2t/> French National Ivjlltuie, 



known, appeared verified for a moment by the difcoverv of 

 Pia/zi's planet, but was foon belied in the molt formal man- 

 ner by the obfervation of a new planet very near the lirft. J Iere 

 then we have an inftance of the fall of opinions founded on 

 deeeitful analogies, and on the falfe ideas whieh we form of 

 what conllitutes order and regularity in the defigns of na- 

 ture. It will doubtlefs not cure men of the propenfity they 

 have to indulge in vain f peculations, which, after making a 

 noife for a while, foon fall into the deepeft. and well merited 

 oblivion ; and notwithstanding the numerous leflbns which 

 the pofitive (ciences never ceafe to offer, they will always be 

 found learching for the caufes of eflfe&s when the data ne- 

 cetlary for that purpofe are entirely wanting, and even when 

 no relations perceptible to our fenfes feem to be connected 

 with the nature which they aflign to the Unknown caufe. 



The new ftar of which we here fpeak, exhibits one re- 

 markable fingularity, which contradicts the fyftems conceived 

 to explain the formation of the planets according to the pro- 

 bability of a caufe in virtue of which their orbits have been 

 confined within a very narrow zone, named the zodiac. The 

 great inclination of the orbit of this ftar obliges us to ex- 

 tend confklerably the breadth of the zodiac; and gives rea- 

 fon to believe that it has perhaps no boundaries : thefe re- 

 flections are founded on the following fails borrowed from 

 Dclambre. 



" On the 20th of Germinal, C. Burckhardt having re- 

 ceived information that M. Olbers, of Bremen, had difco- 

 vered a new ftar 5 which had the appearance of a planet, he 

 communicated this intelligence the fame evening to all the 

 aftronomers of the Inftitute, who fought for it the night fol- 

 lowing. Next day, C. Meflier, Mechain and Delambre gave 

 to the ekifs an account of their oblervations : the new ftar 

 had a icnfible motion, both in right afcenfion, and declina- 

 tion. It prefented no appearance (if* a tail, nor even of a 

 nebulofitv, and could be diftinguifhed by nothing but its 

 movement from liars of the eighth magnitude which were 

 in its neighbourhood. They continued to obferve it in the 

 meridian till towards the end of Floreal : it always prefented 

 the fame appearances, only that its light was ilill weaker, 

 beeaufe it began to recede from the earth. 



" Attempts were made, but in vain, to find a parabola 

 which would correspond with the observations. A circle was 

 attended with no better fuecels. An ellipfe was neceilary, and 

 one even very eccentric. In this refpc&the new planet difiers 

 very little from Mercury ; but what is more extraordinary in 

 regard to it is, that its inclination is about 35 , while "that 



