Diss.
Mackey, of whom your correspondent inquires, was an entirely self-educated
man, but a learned shoemaker, residing in Norwich. He devoted all his
leisure time to astronomical, geological, and {567} philological pursuits;
and had some share in the formation of a society in his native town, for
the purpose of debating questions relative to these sciences. I have
understood that he was for some time noticed by a small portion of the
scientific world, but afterwards neglected, as, from his own account, he
appears also to have been by his literary fellow townsmen; and at last to
have died in a Norwich alms-house. This is but a meagre account of the man,
but it is possible that I may be able to glean farther particulars on the
subject; for a medical friend of mine, who some time ago lent me
_Mythological Astronomy_, promised to let me see some papers in his
possession relative to this learned shoemaker's career, and to a few of his
unpublished speculations. When I have an opportunity of seeing these, I
shall be glad to communicate to your correspondent through "N. & Q."
anything of interest. The title-page of _Mythological Astronomy_ runs thus:
"The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients demonstrated by restoring
to their Fables and Symbols their Original Meanings. By Sampson Arnold
Mackey, Shoemaker. Norwich: printed by R. Walker, near the Duke's
Palace. Published May 1, 1822, by S. A. Mackey, Norwich."
The book contains a variety of subjects, but principally treats of the
Hindoo, Greek, and Roman mythology; and endeavours to deduce all the fables
and symbols of the ancients from the starry sphere. It also contains a
singular hypothesis of the author's upon the celebrated island of Atlantis,
mentioned by Plato and other Greek authors; and some very curious
speculations concerning the doctrine of the change in the angle which the
plane of the ecliptic makes with the plane of the equator.
Urania's _Key to the Revelations_ is bound up with the above work. I forgot
to say that his _Ancient Mythology demonstrated_ is written in verse, and
afterwards more fully explained by notes. His poetical abilities, however,
neither suit the subject, nor are of a very high order. His prose is
better, but here and there shows the deficiency of education.