. Dr. Herschel’s Obfervations 
^nfwering to the appearance of a narrow circular plane, pro- 
jected into an ellipfis. 
As to the furmife, which might occur to us, of a diviiion 
of the ring, or rather of two rings, one about the other, with 
a diftance of open fpace between them, it does not appear eli- 
oible to venture on fo artificial a conftru&ion, by way of ex- 
^ , 
plaining a phenomenon that does not abfolutely demand it. 
If one ring, of a breadth fo confiderable as that of Saturn, 
is juftly to be efteemed the moft wonderful arch that, by the 
laws of gravity, can be held together, how improbable muft 
it appear to fuppofe it fubdivided into narrow flips of rings, 
which by this feparation will be deprived of a fufficient depth, 
and thus lofe the only dimenfion which can keep them from 
falling upon the planet ? It is however true, that as yet we do 
not know of the rotation of the ring, which may be of luck 
a proper velocity as greatly to affift its ftrength ; and that, in 
the fubdivilions, of courfe the different velocities for each di- 
vifion may be equally fuppofed to keep them up. If the fouthem 
plane fhould prove to be very differently marked, it will at 
once remove every furmife of luch a diviiion ; but if it fhould 
offer us the fame appearance of a dark zone, in the lame fitua- 
' tion, and of an equal breadth with the one I have obferved oil 
the northern fide, I would ftill remark, that, fince a moft effec- 
tual way to verify the duplicity of the ring is within our 
reach, it will be the heft way to fufpend our judgement till 
that can be put to the trial. The method I allude to is an 
occultation of fome confiderable ftar by Saturn, when, if the 
ring be divided, it will be feen between the openings, as well 
as between the ring and Saturn. 
With regard to the nature of the ring, we may certainly 
affirm, that it is no lefs folid and lubftantial than the planet 
itfelf. 
