381 
, NEWS FEOM THE STAES. 
By RICHARD A. PROCTOR, B.A. (Cambridge), Hon. Sec. E.A.S. 
AUTHOR OF " THE SUN,” u ESSAYS ON ASTRONOMY,” u OTHER WORLDS,” &C. 
F ROM time to time, during the last three years, I have 
brought before the readers of this magazine the various 
arguments and considerations on which I have based certain 
new views respecting the constitution of the sidereal universe. 
In so doing I have had occasion to deal chiefly with facts 
already known, though not hitherto viewed in that particular 
light in which I sought to place them. Indeed it is an essen- 
tial part of my general argument that much that is contained 
in observations already made has been escaping us. In the 
eagerness of astronomers to ascertain new facts, they have been 
neglecting the interpretation of facts already ascertained. 
But I have long felt that it would greatly tend to advance 
the new views which I have advocated, if some process of 
research, pursued by one of those astronomers of our day who 
possess the requisite^means and leisure for prolonged enquiries, 
should confirm in a clear and decisive way some definite point 
of my new theories. Thus, if new observational evidence 
should be found in favour of my theory that the nebulae are 
not external to our galaxy, or if new evidence should be 
obtained to show that the stars are aggregated in certain 
regions within our system and segregated from others ; or 
again, if my theory of star- drift should be confirmed by new 
and striking evidence, I felt that a greater measure of con- 
fidence in my analysis of former evidence would thenceforward 
be accorded. I had no occasion, indeed, to complain of cavil 
or opposition ; in fact, a degree of attention had been given to 
the new opinions I advocated which was certainly much 
greater than I had looked for. But there must always be 
such an inertia in the general weight of opinion in favour of 
accepted views, that only a steady reiteration of reasoning 
during a long period, or else some striking and impressive dis- 
covery, can cause the weight of opinion to tend in the contrary 
direction. 
