relating to the Construction of the Heavens. 287 
rated. The following twenty-three are completely divided 
although not more than two minutes from one another.* 
A description of II. 714 is ec Two pretty bright nebulae; 
e< they are both round, small, and about 2' from each other, 
“ in a meridional direction/' 
Of III. 755 is “ Two very faint, very small extended ne- 
“ bulae within ij from each other." 
That all these nebulae are really double, is founded on the 
reason already assigned in the last article. Then if we would 
enter into some kind of examination how they came to be 
arranged into their binary order, we cannot have recourse to 
a promiscuous scattering, which by a calculation of chances 
can never account for such a peculiar distribution of them. If, 
on the contrary, we look to a division of nebulous matter by 
the condensing principle, then every parcel of it, which had 
more than one preponderating seat of attraction in its extent, 
must in the progress of time have been divided. 
No doubt can be suggested on account of the great length 
of time such a division must have taken up, when we have an 
eternity of past duration to recur to. 
10. Of double Nebulce at a greater Distance than 2,' from each 
other. 
It may well be supposed that more than one attractive center 
would not be so frequent a case in small distances, as in nebu- 
losities of a more extended compass ; accordingly we find that 
separated nebulae at more than 2' from each other are much 
* See I. 116, 190, 197. II. 8, 28, 57, hi, 178,450, 714. III. 92, 228, 280, 591, 
687, 7195 755 ’ 8 55 > 886 ’ 943 ’ 95 2 ’ 959 ’ 9 6 7 - 
