THE ASTEROIDS OR RECENTLY DISCOVERED LESSER PLANETS.

(Vol. vii., p. 211.; Vol. viii., p. 601.)

Quæstor has asked me a question to which I will not refuse a reply. If he thinks that the breaking up of a planetary world is a mere fancy, he may consult Sir John Herschel's Astronomy, § 434., in Lardner's series, ed. 1833, in which the supposition was treated as doubtful, and farther discoveries were declared requisite for its confirmation; and Professor Mitchell's Discoveries of Modern Astronomy, Lond. 1850, pp. 163-171., where such discoveries are detailed, and the progress of the proof is narrated and explained. It may be briefly stated as follows:—In the last century, Professor Bode discovered the construction of a regular series of numbers, in coincidence with which the distances of all the known planets from the sun had been arranged by their Creator, saving one exception. Calling the earth's solar distance 10, the next numbers in the series are 16, 28, 52. The distances answering to 16 and 52, on this scale, are respectively occupied by the planets Mars and Jupiter; but the position of 28 seemed unoccupied. It was not likely that the Creator should have left the methodical order of his work incomplete. A few patient observers agreed, therefore, to divide amongst themselves that part of the heavens which a planet revolving at the vacant distance might be expected to traverse; and that each should keep up a continuous examination of the portion assigned to him. And the result was the discovery by Piazzi, in 1801, of a planet revolving at the expected solar distance, but so minute that the elder Herschel computed its diameter to be no more than 163 miles. The discovery of a second by Olbers, in the

following year, led him to conjecture and suggest that these were fragments of a whole, which, at its first creation, had occupied the vacant position, with a magnitude not disproportionate to that assigned to the other planets. Since then there have been, and continue to be, discoveries of more and more such fragmental planets, all moving at solar distances so close upon that numbered 28, as to pass each other almost, as has been said, within peril; but in orbits which seem capriciously elevated and depressed, when referred to the planes assigned for the course of the regular planets; so that, to most minds capable of appreciating these facts, it will seem that Olber's conjecture has been marvellously confirmed.

As to the theological conjecture appended to it in my previous communication, about which Quæstor particularly questions me, I can only say, that if he deems it rash or wrong, I have no right to throw the blame of it on any other man's shoulders, as I am not aware of its having been hazarded by any one else. But I hope he will agree with me, that if there has been a disruption of a planetary world, it cannot have arisen from any mistake or deficiency in the Creator's work or foresight, but should be respectfully regarded as the result of some moral cause.

Henry Walter.

EMBLEMATIC MEANINGS OF PRECIOUS STONES (Vol. viii., p. 539).—PLANETS OF THE
MONTHS SYMBOLISED BY PRECIOUS STONES (Vol. iv., pp. 23. 164.).

The Poles have a fanciful belief that each month of the year is under the influence of a precious stone, which influence has a corresponding effect on the destiny of a person born during the respective month. Consequently, it is customary, among friends and lovers, on birth-days, to make reciprocal presents of trinkets ornamented with the natal stones. The stones and their influences, corresponding with each month, are supposed to be as follows:

January Garnet. Constancy and fidelity.
February Amethyst. Sincerity.
March Bloodstone. Courage. Presence of mind.
April Diamond. Innocence.
May Emerald. Success in love.
June Agate. Health and long life.
July Cornelian. Contented mind.
August Sardonyx. Conjugal felicity.
September Chrysolite. Antidote against madness.
October Opal. Hope.
November Topaz. Fidelity.
December Turquoise. Prosperity.

The Rabbinical writers describe a system of onomancy, according to the third branch of the Cabala, termed Notaricon, in conjunction with lithomancy. Twelve anagrams of the name of God were engraved on twelve precious stones, by which, with reference to their change of hue or brilliancy, the cabalist was enabled to foretel future events. Those twelve stones, thus engraved, were also supposed to have a mystical power over, and a prophetical relation to, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and twelve angels or good spirits, in the following order:

Anagrams. Stones. Signs. Angels.
יהוה‎ Ruby. Aries. Mulchediel.
יההו‎ Topaz. Taurus. Asmodel.
יוהה‎ Carbuncle. Gemini. Ambriel.
הוהי‎ Emerald. Cancer. Muriel.
הויה‎ Sapphire. Leo. Verchel.
ההיו‎ Diamond. Virgo. Humatiel.
וההי‎ Jacinth. Libra. Zuriel.
ויהה‎ Agate. Scorpio. Barbiel.
הוהי‎ Amethyst. Sagittarius. Adnachiel.
היהו‎ Beryl. Capricornus. Humiel.
והיה‎ Onyx. Aquarius. Gabriel.
היוה‎ Jasper. Pisces. Barchiel.

These stones had also reference to the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve parts of the human body, twelve plants, twelve birds, twelve minerals, twelve hierarchies of devils, &c. &c. usque ad nauseum.

It is evident that all this absurd nonsense was founded on the twelve precious stones in the breast-plate of the High Priest (Exodus xxviii. 15.: see also Numbers xxvii. 28., and 1 Samuel xxviii. 6.). I may add that in the glorious description of the Holy City, in Revelation xxi., the mystical number twelve is again connected with precious stones.

In the Sympathia Septem Metallorum ac Septem Selectorum Lapidum ad Planetus, by the noted Peter Arlensis de Scudalupis, the following are the stones and metals which are recorded as sympathising with what the ancients termed the seven planets (I translate the original words):

Saturn Turquoise. Lead.
Jupiter Cornelian. Tin.
Mars Emerald. Iron.
Sun Diamond. Gold.
Venus Amethyst. Copper.
Mercury Loadstone. Quicksilver.
Moon Chrystal. Silver.

N. D. inquires in what works he will find the emblematical meanings of precious stones described. For a great deal of curious, but obsolete and useless, reading on the mystical and occult properties of precious stones, I may refer him to the following works:—Les Amours et noveaux Eschanges des Pierres Précieuses, Paris, 1576; Curiositez inouyes sur la Sculpture Talismanique, Paris, 1637; Occulta Naturæ Miracula, Antwerp, 1567; Speculum Lapidi, Aug. Vind., 1523; Les Œuvres de Jean Belot, Rouen, 1569.

W. Pinkerton.