178 Dr. Herschei/s Method of observing the 
notation, as well as method of arranging the observations, are 
liable to the fewest objections. 
The general disposition of the stars is in constellations. 
This order is to be preferred to that of right ascension, or po- 
lar distance, because the stars being to be compared to the 
nearest proper stars that can be found, the constellations 
themselves will generally answer that purpose better than 
other selections. 
My first design was to draw each whole constellation into 
one series. Accordingly I began July 16, 1781, to arrange 
the stars in Ophiuchus thus : 
“ Order of the stars in Ophiuchus ; u (3 $ % y e.” 
This way of placing the stars agrees so far with my present 
one, that any star, such as k for instance, ma} be taken, and 
the expression of its lustre will be had by vj x y. And as 
Flamsteed marks the magnitudes of these stars 3m 4m 3m, 
my arrangement does not agree with his. If we should now 
suspect j c to have changed its lustre, recourse may be had to 
another star on both sides, which gives f vj k y e. The magni- 
tudes of Flamsteed are 3m 3m 4m 3m 3.4m, where a again 
seems to be placed in a situation to which it is not intitled. 
A defect of this arrangement, which was not immediately 
perceived, is that in taking the stars of a constellation we have 
not always a proper connection of the steps of the series that 
may be formed of them : there being too much difference in 
the lustre of some of the stars, and too little in others. 
Other inconveniences will also arise from the multiplicity of 
the members of a general series, and the trouble of arranging 
them when they are nearly equal. To get over these dif- 
ficulties I marked the stars that differed much in lustre by 
