Ojfrflruclion of the Heavens. 2 1 ^ 



immediately around them ; by which means they will be, in 

 time, as it were, condenfed about a center ; or, in other words, 

 form themfelves into a cluftcr of ftars of almoft a globular 

 figure, more or lefs regularly fo, according to the fize and 

 original diftancc of the furrounding ftars. The perturbations 

 of thefe mutual attractions mufl undoubtedly be very intricate, 

 as -"we may eafily comprehend by confidering what Sir Isaac 

 Newton lays in the firft book of his Principia, in the 38th 

 and folio vving problems; but in order to apply this great 

 author's reafoning of bodies moving in ellipfes to fuch as are 

 here, for a while, fuppofed to have no other motion than what 

 their mutual gravity has imparted to them, we mufl: fuppofe 

 the conjugate axes of thefe elliples indefinitely diminiflied, 

 whereby the ellipfes will become ftraight lines. 



Form IL The n^xt cafe, which will alfo happen aimoft as 

 frequently as the former, is where a few fl-ars, though not 

 fuperior in fize to the reft, may chance to be rather nearer each 

 other than the furrounding ones j for here alfo will be formed a 

 prevailing attraction in the combined center of gravity of them 

 all, which will occafion the neighbouring flars to draw toge- 

 ther ; net indeed fo as to form a regular or globular figure, but 

 however in fuch a manner as to be condenfed towards tlie 

 common center of gravity of the Vv^iole irregular elufler. And 

 this conflruClion admits of the utmofl: variety of Ihapes, ac- 

 cording; to the number and fiJuation of the ftars which firfi: 

 gave rife to the condenfation of the refl. 



Form 111. From the compofition and repeated conjuniTcion 

 of both the foreooin": forms, a third may be derived, w^henmanv 

 large flars, or combined fmall ones, are fituated in- long ex- 

 tended, regular, or crooked rows, hooks, or branches ; for they 

 will alfa draw the furrounding ones, fo as to produce figurejy 



of 



