the Conftruétion of the Heavens. 449 
wards a confiderable time pafled before I came to another par- 
cel; and thefe events. being often repeated in different altitudes 
of my inftrument, and fome of them at a confiderable diftance 
from each other, it occurred to me, that the intermediate 
fpaces between the {weeps might alfo contain nebula;. and 
finding this to hold good more than’ once, I ventured to give 
notice to my afhiftant at the clock, ‘* to prepare, fince I ex- 
‘¢ peéted in a few minutes to come at a ftratum of the nebula,, 
“« finding myfelf already” (as I then figuratively. exprefled it). 
<¢ on nebulous ground.” In this I fucceeded immediately ; fo. 
that I now can venture to point out feveral. not: far diftane 
places, where I fhall foon carry. my telefcope, in expectation of 
meeting with many. nebulz. But how far thefe circumftances. 
of vacant places preceding and following the nebulous ftrata, 
and their being as it were contained in.a.bed of ftars,. {paringly 
fcattered between them, may hold good in more diftant por- 
tions of the heavens, and which, L have not: yet been. able to 
vifit in any regular manner, I.ought by no means to hazard a. 
conjecture.. The. fubject is new, and we mutt attend to obfer- 
vations, and be guided by them, before we form general: 
opinions. ; 
Before I conclude, I may, however, venture to add a few: 
particulars about the direction of fome of the capital ftrata or. 
their branches: The well known nebula.of. Cancer,.vifible to. 
the naked eye,.is probably. one belonging to a-certain {tratum,. 
in which I fuppofe.it.to be fo placed as to lie neareft.to us. This- 
ftratum I fhall call that of Cancer. It runs from:. Cancri: 
towards the fouth over the 67 nebula. of the Connoiffance des: 
Temps, which is a very. beautiful.and pretty much compreffed. 
elufter of ftars, eafily to be feen by any. good telefcope, and in: 
which Ihave obferved above 200. ftars at. ence in the field of: 
view: 
