214 Dr. Herschel’s Catalogue of a fecond < Thoufand 
fhining by its own native brightnefs. Here then we come 
to the mbre capital parts of the great conftruCtion. 
Thefe funs, every one of which is probably of as much 
confequence to a fyftem of planets, fatellites-, and comets, as 
our own fun, are now to be confidered, in their turn, as the 
minute parts of a proportionally greater whole. I need not 
repeat that by my analyfis it appears, that the heavens confift 
of regions where funs are gathered into feparate fyftems, and 
that the catalogues 1 have given comprehend a lift of fuch 
fyftems; but may we not hope that our knowledge will not 
flop fhort at the bare enumeration of phenomena capable of 
giving us fo much inflruCtion ? Why fhould we be lefs inquifi- 
tive than the natural philofopher, who fometimes, even from 
an inconftderable number of fpecimens of a plant, or an 
animal, is enabled to prefent us with the hiftory of its rife, 
progrefs, and decay? Let us then compare together, and 
clafs fome of thefe numerous fidereal groups, that we may 
trace the operations of natural caufes as far as we can perceive 
their agency. The moft fimple form, in which we can view 
a fidereal fyftem, is that of being globular. This alfo, very 
favourably to our defign, is that which has prefented itfelf 
moft frequently, and of which I have given the greateft 
collection. 
But, firft of all, it will be neceflary to explain what is our 
idea of a clufter of ftars, and by what means we have obtained 
it. For an inftance, I {hall take the phenomenon which pre- 
fents itfelf in many clufters : It is that of a number of lucid 
lpots, of equal luftre, fcattered over a circular fpace, in fuch 
a manner as to appear gradually more compreffed towards the 
middle; and which compreffion, in the clufters to which I 
allude, is generally carried fo far, as, by imperceptible degrees, 
to 
