2 
Mr. herschel on the Ceorgium Sidus. 
In the fabulous ages of ancient times the appellations of 
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, were given to 
the PI 'nets, as being the names of their principal heroes and 
divinities *. In the prefent more philofophical sera, it would 
hardly be allowable to have recourfe to the fame method, and 
call on Juno, Pallas, Apollo, or Minerva, for a name to our 
new heavenly body. The fird conflderation in any particular 
event, or remarkable incident, feems to be its chronology : if 
in any future age it (hould be afked, when this lad- found Planet 
was difcovered ? It would be a very fatisfadtory anfwer to fay, 
“ In the Reign of King George the Third.” As a philofopher 
then, the name of GEORGIUM SIDUS prefen ts itfelf to me, as 
an appellation which will conveniently convey the information of 
the time and country where and when it was brought to view. 
But as a fubjedt of the bed of Kings, who is the liberal pro- 
testor of every art and fcience ; — as a native of the country 
from whence this Illuftrious Family was called to the Britifh 
throne; — as a member of that Society, which flourifhes by 
the didinguifhed liberality of its Royal Patron ; — and, lad of 
all, as a perfon now more immediately under the protection of 
this excellent Monarch, and owing every thing to His unli- 
mited bounty; — I cannot but with to take this opportunity of 
exprefling my fenfe of gratitude, by giving the nameGeorgium 
Sidus, 
Georgium Sidus 
jam nunc ajfuefce vocari. virg. Georg. 
to a dar, which (with refpedt to us) fird began to fhine urnfcr 
His aufpicious reign. 
* M, DE LA LANDE’s AH, § 639. 
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