men, afterwards degenerated into astrology, or the art of confulting the pofition of the ftars to foretel events -and hence fprung the filly occupation of footh faying, for which the Chaldeans were noted to a proverb, in later ages.

Of the progress of Geography. It is recorded that Anaxamander, was the first Greek who conftructed maps, globes, and invented the figns of the zodiac, fix hundred years before Christ. But it is evident that the heavens were distributed into figns long before that time, and the writer of the book of Job, who lived at a much earlier period, was well acquainted with that diftribution. Sefoftris, king of Egypt, more than a thousand years before Chrift, is recorded to have made a map of the countries he conquered; and fomething like this was done by the Jews, for the nine tribes, fent by Joshua to furvey their portion of the holy land, "defcribed it in feven parts in a book." Jofephus alfo tells us, that Joshua, when he divided the land, fent perfons skilled in geometry to measure it. It is therefore probable that the Greek and Roman writers have given the name of invention in this as in many other cafes, to what was only an introduction of an art or branch of science, from the eaft, into their refpective

countries.

Of the fate of Geography in Rome. The Romans were led to a study of geography, by the progress of their conquefts. Their armies penetrated into Perfia on the caft, to the Danube and Euxine, and to Germany and Britain on the north, to Spain and France on the weft, and to Ethiopia, Lybia, and the Niger in Africa on the fouth. Of thefe countries and of all within these limits, the Romans, in the age of Aguftus, had obtained a tolerably correct knowledge, which is preserved in the works of Pliny and Strabo. From these materials, Ptolemy, about one hundred and fifty years after Chrift, compofed his geography. This was the fyftem which was generally received and followed, till within a century. It is however incorrect

; nor

are the more modern and improved fyftems entirely free from the fame charge.

Of the improvements in Geography. Within the laft century, geography has received great improvements, from the exactnefs of aftronomical calculations of the latitude and longitude of places. But still richer sources of improvement, have been the voyages and travels of navigators, and learned men, who have been fent by the courts of Europe to make obfervations. Able mathe maticians were fent to measure a degree of latitude in the polar regions; and others to measure a degree under the equator, by which means the form of the earth, was proved to be not a perfect circle, but a little flatted at the poles. But no event has added more to our ftock of geographical knowledge than the voyages of Capt. Cook, who, with able aftronomers, failed round the globe for the purpose of making difcoveries. Thefe and other voyages and travels have made us acquainted with many parts of the globe, before unknown; but many regions are yet wholly unknown, and others imperfectly explored.

Of the measure of the Earth. The ancients, in very remote ages, afcertained the form of the earth to be globular, or fpherical; but the mode of finding the exact measure of it, has occupied the attention of the ableft men, in the most enlightened ages. The method firft employed was to obferve how much the distance between two places elevated or depreffed the fixed stars, or the fun upon the meridian; and then measuring that distance. Eratoftenes made the circumference of the globe about thirty one thoufand miles, and Pofidonius, about twenty two thoufand. In modern times, many able aftronomers have attempted to find the exact circumference, by measuring a degree of latitude, and by this means have afcertained it with great precision, to be twenty five thousand miles.

Of the terms used in Geography. A continent is the largest or a very large divifion of land-an ocean is the largest or a very large portion of water, called alfo in

general the fea. A continent and an ocean bear fome proportion to each other in extent. An ifland is a portion of land, furrounded by a more extenfive body of water, or bearing but a fmall proportion of furface to that of the circumjacent water. A lake is a body of water furrounded by land, and bearing but a fmall proportion to the extent of the land inclofing it. A large body of water, connected by navigable water with the ocean, or bearing fome proportion in extent to the furrounding land, is called a fea. A very fmall body of inland water is called a pond.

Of fmaller divifions of Land. A long ftrip of land, whofe bredth bears but a fmall proportion to its length, and which projects into the fea or is nearly inclosed by water, is called a peninfula. When this is united with the main land, by a ftill narrower neck of land, that neck is called an imus. A high point of land extending to a distance from the main fhore into the sea, is called a promontory; and the extreme end of any land thus projecting into the fea, is called, if large, a cape ; if fmall, a point.

Offmaller divifions of Water. When the fhore of the main land retires from the general line of a continent, and leaves a vaft bason of water within that line, the water occupying that space is called a gulf. A fmaller recefs of the fhore forms a bay. When alfo the water is nearly embofomed or inclofed within land, it is called a bay. A narrow channel of water between two points or other divifions of land, connecting large bodies of water, if of fmall extent, is called a ftrait or narrows; if the water is a long narrow tract or paffage, it is fometimes called a found. But found is also ufed to denote a portion of water or narrow paffage, between an island and the main land.

Of the form of the Earth. This globe which we inhabit is in the form of a ball or sphere, a little flatted at the poles, nearly resembling an orange, and called an oblate fpheroid. A line paffing through the earth at the equator, is longer than one pafling through it from

pole to pole, by about thirty miles; in other words the equatorial diameter is about thirty miles longer than the polar diameter.

Of the materials compofing the Earth. The two great divifions of the earth are land and water. But the folid part of the globe confifts of a great variety of substances; fuch as rocks and ftones, metals, minerals and foflils of various kinds, and probably no fmall quantity of fire. The surface of the land is generally a mold formed of decayed vegetables, as grafs, plants, leaves, roots and woods. Below this mold lie ftrata or layers of fand, clay, gravel, marl and stone, differently arranged in different parts of the earth, in fome places horizontal,, in others, inclined; but the fame layer is uniformly of the fame thickness.

Of the furface of the Globe. The face of the globe prefents to the eye of a diftant fpectator, two great divifions, land and water. From the north polar regions, to the thirty fifth degree of fouth latitude, the globe exhibits two vaft continents, appearing like bands of earth. Between these are two immenfe oceans, which encompass both, and communicate with each other. In the midst of the fouthern ocean, is another tract of land which may be confidered as a third continent, on the fide of the globe oppofite to Europe, Asia and America,

Of the first Continent. The largest portion of the earth, comprehending Afia, Africa and Europe, and moft diftinguished for population, arts and fciences, extends from the thirty fifth degree of fouth latitude, to the unexplored regions of the north, or about seven thousand five hundred miles in length. In bredth from the weft coaft of France to the eastern border of China, the extent is about feven thousand miles. It is eftimated to contain about twenty five millions of fquare miles, or one eighth of the furface of the globe.

Of the fecond Continent. The continent, fecond in population, arts and improvements, as well as in exteft, comprehends north and fouth Amèrica. This

extends from the fifty fixth degree of fouth latitude, to the north polar regions, and its length may be eftimated at nine thousand miles. The bredth varies from fifty miles to three thousand, and its contents are estimated at fourteen millions of fquare miles.

Of the third Continent. The third continent extends from the eleventh to the forty fourth degree of fouth latitude, and from the one hundred and tenth degree of eaft longitude from London, to the one hundred and fifty fourth. Its length is about two thousand four hundred miles, and its bredth not much lefs. This land is named New Holland, and has been called an island; but its fize entitles it to be ranked among the conti

nents.

Of the Oceans. The largest body of water on the globe, is that which feparates Afia from America ; which is narrow in high northern latitudes, but under the equator, is ten thousand miles in bredth. This ocean extends and spreads over the fouthern portion of the globe, encompaffing New Holland, and washing the fouthern extremities of Africa and America. From its calmnefs, it is called the Pacific, and in the fouthern latitudes, it is called the Great Southern Ocean.

Of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The expanfe of water, which feparates Europe and Africa, from America, is called the Atlantic, and is from fifteen hun- * dred to five thousand miles in bredth. This ocean ftretching fouthward to the extremities of Africa and America, unites with the Pacific on the weft, and with the Indian ocean on the eaft. The latter is the tract of water which washes the eastern fhore of Africa, and divides it from India. It is estimated at three thoufand miles in bredth.

Of the ufes of Oceans and Seas. The ocean, feas and lakes are vaft refervoirs to receive and contain the water which falls in rain and fnow; and which is constantly evaporated by the heat of the fun, or by the winds. The fame water which conftitutes the ocean is constantC