, and which, by exact defi nitions, shall teach us "insanire ratione modoque;" it may not be amiss to call attention to the difficulties surrounding such an attempt.

It happened that in 1787 Miss Boydell, the niece of Alderman Boydell, was shot at in the street by a man who was arrested on the spot. Her clothes were set on fire, but she suffered no serious injury, and indeed it was never proved that the pistols were loaded with any thing destructive. By a natural transition, we pass from a The prisoner turned out to be a medical case of lunacy to the moon. An immense practitioner named Elliot. On his trial the height was formerly ascribed to the moundefence set up was insanity, in proof of tains in our satellite. Galileo estimated which Dr. Simmons, physician to St. their general elevation at nearly 30,000 Luke's, came forward among other wit- feet. Hevelius, more accurate, reduced nesses. The Doctor, in order to show the them to 17,000 feet. Herschel, however, disordered state of the unhappy man's lowered to 9,000 feet the highest of the mind, produced in court a paper which lunar mountains, and to the generality of Elliot had sent to him, for the purpose of them he allowed but a very moderate elevabeing presented to the Royal Society, but tion. In this particular he is at variance which the Doctor thought too visionary for that learned body. He called the attention of the court particularly to a passage, in which the author asserted" that the sun is not a body of fire as hath been hitherto supposed, but that its light proceeds from a dense and universal aurora, which may afford ample light to the inhabitants of that body's surface beneath, and yet be at such a distance aloft as not to annoy them. No objection," he proceeds to say, "ariseth to that luminary's being inhabited, and vegetation may obtain there as well as with us. There may be water and dry land, hills and dales, rain and fair weather; and as the light, so the season must be eternal; consequently it may be easily conceived to be by far the most blissful habitation of the whole system." Here then we find adduced as a proof of the madness of Mr. Elliot, the very doctrine which Herschel promulgated with much applause eight years later.

The Recorder, who tried Elliot, held that extravagant opinions are no proof of monomania. We are disposed to think that, in this particular case, the physician of St. Luke's was better qualified to decide than the judge.* To a man's opinions we may

with those who have followed him in the same line of inquiry. According to Beer and Maedler, who have bestowed so much care on the study of the moon, there are in that satellite six mountains exceeding Cotopaxi in height, and twenty-two which rise above the elevation of Mont Blanc. In reference to the disagreement existing between the conclusions of recent Selenographists and those of Herschel, the acute and impartial M. Arago makes an observation which deserves to be well weighed by those inimical to the reputation of the latter. "Allow me to remark," he says, "how incompatible the conclusion hazarded by Herschel is, with that affectation of the extraordinary and gigantic, which some have maintained on very slight grounds, to have been the characteristic of that illustrious astronomer."

"The active volcanoes which Herschel fancied that he could descry in the moon, were doubtless optical delusions, or else spots on the moon's surface, illuminated from the earth. We have already mentioned his discovery of the remote planet named by him the Georgium Sidus, but to which continental astronomers persisted in giving his name, and which is now, by general consent, called Uranus. Seven years elapsed before he could discover any satellites attached to the new planet; his perseverance, however, and the perfection of his telescopes, were at length rewarded with the discovery of six. Some of these satellites are so minute, and, owing to their

obscurity, so hard to be detected, that mena, than to engage in computation, or doubts have even been thrown on their ex- the more arduous and essential, though istence. It is therefore not unimportant less fascinating labors, through which the to observe that M. Lamont, of Munich, ob- science can be really benefited." It grievserved in 1837, one of those which had been led us to read this shallow and ill-considered so long missing. On the whole, the dis- judgment in the "History of Astronomy" covery of Uranus, and its satellites, may in the last edition of the "Encyclopædia be justly reckoned among the most re-Britannica." markable additions made to astronomy in Herschel was not only a great man; he modern times. was also a most fortunate man. He was We have said nothing of the pains taken fortunate in having George III. for a patron. by Herschel to examine the rings of Saturn; Again he was fortunate in having M. Arago nor of his Memoirs on the optical pheno- for a biographer, who, while complete masmena called the Newtonian rings; nor of ter of his subject, is also a gentleman suhis discovery that heat and light have not perior to envy, and capable of sympathizing exactly the same refrangibility. Yet when with the truly great. Thrice fortunate he showed that in the solar spectrum form- was he in transmitting his name and fame ed by refraction with a prism, the thermo-to one who, with the amplest intellectual meter rises higher beyond the limit of the resources of an accomplished scholar and red rays than in any, even the brightest, philosopher, evidently cherishes the chapart of the spectrum, he led the way to in-racteristic boldness of his father's spirit, quiries which have since yielded the most and upholds that liberty of conjecture which important results. Regard to our limits, is indeed the mainspring of sagacity. Sir however obliges us to pass over in silence, as many of his ingenious disquisitions as would suffice to make the reputation of an ordinary man.

The degree of Doctor was conferred on Herschel by the University of Oxford in 1786, and thirty years later he was made a knight of the Hanoverian order of the Guelfs. He died in his eighty-third year, on the 23d of August, 1822.

"For some years before his death," says his biographer, "he enjoyed the purest delight from the distinguished success of his only son. In his last moments he closed his eyes in the grateful thought that that beloved son, the inheritor of a great name, would not allow it to sink, but would even clothe it with fresh lustre, and that great discoveries would also adorn his career. No prediction of the illustrious astronomer has ever been more fully realized."

John Herschel has observed about 2500 nebulæ, and perhaps 2000 double stars in the southern hemisphere. He has detected among them ample evidence of that change and revolution which had fixed his father's attention. When we consider that the Herschels, father and son, have carefully examined the whole starry firmament with 20 feet telescopes-instruments of which, in their present state of perfection, the elder of them may be said to have been the inventor-and that they have made known to us thousands of the most interesting sidereal phenomena, it appears to us hardly an exaggeration to say, that Astronomy, beyond our own system, rests chiefly on

their labors.

It is generally understood that the one sole object of Sir John Herschel's labors. is to complete those of his father, and to develop fully those views respecting the Construction of the Universe which, when demonstated, will immortalize its author. For such an undertaking, Sir John Herschel has inexhaustible materials in the journals of the observatory at Slough; he has collected all the evidence which the southern hemisphere can supply; and inspired, as he is, by a noble and pious purpose, we doubt not that his work, whenever it shall appear, will be reckoned one of the most remarkable monuments of modern science.

The sketch which we have given of Herschel's discoveries will be sufficient to show that his mind was at once the boldest and the most practical. Skilful, and unconquerably persevering as a contriver, constructor, and observer, he was bold even to temerity in his speculations, but his boldness was always guided by great natural penetration. Yet this great man has not escaped the censure of those modish philosophers who, measuring by the standard of their own minds, would restrain all speculations within narrow limits. One of this school, after mentioning Herschel's sixty-nine memoirs, adds, "A great part of these, however, is filled with speculations. MILTON.-A large tablet to the memory of Milton was erected in Allhallows Church on Monday of no value to astronomy; and his taste last. It bears for an inscription Dryden's wellwas rather to observe astronomical pheno-known sextain.- Court Journal.

POPULAR RECOLLECTIONS.-TWELVE REASONS FOR PAYING YOUR Debts.

AMATEUR POETS.

quaintance. Thus-like a certain class of people which shall be nameless-he rushes in "where angels fear to tread." Had he conceived the same enthusiastic yearning after music, he would have commenced his career by learning his notes; if for painting, he would have begun with the study of drawing; but the poetical aspirant sets up as a master of his art at once.

From the Edinburgh Journal. SCARCELY a week passes but some amateur poet sends us his "compliments" inscribed upon the blank leaf of a volume of verses, of which he begs our acceptance. Several shelves in our library, therefore, are filled with an accumulation of presentation copies, which-ungrateful At the first flight, he soars above the commonas the assertion may appear-we have never place rudiments of literature. The dry details been able to put to any advantageous use. of grammar, and the previous practice of prose Coleridge, we believe, was wont to observe, that composition, he considers utterly beneath the he never dipped into a book-be it ever so stu- high vocation of the inspired poet. He plunges pid-without deriving from it some new fact or into the middle of things-poetic immediately, suggestion. We, alas, have not been so fortu- and not knowing his way, soon loses himself in nate with our piles of amateur poetry. We a fog of simile, or sinks into a slough of incomhave perused the most readable, glanced at the prehensible jargon. Nor does the mischief end least practicable, in vain, and nothing new has here: it extends to his external circumstances. presented itself, even in errors. They all bear When the victim of supposititious inspiration abundant evidence that their authors have be- has collected a sufficient number of his lucubracome inspired by some great prototype; and tions to fill a volume, he moves heaven and earth wherever Byron, Moore, or Scott lead, there to appear in print. To effect his darling object. they enthusiastically follow. To so undiscrimi- he dips into his scanty purse to pay his printer nating a pitch is admiration of their favorite and their supplementary satellites, stationers and masters carried, that, with the most affectionate bookbinders. Some of the volumes before us zeal, they copy even their faults; while, in try- show that the most strenuous and painful efforts ing to imitate beauties, they too often turn the have been made before the actual goal of pubsublimity of their models into their own bathos. lication could be reached. One of our volumes These may seem, to our numerous benefac-manifestly commenced with an unusually limittors of poetry-books, very hard words; but they ed capital-contains two sorts of paper, which nevertheless express what in nine cases out of gives rise to the suspicion that a hard-hearted ten is the truth; we might add the melancholy truth; for it is with feelings akin to melancholy that we view the masses of misapplied intellectual labor which are ranged upon our library shelves; exhibiting, as they do in almost every volume, a certain amount of literary talent, which, had it been bent in a better but humbler direction, would have been of essential service to the individual himself, and perhaps to mankind in general. With these views, we would venture one or two remarke, by way of warning and advice, to those who have mistaken a taste for the poetry of others for the ability to write poetry of their own.

The generality of probationary rhymers appear to be of three kinds: those who have all the yearnings after poetic fame, and possibly some genuine poetical feelings, without the requisite knowledge of literary composition as an art, to put their ideas in an intelligible shape. Secondly, rhymers of ultra-classical education, who have intently studied the art of poetry, but are not fortunate in possessing natural genius upon which to exercise it. Thirdly, of the less literate among the middle and upper classes, who have received the ordinary education of gentle

men.

stationer had stopped the supplies, and that the work was delayed till a more confiding paperdealer could be found. A second conceals very bad print under smart cloth covers with dutchmetal ornaments. A third contains a heavy page of errata, with an apology for any other errors which may have escaped what the author is pleased to call his "vigilance." In short, all these volumes present external evidences of having been subjected to trying difficulties while struggling into existence. Their authors have clearly set their lives upon the cast: but what has been the "hazard of the die?" Alas! the reverse of what they expected. The golden dreams of fame and fortune which cheered on the poet during his fierce struggles with the press, have been reversed rather than realized. Out of five hundred copies, not fifty have been sold; perhaps not twenty; perhaps not even one. As the greater number of these books emanate from a comparatively humble sphere, many an unfortunate youth thus involves his first step in life in serious pecuniary difficulties or severe privations.

Some of our readers are doubtless impatient to ask, is the poetical faculty in humble life to be entirely repressed? Our answer is, by no means; but encouraged by proper means, and The first-mentioned section of amateur poets directed to proper ends. The first step for the asmay be well represented by an individual, whom pirant to take, is to obtain knowledge; and if he we shall suppose to be a person in comparatively have a spark of true genius, that he will procure, humble life, and has received a plain education. in spite of every obstacle, as Burns and Hogg He employs his spare time in reading; and did. He will teach himself; he will study the happening to light, perhaps by accident, upon great book of nature, that he may afterwards the works of Byron, he conceives an enthusias- illuminate it by his imagination; he will be contic admiration for them, and is henceforth bitten tinually storing up in his mind the great facts that with a poetical mania. This develops itself in surround him, that he may afterwards spread a constant habit of writing verses, and, though them abroad to others in a more captivating form ignorant of the elements of literary composition, than they came to him. To be able to accomhe is soon established as a poet amongst his ac-plish this, he will study the elements of his native