tic : and the Quantity of the Equations, in either 
of thefe Cafes, may be eafily computed for any given 
Pofition of the Moons Nodes. But as it may be 
needlefs, to dwell longer on the Explication of the 
Hypothecs ; I (ball now proceed to fhew its Corre- 
fpondency with the Bhtfnomena, relating to the Al- 
terations of the Polar Diftances of fome of the Stars 
which I have obferved : by laying before your Lord- 
fhip the Obfervations themfelves, together with the 
Computations that are necdfary •, in order to form a 
right Judgment about the Caufe of thefe Appearances. 
I have endeavoured to find the exad Quantity of 
the mean Preceffion of the Equinoftial Points, by 
comparing my own Obfervations made at Green- 
wich, with thofe of Tycho Brahe and others, which 
I judged to be moft proper for that Purpofe. But as 
many of the Stars, which I compared, gave a dif- 
ferent Quantity 5 I fhall alTume the mean Rcfult ; 
which gives a Preceflion of one Degree in feventy- 
one Years and an half : this agreeing very well like- 
wife with my Obfervations that were taken at JtVan- 
[ted. The Numbers in the following Tables, which 
exprefs the Change of Declination in each Star, are 
computed upon the Suppofttion, that the mean Ob- 
liquity of the Ecliptic was 23 0 . 2 8'. 30", and that 
it continued the Janie , during the whole Courfe of 
my Obfervations. And as the Moon's Afcending 
Node was in the Beginning of Aries about the 27th • 
Day of March 1727, I have reduced the Place of 
each Star to that Time ; by allowing the proper 
Change of Declination from that Day, to the Day 
of each refpective Obfervation. 
It being alfo necelfary to make an Allowance for 
the Aberrations of Light $ I have again examined 
my 
