Astronomical Society. 379 



fore them, by Lieut. Beaufoy's recent election as a member of this 

 Society, of marking their sense of this liberal and public-spirited con- 

 duct on his part, by a high and complimentary distinction, ought not 

 to be neglected. They have therefore thought it adviseable to re- 

 commend to the Society to elect him a member for life. 



The Council wish to observe, with respect to the measure so re- 

 commended, that though it may seem equivalent to the acknowledge- 

 ment of a class of members similar to that, which in the constitutions 

 of some scientific bodies are deemed honorary members, — yet they 

 are rather desirous to avoid the establishment of purely complimentary 

 distinctions, and to mark by it, in this and any future case which may 

 occur, the Society's sense of some distinct benefit accruing to itself 

 or to astronomical science, through the individual so distinguished, 

 which could not be properly acknowledged otherwise : — thus leaving 

 every future case to rest on its own individual merits, as if it were the 

 first of its kind. 



The surest criterion of the utility of a donation is its immediate and 

 effective practical application. That of Lieut. Beaufoy was scarcely 

 announced to the Council, when an application was made to them by 

 one of our members, Captain Smyth, R.N. (justly distinguished for 

 his knowledge of the resources of practical astronomy), for their loan, 

 which was immediately accorded j and the Council have the high 

 satisfaction of being able to announce to you, that the instruments in 

 question are at this moment (with the exception of one of the clocks) 

 mounted in the best manner, in a regular observatory established by 

 Captain Smyth, at his residence at Bedford, for their express recep- 

 tion, and already in actual use in celestial observation. The Council, 

 though not unaware of the general nature of Captain Smyth's astro- 

 nomical views, purposely forbear from publicly stating at present the 

 course of observations in which he purposes to engage ; being desirous 

 to leave his meritorious exertions as far unfettered as possible by any 

 public pledge — and trusting rather to his high character and well- 

 known zeal, talent, and activity, than to any express stipulation, that 

 the means thus placed in his hands will be exerted for the advance- 

 ment of astronomical science. 



Actuated by a similar desire to promote, as far as our means will 

 admit, the great objects of astronomical inquiry in all its branches, the 

 Council have ordered two invariable pendulums of iron and of cop- 

 per, on a construction somewhat different from those hitherto em- 

 ployed, to be consigned to Captain Foster, for the purpose of inves- 

 tigating the possible effects of the earth's magnetism in various geo- 

 graphical positions, in these delicate researches, in the course of his 

 approaching scientific voyage j an enterprise which honourably cha- 

 racterizes the enlightened views of Government, and from which a 

 rich harvest of important results may be anticipated. 



From the report of the Finance Committee it appears that the funds 

 of the Society continue in a flourishing state, notwithstanding the 

 heavy demands for computation and printing during the last year. 

 This extraordinary expenditure has principally arisen from the great 

 expense incurred in publishing the Catalogue of the principal fixed 



3 C 2 stars. 



