280 
Mi. Herschel on the 
hitherto prevented, and will in all probability continue to 
prevent, my engaging actively in the very extensive and 
laborious series of observations required for this purpose. 
Should I do so in future, to which however I by no means 
intend to pledge myself, my progress must of necessity be 
extremely slow. But should the method itself appear really 
to possess the advantages I am inclined to ascribe to it, 
practical astronomers I am sure will hardly impute its publi- 
cation, even unaccompanied with observations, as a fault; 
and if their energy and perseverance should anticipate me in 
its application, I hope I should be the first to acknowledge 
that the merit of the discovery of parallax must rest with him, 
who, whatever be the method he may pursue, shall first point 
out the star in which it exists, and establish it to the satisfac- 
tion of astronomers by unequivocal observations. 
J. F. W. H. 
London, Dec. 8, 1825. 
