The accuracy of modern observations has discovered irregularities in the motions of Jupiter and Saturn, which our knowledge of the laws of planetary gravitation has not as yet enabled us to explain. I have, therefore, long thought it probable that there may be planets without the orbit of Saturn, of sufficient magnitude to occasion these irregularities. This conjecture is confirmed by the discovery of a new planet.

This Abstract contains the medium heat for the half of each month, and is a continuation of that inserted in the last Volume of the Physical and Literary Essays.

Hawkhill is situated 1½ mile N. E. of Edinburgh.

The Observations of the Thermometer were made every day at 8 o'clock A. M.

The fall of the feudal system was accomplished, in the principal states of Europe, at a period when the revival of learning had diffused in society a spirit of reflection, and communicated, to the better sort, some knowledge of the history of the Greek and Roman republics. As it was, in general, the kings who conducted the attack on the privileges of the feudal nobility, the principal part of the spoils had fallen naturally to their share. But the people were warlike, the nobles were still; animated with the pride of rank, of family, and of their ancient consequence, and men, in general, had begun to speculate on their rights, and were unaccustomed to perceive, with satisfaction, the whole powers of government centred in the crown.

It cannot well be disputed, that, till the Greeks were possessed of the art of writing, they could have nothing that deserved the name of history. When that art was introduced among them is uncertain; but there is reason to believe, it was not known to them at the time of the Trojan war, as there is no mention of any writing in all the works of Homer; for the tablets, of which he speaks in one passage, did not contain any writing, but only marks or signs. At any rate, it cannot be supposed, that writing was much known or practifed, at that time, or indeed for long after. It appears from many charters, and other deeds, in this country, that men of the first families and fortunes in it could not, a few centuries ago, write their names; yet it is clear, from our having the use of coined money in commerce, and of cavalry in war, as well as from several other circumstances, that we were more civilized in those days than the Greeks could pretend to be when they first invaded Asia.

The custom adopted by several learned Societies or Acadedemies abroad, which requires, that a professed panegyric on every one of the Members, after his death, should first be read before the Academy, and then printed in the history of their transactions, has not met with a general approbation, either in England or in this country. For although characters have frequently appeared in the republic of Letters, whose shining talents have, with sufficient propriety, employed the power of eloquence in their praise, every Member of an Academy cannot be deemed the proper subject of a laboured encomium. The British character, naturally shy and reserved, is apt to look with an eye of suspicion, upon any discourse that comes decorated with the pompous title of Eloge.

Sir George Clerk-Maxwell of Pennycuik, Baronet, one of the Presidents of the Physical Class of this Society, was born at Edinburgh, on the last day of October 1715. He was the fourth son of Sir John Clerk of Pennycuik, one of the Barons of Exchequer in Scotland: His mother was a daughter of Sir James Inglis of Cramond.

His more early studies were carried on at the University of Edinburgh, under the eye of his father, who was himself a man of letters, and from whom he appears very early to have caught a strong taste for Natural History, Antiquities and the Theory of Commerce, particularly in so far as these branches of knowledge related to his own country. He afterwards went to Leyden, where he finished his studies under the immediate inspection of the celebrated Boerhaave, who had been the friend of his father; and, before his return home, he visited several parts of France and Germany.

At a meeting of the Literary Class of the Royal Society, held on Monday 19th April 1784, the Reverend Dr Carlyle read an ode, written by the late Mr William Collins, and addressed to John Home, Esq; (author of Douglas, &c.) on his return to Scotland in 1749. The committee appointed to superintend the publication of the Society's Transactions, having judged this ode to be extremely deserving of a place in that collection, requested Mr Alex. Fraser Tytler, one of their number, to procure from Dr Carlyle every degree of information which he could give concerning it. This information, which forms a proper introduction to the poem itself, is contained in the two following letters.

H—, thou return'st from Thames, whose Naiads long

Have seen thee ling'ring, with a fond delay,

Mid those soft friends, whose hearts, some future day,

Shall melt, perhaps, to hear thy tragic song.

Go, not unmindful of that cordial youth,

Whom, long endear'd, thou leav'st by Lavant's side;

Together let us wish him lasting truth,

And joy untainted with his destin'd bride.

Go! nor regardless, while these numbers boast

My short-liv'd bliss, forget my focial name;

But think far off how, on the southern coast,

I met thy friendship with an equal flame!

Fresh to that soil thou turn'st, whose ev'ry vale

Shall prompt the poet, and his song demand:

To thee thy copious subjects ne'er shall fail;

Thou need'st but take the pencil to thy hand,

And paint what all believe who own thy genial land.

The Reverend Dr Matthew Stewart, late Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, was the son of the Reverend Mr Dugald Stewart, Minister of Rothsay in the Isle of Bute, and was born at that place in the year 1717. After having finished his course at the grammar-school, being intended by his father for the Church, he was sent to the University of Glasgow, and was entered there as a student in 1734. His academical studies were prosecuted with diligence and success; and he was so happy as to be particularly distinguished by the friendship of Dr Hutcheson and Dr Simson. With the latter, indeed, he soon became very intimately connected; for though it is said, that his predilection for the Mathematics did not instantly appear on his application to the study of that science, yet the particular direction of his talents was probably observed by his master before it was perceived by himself.

Few literary exertions put the author's abilities to a severer test than the composition of history. The poet may create a subject for himself, or he may adopt one that is but imperfectly known. In the composition of an epic poem, he instructs and pleases by exhibiting such a train of actions as might have taken place, and, unless he violates probability, his invention may bid defiance to restraint. If his work be imperfect, he has himself to blame, as those very powers which give the form to his subject, gave it first its existence.

In comparing ancient with modern historians, we meet with one remarkable circumstance in which they differ. The ancient historians are dramatic, the modern narrative. The ancients exhibit eminent persons delivering long speeches, adorned, as the occasion may require, with all the graces and force of eloquence. This is seldom done by the moderns. If it is ever necessary to give an account of what may have been delivered on an interesting subject by an eminent speaker, they tell us, excepting in such works as may be accounted translations, or in such histories, as those of Buchanan and Guicciardini, written manifestly after the models of antiquity, That he made use of such or such arguments; and, adhering strictly to the narrative form, they never venture on the bolder task of displaying him in his own person, delivering a long oration.

It is a maxim in physics, that “an effect ought not to be “ ascribed to the joint operation of many causes, if fewer “ are adequate to the production of it.” Frustra fit per plura, quod fieri potest per pauciora. This maxim is no less just when applied to language. It is equally unphilosophical in grammar and in physics, to multiply without necessity the principles from which the phænomena are to be explained.

It is reasonable to suppose, that the founders of the European states would, at least for some time after their conquests, retain much of their former political arrangements. The idea, therefore, which I have formed of their legislatures in their new situation may, in a great measure, be anticipated from the observations contained in the preceding part of this paper. At the same time, the change from the wilds of Germany to the cultivated provinces of the empire was very great: And it is necessary to survey, in general, the aspect which, on this event, the German governments might be expected to exhibit, in order, either to form an accurate conception of the general hypothesis I have adopted, or to perceive the propriety and application of those discussions which are intended for its support.