Mechanical Philosophy, 63 



tinestion, display great penetration, diligence and 

 perseverance. 



The year 1781 was rendered remarkable by the 

 discovery of a nezv primary Planet. This disco- 

 very vv^as made by the celebrated Herschel, an 

 astronomer of Hanover, residing in Great-Britain. 

 He had, for a number of years, distinguished him- 

 self by his successful exertions in augmenting the 

 powers of optical instruments, and particularly 

 in improving the reflecting telescope. With an 

 instrument of this kind, of great excellence, he 

 first determined the existence of the Planet y which 

 he denominated Georgium Sidiis^ in honour of the 

 British King; but which is now generally called, 

 by the consent of astronomers, after his own name. 

 From his observations, and those of others, it has 

 been since found that this planet is attended by six 

 secondaries, and much progress has been made in 

 ascertaining the respective times and laws of their 

 revolutions."^ 



But this discovery is not the only one which 

 will transmit the name of Dr. Herschel to poste- 

 rity with distinguished honour. In 1787, he dis- 

 covered a sixth satellite of Saturn, and the year 

 after a seventh, attending the sam.e planet. He 

 ascertained the rotation of Saturn s Ring, which 

 may be regarded as one of the most important ad- 

 ditions made to astronomical science since those 

 •of Dr. Bradley. He discovered a second ring 

 belonging to that planet, and actually observed 

 fixed stars betvv^een this and the one before known. 

 He discovered also around the same planet a quin- 

 tuple belt of spots, by which he ascertained the re- 



« On the first day of the nineteenth century (January i, i^oi) attoiher 

 neiv pr'wiary Planet was discovered by M. FiAZZi, of Palermo, In Sicily, 

 which is likewise called by the name of the discoverer. It is not appa- 

 rently larger than a fixed star of the eighth magnitude. The Incllnatiou 

 of its orbit to the plane of the ecliptic is about lo deg. 36 min. 57 sec. and 

 its periodical revolution s little more than four years. 



