Ist of November, for the coronation of the Emperor Rudolph. On this occasion he met with several distinguished individuals, who were not only skilled in astronomy, but who were among its warmest patrons. From Ratisbon he passed to Saalfeld, and thence to Wittemberg, where he saw the parallactic instruments and the wooden quadrant which had been used by John Pratensis in determining the latitude of the city, and in measuring the altitudes of the new star.

Tycho was now impatient for home, and he lost no time in returning to Denmark, where events were awaiting him which frustrated all his schemes, by placing him in the most favourable situation for promoting his own happiness, and advancing the interests of astronomy.

CHAPTER II.

Frederick II. patronizes Tycho-And resolves to establish him in Denmark-Grants him the Island of Huen for life-And builds the splendid Observatory of Uraniburg-Description of the Island, and of the Observatory-Account of its Astronomical Instruments-Tycho begins his Observations-His PupilsTycho is made Canon of Rothschild, and receives a large pension-His hospitality to his visitors-Ingratitude of Witichius-Tycho sends an assistant to take the latitude of Frauenburg and Königsberg-Is visited by Ulric, Duke of Mecklenburg -Change in Tycho's fortunes.

THE

HE patronage which had been extended to astronomy by several of the reigning princes of Germany, especially by the Landgrave of Hesse, and Augustus, Elector of Saxony, had begun to excite a love of science in the minds of other sovereigns. The King of Denmark seems to have felt it as a stain upon his character, that the only astronomer in his dominions should carry on his observations in distant kingdoms, and adorn by his discoveries other courts than his own. With this feeling he sent ambassadors to Hesse-Cassel to in

quire after Tycho, and to intimate to him his wish that he should return to Denmark, and his anxiety to promote the advancement of astronomy in his own dominions. Tycho had left Cassel when these messengers arrived, and had heard nothing of the King's intentions till he was about to quit Knudstorp with his family for Basle. At this time he was surprised by the arrival of a noble messenger, who brought a letter requesting him to meet the King as soon as possible at Copenhagen. Tycho lost no time in obeying the royal summons. The King received him with the most flattering kindness. He offered to give him a grant for life of the island of Huen, between Denmark and Sweden, and to construct and furnish with instruments, at his own expense, an observatory, as well as a house for the accommodation of his family, together with a laboratory for carrying on his chemical inquiries. Tycho, who truly loved his country, was deeply affected with the munificence of the royal offer. He accepted it with that warmth of gratitude which it was calculated to inspire; and he particularly rejoiced in the thought that if any success should attend his future labours, the glory of it would belong to his native land.

The island of Huen is about six miles from the

coast of Zealand, three from that of Sweden, and fourteen from Copenhagen. It is six miles in circumference, and rises into the form of a mountain, which, though very high, terminates in a plain. It is nowhere rocky, and even in the time of Tycho it produced the best kinds of grain-afforded excellent pasturage for horses, cattle, and sheep, and possessed deer, hares, rabbits, and partridges in abundance. It contained at that time only one village, with about forty inhabitants.

Having surveyed his new territory, Tycho resolved to build a magnificent tower in the centre of the elevated plain, which he called Uraniburg, or The City of the Heavens. Having made the necessary arrangements, he repaired to the island on the 8th of August, and his friend Charles Danzeus laid the foundation-stone of the new observatory, which consisted of a slab of porphyry, with the following inscription:

REGNANTE IN DANIA FREDERICO II., CAROLUS DANZEUS AQUITANUS R. G. I. D. L.,1 DOMUI HUIC PHILOSOPHIÆ, IMPRIMISQUE ASTRORUM CONTEMPLATIONI, REGIS DECRETO A NOBILI VIRO TYCHONE BRAHE DE KNUDSTRUP EXTRUCTÆ VOTIVUM HUNC LAPIDEM MEMORIÆ ET FELICIS AUSPICII ERGO P. ANNO CIO.IO.LXXVI. VI. ID. AUGUSTI.

1 Regis Gallorum in Dania Legatus.

This ceremony was performed early in the morning of a splendid day, in which the rising sun threw its blessing upon Frederick, and upon the party of noblemen and philosophers who had assembled to testify their love of science. An entertainment was provided for the occasion, and copious libations of a variety of wines were offered for the success of the undertaking.

The observatory was surrounded by a rampart, each face of which was three hundred feet long. About the middle of each face, the rampart became a semicircle, the inner diameter of which was ninety feet. The height of the rampart was twenty-two feet, and its thickness at the base twenty. Its four angles corresponded exactly with the four cardinal points, and at the north and south angles were erected turrets, of which one was a printing-house, and the other the residence of the servants. were erected at the east and west angles, and above them were apartments for the reception of strangers. Within the rampart was a shrubbery with about three hundred varieties of trees; and at the centre of each semicircular part of the rampart was a bower or summer-house. This shrubbery surrounded the flower-garden, which was terminated within by a circular wall about forty-five feet

Gates