JO MBM Q IK S of the 
we cannot have, being there confined to thofe only which pafs 
very near our Zenith tho' very fmall ftars : Dr. Wnllis takes it for 
granted, as a thing at leaft very probable, that the fixt ftars are 
not al], as was wont to be luppofed, at the fame diftance from 
us; but the diftance of fome, is vaftly greater than that of others 5 
and confequently, tho' as to the more remote, the parallax may 
be undifcernibie, it may perhaps be difccrnible in thofe that are 
nearer to us 3 and thole we may reafonably gueft, tho' we are not 
liirc of h^ to be neareft to us, which appear largeft and brighteft, 
as are thofe of the firft and fecond magnitudes 5 and there are at 
leaft of the fecond magnitude pretty many not far from the pole 
of the ecliptic, as that in particular in the flioulder of the lefler 
bear ^ and in cale we fail in one, we may try again and again 
Ibme other ftar, which may chance to be nearer us than what we 
try at firft^ and ftars of this bignefs ma)^ be obferved by an or- 
dinary telefcope, even in the day-time 5 elpecially when we know 
juftly where to look for them: The manner of obfervation the 
Doftor conceives maybe thus; having firft made choice of the 
ftar we mean to obferve, and having then confidered, which is 
not hard to do, where ftjch ftar is to be leen in its greateft eaft or 
weft azimuth ; it may be then convenient to fix very firm and 
fteadily on fome tower, fteeple, or other high edifice, in a con- 
venient fituation, a good telelcopic obje6t-glafs in fuch a pofition, 
as may be proper for viewing that itar ; and at a due diftance 
from it near the ground, build Ibme little ftone wall, or fuch 
like place, on which to fix the eye-glafs, lb as to anlvver that 
obje6t-glais ; and having fo adjufted it, as thro' both to fee that 
ftar in itsdefir6d ftation, which maybeft be done, whilft the ftar 
is to be fcen by night in fuch fituation, near the time of one of 
the folftices 3 hi it be there fixed fo firmly, as not to be difturbed, 
and the place fo fecurcd, as that no body come to diforder it, and 
care be taken fo to defend both the gjafe, as not to be en- 
dangered by wind and weather; in which contrivance 'Di'.Wallis 
o^ns himfjlf beholden to Mr. jf. Cafif^ell of Hart-kill Oxford, 
for his advice and affiftance, and with whom he had for many 
years communicated the whole matter : This glais being once fixed 
and a micrometer fitted to it, fo as to have its threads perpendi- 
cular to the horizon, to avoid any inconvenience, which might 
arife from diverfity of refrattion, if there be any, the ftar may 
then be viewed from time to time, for the following year or 
longer, to fee if any change of azimuth can be oblerved. 7^he 
realon why the Doclor recommends as a convenient ftar for this- 
purpole, the fhouldcr of the lefler bear, is that there is adhering 
to 
