t l0 5 3 
The proper motion of Ardurus then, in right 
afcenfion Weftward, being i // ,205, and in declina- 
tion 2", 005, its annual preceffion in right afcenfion 
is4i // ,io8, and in declination 1 9 /r , 1335 ar >d the 
true right afcenfion of Ardurus, on Jan. 1, 1773, 
is 211 0 19' 47A4-J and declination North 
20 0 22' 23", 3. 
As none of the other principal ftars have been 
found to have a motion fo confiderable as this, 
though many of the ftars of the fir ft magnitude, as 
for inftance, Sirius, Procyon, « Aauilre, a. Orionis, 
as alfo /3 Aquilas of inferior magnitude, do really 
vary their pofitions (and perhaps all of the firft order 
will hereafter be found to have a proper motion), we 
may, I think, fairly conclude that Ardurus is the 
neareft ftar to our fyftem, vifible in this hemifphere. 
If therefore the annual parallax of the fixed ftars can 
ever be difcovered, that is, if the diameter of the 
annual orbit bear a fenfible proportion to the diftance 
of the neareft fixed ftar, it is moft likely to be dif- 
covered from the obfervations of Ardurus. The 
fyftem of the world, confidered in an enlarged fenfe, 
and agreeable to the idea we may entertain of an alh 
powerful benevolent Creator, may be taken to oc- 
cupy the whole abyfs of fpace, and to confift of an 
affemblage of bodies, having different magnitudes, 
and emitting various degrees and modifications of 
light. The apparent change of fituation vifible from 
the planet which we inhabit, and which revolves round 
one of the great bodies conftituting a part of the ge- 
neral fyftem, as a center, may be owing either to 
the motion of our own fyftem in abfolute fpace, or, 
if our fyftem ftiould be at reft, to a real motion in 
Vol. LXIII. P the 
