XVI. Astronomical Observations relating to the Construction of 
the Heavens , arranged for the Purpose of a critical Examina- 
tion, the Result of which appears to throw some new Light upon 
the Organization of the celestial Bodies. By William Herschel, 
LL.D. F. R. 8 . 
Read June 20, 1811. 
A knowledge of the construction of the heavens has always 
been the ultimate object of my observations, and having been 
many years engaged in applying my forty, twenty, and large 
ten feet telescopes, on account of their great space-penetrating 
power to review the most interesting objects discovered in my 
sweeps, as well as those which had before been communi- 
cated to the public in the Connoissance des Temps , for 1784, I 
find that by arranging these objects in a certain successive 
regular order, they may be viewed in a new light , and, if I 
am not mistaken, an examination of them will lead to conse- 
quences which cannot be indifferent to an inquiring mind. 
If it should be remarked that in this new arrangement I am 
not entirely consistent with what I have already in former 
papers said on the nature of some objects that have come 
under my observation, I must freely confess that by continu- 
ing my sweeps of the heavens my opinion of the arrangement 
of the stars and their magnitudes, and of some other particu- 
lars, has undergone a gradual change ; and indeed when the 
novelty of the subject is considered, we cannot be surprised 
