[ 12 ] 
Year : And from hence it would follow, that, altho' 
the mean annual Preceflion, proceeding from the 
joint Actions of the Sun and Adoon, were 50^5 yet 
the apparent annual Preceflion might fometimes ex- 
ceed, and fometimes fall ffiort, of that mean Quan- 
tity, according to the various Situations of the Nodes 
of the Moon’s Orbit. 
In the Year 1727. when my Inflrument was firffc 
fet up, the Moons Afcending Node was near the 
Beginning of Aries '■> and confequently, her Orbit 
was as much inclined to the Equator, as it can at 
any time be; and then the apparent annual Preceflion 
was found, by my firft Year’s Obfervations, to be 
greater than the mean: which proved, that the 
Stars near the Equinoctial Colure, whofe Declina- 
tions are moft of all affeded by the Preceflion, had 
changed theirs , above a tenth Part more than a Pre- 
ceflion of 5 o' 1 would have caufed. The fucceeding 
Years Obfervations proved the fame Thing; and 
in three or four Years time the Difference be- 
came fo confiderable, as to leave no Room to fuf- 
ped, that it was owing to any Imperfedion, either - 
of the Inftrument or Obfervations. 
But fome of the Stars, which I had obferved, that 
were near the Solflitial Colurc, having appeared to 
move, during the fame time, in a manner contrary 
to what they ought to have done, by an Increafe in 
the Preceflion; and the Deviations in them being 
as remarkable as in the others, I perceived that fome^ 
thing more, than a mere Change in the Quantity of 
the Preceflion, would be requifite to folve this Part 
of the ! Thanomenon . Upon comparing my Obfer- 
vations of Stars near the Solflitial Colure, that were 
almofl: 
