148 
EASTMAN. 
as portrayed in the work of Cassini, just quoted, and while 
the various publications indicated a growing interest in the 
subject, its scientific development was scarcely affected. 
In 1748, James Bradley, 3 in his famous paper before the 
Royal Society announcing his discovery of the Nutation of 
the earth’s axis, mentions the phenomena of proper motion 
but adds nothing to the theory or the facts. 
In 1750, Thomas Wright in his work “ The Universe and 
the Stars,” though sometimes quoted, really adds nothing 
but confusion to the subject; while J. H. Lambert, in his 
“ Cosmologische Briefe” in 1761, was content to contribute 
only vague speculations. 
Near the end of a paper presented by Tobias Mayer in 
1760, to the Academy of Sciences in Gottingen, the author 
remarks: * If the sun and with it the planets and the earth 
which we inhabit, tended to move directly towards some 
point in the heavens, all the stars scattered in that region 
would seem to gradually move apart from each other, while 
those in the opposite quarter would mutually approach each 
other ; in the same manner one who walks in the forest sees 
the trees which are before him separate, and those that he 
leaves behind approach each other. Since then the observed 
motions of the stars are not governed by this common law, 
as one can be assured by examining our Table, it is clear 
that these movements are not simply apparent, and that 
they do not depend upon this or any other common law but 
belong to the stars themselves. In regard to the true and 
legitimate cause of these phenomena, we shall still remain 
ignorant, perhaps for several centuries.’ 
The Rev. John Michell 4 in 1767, and J. S. Bailly 5 in 1775, 
contributed their speculations to the general fund of knowl¬ 
edge without stimulating its increase; and in 1775, De La 
3 Bradley, James. Philosophical Transactions, 1748 ; 39. 
4 Michell, Rev. John. Philosophical Transactions, 1767; 234 and foot 
note p. 252. 
5 Bailly, J. S. Histoire de l’Astronomie Moderne, Paris 1775—’83 ; Tome 
II; 662 et seq. 
