Order of the Starry Firmament. 81 
imar being of the sixth and the companion of 
about the te agnitude. But our telescope has proved 
that the primary itself is a double star of the first class, com- 
_ of the nebule of Orion. The two Herschells, and Schréter 
in particular, have examined this curious object. Our in- 
strument however shows a fifth star, remarked by no prece- 
H 
twenty feet reflector. 
Our Sun is decidedly a single fixed star. If it formed a 
‘double star with some other, the latter must from its proxim- 
ity, be distinguished from all others by its magnitude, much 
beyond that of Sirius itself, and its change of position in the 
heavens would characterize it still. more clearly. Suppose 
for example, that the time of its revolution was equal to that 
of the companion of p Serpentarius, we should then observe 
in it a movement of more than seven degrees annually, and 
even if its revolution were a hundred times longer, its proper 
motion must be fifty times greater than that of 61 of the 
Swan, which is the most considerable hitherto observed. 
Another question which arises from the consideration of 
this subject is, whether there does not exist between two 
stars of the first magnitude, some mutual relation, analo- 
gous to that of double stars, and which on account of their 
sreater proximity to us, we do not at first discover. If we 
any remarkable approach between stars of the first 
magnitude, such a relation would acquire some probability, 
Now there are in the northern hemisphere, three hundre 
and six stars of the first to the fourth magnitude, and three 
hundred and seventeen in the southern hemisphere, viz. 
3d 
ist 2d Ath 
Northern hemisphere, 9 stars, 26, 76, 195. 
Southern do. 9, 26, ., ‘3k 181, 
The smaller number of stars of the third magnitude, in 
the northern, being compensated by a greater number of the 
fourth. A calculation founded on those numbers, and com- 
- Vor. XV.—No. 1. 11 
