2 34 Dr. Herschel ow the Quantity 
velocity, till we are acquainted with the real distance of this 
star, can therefore only be expressed by the proportional 
number of 1116992. 
Concluding Remarks and Inferences. 
We have now only to notice a few remarks that may be 
made, by way of objection to the solar motion I have fixed 
upon. If the quantity of this motion is to be assigned by the 
mean rank of sidereal velocities, it may be asked, will not 
the addition of every star, whose proper motion shall be 
ascertained, destroy that middle rank, which has been esta- 
blished? To this I shall answer, that future observations 
may certainly afford us more extensive information on the 
subject, and even show that the solar motion should not 
exactly hold that middle rank, which from various motives we 
have been induced to assign to it ; but at present it appears, 
that according to the doctrine of chances, a middle rank 
among the sidereal velocities must be the fairest choice, and 
will remain so, unless, what is now a secondary consideration, 
should hereafter become of more importance than the first. 
That this should happen is not impossible, when a general 
knowledge of the proper motions of all the stars of the 1st, 
2d, and 3d magnitudes can be obtained ; but then the method 
of calculation that has been traced out in this and the former 
Paper, is so perfectly applicable to any new lights observation 
may throw upon the subject, that a more precise and unob- 
jectionable solar motion can be ascertained by it with great 
facility. Hitherto we find that a mean rank agrees sufficiently 
with the phenomena that were to be explained : the apparent 
velocities of Arcturus and Aldebaran, without a solar motion 
