New Double Stars, and Measures of some of those 
found by Sir John Herschel. 
By H. C. Russet, B.A., F.R.A.S., Government Astronomer, 
[Read before the Royal Society of N.S. W., 7 September, 1881.] 
Tue study of double stars is, I think, one of the most fascinating 
which astronomy gives to us. e great number and variety of 
the objects already known, and the certainty that many new ones 
will be the reward of any diligent search for them, keep up the 
interest to such an extent that the observer needs no other in- 
centive to his work. M. Flammarion, after an examination of 
the observations already made—and be it remembered that this 
e 
William Herschel, about the year 1800—finds that there are 
give certain indication of relative movement; of which 731 
are double, 73 triple, 12 quadruples, 2 quintuples, 1 sextuple ; 
of these again, 518 seem to form orbital systems, and 316 are 
only united by celestial perspective. Observation further shows 
years ; seven with periods from 50 to 100 years; six between 
100 and 200 years ; six between 200 and 350 years; three over 
years. If, in addition to these statistics, we bear in min 
that the Southern Hemisphere is only in part explored, and that 
ts jects for 
See whether t 
ft independent motion of the stars, or to the annual motion — 
ak earth, has his interest constantly maintained ; and it is 
ened by the fact that he may go on thus for years making 
