NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS. 11 



not yet been ascertained ; but I perceive that Sir James 

 South has given his authority that some spots examined by it 

 continue intractable. 



" n. The influence of the new discoveries either to impair 

 or strengthen the foundations of the nebular hypothesis, must 

 clearly be looked for among their bearings on less remote 

 and ambiguous objects. Now, the new aspects of these may 

 lead us to question our former opinions as to the existence of 

 the supposed filmy self-luminous masses, — or they may throw 

 doubt on the reality of those forms according to which we 

 have arranged them, and which seem to indicate the steps of 

 a stupendous progress. 



" 1. Astronomers have never rested their belief in the 

 reality and wide diffusion of the nebulous matter, on the 

 objects referred to in the first paragraph; but on others, 

 much within the range of our previous vision. In so far as 

 we have hitherto understood the nature of clusters, the 

 telescopic power required to resolve them is never very much 

 higher than that which first descries them as dim milky spots. 

 But there are many most remarkable objects which, in this 

 essential feature^ are wholly contrasted with clusters. For 

 instance, the nebula in Orion, as I have fully shown in the 

 text, is visible to the naked eye, as also is the gorgeous one 

 in Andromeda; while the largest instrument heretofore 

 turned to them has given no intimation that their light is 

 stellar, but rather the contrary; although small stars are 

 found buried amidst their mass. Xow, if Lord Kosse's 

 telescope resolves these, and others with similar attributes, 

 such as some of the streaks among the following plates, we 

 shall thereby be informed that we have generalised too hastily 

 from the character of known firmaments, — that schemes of 

 stellar being exist, infinitely more strange and varied than 



