of new Nebula and Clufter s ,of Stars . 22 r 
central powers being concerned in the conftruftion of the fide- 
real heavens, is not one that has only lately occurred to me. * 
Long ago 1 have entertained a certain theory of diverfified cen- 
tral powers of attractions and repulfions; an expofition of 
which 1 have even delivered in the years 1780, and 1781, to* 
the Philofophical Society then exifting at Bath,, in feveral: 
mathematical papers upon that fubjedt. I fliall, however, fet 
afide an explanation of this theory,, which would not only 
exceed the intended limits of this paper, but is moreover not 
required for what remains at prefent to be added, and therefore 
may be given fome other time, when I can enter more fully / 
into the fubjedi of the interior con ftrudtion of fide real fyftems. . 
To return, then, to the cafe immediately under our prefent 
confideration, it will be fofficienfc> that I have abundantly - 
proved that the formation of round clufters of ftars and nebula : 
is either owing to central powers, or at leaft to one fuch force 
as refers to a center. 
I (hall now extend the weight of my argument, by taking 
in likewife every clufter of ftars or nebula that fhews a gradual 
condenfation, or encreafing brightnefs, towards a center or 
certain point; whether the outward fhape of fuch clufters or 
nebulae be round, extended, or of any other given form* 
What has been faid with regard to the dodtrinc of chance, will ; 
of courfe apply to every clufter, and more efpecially to the ; 
extended and irregular fliaped ones, on account of their greater 
fize: It is among thefe that we find the largeft affemblages of 
ftars, and mod diffufive nebulofities ; and therefore the odds 
againft fuch affemblages happening without fome particular 
power to gather them, encreafe exceedingly with the number 
of the ftars that are taken together. But if the gradual accu- - 
mulation either of ftars or encreafing brightnefs has before 
Vol. LXX1X. L 1 been » 
