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particular class of reading or study. For instance, the Allopathic doctors will not read or pay any attention to anything that is published in Homœopathic, Botanic, or Eclectic works. They say it is not "official unless it is published in their own literature and text books. They do everything possible to crush out all systems of medicine except their own, and call all other schools of medicine "quacks and frauds." They tell me, as they have told hundreds of others, that "we are going to have only one sect in medicine," and they use the same means which the people formerly used when they were determined to have only one sect in religion.

It is the same in regard to scientists; they will not notice or recognize any kind of knowledge or learning unless it is published in their particular kind of literature. They are like the General, who, while burning the Alexandrian Library, said "that if what is in those many thousands of volumes is in the Koran, it is of no use, as we have it in the Koran; and if it is not in the Koran, then it is false, and oughc to be burned."

Even in this small pamphlet I have given some of the rules and data by which to make the calculations that are used by Astrologers, and how to make predictions, and I am not the only Astrologer in the world. Not only that, but there have been Astrologers ever since the dawn of civilization. Even at the present day three-fourths of the inhabitants of the world are believers in Astrology, and use it in their every-day life.

Mr. Dick also says, "The planetary bodies may have some physic? influence on the earth." Does he not know that even thousands of years ago that influence was known and recognized? We read in Job xxxviii, 31, "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?" In those days planetary influence was universally recognized, and to doubt it was almost equal to doubting the existence of the sun.

Even Thomas Dick admits that Astrology was taught and recognized in ancient times by every nation on the face of the earth that had attained any degree of civilization. Although he does not bring a single fact nor argument against Astrology, he admits its universality when he

says:

"Notwitstanding the absurdity of the doctrines of Astrology, this art has been practised in every period of time. Among the Romans the people were so infatuated with it that the Astrologers, or, as they were then called, the mathematicians, maintained their ground in spite of all the edicts of the emperors to expel them from the capital; and after they were at length expelled by a formal decree of the senate, they found so much protection from the credulity of the people, that they still remained in Rome unmolested. Among the Chaldeans, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Arabians, in ancient times, Astrology was uniformly included in the list of the sciences, and used as one species of divination by which they attempted to pry into the secrets of futurity. The Brahmins in India, at an early period, introduced this art into that country, and, by means of it, have rendered themselves the

arbiters of good and evil hours, and of the fortunes of their fellow-men, and have thus raised themselves to great authority and influence among the illiterate multitude. They are consulted as oracles, and, like all other impostors, they have taken great care never to sell their answers without a handsome remuneration.* In almost every country in the world this art is still practised, and only a short time has elapsed since the princes and legislators of Europe were directed in the most important concerns of the state by the predictions of Astrologers. In the time of Queen Catharine de Medici, Astrology was so much in vogue, that nothing, however trifling, was to be done without consulting the stars. The Astrologer Morin, in the seventeenth century, directed Cardinal Richelieu's motions in some of his journeys, and Louisa Maria de Gonzaga, Queen of Poland, gave 2000 crowns to carry on an edition of his Astrologia Gallica; and in the reign of Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth of France, the predictions of Astrologers were the common theme of court conversation. Even in the present day, and in the metropolis of the British empire, this fallacious art is practised, and its professors are resorted to for judicial information, not only by the vulgar, but even by many in the higher spheres of life. The extensive annual sale of more than 240,000 copies of 'Moore's Almanac,' which abounds in such predictions, and of similar publications, is a striking proof of the belief which is still attached to the doctrines of Astrology in our own age and country."

If we had wanted some person to give Astrology a special "puff" in some modern newspaper, as an advertisement, I do not see that we could engage a man better adapted to do it than Mr. Thomas Dick. He says, "Notwithstanding the absurdity of the doctrine of Astrology, this art has been practised in every period of time." And yet he does not give a single fact, argument, or reason why it is absurd. Is Astrology only absurd to those who know nothing about it? Possibly that is the reason why those people ignorant of Astrology write as they do when treating on that subject.

All persons, before they learn geography, think it quite absurd that the earth is round. It takes a long time to convince them that it is not flat like a pancake. Every one has very crude ideas about astronomy, and thinks many things in connection with that science are erroneous, until he becomes better acquainted with the stars and planetary bodies including the sun and the earth.

Even those who have been taught that the world was created in six days as described in the first chapter of Genesis think that geology is very absurd, and it takes time to convince them that it took thousands of years for the earth and its inhabitants to be developed to their present state of perfection.

Possibly if Mr. Dick and Professor Richard A. Proctor had been taught Astrology in their early years, it might not appear quite so absurd

* Are doctors, lawyers, ministers, and followers of other professions impostors, because they receive a remuneration for their services? All writers against Astrology harp on that subject. According to their notion Astrologers are the worst people in the world, and are the only people who must work for nothing, and if they want anything for their services, they are impostors !

It frequently happens that the absurdity of a thing exists only in the minds of the ignorant. At least, a comprehensive knowledge of any science ought to make one more charitable to the unlearned. It is difficult to believe that any one who has received a liberal education would stoop so low as to call those who differ with him in opinion on scientific subjects "criminal impostors," "unscrupulous rascals," "charlatans," and "lying knaves."

In regard to the people of Rome being so infatuated with the Astrologers, and protecting them in spite of the edicts of the Emperors and the Senate to expel them, they still remained in Rome, unmolested. Are we to understand from Mr. Dick's remarks that the people of Rome protected their mathematicians, or Astrologers, when they knew them to be frauds and impostors, similar to what they might have protected thieves, murderers, bandits, or pirates, knowing them to be such? Or did the Romans protect the Astrologers because they knew them to be innocent of any crime, and only persecuted by the Emperors and Senate for some reason of their own, the same as we read in history of the British Government persecuting the Roman Catholics, and driving them out of the British Islands, and at other times persecuting the Presbyterians, Nonconformists, and Puritans, and driving them to the wilds of America.

The reason why the Roman citizens protected the Astrologers was, that they knew they were a benefit to the community, and had great influence over the people, and the Astrologers prevented the Emperors and Senate from making slaves of them. That is the reason why the rulers wanted to drive the Astrologers out of the capital.

If the Astrologers had been driven out of Rome, would it have made them any worse citizens than the Pilgrim Fathers who were driven out of England on account of adhering to their religious belief?

There are two orders of nobility in America. One is, when a man can trace his ancestry back to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock, after they were expelled from the British Islands; the other is, when a man can say his grandfather fought in the Revolution, and helped to drive the English from this country. Even if the Astrologers had been driven out of Rome, their descendants might have been proud in tracing back their ancestry to that epoch, the same as the English are proud when they can say their ancestors came over with William the Conqueror.

It is strange that what is considered in connection with the Pilgrim Fathers as a badge of honor, is regarded in connection with Astrologers as a stigma of disgrace.

The people of Rome must have regarded the Astrologers as equal if not superior to other citizens, and of great service to the community, which made them disobey the laws of the country in protecting, and not assisting the authorities in driving them out of Rome.*

*The main reason why I have criticised Mr. Thomas Dick's "Absurdity of Astrology" in preference to other authors who have written against that science, is because the British Parliament granted him £5,000 (equal to $25,000) on account of the religious vein which runs through all his works, and the great amount of supposed good his "Improvement of Society by the Diffu

PENNY MAGAZINE'S REFUTATION OF ASTROLOGY.

In the "Penny Magazine," No. 736, published in London, England, may be found an article on Judicial Astrology, being, as the author imagines, a refutation of that science, which, however, we now take the liberty to tell the writer we consider so much beneath a refutation that it goes far to establish the truth of Astrology. It appears from the general disrepute in which Astrology is held by some people, that any snarling cur has a right to give it a bite, and every ass a kick, with impunity, because it does not happen to be the fashion of the day.

We shall give a few extracts from the article in question, considering this the shortest and most proper method of showing the writer's falsehood, and his inability to perform the task he has so inconsiderately undertaken :

"Even the disbelief in Astrology, which is now so generally prevalent in society, is rather to be considered the effect of education than a firm conviction of the mind, resulting from investigation and inquiry."

We may state that we are also of the same opinion. Here is a plain confession that the general disbelief in Astrology, in the community at large, is to be considered chiefly as the effect of prejudice, and not from any conviction of mind arising from inquiry and proper investigation; that is, they are disbelievers simply because they have been taught that Astrology is not true, and that it is not the fashion of the day to believe in it; not that they know any just cause or impropriety in the science,— and thus relying upon other persons' judgments, they renounce the science without they, themselves, knowing anything of its principles, or of its truth or falsehood. This alone is one proof of the verity of the science. If Astrology were false, an investigation of its laws would, of itself, be sufficient to condemn it. But, instead of this being done, we find it set down for falsehood by persons altogether unacquainted with its principles.

sion of Knowledge," "Celestial Scenery," etc., had done, and which gave him the name of "The Christian Philosopher." I believe he is the only author the British Government ever honored or recognized in such a substantial manner. Yet if I went through the whole of his works I would find them just as full of falsehoods and misrepresentations as his "Absurdity of Astrology." I have read nearly all of them.

I cannot understand why the British Government thus honors one author, even if his works were perfection itself, while they are doing everything possible by all kinds of persecution to suppress or destroy other authors. I refer to a noted writer, whose name I do not wish to mention, but who is an Astrologer and an author of Astrological books. The authorities in England have broken into his house numbers of times, and carried off everything he used in his business or in making his calculations to enable him to publish his works, in the same manner that the authorities in this country carry off faro tables and other gambling instruments, "sawdust" circulars, etc., from gambling houses.

The only way the Astrologer could circumvent the authorities was by making a friend of his landlord, whose name was Mr. Lord, and who permitted him to label all his books, globes, and mathematical tables and instruments "This is the property of Mr. Lord." Then the authorities dare not take them. Yet that man was placed at the mercy of his landlord, who could have carried off all his goods at any time, and without a moment's notice.

Astrology has prospered in England, and in every part of the world, in spite of all this kind of persecution; yet its enemies tell us that it has been exploded, and that there is nothing in it.

In a free and civilized country such as England is at the present day, why should some authors be thus honored and rewarded, and others persecuted and imprisoned? As the poet says

"Strange that such a difference there should be

'Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee."

The writer of the article goes on to say:

"Yet the practice (since 1611), I fear, has fluctuated rather than decreased."

Here is another strong evidence in favor of Astrology, that it has withstood the prejudice of centuries and the censure of ages. Had Astrology been false and based in error, it would have fallen by its own weapons, and time alone would have proven sufficient to consign it to oblivion; yet we find quite the reverse of this to be the case, and that in late years it has rather increased than otherwise.

The writer then proceeds, in No. 744, to erect a figure or map of the heavens, which he has been pleased to style a Nativity, all of which, however, is mere supposition.

But, in order to show the reader the writer's inability to accomplish the task he has so ignorantly undertaken, we might mention that the figure or map of the heavens is, in many respects, very incorrect. For instance, in the longitude of Jupiter there is an error of four degrees and three minutes; in Saturn, of three degrees and three minutes; in Mercury, of three degrees and seventeen minutes, and in Venus, twenty minutes. The Part of Fortune is also placed in the wrong part of the figure; and the planet Uranus is not in the figure at all. A pretty commencement this is, for a critic to come before the public, with the intention of refuting the science of Astrology-a person altogether ignorant of the common rules or the simple elements of the science. It appears that the erection of a map of the heavens is not so easily accomplished as this would-be critic would lead us to believe.* We shall now proceed

*The time the writer erected his supposed horoscope was June 13, 1842, at 12, noon, London, England. I here insert the chart of the heavens for the above time, corrected, and the planets in their proper places, with the planet Uranus and the Part of Fortune inserted, so that the reader can see for himselt. I do this to show that I do not want to take any advantage of the writer's ignorance of mathematics, but would rather give him all the aid possible to expose Astrology. I am always willing to "help a lame dog over a stile "—it is my nature. As the planet Neptune was