The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-11 00:00:00

ASTRONOMY.

Those engaged in the cultivation of this sublime
and interesting branch of science are in a great degree
a secluded, body, and their labours and discoveries
have been little known and appreciated among the ge-
nerality of the world. The increasing diffusion of
scientific' information, however, at the present day
creates a greater interest for information of this kind ;
and under this impression it is that we will now briefly
state the substance of some of the most important re-
searches in thiS branch of science which have of late
been carried on by:two of. our most eminent astrono;.
mers, .J. T. W. Herschel; Esq. Sec. R. S. and J.
South, Esq. F. R. S. The instruments employed be-
long to the latter gentleman, and consist of two tele-
scopes mounted equatorially, one of five and the other
seven feet focal length, with a usual magnifying power
of 133, but frequently much higher ones were used.
The particular object in view was to examine those
stars which, thOugh to the naked eye they appear sin-
gle, are yet by a powerful telescope shown to be corn-
posed of a larger .star and a smaller, or in some in-
stances two smaller stars. The results are published
in the Philosophical Transactions for 1825, under
the title • of 4 Observations on the apparent distances
and positions of 380, double and triple stars."
—This interesting cross of. celestial objects was first
minutely examined by the late Sir W. Herschel, who
published an account of them in the Transactions of

1779 anci 1784. The inquiry was taken up by his
son, in conjunction with Mr. South, in order to re-
examine these. stars, and ascertain whether any changes

had taken place during that lapse of years in their re-
lative distances and positions'. Their examination
was of the. most exact and careful nature, and pre-
sented Many interesting phenomena to their notice. The
angles of position, that is the angle fonned by the
line joining the great and small star,. with a fixed
line, were determined with great exactness by means
of appropriate micrometers, and compared with similar
measures taken formerly by Sir W. Herschel, and at
subsequent periods by others. By means of such
companions it was ascertained that in numerous in-
stances the angle of position had sustained a very con-
siderable and regular alteration ; iii Others the distance
between the two stars had changed. From these mea-
-1 sures and the computations deduced, to use the words
of the authors, " The existence of binary systems, in
zvhich two stars perform to each other the Vices of
" sun and planet, has been distinctly proved ; and the
" periods of rotation of more than one such :pair
ascertained with something approaching to exactness.
" The immersions and emersions of stars behind each
" other have been noted, and real motions among them

"detected, rapid enough to become sensible and mea-
" curable in very short intervals of time." Thus in
fact has been fully verified and established, what was
originally suggested and begun by the late Sir W.
1-lerschel---" die creation of a new department of
" physical astronomy, and the discovery of a class of
" phenomena in the sidereal heavens, referable to the
agency of attractive forces, and analogous to those
" produced by gravity within the limits of our own
‘4 system."
Out of 380 stars examined, 17 have been decisively
show► to be binary systems : besides a great number
in which the determination is open to some degree of
doubt.

Besides the discovery of this most important fact,
many subordinate phenomena, of no inconsiderable in-
terest, presented themselves in the course of the inquiry.
In particular, several of the stars were seen through the
excellent seven-feet telescope, with perfectly round and
well defined disks ; and many particulars respecting the
colour and light of these bodies attracted the notice of
the observers.

Subsequently to the publication of this Paper, mr.
'south has communicated to the Royal Society an, ex-
tensive series of observations, in continuation of the
research. And, lastly; we have to observe, that the
particular object with whiCh the imuiry was
,first set
on foot, was the determination of the parallaxof the
fixed a strs. This object, though comparatively dim-
_ _

girded by the observers, when so many objects of
new interest crowded upon their attention, lias not
been lost sight of:, and, in particul4r, .Mr. Herschel,
in a paper recently read before the Royal So-
ciety, has suggested some considerations.qtrising on
a mathematical principle, which must rentleethe exist-
ence and amount of parallax easily appreciable by
means of this class of observations contannul,for cer-
tain periods: and thus, we trust, wilbabortly,he set at
rest, one of the most interesting and keenly contro-
verted questions which the science of astronomy pre-
sents, viz. whether it be possible, to calculate the dis-
tance of the fixed stars from the earth ?

Those who have consulted the Gook's Oracle, have
doubtless been struck with the singularity of the
author's ideas upon the suhject.of invitations to din.
ner, and surprised at the fact of every dish having
been submitted to :a Committee of '!'ate, before its'
receipt was alloWed to stand amongst the, variety which
is recommended to the public in that celebnAcd book.
We have met with one ,of the letters of invitation to
this famed Committee of Taste, and we subjoin it. as
a curiosity.. It is a rich specimen of eccentricity, but
we confess, there is a good deal of point in the most
singular of its provisions.

Deur Sir—The honour of your company is refloated to dies
with the Committee of Taste, on Monday next.
The specimens will be placed upon the table at half-past flee
o'clock precisely, when the business of the day Will immediately
commence. I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient Servant, •
WM. KITCHINER, See.

Warren-street, Pitzroy-square.
At the last General Meeting, it was unanimously Resolved,lhat
Ist. " An invitation to 'ETA . lIRTA . PI . mutt be answer-
ed in Writing, as soon at possible after it is received--within 24
hours at latest," reckoning from that on which it is dated
otherwise the Secretary will have the profound Regret to feel that
the Invitation hat been definitively declined.
_ .

2dly. The Secretary having represented that the perfection of
several of the Preparations is so exquisitely evanescent, that the
delay of One Minute after their arrival at the Meridian of Con.
coction, will render them no longer worthy of Men of Taste.
Therefore—to ensure the punctual attendance of those
Gastrophilists who on Grand Occasions are invited to join
this high Tribunal, of Taste—for their own I'leaaure and the
Benefit of their Country, it is irrevocably resolved, " That the
Janitor be ordered not to admit any Visitor, of whatever emi-
nence of Appetite, after the Hour which the Secretary shall have
announced that The Specimens are Ready."
By Order of the Committee,
, . WILLIAM KITCHINER, Secretary.
This letter has been sealed with a motto, " Better
never than late." This perversion of the old 'adage
is not unworthy of imitation amongst gourmands.

atideaten down to the ground
by the flea, occasioned by the sharp north-easterly winds which
The distinguished lady who recently gave a rout in
her bed-room is excused, in the fashionable world upon the ground
of never having said or done any
.thing attic before.
thThe
county,
ag,
eh
obep:nPlaatnutsck e in
many of the gardens of
have prevailed forgone time peat.--Sussex Advertinr.