BY DAVID RITTENHOUSE, A. M.
MEMBER OF THE SAID SOCIETY.
(INSCRIBED)
To the Delegates of the thirteen United Colonies, assembled in Congress, at Philadelphia, to whom the future liberties, and consequently the virtue, improvement in science and happiness, of America, are intrusted, the following Oration is inscribed and dedicated, by their most obedient and humble servant, the Author.
Gentlemen,
It was not without being sensible how very unequal I am to the undertaking, that I first consented to comply with the request of several gentlemen for whom I have the highest esteem, and to solicit your attention on a subject which an able hand might indeed render both entertaining and instructive; I mean Astronomy. But the earnest desire I have to contribute something towards the improvement of Science in general, and particularly of Astronomy, in this my native country, joined with the fullest confidence that I shall be favoured with your most candid indulgence, however far I may fall short of doing justice to the noble subject, enables me chearfully to take my turn as a member of the society, on this annual occasion.
The order I shall observe in the following discourse, is this: In the first place I shall give a very short account of the rise and progress of astronomy, then take notice of some of the most important discoveries that have been made in this science, and conclude with pointing out a few of its defects at the present time.
As, on this occasion, it is not necessary to treat my subject in a strictly scientific way, I shall hazard some conjectures of my own; which, if they have but novelty to recommend them, may perhaps be more acceptable than retailing the conjectures of others.
The first rise of astronomy, like the beginnings of other sciences, is lost in the obscurity of ancient times. Some have attributed its origin to that strong propensity mankind have discovered, in all ages, for prying into futurity; supposing that astronomy was cultivated only as subservient to judicial astrology. Others with more reason suppose astrology to have been the spurious offspring of astronomy; a supposition that does but add one more to the many instances of human depravity, which can convert the best things to the worst purposes.