198 SPECIAL RESULTS IN THE URANOLOGICAL 



hand, or, on the other, the insufficiency of the founda- 

 tion, ( 328 ) of this last supposition. With the distinguished 

 and active director of the Observatory at Dorpat, rests the 

 merit of having in his laborious investigation examined the 

 position and proper motion of upwards of 800 fixed stars, 

 and of having at the same time given activity to researches, 

 which, if they do not conduct to a satisfactory resolution of 

 the great problem itself, are yet suited to throw light on 

 kindred subjects in physical astronomy. 



