the Nature of the Sun. 2619 
a repetition of the observations which were to support them 
would have been unavoidable. 
I must take notice of what will perhaps be censured in many 
of the observations ; they may be said to be accompanied with 
surmises, suppositions, or hypotheses which should have been 
kept separate. In defence of this seeming impropriety, I must 
say, that the observations are of such a nature, that I found it 
impossible, at the very time of seeing the new objects that pre- 
sented themselves to my view, to refrain from ideas that would 
obtrude themselves. It may even be said, that since observa- 
tions are made with no other view than to draw such conclusions 
from them as may instruct us in the nature of the things we see, 
there cannot be a more proper time for entertaining surmises 
than when the object itself is in view. 
Now, since the suggestions that have been inserted were 
always such as arose at the moment of the observations, they 
are so blended with them, that they would lose much of their 
value as arguments, if they were given separately. 
In order not to lengthen this Paper unnecessarily, I have 
given but a few observations under each head ; especially with 
those propositions which may be looked upon as already suffici- 
ently established by the observations of other astronomers. The 
whole tenor of the observations I have given, though divided 
under such numerous heads, is indeed such as must produce 
a mutual support ; so that, frequently, one or two particular 
observations were thought sufficient to establish my point, when 
I might have added many more, from my journals, in support 
of it. 
