readers will be surprised at hearing of a palace "where neither the Sun nor the Moon could be seen," only because of its great height; even if that were forty fathoms, or two hundred feet! They know that astronomers are particularly fond of great heights, for the express purpose of "seeing" still so much the better the Sun, Moon, and Stars; and that for this very reason some high mountains are often fabulously described as the ancient resort of astronomical giants for that purpose: of which we have an example in the Welsh mountain, Cader Idris, or the Chair of Idris; fabled to have had its top used as a seat by the astronomer and giant Idris, while studying the Stars.

But what, no doubt, is really said by the Arabian, is in itself sufficiently marvellous, though more consistent with right reason. He says, that the beautiful but unfortunate Princess Corecli was confined in a palace of which the walls about it (being forty fathoms high) hid from her sight the Sun and Moon; that is, she could see neither for a long time, while they were ascending or descending in the skies, as all of us usually do, but only for the short times when, if ever, they were directly over her head! And, here, my

In

young readers know, that this is a very possible effect of being surrounded, either by high mountains, or by high walls; so that every day, or every night, in deep valleys, both in this country and in others much more mountainous, the Sun, or Moon, or Stars, can only be seen, or even their light received, for a few hours; and never at their rising or their setting. the course of my travels in the North of Europe, I picked up a pretty little fancy of a poet of the cold country of Lithuania, suggested by these hidings of the sun upon one of the sides of high mountains, as well as by the early and late enjoyment of its upon their opposite sides,-which follows, as you know, of course: "Why art thou so late, this morning, O Sun," inquired (says my poet) of the Sun the Day? "I lingered," answered the Sun, " upon the other side of the mountain, to warm two orphans sitting at a cottage door."

presence

But thus, then, this account of the palace of the Princess Corecli reminds us of two valuable considerations, as to a possession of the light of the Sun, and Moon, and Stars. My young readers (if, indeed, any of them are not quite so beautiful as that Princess, nor so capable of producing buds, and grass, and pre

cious stones, and drops of silver and gold,) are certainly more fortunate in the free view of the all-glorious skies! The youngest child, in the smallest garden, has the means of this indulgence; and I am sure that the sight of the Sun, Moon, and Stars has continually attracted the attention of every one of those whom I am addressing.

Simply, however, to see the Sun, Moon, and Stars, is not enough for my young readers. They want to know what they are;-to know where they are ;— to know why and how they shine;-what blessings they pour down upon us;-and how they are supported in the heaven, and yet made to move? They want to know about Eclipses, the late Comet, and Shooting or Falling Stars, of which last so many extraordinary things are just now said? But instruction and entertainment upon all these subjects. are the very aims of my little book, which, without further remark, I therefore commend to their kind welcome.

PETER PARLEY.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

THE pleasant news that I lately had from my Publishers, about the rapid sale of I cannot tell how many thousand copies of the first edition of this little book, and the absolute necessity they were under to print, as quickly as possible, I cannot tell how many thousand more;—all this, as my little readers will believe, flattered me very much, but it also seemed to impose upon me a fresh duty. "if

Why, bless me! Gentlemen Publishers," said I, it is really true that so many little boys and girls are to learn their first accounts of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, from Old PETER PARLEY, I must take still more pains than before, to make my Tales about all these heavenly bodies as worthy of my scholars as I am able. Though the ice and snow are thick and slippery upon the ground, and though hundreds of sad young rogues are thoughtlessly making slides on the footways, yet I can hobble along, with cautious steps; so, I will not only go home, but I will go to several friends and public places of instruction; and both reconsider all that I have already written in these Tales, and collect all that I can hear of, which ought now to be added to all that was in my first edition.

I know, that even in the few months which have elapsed since the printing of those pages, several novelties have presented themselves, in the history of the knowledge of the Sun, Moon, and Stars; and I shall go back, instead of going forward, if I do not bring them into your new impression, however hastily you may desire its appearance. My little followers cannot properly be said to be taught astronomy, unless they are informed of its latest truths, no less than its most ancient."

My Publishers listened to my argument, (beseeching me, however, to lose no time,) and accordingly I have been enabled, through a little patience upon their part, and through the help of a learned friend or two, very greatly to improve as well as multiply my chapters; and to subjoin this brief account of the new points about which I have given notices of less or greater length.

I. Later and fuller accounts of the extraordinary telescopic appearances of Halley's Comet, as seen in the years 1835 and 1836, in Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope, appear in this edition; with fuller explanations of the astronomical interest attached to the punctual reappearance of that Comet; and with other new facts, relating to the history of Comets in general.

II. The Annular Eclipse of the Sun, of the 15th of May, 1836, as well as the general explanation of Eclipses, are here amply described to the youthful reader.

III. The whole of the little that is yet known of the Fifth New Planet, of which the existence is certified to us by Signor Cacciatore, in Italy, and by M. Valz, at Nismes, is given in this impression.