[ 48 ] 
II. A Series of Obfervations on, and a Difcovery of, the Period 
of the Variation of the Light of the Star marked 5 by Bayer, near 
the Head of Cepheus. In a Letter from John Goodricke, 
Efq . to Nevil Maikelyne, D. X). F* R . S . and Afronomer 
RoyaL 
Read November 24, 1785. 
sir, York, June 28, 1785. 
T HE improvements which of late years have been intro- 
duced into aftronomy, fliould be attributed not only to 
the diligence and accuracy wherewith aftronomers profecute 
their obfervations and difcoveries, but in part alfo to your exer- 
tions, and efpecially to that kind encouragement which you 
have, on many occafions, afforded thofe who make this fcience 
their chief ftudy ; and I am happy to have this opportunity of 
acknowledging myfelf one of thofe who are much indebted to 
you in this refpeXL Under thefe impreffions I thought I could 
not do better than to addrefs to you the following account of a 
periodical variation in the ftar $ Cephei, which I lately difco- 
vered. This account will, I prefume, be a confiderable addi- 
tion to the few difcoveries that have but very lately been made 
refpe&ing the fame fubje£l. They may probably lead to fome 
better knowledge of the fixed ftars, efpecially of their con ft i” 
tution and the caufe of their remarkable changes. 
