On the Precession of the Equinozes. 325 
regular, and could result in nothing like the annual preces- 
sion of the Equinoxes. 
How far these objections affect the prevailing theory, I 
leave for others to judge. They certainly render it  ob- 
scure, and until some of them are removed, I shall be dis- 
posed to give credence to the following simple, consistent, 
and interesting theory. 
Solar System revolves; A P Lthe orbis mundorum, or a 
portion of the circle of this revolution ; S a fixed star, and 
EL V the Ecliptick. . 
When the earth is at the first of aries E, let a spectator 
view the Star S carefully noting its position ; and if the 
system did not move, while the earth was performing one 
annual revolution, the star would appear in the same posi- 
tion again when he arrived at the first of aries. But while 
the Earth is performing one annual revolution in the direc- 
tion EL V the system moves from O to P; so that in_ 
relation to the Sun the revolution is completed at R, and 
RN T may now represent the Ecliptick. But the po- 
sition of the Star S is different when seen from R, from 
what it was, when seen from E: of course the earth must 
move from R to E to complete the siderial year, and the 
distance R E or OP is the precession of the Equinoxes, 
or the difference between the Solar and Siderial year. 
Since, therefore, no other satisfactory reason can be given 
for this phenomenon, and such a revolution appears very 
probable from analogy, the precession of the Equinoxes is 
4 strong proof of the revolution. eee 
Gproliary 1. The Solar System revolves from west to 
east, like the Earth in its orbit: for if it revolved the oth- 
er way it would produce’ an effect contrary to that of the 
PDovedbany 2. This revolution affects all the bodies in the 
solar system ; and the discovery of its effect upon any one 
of them, would be an additional confirmation of this theory. 
