( 1 5 ) 
fider the nature of Infinite, which perhaps the very nar- 
row limits of humane Capacity cannot attain to. 
Since then, I have attentively examined what might 
be the coni'equence of an Hypothecs, that the Sun being 
one of the Fixt Stars, all the reft were as far didant from 
one another, as they are from us 5 and by a due calcula- 
tion ! find, that there cannot, upon that Suppofition, be 
more than 15 Points in the Surface of a Sphere, as far 
didant from the Center of it, as they are from one ano- 
ther ; and 1 believe it would be hard to find how to place 
thirteen Globes of equal magnitude, fo as to touch one 
in the Center: for the twelve Angles cf the /ccfaedron 
are from one another very little more didant than from 
its center; that is, the fide of the Triangular Bale of that 
Solid, is very little more than the Semidiameter of the 
circumfcribed Sphere, it being to it nearly as z t to zo ; 
fo that it is plain that fo me what more than twelve equal 
Spheres may be pofited about a middle one; but the 
Spherical Angles or Inclinations of the planes of thefe Fi- 
gures being incommetifurable with the 360 degrees of- 
the Circle, there will be feveral interdices left, between 
fome of the Twelve, but not fuch as to receive in any 
part the thirteenth Sphere. 
Hence it is no very improbable Conjecture, that the 
number of the Fixt Stars of thefirft magnitude is fo lmall, 
becaufe this fuperior appearance of Light arifes.frorn 
their nearnefs; thofe that are lefs {hewing themfelves fo 
fmall by reafon of their greater didance. Now there^ 
are in all but fixteen Fixt Stars, in the whole number of 
them, that can indifputabiy be accounted of the fird 
magnitude; whereof four are extra Zodiacum\ viz • Ca* 
pella , Arffarus, Lucida Lyr<t, and Lucida, AqtijUf to the,' 
North ; four in the way of the Moon and Placets, to. wit, 
Palilicium, Cor Leonis , Spica, and Cor Scorpii ; and five * 
to the Southward, that are feen in England, viz. The ;; 
root, t 
