Conftruciion of the l-leavsm. , 21 y 



which, mufl: produce a balance that will efietlually fecure all 

 the great parts of the whole from approaching to each other. 

 There remauis then only to fee how tlie particular ftars be- 

 longing to feparate clufters will be preferved from rufhing on 

 to their centers of attradlion. And here I muft obferve, that 

 thougli I have before, by way of rendering the cafe more fim- 

 ple, confidered the flails as being originally at reft, I intended 

 not to exclude projectile forces ; and the admiflion of them 

 will prove fuch a barrier againfl the feeming deftrutStive power 

 of attraction as to fecure from it all the flars belonging to a 

 clufter, if not for ever, at leaft for millions of ages. Befides, 

 we ought perhaps to look upon fuch cluflers, and the deftruc- 

 tion of now and then a ftar, in fome thoufands of ages, as 

 perhaps the very means by which the whole is preferved and 

 renewed. Thefe clufters may be the L^/^orj/(?r/Vjof theuniverfe, 

 if I may fo exprefs myfelf, wherein the mofl falutary remedies 

 for the decay of the whole are prepared. 



Optica/ appearances. 



From this theoretical view of the heavens, which has been 

 taken, as we obferved, from a point not lefs difliant in time 



. than in fpace, we will now retreat to our own retired fliation, 

 in one of the planets, attending a ftar in its great combination 



; with numberlefs others ; and in order to invefligate what will 

 be the appearances from this contracted fituation, let us begin 

 with" the naked eye. The ftars of the firft magnitude being 

 in all probability the neareft, will furnifli us with a ftep to 

 begin our fcale ; fetting off, therefore, with the diftance of 

 Sirius or ArCturus, for inftance, as unity, we will at pre fen t 

 fuppofe, that thofe of the fecond magnitude are at double, and 

 Vol. LXXV. F f thofe 



