96 Sir J. Herschel’s Astronomical Observations 
which fact, taken in common with the known industry and _per- 
severance of the observer, gives some idea of the great complex- 
ity of these remarkable objects, composing, as they do, an assem- 
blage not of stars but of firmaments. In two tables which fol- 
low the description of them, we are presented with the reduced 
places of 919 stars, nebula, and clusters, in the greater, and of 
224 in the lesser Nubecula. The author does not consider him- 
self to have completed the survey, but modestly terms his work 
a first approximation towards a catalogue of objects in the Mag- 
ellanic clouds 
Although the discovery of new nebula, and the more accurate 
determination of the places of those of the southern skies already 
known, constituted the principal object of Sir John Herschel, yet 
he also wisely kept in view certain other subordinate purposes, 
in order to render his laborious ceanshiesr and self-denying 
exile from his country, as useful as possibl o the cause of sci- | 
ence. Among these objects we find very valuable records of obser- 
vations on Double Stars, on Halley’s Comet, and on Solar Spots. 
Numerous and important as are these observations on the double 
of the southern hemisphere, yet, comprising, for the most 
part, such only as incidentally fell in his way while sweeping for 
nebule, the author would have it understood, that the list is not 
remarks as follows: “ Bearing these circumstances in Rt 
will not be matter of surprise, that the catalogue of double staat 
aw by the twenty-feet sweeps, is comparatively deficient 
n those of the first, or closest class—meaning by this, stars of 
nak it can be confidently asserted, that the angular cane of 
the individuals is under two seconds. But t independent o 
drawbacks, though I have no ie statistical enumeration to 
bear out an assertion, I cannot help putting on Fecard a strong 
impression, that the extra-tropical som of the southern hemisphere 
is really poorer in very close double stars than the northern ; at 
least in those regions of it which come to be observed ‘on the 
meridian in the best season for definition. The almost total ab- 
sence of objects of this description from the catalogue, in the last 
six hours of right ascension, is the more oe as these are 
precisely the best hours for definition, comin observed 
from June to October, when the atmosphere i is in pe most —_— 
able condition.” a 
_ These remarks of the author raise such moderate expectations, 
that ‘We are somewhat surprised to find, that the number of 
double stars_actually registered in this catalogue, exceeds « 
md. The neat? is continued on from the northern. 
1, commencing at No. 3346, where that ends, satel 
