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Xir. 0;; the ConJlruBlon cf the Heave tn. 

 By VVilllam Ilerichcl, Efq. F. R. S. 



Read February 3, i/^i'* 



Tn E fubje£l of the Coiifrriicllon of the Heavens, on 

 which I have fo lately ventured to deliver my thoughts 

 to this Society, is of fo extenllve and important a nature, that 

 we cannot exert too much attention in our endeavours to throw 

 all poffible light upon it; I fhall, therefore, now attempt 

 to pi.rfue the delineations of wliich a faint outline was begun 

 iu my former paper. 



By continuing to. oblerve the heavens with my laft con- 

 ftruvfled, and fmce that time much improved inftrument, I aai 

 now enabled to bring more confirmation to feveral parts that 

 were before but weakly fupported, and alfo to offer a few {k.[\l 

 further extended hints, fuch as they prefent themfelves to my 

 prefent view. But firft let me mention that, if we would 

 hope to make any progrefs in an invefligation of this delicate 

 nature, we ought to avoid two oppofite extremes, of which I 

 can hardly fay which is the moft dangerous. If we indulge a 

 fanciful imagination and build worlds of our own, we muft 

 not wonder at our going wide; from the path of truth and 

 nature ; but thefe will vanifh like the Cartefian vortices, that 

 foon gave way when better theories were offered. On the other 

 hand, if we add obfervation to obfervation, without attempt- 

 ing to draw not only certain conclufions; but alfo conjedural 



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