THE authorities which have been principally relied on in compiling the following work are : " Le Opere complete di Galileo Galilei," edited (1842-56) by Professor Eugo Alberi, from the Galileian manuscripts and correspondence preserved in the Palatine Library at Florence ; " La Primogenita di Galileo Galilei (1864)," by Professor Carlo Arduini, containing one hundred and twenty-one letters (also preserved in the Palatine Library) addressed to Galileo by his eldest daughter, the Franciscan nun Maria Celeste, eightyseven of which were first edited by Professor Arduini ; and u Galilee, son Proces, sa Condamnation," published by M. Henri de 1'Epinois in the " Revue des Questions Historiques (1867)." This last-named work supplies, what had hitherto been wanting, a mass of details concerning Galileo's trial, all of the highest interest, extracted by M. de 1'Epinois from the original trial papers now in the archives of the Vatican. It has been the endeavor of the compiler to place before the reader a plain, ungarbled statement of facts ; and as a means to this end, to allow Galileo, his friends, and his judges to speak for themselves as far as possible.

The following pages represent the result of several years' experience in presenting to students of engineering the elements of Practical Astronomy. Although the method and the extent of the discussion have been designed to meet the specialized requirements of such students, it is intended that the
work shall also serve as an introduction for those who desire a broader knowledge of the subject.

THIS volume, both in respect to matter and arrangement, is designed especially for the use of the cadets of the U. S. Military Academy, as a supplement to the course in General Astronomy at present taught them from the text-book of Professor 0. A. Young. It is therefore limited to that branch of Practical Astronomy which relates to Field Work, and more particularly to those subjects which are not discussed at sufficient length for practical work in Professor Young's volume. It is believed, however, that it will find a useful application in the hands of officers of the Army, who may be called upon to conduct such explorations and surveys for military purposes as the War Department may from time to time direct.

LEARNED mathematician of the seventeenth century, Ozanam by name, a member of the Academy of Sciences and author of several distinguished works, did not think it derogatory to his dignity to write, under the title of " Mathematical and Physical Recreations," a book designed for the amusement of youth, in which science lends itself to every pastime, even jugglery and tricks of legerdemain.

THE author has no other apology to present for offering to the public the following work on " Popular Astronomy " than the marked favour with which his " Orbs of Heaven " has been received, both in this country and in Europe.

THE large modern telescope, celestial photography, and improved astronomical instruments have opened the field of astronomy to such an extent that the ideas, statements, and figures of a few years ago are no longer authentic. Happily for the credit of astronomers, the wonders of the skies have been underestimated, and those who thought that statements that had been previously made regarding celestial wonders were almost beyond credence will be pleased to find that they were not only true, but that in reality not more than half the truth had been told.

NEGLECT hitherto of the availability of astronomy for a laboratory course has mainly led to the preparation of this New Astronomy. Written purely with a pedagogic purpose, insistence upon rightness of principles, no matter how simple, has everywhere been preferred to display of precision in result. To instance a single example : although the pupil's equipment be but a yardstick, a pinhole, and the l rule of three, 1 will he not reap greater benefit from measuring the sun for himself (page 259), than from learning mere detail of methods employed by astronomers in accurately measuring that luminary ?...

I HAVE written these pages, not for the professional reader, but with the hope of reaching a part of that educated public on whose support he is so often dependent for the means of extending the boundaries of knowledge.

It is not generally understood that among us not only the support of the Government, but with scarcely an exception every new private benefaction, is devoted to " the Old " Astronomy, which is relatively munificently endowed already ; while that which I have here called "the New," so fruitful in results of interest and importance, struggles almost unaided.