179 
Changes that happen to the fixed Stars. 
magnitudes or degrees of difference ; in which I assumed 
three different sorts of each ; namely, 1' i" 1'" 2' 2" 2"', &c. 
For instance, 
« May 12, 1783. Order of the stars in Bootes; 
“«!' £2" ,2"' yfiSg fg"' *4." 
That this is not recurring to the old method of magnitudes, 
will appear when we consider that the stars are strictly com- 
pared. The series remains established, but 
the difference in the gradation of brightness between the 
members of the series is added to it. At first this seemed 
to answer the intended purpose ; for usy not being suffi- 
ciently distinguished, the addition T to a, and 2" to e, shewed 
that a. was very much brighter than e, while 2'" added to ^ 
denoted only a very small difference between this and e. The 
difficulty which immediately after arose in the choice of the 
magnitudes, however, soon convinced me that the fallacy of 
them would still have some influence upon the arrangements, 
The same evening I marked the stars in Leo thus : 
“ Order of the stars in Leo ; 
“oil 1 " yv' (3 2 ' p 0 (> v <r.” 
Here I parcelled them together in the order of brightness, 
but could not find a convenient way to denote the different 
degrees by using any derivation from magnitudes ; therefore 
I contented myself with placing those close together that 
agreed nearly with each other, and kept a little distance be- 
tween those that differed rather more. This might perhaps 
have answered the required end, if the confusion which would 
arise from the distance of letters had not proved a great objec- 
tion. And that it would unavoidably bring on mistakes we 
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