Copy 1, Volume 1
The gallery of nature and art; or, a tour through creation and science. Comprising new and entertaining descriptions of the most surprising volcanoes, caverns, cataracts, whirlpools, waterfalls, earthquakes, and other wonderful and stupendous phenomena of nature. Forming a rich and comprehensive view of all that is interesting and curious in every part of the habitable world. By the Rev. E. Polehampton, and John M. Good, F.R.S. Illustrated by one hundred engravings / [Edward Thomas William Polehampton].
- Polehampton, Edward (Edward Thomas William), 1777?-1830.
- Date:
- 1821
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The gallery of nature and art; or, a tour through creation and science. Comprising new and entertaining descriptions of the most surprising volcanoes, caverns, cataracts, whirlpools, waterfalls, earthquakes, and other wonderful and stupendous phenomena of nature. Forming a rich and comprehensive view of all that is interesting and curious in every part of the habitable world. By the Rev. E. Polehampton, and John M. Good, F.R.S. Illustrated by one hundred engravings / [Edward Thomas William Polehampton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![[19 J CHAP. Lil. OF ASTRONOMY IN MODERN EUROPE. t — Tv is to the Arabians that modern Europe is indebted for the first rays of light that dissipated the darkness in which it was enveloped during twelve centuries. They transmitted to us the treasure of knowledge, which they, received from the Greeks who were them- selves disciples of the Egyptians; but by a.deplorable fatality the arts and sciences, disappeared among all these nations, as soon as they had communicated them. Despotism has for a long period extended its barbarism over those beautiful countries where science first received its origin, and those names which formerly rendered them celebrated, are now unknown in them. Alphonso, king of Castile, was one of the first sovereigns. whe encouraged the revival of astronomy in Europe. This science can reckon but few such zealous protectors; but he was ill seconded by the astronomers whom he had assembled at a considerable expense, and the tables which they published did not answer.to the great cost.they. had occasioned, . Endowed with a correct judgment, Alphonso was shocked at the confusion of the circles in which the celestial bodies were supposed to move;, he felt that the expedients employed by nature ought to be, more simple. .“ If the Deity,” said he, “had asked my advice, these things would have been better arranged.” By these words, which are taxed with impiety, he meant to express that mankind were still far from knowing the true mechanism of the universe. In the time of Alphonso, Europe was indebted to the encourage- ment. of Frederic I]. Emperor of Germany, for the first Latin translation of the Almagest of Ptolemy, which was made from the Arabic version. We are now arrived at that celebrated epoch when astronomy, escaping from the narrow sphere which had hitherto confined it, raised itself by.a rapid and continued progress to the height where c2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33091304_0001_0041.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
