257 
relating to the sidereal part of the Heavens, 
being originally formed by a condensation of the nebulous 
matter; for, as it now appears that stars must receive an addi- 
tion to their solid contents, when they are in contact with ne- 
bulosity, there is an evident possibility of their being originally 
formed of it. Moreover, the affinity between the nebulous 
and sidereal condition being established by these observations, 
we may be permitted to conceive both the generation and 
growth of stars, as the legitimate effects of the law of gravi- 
tation, to which the nebulous matter, as proved by observation, 
is subject. 
7. Of small patches consisting of Stars mixed with nebulosity. 
When a small patch of stars is mixed with nebulosity, there 
is a possibility of its being a deception arising from their being 
accidentally in the same line of sight ; but it has already been 
shewn that in such appearances the probability is much in 
favour of a real union ; especially when the objects are nu- 
merous and in that case there are but two ways of account- 
ing for it. 
First, admitting from what has been said, that stars may 
be formed of nebulous matter, it may happen that the nebu- 
losity still mixed with them is some remaining unsubsided 
part of that from which they were formed ; and in the next 
' place, a union of stars and nebulosity, originally at a distance 
from each other, may have been effected by the motion of 
either the stars or the nebulosity. 
• See thirty-seven small patches, consisting of stars mixed with nebulosity I, 172. 
192. 258. II, 21. 39. 103. 304. 489. 745. 878. Ill, 8. 43. 61. 64. 71. 143. 144. 146. 
147. 165. 185. 204. 227. 256. 271. 349. 471. 538. 559. 560. 568. 583. 595. 697. 
922. IV, 75. V, 49. 
MDCCCXIV, L 1 
