CHAPTER XX. 



THE MOVEMENTS OF THE STARS.* 



I SHALL follow the precedent set by my illustrious pre- 

 decessors in this chair, and endeavour to lay before you 

 some of the recent acquisitions of knowledge in those 

 branches of science with which I am myself most particu- 

 larly connected. 



It has been my privilege on not a few occasions to 

 discourse to the members of the Midland Institute on 

 various astronomical matters, but our science is ever grow- 

 ing, it has shown quite unexpected vitality within the last 

 year or two, and consequently I find myself in posses- 

 sion of abundant material. Discoveries are just now 

 being made with ever increasing volume ; results we 

 despaired of attaining yesterday are familiar to us to-day, 

 while to-morrow will see the van of the army of research 

 advancing into some wholly new territory. I could not 

 attempt to give any comprehensive insight into the 

 marvellous accumulations of facts that have recently been 

 garnered by students of the heavens. I will rather endea- 

 vour to develop with fitting detail that particular line of 

 * Presidential address at the Midland Institute, Birmingham. 



