the appearance of a wide and indefinitely prolonged area strewed
over with discontinuous masses and clouds of stars which the telescope
at length refuses to analyse.' The Great Cluster in Perseus, which lies
in the Milky Way, also baffled the penetrative capacity of Herschel's
instruments. We cannot help quoting Professor Nichol's description of
Herschel's observation of this remarkable object. He says: 'In the Milky
Way, thronged all over with splendours, there is one portion not
unnoticed by the general observer, the spot in the sword-hand of
Perseus. That spot shows no stars to the naked eye; the milky light
which glorifies it comes from regions to which unaided we cannot pierce.
But to a telescope of considerable power the space appears lighted up
with unnumbered orbs; and these pass on through the depths of the
infinite, until, even to that penetrating glass, they escape all
scrutiny, withdrawing into regions unvisited by its power. Shall we
adventure into these deeper retirements? Then, assume an instrument of
higher efficacy, and lo! the change is only repeated; those scarce
observed before appear as large orbs, and, behind, a new series begins,
shading gradually away, leading towards farther mysteries! The
illustrious Herschel penetrated on one occasion into this spot, until he
found himself among depths whose light could not have reached him in
much less than 4,000 years; no marvel that he withdrew from the pursuit,
conceiving that such abysses must be endless!' The Milky Way may be
regarded as a universe by itself, and our Sun as one of its myriad
stars.

Milton was aware of the stellar constitution of the Milky Way, which was
one of Galileo's discoveries. The poet gives a singularly accurate
description of this luminous path, which he glorifies as the way by
which the Deity returned up to the Heaven of Heavens after He finished
His great work of creation--

So sung
The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven,
That opened wide her blazing portals, led
To God's eternal house direct the way--
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,
And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear
Seen in the Galaxy, that Milky Way
Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest
Powdered with stars.--vii. 573-81.

COMETS

Records of the appearance of these remarkable objects have been handed
down from earliest times; and when one of those mysteriou