The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-30 00:00:00

PARALLAX OF THE FIXED STARS.

One of the most important and long agitated questions
in respect to our knowledge of the constitution of the uni-
verse has been that concerning the distance of the fixed
stars from us. If the distance of the nearest fixed star
were such that the diameter of the earth's orbit bore any
sensible proportion to it, the star would necessarily appear,
when referred to a fixed point in the sky, to be in a small
degree higher or lower, more to one side or the other, ac-
cording to the position of the earth in its orbit. The small
arc measuring this difference is called its parallax, and to
the detection of such a quantity have the labours of several
distinguished Astronomers been long directed.

Such minute differences in space are exceedingly diffi-
cult to measure; and the difference, if it exist, is by all ad-
mitted to be exceedingly minute.
Suppose two stars situated so nearly in the same line
from the earth as to present the appearance of a double
star. , Suppose further, the nearest of these two to be at
such a distance from the earth as to hare a sensible paral-
lax, while the more remote is too distant to have any. It
is obvious that their apparent distance from each other, as
projected on the sky, will vary according to the position
of the earth; but this difference in space is too stnall to
be accurately measured.

Mr. Herschel has recently pointed out, what, however
simple, no one previously thought of, viz, that besides
varying in distance, the line joining two such stars, varies
in position, or forms different angles with a fixed line.
These angles are comparatively easy to measure, and from
them the parallax may be deduced.

STATE OF TRADE.—It is very gratifying to ob-
serve, that the leading Journals in the manufacturing districts, have
discontinued their weekly article under this head, thereby intimat-
ing that Trade is getting into its usual channel. We augur well
from this circumstance, and with pleasure announce, that our pri-
vate accounts, derived from various disinterested correspondents,
warrant us in asserting, that uniform, though gradual improve-
ment in manufacturing interests, is perceptible.—Maecks.field
Herald.

EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF GENEROSITY.
—We beg to call the attention of the public to the case of six
orphans, the eldest a lad of 15, the next a girl of is, and four
youngest under eight. Their father, Johnstone, was a school-
master at Stanmore, who, having become involed in debt, took his
family to the Continent : their mother previously died in child-
bed.—He left these children at Aix la Chapelle; they were then
driven from their lodgings, and begged their way to England. A
Gentleman chanced to meet with these distressed orphans on their
way to London, ragged and pennyless. lie discovered that the
only person in England with whose name even they were ac-
quainted, was Mr. French, a butcher, who, after some search, was
found to be residing in Great Quebec-street; and though he had
suffered a severe pecuniary loss from their father, yet, when ap-
plied to by the children, he at once, to his infinite credit, took
charge of them, housed and fed them, and continues to maintain
them entirely, with the aid of some small contributions. We
understand a subscription has been set on foot, in the hope of re-
lieving Mr. French (who has eight children of his own) from an
expence which he is unable to support, of affording some tempo-
rary aid to the orphans, and of procuring admission for the
younger children into some of the Charitable Institutions with
which the Metropolis abounds.