56 Mr. Micuen on the Means of difcovering the 
form fome probable conjectures concerning the fpecific denfity 
and brightnefs of the ftars themfelves, efpecially if there 
fhould be found any general analogy between the quantity of 
the‘diminution of the light and the diftance of the fyftem de-. 
duced from it; as, for inftance, if thofe ftars, which had the 
greateft effect in diminifhing the velocity of light fhould in 
general give a greater diftance to the fyftem, when fuppofed to 
be of the fame denfity with the fun, we might then naturally 
conclude from thence, that they are lefs in bulk, and of- 
greater fpecific denfity, than thofe ftars which diminifh the ve- 
locity of light lefs, and vice verfé. In like manner, if the 
larger ftars were to give us in general a greater or lefs quan- 
tity of light in proportion to their bulk, this would give us a 
kind of analogy, from whence we might perhaps form fome 
judgment of the fpecific brightnefs of the ftars in generals. 
but, at all adventures, we fhould have a pretty tolerable mea- 
fure of the comparative brightnefs of the fun and thofe ftars, 
upon which fuch obfervations fhould be made, if the refult of 
them fhould tur out agreeable to the ideas above explained. 
39. Though it is not improbable, that a few years may in- 
form us, that fome of the great number of double, triple ftars, 
&c. which have been obferved by Mr. HerscuEL, are fyftems 
of bodies revolving about each other, efpecially if a few more 
obfervers, equally ingenious and induftrious with himfelf could 
be found to fecond his labours; yet the very great diftance at 
which it is ‘not unlikely many of the fecondary ftars may be 
placed from their principals, and the confequently very long 
periods of their revolutions *, leave very little room to hope 
! that 
* If the fun, when removed to 10,000.000 times his prefent diflance, would 
fill appear as bright as. a ftar of the fixth magnitude, which I apprehend to be 
pretty 
