VII. Astronomical Observations made at Paramatta and Sydney. 

 By his Excellency Sir THOMAS BRISBANE, K. C. B. F. R. S. 

 Lond. & Edin. & M. RUMKER. In a Letter to Dr 

 BREWSTER, Sec. R. S. Edin. 



(Read November 3. 1823J 



MY DEAR SIR, 



I REQUEST you will do me the favour of submitting to the 

 Royal Society the accompanying observations made at Para- 

 matta and Sydney. Those of the Comet, together with the 

 elements inferred from them, are exclusively Mr RUMKER'S, to 

 whom it is impossible for me to give adequate praise, either 

 for zeal, assiduity, or intelligence. In order to have a better 

 chance of observing the transit of Mercury over the Sun's disk, 

 I proceeded to Sydney, about 15 miles from hence, and I am 

 happy to say that we had a most propitious day throughout 

 for the observations, and that the near agreement of them 

 at both places tends to confirm their accuracy, as well as to 

 increase their value. Respecting the observations of the Sol- 

 stice, I have bestowed my utmost pains, and I trust they may be 

 considered as worthy of a place in the Transactions, as among 

 the first fruits of the Founder of an Australian Observatory to 

 his countrymen ; and when I acquaint you, that nearly ten thou- 

 sand stars of LA CAILLE'S Catalogue have been observed here, 

 and compared with his catalogue, by Mr RUMKER, in which ar- 

 duous work I have contributed but a very small share, I flatter 

 myself that such information will be received with more than 

 common interest by the Members of the Society, and that the 



