ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 67 
are not distributed by chance in the celestial spaces. Professor Newton’s first 
paper was published in 1860, and was succeeded by a number of others, the last 
having been read to the National Academy in April of the present year [1888]. 
“In the judgment of the committee these researches are of a very high order 
of merit and of interest.” 
The meeting of the evening of April 18, 1888, was made 
further memorable by the presentation of the second Henry 
Draper Medal to Professor Edward C. Pickering, Director of 
the Harvard Observatory “for his work in astronomical pho- 
tometry and photography.” The report of the committee on this 
award is also printed in full in the Proceedings,” but it will be 
of interest to quote a few paragraphs from it, as follows: 
“The Committee on the Henry Draper Medal begs leave herewith to report 
that it has carefully considered the investigations which have been made in astro- 
nomical physics since the award of this medal in 1885, and that, as a result of 
such consideration, the said committee desires to recommend that the Academy 
award this medal for the year 1887 to our fellow-member, Prof. Edward C. 
Pickering, the Director of the Harvard College Observatory, for his recent work 
in astronomical photometry and photography. 
“Professor Pickering was appointed to the position which he now holds in 
February, 1877. An examination of the annual reports which he has presented 
to the visiting committee of the observatory will show the great amount and the 
great variety of the work which has been done there under his direction... . . 
Most of it is in the department of astronomical physics, and this it is to which 
the committee desires to direct attention. 
“The work in astronomical physics, which has been done in the observatory of 
Harvard College under Professor Pickering’s immediate supervision, seems 
readily divisible into three classes: First, stellar photometry; second, stellar pho- 
tography; and third, stellar spectrum photography. ... . 
“Tn the opinion of the committee, Professor Pickering has displayed in these 
researches a skill, ingenuity, and vigor which entitle him to an honorable place 
among the scientific men of our own or of any previous age.” 
The committees charged with the consideration of awards of 
the Lawrence Smith and Henry Draper medals found their 
action hampered by a clause in the deeds of gift of the funds on 
which the medals were based, requiring that awards in each case 
should be for investigations made, or publications completed 
“since the time of the last preceding award and presentation of 
* Op. cit., p. 300. 
