18 



that time, but it is certain that changes have taken place 

 both in the star and in the nebula since 1854; and these 

 fluctuations have been so great and unusual as to raise a 

 doubt in the mind of Sir John Herschel as to their reality. 

 This opinion, coming from such an authority, has influenced 

 many others, who, notwithstanding all evidence, and without 

 a single observation of their own, have refused to credit these 

 recorded facts. Some also, who have but lately commenced 

 observing, contrary to all scientific rule, ignore all pre- 

 vious observations made by others, in order to make an open- 

 ing for their own. 



To decide certain points of difference which are said to 

 exist between the drawings made by Sir John Herschel, Lieut. 

 Herschel, and myself respectively, referees have been ap- 

 pointed by the Council of the R.A.S. The present paper 

 has relation to the observations made for, and the reply sent 

 to, the referees, in answer to their queries on the points 

 alluded to. 



In carefully looking over the drawings taken at Banga- 

 lore by Lieut. Herschel, with the object, -n Argus, 15 '^ above 

 the horizon, and also the reversed copy of Sir J. Herschel's, 

 and on consideration of the discussion given with the draw- 

 ings, I do not think that Lieut. Herschel's observations tend 

 to disprove any one of the alterations which I have previously 

 communicated to the Society. The present drawing, and the 

 answers given to the referees, will, I think, render this clear. 



The present observations have been made with the same 

 instrument as the former ones, the object in the same posi- 

 tion — approximately 80 ® above the horizon. The mea- 

 sures were taken with a bar micrometer by Cook and Sons, 

 the bars being carefully traced in pencil on the drawing 

 paper, in such a manner as to exactly fill the field of the 

 telescope. All the stars visible were dotted down, the 

 distances from v of the 6th, 7th, and 8th magnitude stars 

 were lettered, measured, and catalogued from a scale of 

 equal parts, after which the micrometer pencil lines were 

 rubbed out, and the nebula inserted. 



The first question put by the referees relates to a com- 

 parison of the positions of the principal stars and smaller 

 groups as shown in my two drawings, which are said to have 

 a suf&cient general agreement with each other, considered as 

 eye drafts, while they are irreconcilable with both Sir John's 

 and Lieut. Herschel's configurations. A simple inspection of 

 my drawing of 1870 with the reversed drawing of Sir John Her- 

 schel {A. A., plate 4i,inthe Monthly Notices R.A.S,) will show that 

 the following principal stars hold a relative position considered 

 as eye drafts, but not with the Cape Monograph as expressed 



