their gods, under the allegorical form, which are very pernicious and immoral when unexplained. What were the labors of Hercules?

A. They are exploits of a very extravagant kind, and have been limited to twelve.

1. He strangled the lion of Nemea, and wore the hide. The scene of action was Argolis. 2. The Hydra of Lerna, in Argolis, from which the heads as frequently as they were cut off, sprung out again in great numbers.

3. The wild boar of Mount Ergmanthus, in Arcadia, which he took alive and conveyed on his shoulders to Eurystheus.

4. The Hind with brazen feet, which he took in the chase on Mount Menale.

5. The terrible birds of lake Stymphalis which were carnivorous. Hercules exterminated them

by showers of arrows. This action was in

Arcadia.

6. The Bull of the island Crete, which he conveyed alive into Peloponnesus.

7. The Mares of Diomedes, which fed on human flesh, and which Hercules carried off.... This action was in Thrace.

8. The girdle of Hipolite, queen of the Amazons, which he secured after having defeated her. 9. The stables of Augias, which he cleansed by changing the course of the river Alpheus, in Elis. 10. The monster Gerion, king of Gades, whom he killed and carried off his flocks.

11. The golden apples of the Hesperides, which he carried off after having killed the dragon.

12. He delivered Theseus from Hell and carried off the terrible three-headed dog C'erberus in chains.

AN EPITOME

OF THE

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

CLASS IX....LESSON I.

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

2. WHAT is to be understood by natural philosophy?

A. In its simplest sense, it means the love or pursuit of wisdom; in a more comprehensive 'sense, it means the science of the study and investigation of nature, or of the powers and properties of natural bodies, and their action upon each other. It has been classed under three different branches, each of which is again classed into several distinct sciences.

2. What are the three first classes?

A. The first is what is denominated physics, or the study and knowlege of all visible and sensible subjects, which is called experimental philosophy. 2. Metaphysics, which treats of subjects dependant on the mind or intellect, as the reasoning faculty. 3. Moral Philosophy, or what regards the conduct of human life, government, laws, liberty.

2. Are these the only divisions of natural philosophy?

A. There are numerous others, as some divide it into two classes only; as practical, and speculative; the first of which is again divided into

logic and ethics; and the latter into demonstrative and hypothetical. It is, however, rather an aggregate of several branchés, or a term signifying numerous sciences, than a regular science itself; the scientific character being dependant on the due order and perfections of the science which it comprehends.

2. What are the sciences principally comprehended in Natural Philosophy?

3.

A. They may be 'thus arranged. 1. Things that relate to the heavens. 2. To the air. The waters. 4. The earth. Under the first head is Cosmography, Astronomy, and those sciences which are used to demonstrate them; as Mathematics, Geometry, and Optics, Mechanics, Gravi

tation.

Second head; the Atsmosphere, Pneumatics, or the properties of Air, Meteorology, the Winds, Electricity.

Third head; the Sea, Tides, Mineral waters, and Marine productions.

Fourth head; Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and human and other ani mated beings.

2. But some of these refer to Moral Philosophy?

A. That branch belongs to man alone, and concerns his conduct and happiness, and is embraced under commerce, politics, and ethics. 2. What are the great principles of Natural Philosophy?

A. The celebrated Bacon, Des Cartes, and Newton, established certain laws, by which the investigations of Natural Philosophy are governed: Newton, the great master of science. has given them this form.

1. More causes for natural things are not to be admitted, than are true and sufficient; for nature does nothing in vain; she delights in simplicity, and never in superfluity. Therefore, 2. Natural effects of the same kind, are to be assigned to natural causes.

3. The properties and qualities of natural bodies cannot be encreased or diminished; thus all bodies have extension, divisibility, hardness, impenetrability, mobility, resistance, and gravity.

4. In Experimental Philosophy, propositions founded on phenomena by induction, are to be deemed either exactly or nearly true, until experiment, or other phenomena, prove the contrary, otherwise, induction might be destroyed by hypothesis.

2. But how are these laws to be executed? A. By conducting all reasonings in the manner of Mathematics, or Anatomy, or Chemistry, or natural history generally; by analysing instead of assuming; by examining particularly, instead of forming a judgment upon a general view..... This analysis consists in making experiments and observations, and drawing conclusions from them by analogy, and admitting no objections against conclusions, but what are taken from experiments or certain known truths.

CLASS IX....LESSON II.

OF ASTRONOMY.

2. WHAT is astronomy?

A. The science by which we are taught the motions, magnitudes, distances, order, and revolutions of the heavenly bodies.

2. What do you particularly understand by the heavenly bodies?

A. The sun, the planets, stars and comets. 2. What do you mean by the motions of the heavenly bodies?

A. The planets are known to revolve in various orbits, according to certain principles which have been accounted for by philosophers. 2. What is meant by magnitudes?

A. The size or bulk of the planetary bodies in relation to each other, and to some known

measure.

2. How do you explain this relative or known measure?

A. By taking some familiar standard, such as a foot measure of twelve inches; we have a perfect idea not simply of its length, but of a quarter of its length, an inch or one twelfth part of its length; we have also in our power to form accurate ideas of double its length, and of any other number: we then have another measure called a mile, which consists of 1760 of these feet, and by this measure of a mile we act in measuring large spaces, as in the case of a foot in small; and there are other standards for the measure of larger spaces and bodies....such as leagues, which consist of a certain number of