The strife of Thebis and of Hercules,

Of Sampson, Tumus, and of Socrates,

The dethe; but that men's witts ben so dull

That no wight can well rede it at the full."

A belief that the stars exercise an influence over the affairs of men, was formerly very prevalent in the valley of CALDENE. In the village of Hebden Bridge, there was a respectable man, who was reputed to have acquired such skill in astrology, that he had ascertained which of his children would prove successful in the world, and which would not, and regulated their education accordingly. One or two of his sons, whose natal star, it seems, was propitious, were brought up to the medical profession; but the eldest, born under an adverse planet, was left almost destitute of the common rudiments of learning, and employed in the most servile occupations.

In connexion with this subject, it may not be improper to mention, that about twenty years ago, the people of this district were, in general, strenuous believers in Witchcraft; and even at this very day, though such a belief may not be countenanced in the valleys, in consequence of the great influx of strangers, and the spread of information, it still lingers, like a cloud, upon the hills; and innumerable are the stories told by the aged chroniclers of the mischiefs performed by those possessed of the Evil Eye and Spirit, and of the efficacy of the Witch Doctor's charms. From the number of tales of this description, which I have heard narrated, I will recite one to exercise the credulity of the reader.

On the hill south of Hebden Bridge, stands a little rural village, called Old Chamber-the original name of a house which Watson, in his history of Halifax, mentions as being the first in the neighbourhood, that had an apartment built above

the ground floor. The persons who resided in this very house, about eighteen years ago, felt convinced, from a variety of calamities that befel them, that they were under the baleful influence of Witchcraft. The first proof they had of this, was their being unable, for some time, to keep a cat either in the barn, or in the house; for no sooner did the animal become an inmate, than it sickened and died. Determined, if possible, to put a stop to this feline mortality, a charm was obtained from the Witch Doctor, and tied round the neck of a young Kitten, which, under such sovereign protection, became a healthy, thriving creature. In the meantime, however, the power of the Evil-disposed increased. Several cows, both in the field and in the stall, were suddenly seized with some unknown distemper, and died in the most excruciating agonies. A fine bull was attacked in the same way, and shared the same fate. At length, the favourite horse of the old farmer, on its return from the coal-pit, fell down on the threshold of the stable, and began to exhibit symptoms of the same terrible disorder. A messenger was immediately dispatched for the Witch Doctor, who came, and by the performance of some mysterious process, rescued the horse from death. Alarmed by these repeated misfortunes, the family enquired of the man of spells, if, by any power of his art, he could ascertain the person who malignancy was so signally manifested towards them. The Doctor told them he could not only discover, but bring the guilty being into their presence. He was requested to do so without delay. Accordingly he began his preparations: a fire was kindled in the middle of the barn-floor, and over it was suspended from a beam, a charmed phial, on which, he informed them, the life of the inflictor of their calamities, depended. Round the fire he then drew a circle, and placed within it such of the family as chose to witness the scene; and, after cautioning them not to mention the name of God, and setting the doors wide open, he commenced his incantations. The wind suddenly rose, and, in a short time, a withered old hag was seen hobbling down the barn-fold, with both hands on a stick, apparently in the most violent agitation. The good dame of the house no sooner saw her, than for

getting the injunction of the Witch Doctor, she pronounced the interdicted word, in a fit of exasperation, and the hag was immediately released from the power of the spell, and scampered away as fast as she could to her lonely dwelling among the hills.

The particulars of this story I had from the lips of a person who was employed in the house at the time, and saw the approach, and precipitate departure, of the witch.

It is hoped none of my readers will infer from the preceding remarks and examples, that I am a believer in the absurdities of Astrology, or the legends of witchcraft. They are merely adduced to show that sufficient warranty in the notions of those who pretend to be skilled in astral influences, and in the power of charms, is afforded for the sentiments uttered by the character introduced in the

poem.

Some time ago, happening to meet with a certain Star-reader, who was a most zealous advocate for his favourite science, and many of whose predictions, it was said, had been remarkably verified, I determined to devote my attention to Astrology, in order to ascertain either its truth or its fallacy. Accordingly, I read and studied all the works on the subject which I could procure; but I have not discovered any foundation upon which to establish a rational belief of its validity:on the contrary, I am constrained to say with Pliny, it is "fraudulentissima artium;" and with St. Austin, who, at one period of his life, studied the art, and afterwards utterly renounced it as untenable and fallacious, it is "magnus error, et magna dementia, superstitio," &c. The rules by which Astrologers profess to be guided, are altogether uncertain; nor has the profoundest of the clique, either of ancient or modern times, been able to supply a remedy; and I dare undertake to

T

prove, even to the renowned Raphael, whose works I have perused, that whatever prognostications he may make respecting any human being, state, or empire, the seasons, or the weather, the direct contrary to his predictions may be declared with equal authority, by the rules and principles of the science;-that is to say, both that such a predicted event shall happen so, and that it shall not happen so. Here, then, we perceive the "glorious uncertainty of the laws," by which the professors of this "divine art," affect to be governed ! Indeed, the famous Jerome Cardan himself (lib. de Genti.) candidly confesses, that he approves of the remark of Marlianus: “Si vis divinare, contrarium ad unguem dicito ejus quod Astrologi aut pollicentur, aut minitantur."

But it is said, the Astrologer builds the main fabric of his art upon experience. We all know that experience is founded upon trial, experiment, and comparison. Now, in order to give validity to the experience of the star-diviner, he must clearly demonstrate that the same position of the signs and planets invariably produces the same results. We must, therefore, see the situation of the heavens precisely the same in two instances at least, before astrological experience can be allowed to possess one confirmation. But can any one say, that the signs and planets have ever been twice in the same position? No, never since the world was created; nor is it probable they will be so, before the expiry of fifty thousand years! The learned Gassendus, speaking in relation to the whole of the planetary system, and to the utter groundlessness of the Astrologer's last subterfuge, experience, remarks that "Each single precept or rule (of Astrology) ought to have been constituted upon many experiments had of the certain variety thereof; whereas, we have plainly seen, that it was not possible for them (the Astrologers) ever to make the same experiment so much as only twice: because the same position of the heavens cannot return again, not only after many hundreds, but also many millions of years."

It is not my intention, here, to adduce all the arguments which may be advanced, to prove the absurd doctrines of Astrology. One or two, however, I submit to the reader's candid consideration.

In every Horoscope, or plan of nativity, that has been drawn for thousands of years back (with the exception of those Raphael and his satellites have introduced in the "Familiar Astrologer, &c. in which I find they have honoured the planet Herschel with a place among the siderial arbiters of destiny) there are only seven planets, including the sun and moon, exhibited. It is well known, that since the year 1780, astronomers have discovered several other planets; and who can say that we are acquainted with the whole? Now, it appears very strange, that influence should be attributed to the "mysterious seven," and not to those which have been recently discovered, with a proviso for those that have yet escaped the observation of astronomers. If, however, all of them exercise an influence, how can the Astrologer give true interpretations or predictions, without employing all in the casting of his genitures? It is an axiom in mathematics, that the whole is greater than a part : if in Star-science, this be allowed, it must follow, that the influence which a part of the planets possesses, must be inferior to that possessed by the whole. Therefore all the interpretations and prognostications of Astrologers, founded on such partial evidence, can never be relied on as certain; for, if it be true, as they would fain make the world believe, that conjunctions and oppositions are of the utmost importance in horoscopical divinations, it is quite evident, upon their own principles, that no geniture can be correct, without the recognition of the conjoined and opposite influences of the whole of the planetary sybils. Hence we must conclude, even admitting the truth of astrological principles, that there never has been a proper horoscope constructed from the days of Belshazzar, down to the era of the illustrious Raphael. For is it not manifest to the commonest understanding, that