PHILOSOPHICAL 
TRANSACTIONS. 
XIL Observations of a Comet , made with a View to investigate its 
Magnitude and the Nature of its Illumination. To which is 
added, an Account of a new Irregularity lately perceived in the 
apparent Figure of the Planet Saturn. By William Herschel, 
LL. D. F. R. S. 
Read April 7, 1808. 
The comet which we have lately observed, was pointed out 
to me by Mr. Pigott, who discovered it at Bath the 28th of 
September, and the first time I had an opportunity of examin- 
ing it was the 4th of October, when its brightness to the naked 
eye gave me great hopes to find it of a different construction 
from many I have seen before, in which no solid body could 
be discovered with any of my telescopes. 
In the following observations, my attention has been di- 
rected to such phenomena only, as were likely to give us 
some information relating to the physical condition of the 
comet, it will therefore not be expected that I should give an 
account of its motion, which I was well assured would be 
U 
MDCCCVIII. 
