"Anothir clerenesse is of the Sunne, anothir clerenesse of the Moone, and ano-thir clerenesse of the Sterres, and a Sterre differith from a Sterre in clereness",

Wiclif. 1 Cor. 15.

IN order to understand the following table, it must be observed, that the ancients attributed certain signs of the zodiac, as houses, to each of the seven planets, which is shown in the second column of the table, where is placed, denoting his house to be in the sign . The next column contains the degree of their exaltation, which for the is found to be in 1Q . Next to this are shown the Triplicities, over which is marked "D.N". denoting that is the Triplicity of by day, and by night. Adjoining this are the signs wherein the planets were said to have their terms, and next to that their celestial phases. These constituted the whole of the essential dignities or fortitudes, according to the ancient system; in which the Orientals and Europeans agree together, except that the Persian Astrologers term the Houses of the Planets "Towers;" a reference to which seems to have been also made in the sacred scriptures, where we read (in that beautiful poetic imagery for which those writings are so unparalleled) of " a strong tower", a "tower of might", etc. Thus also Shakspeare, the poet of nature", the king's name is a tower of strength", and frequent allusions are made thereto by the oriental writers in all ages; which the attentive reader will readily observe. But as the recent discovery of Herschel, the stupendous planet has thrown new lights upon the science of the stars, it could never have been expected that the ancients should have been perfect in every part of their system; and therefore a blind obedience.

A Table of The Essential Dignities, According To The Systems Of Ancient Authors

The house, exaltation, triplicity, term, and phase, are fortitude. Detriment and fall, are debilities to every rule they laid down, would be little short of bigotry and credulity. Still, it must be acknowledged that the ancients are entitled to our warmest gratitude, for the wonderful disco-veries they made in the theory of celestial influence; and it would ill become the author of this work, or his candid read-ers, to reject aught that they advanced, without repeated proofs of its fallacy.

We'have before observed that the planet Herschel was discovered in consequence of a celebrated Astronomer, frequently observing an irregularity (in the motion of Saturn; that he could not account for by any known theory of the heavens. This being the case, it would naturally be supposed, that the ancients in their observations continually, finding certain effects to follow, the cause of which was unknown to them, would frequently attribute partial effects to fallacious causes, whenever they found the known benevolent influence of Jupiter impeded in an unaccountable way. Hence the theory of the "Terms" and "Phases", which the experience of the present day leads us to reject - -as also the distinction between the day and night houses of the planets; and the attributing one sign to a planet by day, and another by night, in the Triplicities, which evidently is a relic of ancient superstition; since reason itself must tell us, that if a certain planet bears rule in. a certain sign, (especially if posited therein) it must retain that rule, whether by day on night.

The author therefore rejects the distinctions of diurnal and nocturnal rule in Houses or Triplicities, as superfluous and void of truth. . .

The same objection may be made, although on different grounds, to the theory of the Terms and Phases; the author's present system of the " essential dignities" therefore excludes these, as well as the precise degree of exaltatioq; although he acknowledges the absolute truth of the ancient system, relative to the signs of heaven, wherein the planets have their fortitude or strength, by celestial" House, Trigon, or Exaltation;" and also of their consequent " debility" or weakness by the opposite signs, termed, their "Detriment and Fall" The following table will best explain his theory, to the student or curious reader.

A Table Of The Essential Fortitudes And Debilities Of The Planets

According to the Author's System,

is supposed to have the same fortitudes and debilities, in all cases, as

The above table will be readily understood by the student, and consequently requires but little explanation - The first column contains the planets; the next, the celestial houses, next to that, their exaltations; and the last column (of their fortitudes) the Trigons or Triplicities, which they are found to govern. Of these dignities, the celestial House is the strongest of the whole, and is what Astrologers term the "Lordship" or "Ruler" of the sign, either on the cusp of the ascendant, or any other part of the figure; next to this in power and strength, is the Exaltation; and the third essential fortitude is the Tri-plicity, in which respect the ancients were perfectly correct in their division of the zodiac after this manner; and planets being found in these signs of heaven, are eminently strong, fortunate, and powerful; while their being in those signs, marked as their debilities, viz. their Detriment and Fall, renders them more peculiarly weak, evil, and unfortunate, than in any other sign of the heavens.