PREFACE

Summary

English literature, abundant though it be in other respects, is undoubtedly very deficient in works on Astronomy. Our choice is limited either to purely elementary books, few in number, on the one hand; or to advanced treatises, of which there is a similar paucity, on the other. The present work is designed to occupy a middle position between these two classes; to be attractive to the general reader, useful to the amateur, and “ handy” also, as an occasional book of reference, to the professional astronomer.

In pursuance of the plan laid down from the first, theoretical matter is, as a rule, excluded; but in many cases, it has been thought desirable not to abide with perfect strictness to the limitation. All speculations however, bearing on the origin of the created universe have been carefully avoided, sufficient mischief having already been done by the artful sophistries of those who delight in what they are pleased to term “ Free Philosophical Enquiry.”

The most recent discoveries in all branches of the science, will be found incorporated with information of older date. The Chapters on Comets may be instanced as an example; and the catalogues belonging to them, will, it is anticipated, be found serviceable to the professional computer.