ments, the priests of thofe times endeavoured to recommend them in their writings and as the conftellations have a great influence in procuring rain, which are the caufes of fertility, many of those conftellations are named from cattle and ruftic life. Hence the names of the twelve figns of the Zodiac, which were invented by the Chaldæans and Phoenicians, are adapted to a rural life. From hence likewife we find that the firit of the twelve figns is named Aries, the leader of the whole flock in the ecliptic circle, which the eaftern nations ftile Hamal, that is, the Ram; the leader of the flock. Next to him is placed Taurus, the leader of the cattle and herds; becaufe in the vernal feason, over which thefe figns prefide, the cattle are rendered more prolific, and generate twins; the third fign is called Gemini, or Twins. Therefore, in the ancient fpheres, we find not, as on the modern fpheres, twins of the human kind, but of brutes; which is more confonant to the origin of thefe figns, and fhews they had originally a relation to rural life. Next to thefe is the fign of Cancer, or the Crab, which is entered by the fun, when it is tropical, and which is retrogade, as well as the animal whose name it bears. After this the fun enters into Leo, or the Lion, being then in its greateft Arength and vigour, and refembling the ftrong animal which gives name to it. After this the fun is feen in Virgo, or the Virgin, and then enters into Libra, or the Scales, when it is in the equilibrium of its afcent and descent, when it is equally diftant from each tropic, and when it makes the days and nights equal.

According to the Phoenicians and Chaldeans, the fign of Virgo, or of a girl gleaning corn in a field, prefides over autumn, the feafon when the corn is ripe. Hence the celebrated Perfic aftronomer, Abu M'ashar, VOL. I,

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fays, that "a girl rifes in the first decad of the fign of Virgo, which the Perfians name Dufhîza, or the Virgin." The principal ftar in this fign, is the ear of corn of this virgin, which is fuppofed to represent a fheaf of corn. For as every afte rifm may be fuppofed equally to refemble any figure, according to the fancy of the fpectator, fo they formerly made ufe of a virgin holding a fingle ear, or a fheaf of corn in her hand to exprefs this conftellation; as in our days, young girls, in time of the wheat harveft, glean the fields, and carry fheafs home with them. The celeftial fign, Virgo, is therefore only an emblem of what we call in our own language a Leafer.

The Arabs and Perfians call this fign, by a fynecdoche, Symbul, or Symbula, i. e. an Ear of Corn; which is properly, and without a figure, the primary ftar of this fign, reprefenting a Sheaf of Corn. This part of the fign Virgo was fufficient to exprefs the whole, as there was no neceffity to defcribe it in more. words, or with greater prolixity. The Chaldeans, therefore, in their order of the figns, inferted the Ear of Corn of the Leafer, which they tiled Sibulah, or Sibbula; but by this name they understood the whole fign; fo that whether they named the conftellation Virgo, the Virgin, or the Ear of Corn, it was the fame.

From heace is derived the fable of the Sybils. The celeftial fign Virgo being thus charactifed by the name of a Sybil, or of an Ear of Corn, according to their principles of mythology, they attributed fomething miraculous to this Ear of Corn, or Virgin, pretending it had the power of revealing things that were future and hidden; and on that account gave it the name of a prophetefs. For as these nations derive 1 their knowledge of pat and future events from the ftars, it was no in

Propriety in them to attribute to this Prophetic Virgin, understood by the name of a Sybil, or an Ear of Corn, the power of declaring future events, and to give out many extraordinary predictions, as proceeding from her, in order to deceive the vulgar.

This fiction is therefore very ancient, being co-temporary with the Chaldæans and Phoenicians, and borrowed from their mythology. The fame of this prophetic Virgin increafing every where, it was at length cuftomary for many weak-headed virgins to pretend to infpiration, and to impofe their ravings upon the world as the effects of divine revelation. Afterwards, the Greeks and Romans adopted thefe reveries, and prefented the public with Sybilline oracles of their own.

From hence, it will not appear ftrange, that other Virgins fhould, by these means, affect the character of propheteffes, and impofe their ravings upon the world for oracles. Nor is it more ftrange, that, after the times of Chrift, fome chriftian reclufe or monk fhould avail himfelf of the tafe of his age, and, by a pious fraud, impofe fpurious oracles upon the world as genuine.

W

But

this pious fraud detects itself, and as it delivers things concerning Chrift more plain than the writings of the prophets, carries with it all the appearance of impofture and deceit. After the afterifms which relate to rural life were invented by aitrologers, the progrefs of mythology was three-fold. First, fome virgin oracles were framed by Chaldæan and Phoenician mythologifts. Secondly, the Romans and Greeks pretended to have fome virgin propheteffes and oracles relating to public affairs in imitation of the former. And laftly, upon the fame principle, the chriftians boafted of their virgin oracles which related to religion, and more especially to Chrift himself.

Hence we may conclude, that the existence of the chriftian Sybil is mere impofture, as well as that of the heathens. But that we might not be thought fingular in our opinion, it is proper to obferve, that we have the authority of the learned to fupport us. Thus Petit fuppofes there was but one Sybil, and denies all the reft. And, the learned Gale hath fhewn all the Sybilline verfes to be falfe and spurious. Col. Trin. Oxon. 1768.

Among the Dryads there was one who affected always to chufe me for her partner; fhe never failed to fmile at me fweetly, to fqueeze my hand, and blufh afterwards with all the graces of modefty. And I fqueezed alfo the hand of the Dryad, and blushed when I danced with her. Even before Aurora had quitted the ocean, I was already in the grove fporting with my amiable Dryad.

Sometimes I furprized her in the groves, where fhe had retired, amidit the thickeft foliage, and where the wifhed to be difcovered: fometimes

The

the fecurity of government. Among the magiftrates, thus difcharging their duty, Mr. Gillam was extremely bufy. He expoftulated with the populace, on the dangers which were likely to arife from fuch an illegal affembly, and made ufe of every argument to difperse them, which could be offered by a man of his GREAT ABILITIES-Unhappily, however, all his expoftulations, as well as thofe of the other juftices, were wholly difregarded, and he was reduced to the difagreeable neceffity of reading the proclamation:-but they were as infenfible to threats as to exhortations, and not only hiffed, hooted, and reviled the foldiers, who endeavoured to fcatter them, but actually threw ftones at the magiftrates. They were then told, that the guards would certainly be ordered to fire, unless they defifted from fuch wanton, fuch fcandalous outrages; but this information had no effect whatsoever; and Mr. Gillam, immediately after, receiving a violent blow from a ftone, the order for their firing was accordingly given, in which the unfortunate Redburn loft his life. Such was the general fubftance of the evidence given against Mr. Gillam, though one or two fenfible witneffes put the most unfavourable conftruction on his conduct, and declared, that, to the best of their judgments, there was no abfolute neceffity for firing.

As Mr. Gillam neither called a fingle witnefs in his favour, nor made the minuteft defence, either by himfelf or his council, the moment the evidence for the profecution was clofed, the hon. Mr. Juftice Gould ftood up, and declared his approbation of what Mr. Gillam had done.

The Lord Chief Baron, alfo expreffed the warmest approbation of what was faid by the very learned judge who fpoke before him.

After the L. C. Baron, Sir Richard Afton, † fo eminent for his abilities, and, fo diftinguished for his humanity, delivered his fentiments: he agreed, he faid, entirely with the two learned judges who had fpoken before.

The Recorder fpoke laft, and agreed in every thing with the judges.

but politely obferved, that there was no occafion for him to say much upon a fubject which had been fo very ably difcuffed by their lordships. The jury, upon hearing thefe opinions, without going out of court, or hefitating a moment, pronounced Mr Gillam not guilty, and a copy of his indictment, upon the motion of the attorney-general, was granted to him after fome very ingenious arguments between Sir Fletcher Norton *, the attorney and follicitor-general, on the part of Mr. Gillam; and Mr. Serjeant Glynn, and Mr. Lucas, against granting the copy, on the part of the profecution.

The court was uncommonly full upon this occafion; Mr. Gillam bowed with great refpect to the bench, and jury, on his entrance, and on his acquittal. He was dreffed in a fuit of black full trimmed, and wore a tye-wig; a chair was ordered for him clofe to the council, but he fainted once thro' the exceffive heat of the place, as the croud preffed very much about him, from motives of curiofity. I mention these little circumftances, because the most trifling particulars of a gentleman in fuch a fituation are minutely fought after, by the public.

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