Chapter I. General Division of the Subject

THE great and leading points, requiring to be attended to ‘ as a necessary means of introduction to the consideration of particular predictions, having been succinctly defined, the further parts of the subject, comprehending every thing which may tend to facilitate prediction, and render it com- " plete, shall now be duly proceeded in ; and, at the same time, care shall be taken to confine the whole doctrine within the limits of natural reason.

: The foreknowledge to be acquired by means of Astronomy is to be regarded in two great and principal divisions. The first, which may be properly called General, or Universal, concerns entire nations, countries, or cities; and the - second,. denominated Particular, or Genethliacal, relates to men individually.

In considering these respective divisions, it seems proper to give priority to that which-has the more general application and influence: because, in the first place, general events are produced by causes greater and more compulsatory than the causes of particular events; secondly, because natures of more extended potency must invariably controul those which are more limited inaction ; and, thirdly, because paeticular events, or individual affections, are comprehended in those of general influence*. It is therefore especially nec®s- * Vide Chap. iii, Book J, pp. 13-14.

sary, in desiring to investigate particular events, to treat first of those which are general.

Again, general events are subdivided according to their operation upon entire countries, ang upon certain cities or districts: one subdivision being regarded: as affecting: entire countries, and the other certain cities or districts only.. They are also separately considered according to the causes by which they are produced ; war, pestilence, famine, earthquakes, inundations, and other similar visitations being dependent on such greater and more important causes, as arise only after considerable periods ; while slighter causes, arising more frequently, have reference only to the revolution of the seasons ; their greater or less variation in cold and heat; the severity or mildness of the weather; the occasional abundance or scarcity of provisions; and other like occurrences,

Hence the consideration of those events which concern whole countries, and are dependent on the greater causes, (since it has a more extended scope than the other, which | attaches only to certain cities, or districts, and is subject ta slighter causes) takes precedence. And, for its due investigation, two essential points are to be attended to: the. first is, the appropriate familiarity of the zodiacal signs and the fixed stars with the several regions which may be concerned 5 and the second comprises the indications occasionally arising in those parts of the heavens where such familiarity. is found: for instance, the eclipses of the Sun and Moon, and ~ such transits as may be made by the planets, when ees and jn their respective stations.

The nature of the sympathy between these things must however be explained first ; and a brief description will: therefore be given of the chief peculiarities observable in whole nations ; in regard to their manners and customs, as well as to their bodily formation and temperament ; considered agreeably to their familiarity with those stars and signs

whence the natural cause of their a duly proceeds.

_ Chaper I. 7 Peculiarities observable Threughout every entire Climate.

-THE peculiarities of all nations are distinguished: according to ‘entire parallels and entire angles, and’ by their situation with regard to the Sun and the Ecliptic. 3

The climate which we inhabit is. situated m one of the Northern Quadrants: but other nations, which lie onder more southern paraliels, that is to say, in the space between the equinoctial line and the summer tropic, havé-the Sun ia their zenith, and are continually scorched by it. They a¥e consequently black in complexion, and have thick and curled hair. They are, moreover, ugly in person, of contracted stature, hot in disposition, and fierce in manners, mm vonséquerice of the incessant heats to which they are’ ex- - posed; and they are called by the common name of Atthiopians. But the human race does not alone afford eviderice of the violent heat in these regions; it is shown also by alfl other animals and by the state of the surrounding atmosphere.

The natives of those countries which lie under the more Yemote northern parallels, (that is to say, under theArctic civele and beyond it*) have their zenith far distant from the zodiae and the Sun’s heat. Their constitutions, therefore, abound in cold, and are also highly imbued with moisture, - which ts tn itself a most nutritive quality, and, in these fatitudes, is not exhausted by heat: hence they are fair in complexion, with straight hair, of large bodies and full stature. They are cold in disposition, and wild in manners, owing to the constant cold. The state of the surrounding atmo-.

‘sphere and of animals and plants, corresponds with that of men; who are here designated by. the general name of Scythians.

The.nations situated between the sammer tropic and the arctic circle, having the meridian Sun neither in their zenith. nor yet far remote from it, enjoy a well-temperated atmosphere, This favourable temperature, however, still undergoes variation, and changes alternately from heat to cold; but the variation " is never vast nor violent. The people who enjoy this kindly ‘ atmosphere are consequently of proportionate stature and

complexion, and of good natural disposition : they liye not in a state of dispersion, but dwell together in societies, and are civilized in their habits. Among the nations comprehended in this division, those verging towards the ‘south are more industrious and ingenious than the others, and more adapted to the sciences: and these qualifications-are - engendered in them by the vicinity of the zodiac to their zenith, and by the familiarity thus subsisting between them and the planets moving in the zodiac, which familiarity gives activity and an intellectual impulse to their minds. Again, the natives of those countries which lie towards the east excel in courage, acting bohily and openly under all circumstances; for in all their characteristics they. are principally conformed to the Sun’s nature, which is oriental, diurnal, masculine and dexter :—{and ig is plainly apparent that the dexter parts of all animals are much stronger than others) :

—hence results the greater courage of the inhabitants of the

East. And as the Moon, on her first appearance after conjuaction, is always seen in the West, the western parts are _ therefore lunar, and consequently feminine and sinister ; whence it follows that the inhabitants of the west are milder, maore effemmate and reserved.

Thus, in all countries, certain ni respective peculiarities exist In regard to manners, customs and laws; and in each it is found that some portion of the inhabitants differs partially

and individually from the usual habits and condition of their race. These variations arise-similarly to the variations perceptible in the condition of the atmosphere; ds, in all countries, the general state of whose atmosphere may be either hot, or cold, or temperate, certain districts are found to possess a particular temperature of their own, and to be more or less hot, or cold, by being more or Jess elevated than the general face of the country. So, likewise, certain people become navigators owing to their proximity tothe sea, while others are equestrian, because their country is a plain ; and others, again, become domesticated oy the fertility of their soil.

And thus, in each particular climate, certain peculiar qualities are to be found, arising from the natural familiarity which it holds with the stars and the twelve signs. And although these qualities do not pervade it, in such a manner as to be necessarily exhibited by every individual native, yet they are so far generally distributed as to be of much utility in investigating particular events ; and it is highly important _ to take at least a brief notice of them.