C 510 3 
XXIII. On the annual variations of some of the principal fixed 
Stars. By J. Pond, F.R. S. Astron. Royal. 
Read June i6, 1825. 
HENEVER any difference of opinion exists on philosophical 
subjects depending on experiment or observation, it is much 
more useful simply to state facts, than to reason on them 
prematurely. Having this principle in view, I am induced to 
transmit to the Society the annexed small Table, which con- 
tains the annual variations of some of the fixed stars, as 
deduced both from Dr. Brinkley's observations and my 
own, and by which each may be compared with the annual 
variations determined by very distant observations, according 
to the more usual method. Of sixteen stars south of the 
zenith, observed at Dublin, it will be seen, by the table, that 
thirteen of them either indicate, or at least are not incon- 
sistent with that irregularity which I have noticed under the 
name of southern deviation ; of these thirteen, about half 
indicate rather a greater deviation than I have assigned to 
them, the other half deviate less. The three remaining 
stars. Castor, a Aquilse, a Cygni, deviate in a contrary 
direction. The difference in a. Cygni is considerable, and 
not easily to be accounted for, as this star is one of those 
most frequently observed at each observatory, and is so near 
the zenith as not to be easily affected by the uncertainty of 
astronomical refraction. 
I fear the examination of these tables will rather increase 
than diminish that tendency to scepticism which does and 
