Jave 10324 ASTRONOMY EXPLAINED UPON SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S PRINCIPLES, AND MADE EASY TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT STUDIED MATHEMATICS. THE SECOND AMERICAN, FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION, REVISED, CORRECTED, AND IMPROVED, Professor of Mathematics, in the University of Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR AND PUBLISHED BY MATHEW CAREY. FOR SALE BY C. & A. CONRAD & CO. BRADFORD & ISKEEP, HOPYING & 1809. PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND District of Pennsylvania, to wit: Be it remembered, That on the thirteenth day of February, in the thirtieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1806, Mathew Carey, of the said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit: 46 Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles, and made easy to those who have not studied Mathematics. To which are added, a plain method of finding the distances of all the planets from the sun, by the transit of Venus over the sun's disc, in the year 1761: an account of Mr. Horrox's observation of the transit of Venus, in the year 1639; and of the distances of all the planets from the sun, as deduced from observations of the transit in year 1761. By James Ferguson, F. R. S. Heb. xi. 8. The worlds were framed by the Word of God. Job xxvi. 7. He hangeth the earth upon nothing. · 13. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens. The first American edition, from the last London edition; revised, corrected, and improved, by Robert Patterson, Professor of Mathematics, and Teacher of Natural Philosophy, in the University of Pennsylvania." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors, and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned," And also to the Act, entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, 'An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned,' and extending the Benefits thereof to the Art of designing, engraving, and etching, historical and other Prints." (L. S.) 594 D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE TO THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. THE well-established reputation of Ferguson's Astronomy, renders any particular encomiums on the work, at this time, altogether unnecessary. The numerous editions through which this Treatise has passed, and the increasing demand for it, bear ample testimony to its merit. The Publisher submits to the candid acceptance of his fellow-citizens, this correct American Edition; for which he solicits, and flatters himself he shall obtain, their liberal patronage. No cost or pains have been spared to render it worthy of this patronage. In the text, a number of typographical errors, and grammatical inaccuracies, have been corrected; and a variety of notes, explanatory or corrective of the text, which the numerous discoveries since our author's time had rendered necessary, have been occasionally subjoined. Besides, to this edition alone there is prefixed a copious explanation of all the principal terms in astronomy, chronology, and astronomical geography, occurring in the 27X430 iv work, arranged in alphabetical order; with such remarks and examples interspersed, as were judged necessary for illustration together with Tables of the periodical times, distances, magnitudes, and other elements, of all the planets, both primary and secondary, in the solar system; according to the latest observations. This, it is presumed, cannot fail to be considered as a valuable appendage to the work-especially by the young student of astronomy: as the glossary will tend greatly to 'facilitate his progress, and the tables will present him with a comprehensive view of the whole science-the result of the observations and researches both of times. Philadelphia, Feb. 14th, 1806. past and present |