154 Dr. Herschel’s Observations of a Comet, 
irregular, round nebula, very gradually much brighter in the 
middle, with a faint nebulosity on the south preceding side.” 
Jan. 1. 1808. 7-feet. “ Very bright, very large, very gra- 
dually much brighter in the middle.” 
If I had not known this to be a comet, I should have added 
to my description of it as a nebula, that the center of it might 
consist of very small stars, but this being impossible, I directed 
my 10-feet telescope with a high power to the comet, in order 
to ascertain the cause of this appearance ; in consequence of 
which I perceived several small stars shining through the 
nebulosity of the coma. 
Jan. 14. 7-feet. “Bright, pretty large, irregular round, 
brighter in the middle.” 
Feb. 2. 10-feet, 24-inch aperture. “ Very bright, large, irre- 
gular round, very gradually much brighter in the middle.” 
There is a very faint diffused nebulosity on the north-pre- 
ceding side ; I take it to be the vanishing remains of the 
comet's tail. 
Feb 19. Considerably bright ; about — of the field = 3' 26" 
“ in diameter, gradually brighter in the middle.” The faint 
nebulosity in the place where the tail used to be, still projects 
a little farther from the center than in other directions. 
Feb. 21. Less bright than on the 19th; nearly of the same 
size ; gradually brighter in the middle. The nebulosity still 
a little projecting on the side where the tail used to be. 
Result of the foregoing Observations. 
From the observations which are now before us, we may 
draw some inferences, which will be of considerable import- 
ance with regard to the information they give us, not only of 
