1. The Whimsical Cook By Benjamin Franklin 1748

2. On the 19th of this month (January), Anno 1493, was born the famous Astronomer Copernicus, to whom we owe the invention, or rather the Revival (it being taught by Pythagoras near 2000 Years before) of that generally received System of the World which bears his Name, and supposes the Sun in the Center, this Earth a Planet revolving round it in 365 Days, 6 Hours, &c. and that Day and Night are caused by the Turning of the Earth on its own Axis once round in 24 h. &c. Translation to follow...

3. The Astronomer Copernicus brought back the theory, which is named after him, that the sun is at the center of the Solar System and the planets revolve around the sun. The Earth has day and night because the Earth spins once a day. Translation:

4. The Ptolomean System, which prevailed before Copernicus, supposed the Earth to be fixed, and that the Sun went round it daily. The system proposed by Ptolemy said that the Earth stays still and the Sun goes around the Earth. Translation:

5. Mr. Whitson, a modern Astronomer, says, the sun is 230,000 times bigger than the Earth, and 81 Millions of Miles distant from it: That vast Body must then have moved more than 480 Millions of Miles in 24 h. A prodigious Journey round this little Spot!

6. An astronomer from Franklin's time, Mr. Whitson, calculated the Sun to be 230,000 times bigger than the Earth (the true value is closer to 110x) and is 80 million miles from the Earth (the true value is about 93 million miles). The vast body of the sun must travel a circumference of 480 million miles (a circle with a radius of 80 million miles) in one day in order to go around the Earth in 24 hours. Translation:

7. How much more natural is Copernicus's Scheme! Ptolemy is compared to a whimsical Cook, who, instead of Turning his meat in roasting, should fix That, and contrive to have his whole Fire, Kitchen and all, whirling continually round it.

8. Copernicus make more sense! Ptolemy is compared to a foolish cook who, instead of turning his chicken on a rotisserie, holds the chicken still and turns the entire kitchen around the chicken. Translation: