9 
the Ring of Saturn. 
is visible upon the side of the ring, as well as upon the small 
northern part that projects beyond the planet. See fig. 3. 
Nov. 21, 1791. o h sS'sid. time. 40-feet reflector, power 370. 
There is no other black division visible upon the ring of Sa- 
turn but the one near the outer edge. 
It must be confessed that Saturn was in the very best situa- 
tion for viewing the plane of the ring, when the first four 
observations were made ; and that consequently they may be 
looked upon as a strong evidence for another division. But 
hitherto I have set them aside as wanting more confirmation, 
not only because I could never perceive the same dark line on 
the following side of the ring as well as on the preceding side ; 
nor since I could not find it on the 29th of June, 1780, as we 
have seen above ; but chiefly, because I have not been able, 
with any of my best instruments, to see it again at all. We 
also find by the observation of the 21st of November, 1791, 
which has been added, that the southern plane, as yet, presents 
us with no other division than the capital one, which I have 
observed these thirteen years, on both sides of the ring. How- 
ever, if the opening should be very narrow, and the rings 
eccentric, it is possible that a dark line might by this means 
become visible on one side only. Moreover, these objects may 
be so minute, that no other time than when the plane of the 
ring is exposed as much as it can possibly be, will do to ascer- 
tain such phenomena. This will happen again about the year 
0*796, when we may hope to have a satisfactory view of it, 
with our large instruments. 
It remains now to consider the observations that have been 
made by M. Cassini, Mr. Short, and Mr. Hadley. 
Without being in possession of the original observations of 
mdccxcii. C 
