f every circumstance is not
favorable. The observer as well as the instrument must have been
long enough out in the open air to acquire the same temperature. In
very cold weather an hour at least will be required." (1782.)

We may gain some further insight into his character from the following
chance extracts from his writings:

"I have all along had truth and reality in view as the sole object
of my endeavors." (1782.)

"Not being satisfied when I thought it possible to obtain more
accurate measures, I employed [a more delicate apparatus]." (1783.)

"To this end I have already begun a series of observations upon
several zones of double stars, and should the result of them be
against these conjectures, I shall be the first to point out their
fallacy." (1783.)

"There is a great probability of succeeding still farther in this
laborious but delightful research, so as to be able at last to say
not only how much the annual parallax _is not_, but how much it
really _is_." (1782.)

The nature of his philosophizing, and the limits which he set to
himself, may be more clearly seen in further extracts:

"By taking more time [before printing these observations] I should
undoubtedly be enabled to speak more confidently of the _interior_
_construction of the heavens_, and of its various _nebulous_ and
sidereal strata. As an apology for this prematurity it may be said
that, the end of all discoveries being communication, we can never
be too ready in giving facts and observations, whatever we may be in
reasoning upon them." (1785.)

"In an investigation of this delicate nature we ought to avoid two
opposite extremes. If we indulge a fanciful imagination, and build
worlds of our own, we must not wonder at our going wide from the
path of truth and nature. On the other hand, if we add observation
to observation without attempting to draw not only certain
conclusions but also conjectural views from them, we offend against
the very end for which only observations ought to be made. I will
endeavor to keep a proper medium, but if I should deviate from that,
I could wish not to fall into the latter error." (1785.)

"As observations carefully made should always take the lead of
theories, I shall not be concerned if what I have to say contradicts
what has been said in my last paper on this subject."