WE are told, and, if I remember right, it is also your Opinion, that three of the finest Sights in Nature, are a rising Sun at Sea, a verdant Landskip with a Rainbow, and a clear Star-light Evening: All of which I have myself often observed with vast Delight and Pleasure. The first I have frequently beheld, and always with an agreeable Surprize; the second I have as often taken notice of, with no small Degree of Admiration; but the last I shall never look up to without an Astonishment, even mixed with a kind of Rapture. The Night you last left us, this admirable Scene was in its full Beauty; and, as _Milton_ says, Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament With living Saphirs; _Hesperus_ that led The starry Host rode brightest.---- I found it was impossible to look long upon this stupendious Scene, so full of amazing Objects, and particularly the _Via Lactea_, which (the Moon being absent) was then in great Perfection, without being put in Mind of my Task. This surprizing Zone of Light being the chief Object I have undertaken to treat of and demonstrate. This amazing Phænomenon which have been the Occasion of so many _Fables_, idle Romances, and ridiculous Opinions amongst the Antients, still continues to be unaccounted for, and even in an Age vain enough to boast Astronomy in its utmost Perfection. What will you say, if I tell you, it is my Belief we are so far from the real Summit of the Science, that we scarce yet know the Rudiments of what may be expected from it. This luminous Circle has often engrossed my Thoughts, and of late has taken up all my idle Hours; and I am now in great Hopes I have not only at last found out the real Cause of it, but also by the same Hypothesis, which solves this Appearance, shall be able to demonstrate a much more rational Theory of the Creation than hitherto has been any where advanced, and at the same Time give you an intire new Idea of the Universe, or infinite System of Things. This most surprizing Zone of Light, which have employed successively for many Ages past, the wisest Heads amongst the Antients, to no other Purpose than barely to describe it; we find to be a perfect Circle, and nearly bisecting the celestial Sphere, but very irregular in Breadth and Brightness, and in many Places divided into double Streams. [U]The principal Part of it runs through the _Eagle_, the _Swan_, _Cassiopea_, _Perseus_, and _Auriga_, and continues its Course by the Head of _Monoceros_, along by the greater _Dog_ through the Ship, and underneath the _Centaur's Feet_, till having passed the _Alter_, the _Scorpion's Tail_, and the Bow of _Aquarius_, it ends at last where it begun. [Footnote U: