A sensible parallax of about one second has been ascertained in the case of the double star [Alpha Centauri] of the constellation of the Centaur, and one of the third of that amount for the double star, 61 Cygni; which gave reason to presume that the distance of the former might be about twenty thousand millions of miles, and the latter of much greater amount. If we suppose that similar intervals exist between all the stars, we shall readily see that the space occupied by even the comparatively small number visible to the naked eye, must be vast beyond all powers of conception.

Footnote: By Mr. Henderson Professor of Astronomy in the Edinburgh University and Lieutenant Meadows. - Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation (1844)