The Planet Saturn. 201 



have often the concurrence of more than one observer, so the 

 optical capacity of a telescope, which in favourable air would 

 bear distinctly a power stated to be 1561 upon Saturn, leaves 

 small chance of appeal. In fact, it is a remarkable circum- 

 stance that the mystery of the subject has increased under 

 closer, more powerful, and more extended scrutiny. Some of 

 the phenomena may admit of a more or less probable solution. 

 For instance, the apparent concavity of outline might be 

 explained as a deception, similar to those optical perversities so 

 ingeniously illustrated by Mr. Proctor in our August Number ; 

 and a deficiency of shadow upon A would naturally follow from 

 its lying in a different plane. But the " ears," projecting even 

 when the true shadow was invisible, — the two shadows when, 

 even after allowing for the planet's latitude, one only should 

 have been seen, — the "roof," and "inlet," — and the varying 

 depths of shade in different parts, are alike too clearly attested 

 for doubt, and too incomprehensible for explanation. We 

 might take refuge to a certain extent in the idea of varied 

 curvatures in the shadowed surfaces ; and in order to meet the 

 objection arising from the evanescent thinness of the lateral 

 view, we might add a speculation as to the possibility of some 

 force emanating from the sun, which might disturb the level of 

 the surface, in proportion as its inclination exposed it to his 

 influence. But even after we have ventured this daring effort, 

 we find other features as intractable as ever. Some things 

 look like effects of an atmosphere very irregularly distributed 

 round the ball, and possessed of properties greatly dissimilar to 

 those of ordinary gases ; but this is un discoverable, just where 

 it ought to be most apparent, at the concurrence of outlines 

 very obliquely inclined to each other. 



We must therefore close this subject, already protracted 

 to a wholly unexpected length — not, however, in despair of 

 some better solution, but as commending it earnestly to the 

 study of those who have the means and leisure for further in- 

 vestigation. It was not by recoiling from apparent impossi- 

 bilities that the earlier inquirers won their way to such brilliant 

 discoveries. It was not thus that the genius of Kepler carried 

 him forward into the unknown, or guided him in " feeling the 

 walls of ignorance, ere yet he reached the brilliant gate of 

 truth." Or even if disappointment in one sense should wait 

 upon such researches, they will bring with them in another 

 respect their own recompense : " The works of the Lord are 

 great ; sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." 



The object of the foregoing papers being to bring before the student, for his 

 own comparison, as many original data as were accessible to the writer, the follow- 

 ing additions and corrections may be permitted for completeness sake : — 



1788, Aug. 2, l£l suspected a little equatorial flattening. — 1790. Feb. 1, ring 



