junction with that luminary on the 19th, at 7 o'clock in the morning. Venus is gradually attaining a greater elevation above the horizon at sun-set, and will con

of 3 to the south. The conjunction takes place when the planets are below the horizon, otherwise it would be a most interesting object. He is noticed on the

cursor of evening. She sets on the 1st at 37 minutes past 5, and on the 25th at 46 minutes past 6. She is at first below the two first stars of the Goat, marked by Bayer a and ẞ; from these stars she rapidly recedes, and directs her course to the second of the constellation Aquarius, and the fourth of the Goat, which are marked ẞ and d; she passes between these stars on the 17th, nearest d Capricorni, and afterwards rapidly recedes from them, passing under the eighth of the Waterbearer, which is marked 9; on the 24th she finishes her course a little to the west

on the 8th he passes a Libræ, directing his course under y Libræ, which he passes on the 25th; on this day he rises at 19 minutes past 2. Jupiter passes the first of the Balance on the morning of the 24th, and rises on the 25th at 27 minutes past 1: his first Satellite enters his shadow at 3 minutes 32 seconds past 5 in the morning of the 11th. An eclipse of the same Satellite takes place at 56 minutes 58 seconds past 6 in the morning of the 18th; it is also immersed in his shadow at 18 minutes 48 seconds past 3 in the morning of the 27th; his second Satellite is eclipsed at

lene triangle with ẞ Aquarii and & Capricornii; on the 12th and 21st she forms an isosceles triangle with these stars, the second of the Waterbearer being the summit; on the 8th and 26th she also forms an isosceles triangle with them, the fourth of the Goat being the apex; on the 8th and 12th she is observed to the west of these stars, and on the 21st and 26th to the east of them: on the 19th she has 11 digits, or 11 twelfth-parts, of her disc illuminated on the western side, her apparent diameter being 11 seconds.

During this month the planet Saturn is in that part of his orbit which is nearest the Earth; being in opposition to the Sun, on the eighth, at 30 minutes past 1 in the morning: he rises on the 1st at 22 minutes past 4 in the afternoon, when he is noticed a little to the east of the fourth of the Twins, marked by Bayer d; he gradually approaches this star, and passes it on the 16th, being only 21⁄2 south of it; he is afterwards observed between and Geminorum, gradually receding from the former star. During the month he forms a scalene triangle with Betelgeux and Procyon, and on the 10th an isosceles triangle with them, a Orionis being the summit.

Mars and Jupiter are still in a very interesting position with regard to each other, and are conspicuous objects in the eastern hemisphere during the mornings of this month. Mars rises on the 1st at 41 minutes past 2, and Jupiter 13 minutes afterwards, when they may be observed near each other, Mars being to the west. They are both noticed to approach the first of the Balance marked a. Mars rapidly approaches Jupiter, and passes him on the

Mercury is approaching the Sun, and will not be visible this month. He crosses the ecliptic in his descending node on the 5th, and is in aphelio on the 15th. In a future number we shall describe the principal nebula and double stars in the constellation Canis Major, which was mentioned in our last, together with some interesting telescopic objects in the heavens.

AN ESSAY ON A NEW METHOD OF CLASSIFYING THE FIXED STARS.

IT is to the ancient Greeks and Chaldeans that we are principally indebted for our present method of arranging the stars: they not only placed their gods, but also their heroes and the principal events of their history, among the stars. To the ancient constellations the moderns have added some new ones, and Mr. Bayer has greatly improved the system by distinguishing the stars of each constellation by the letters of the Greek alphabet.

This way of arranging the stars, it must be confessed, is more curious than scientific, as no such figures exist except in the imagination; and they are of no use to science, since they refer to nothing but heathen mythology and fabulous history, things that have been done away with ages ago, and I hope will never be revived again. There is also some difficulty in learning to trace out these constellations, though by means of the celestial globe this may readily be done for any particular time; but to look at the heavens, and distinguish the constellations and the particular stars belonging to each of them, without that instrument, must

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almost any other method of classification.

The system that I am going to lay before my readers I think is much preferable to the old method, and is so unconnected with it, that it may be put in practice with out rejecting the ancient constellations. It is as follows:

1. Let the sphere, whose poles are the poles of the ecliptic, and whose equator is the ecliptic, be divided into eight parts by circles drawn parallel to the ecliptic; these parts I shall for distinction's sake denominate heavens: the first, beginning at the north pole of the ecliptic, and extending from thence to 2210 degrees, i. e. to latitude 67°; the second heaven extending from lat. 67° to lat. 45°, and so on of the rest, each zone or heaven being 22° in breadth. To each of these heavens I shall give a particular name, and every name must begin with a different consonant, for reasons that will be hereafter explained. Their names are as follows, beginning at the north pole of the ecliptic :

ninety-six parts, each of which may be distinguished by means of names. Thus, we may say the Region of Creon, in the Northern Heaven; the same in the Heaven of Mentha, &c.; the Region of Feronia, in the Heaven of Doris, &c.

3rd. Now, let each of these parts be supposed to be subdivided into ten parts, which I shall call Mansions, by lines drawn parallel to the ecliptic, each Mansion being 2° 15' in breadth. The names of these Mansions are as follows, supposing those on the north side of the ecliptic to begin southward and proceed towards north, and those on the south side of the ecliptic to begin northward, and proceed southward:

The names of the Heavens, Regions, and Areas, are chiefly taken from the heathen mythology. I thought that these would be preferable to any other on account of their being obsolete, and therefore not liable to be confounded with other names or things. I would have taken Greek letters for the names of the Areas, but I thought this might rather confound my scheme with Mr. Bayer's method.

By means of these divisions the whole heavens is divided into 8×12×10×10= 9600 parts or Areas, each of which may be distinguished from the rest as follows:thus, we may say the Area of B in the Mansion of Herse, in the Region of Latona, in the Heaven of Mentha. The Area of F, in the Mansion of Medea, in the Region of Latona, in the Northern Heaven, &c. &c. 5th. Let the six magnitudes of the fixed stars be designated by the six vowels A, E, I, O, U, Y, in the order in which they

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advantage, but since it would have caused a disproportion between the Heavens and Regions, it is much better as it is, because they are so contrived as to agree with the polar and tropical circles nearly, and, in the division of the Regions, to agree with those of the zodiacal signs, therefore these divisions are not altogether arbitrary; and if this method were to be fully adopted, it could neither make innovations nor confusions in science, as was charged upon the plan of Julius Schiller, and some of the editions of Bayer. It may be made practically useful, while the ancient constellations remain as they are, unaltered.

THOMAS COOKE.

CAPTAIN COOK'S MONUMENT.

Whitby, 29th October, 1827.

MR. EDITOR.

STR,-By inserting the following account in your excellent publication, you will much oblige

AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.

It has been the laudable practice of all nations, both ancient and modern, that have signalized themselves by their superior skill in the arts and sciences, by their regard to the rights of humanity, the happiness of mankind, or by their heroic and warlike achievements, to commemorate those illustrious individuals, who have, by the force of their superior genius, industry, and perseverance, reflected honour upon their country, and upon human nature; many of whom, no doubt, will command the veneration and respect of the great and the good to the latest posterity.

In taking a survey of the brilliant constellation of philosophers, statesmen, philanthropists, and heroes, to which Britain has given birth, who have a peculiar claim upon national gratitude, and an indefeasible right to the honourable appellation of the benefactors of the human race; we cannot for a moment hesitate to eulogize Captain Cook, as one of the greatest men in his profession, which this or any other country has produced. When we contrast the obscurity of his early life, and the slender facilities which he possessed for improvement in science, with the astonishing proficiency which he afterwards made, the formidable difficulties that he surmounted, the invaluable discoveries which have rendered his name immortal, and the comprehensive and well-concerted plans which he laid down, and which, if his useful life had been prolonged, would have been

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carried on by himself with the most un. remitting vigour; we are struck with amazement, and scarcely know which most to admire,--the man whose powers, both of body and mind, were of so extraordinary a cast, as to fit him for enterprises, the bare idea of which would have been sufficient to deter any one from attempting them, unless possessed of that invincible fortitude, which was a leading feature in the character of this intrepid but cautious navigator-or that singular and striking providence which seems to have raised him up, and to have given him the qualifications peculiarly adapted to the high and prominent rank which he held among his countrymen, and by which he was so well fitted to serve the best interests of mankind.

It is well known, that by the discoveries of this illustrious navigator, geography has assumed a new face, and become in a manner a new science; nautical astronomy is also brought to a much greater perfection; and a vast stock of knowledge has been gained, with respect to the ebbing and flowing of the tides; the direction and force of currents at sea; the polarity of the needle, the cause of its variations, &c. &c. In short, when we consider the attention which this wonderful man paid to the vast variety of objects which embellish the page of natural history; the observations which he made upon human nature in different situations, (for which he had the best opportunities of any man living,) and, above all, when we reflect that one of his greatest objects was to open a friendly communication between us and the inhabitants of the most distant climes, and to diffuse the blessings of civilization and religion among those who were immersed in the darkest shades of ignorance and superstition; we are forced to acknowledge, that the man who was able to prosecute, and in many instances to accomplish, such a noble and benevolent design, deserves to have his name transmitted to posterity, embalmed with all the honours which are the just meed of such as have pre-eminently distinguished themselves as the friends of humanity, and who have made it their particular study to devise the most effectual means of enlightening and cultivating the condition of mankind.

Believing, as we do, that the best way of encouraging true genius is by rewarding real merit, and that the spirit of patriotism never displays itself to greater advantage, than when it tries to provoke emulation by conferring immortality on those who have rendered essential service to their country; we feel persuaded that it will be highly