206 French National Institute. 



theory, and to omit none of them which may be found en- 

 tirely negligible ; and as these inequalities might vary very 

 sensibly if the elliptic elements were not exactly known, it 

 is indispensably necessary that the competitors should not 

 confine themselves to giving the numerical co-efficients of 

 the equations: they must also give the analytical co-effi- 

 cients, in order that one may be able to affix to them the 

 most exact values of the mean distance of the aphelion and 

 inclination, when these elements shall be better known. 

 Another advantage will result from these analytical co-effi- 

 cients : — As there is so little difference between the distances 

 of the planets Ceres and Pallas from the sun, that it is even 

 very difficult at present to say which of the two is the nearest 

 to that body, the formula given for Pallas may, without much 

 change, serve also for Ceres, as well as for any other planet 

 which may be discovered hereafter, and of which, by these 

 means, a more certain and complete theory will be obtained, 

 The class hopes that the question will appear interesting 

 enough to astronomers to induce them to bestow upon it a 

 care equal to the difficulty of the subject. 



The answers must be written in French or in Latin, and 

 will not be received after the 1st of Germinal, year 14. 



Natural Philosophy* 



The class had proposed as the subject of a prize the fol- 

 lowing question :-— " To determine, by experiment, the dif- 

 ferent sources of the carbon of vegetables." 



It continues the competition till the 1st of Germinal, 

 year 13. 



The class continues also till the 1st of Germinal, year 13, 

 the competition on the following question : — " To deter- 

 mine, by anatomical and chemical observations and expe- 

 riments, what are the phaenomena of the torpidity which 

 certain animals, such as the marmot, dormouse, &c, experi- 

 ence during winter in regard to the circulation of the blood, 

 respiration, and irritability : to inquire what are the causes 

 of sleep, and why it is peculiar to animals. " 



The value of the two prizes is doubled : it consists in two 

 kilogrammes of gold, about 6800 francs each. 



The class had proposed for the second time, on the 15th 

 of Germinal, year 10, as the subject of a prize, to be ad- 

 judged in the public sitting of Messidor, year 12, the fol- 

 lowing question : — " What are the characters which di- 

 stinguish in animal and vegetable matters, those which 

 serve as ferment from those which they cause to undergo 

 fermentation ?" 



As 



