We may first observe that Astrology lays no claim to inspiration, but affects a very ancient unknown origin, tracing back to a dark, heathenish, and superstitious age, in the very infancy of traditional knowledge, when the boldest assertions of the seer were received as the authority of an oracle, no one daring to question their validity. Whatever is remotely possible the Astrologer accepts as a fact; while ignorant of much around him, he assumes with the utmost complacency an intimate acquaintance with the sun and planets thousands upon thousands of miles off; yea with the sun 969,272 miles in diameter, while he himself inhabits a globe only 7,916 miles in diameter; from which the moon is 237,000 miles distant, and the sun 400 times that distance.[9] And these immense bodies revolving millions on millions of miles away in immeasurable space are described by him as fashioning an infant's nose, directing the fortunes or misfortunes of lovers, ordering the property of traders, meting out diseases, and improving or deranging man's mental faculties. And as if such puerile influences were not sufficiently preposterous we are informed by the modern seer, Zadkiel, that the 12 signs of the Zodiac not only rule the several parts of the human frame, but also those of a ship, as _Aries_, the bows; _Taurus_, the cutwater; _Gemini_, the rudder; _Cancer_, the bottom; _Leo_, the upper works; _Virgo_, the hold; _Libra_, parts above the water's edge; _Scorpio_, the seamen's berths; _Sagittarius_, the seamen; _Capricorn_, the ends of the vessel; _Aquarius_, the Captain; _Pisces_, the oars in galleys, the wheels in steam vessels, and the sails in others; but these latter being above water, we are left in doubt about the ruler of the submerged screw propeller. [9] This portion of the subject was illustrated by means of a Diagram exhibiting the Diameters and Magnitudes of Planets, thus:-- [Illustration: _Miles._ The Sun 882,000 Jupiter 91,522 Saturn 76,018 Uranus 35,100 Neptune 33,600 Earth 7,916 Venus 7,702 Mars 4,398 Mercury 3,123 The Moon's diameter is 2,160 miles; and its distance from the Earth is 237,000 miles.] To show what a modicum of learning, and how trifling an acquaintance with matters of natural philosophy will serve the Astrologer, we will turn to a modern treatise published in the year 1801, by Francis Barrett, (styling himself a student of Natural and Occult Philosophy) a quarto volume of upwards of 370 pages, entitled, "The Magus, or Celestial Intelligencer," which affords a pretty clear insight into the nature of the superstitions which from an ancient period even to that date obtained credence and were popular with the multitude. Treating of the wonders of Natural Magic previous to entering on the main topic of his treatise, he adduces a few of what he conceives to be ordinary matters of fact, assuring us that:--