314 Proceedings of Philosophical Socieiies. [April, 



the enlarged views and liberal feelings of the promoters of this 

 design. " One of the first great steps towards an accurate 

 knowledge of the construction of the heavens, is an acquailitance 

 with the individual objects they present : in other words, the 

 formation of a complete catalogue of stars, and of other bodies, 

 upon a scale infinitely more extensive than any that has yet been 

 undertaken; and that shall comprehend the most minute objects 

 visible in good astronomical telescopes. To form such a cata- 

 logue, however, is an undertaking of such overwhelming labour 

 as to defy the utmost exertions of individual industry. It is a 

 task which, to be accomplished, must be divided among num- 

 bers ; but so divided as to preserve a perfect unity of design, and 

 prevent the loss of labour which must result from several obser- 

 vers working at once on the same region, while others are left 

 unexamined. The intended foundation of an observatory at the 

 southern extremity of Africa, under the auspices of the Admi- 

 ralty, may serve to show the general sense entertained of the 

 importance of this subject, and the necessity of giving every 

 possible perfection to our catalogue of the fixed stars. Deeply 

 impressed also with the importance of this task, and fully aware 

 of its difficulty, the Astronomical Society might call upon the 

 observers of Europe andol the world to lend their aid in its prose- 

 cution. Should similar institutions be formed in other countries, 

 the Astronomical Society (rejecting all views but that of benefit- 

 ing science) would be ready and desirous to divide at once the 

 labour and the glory of this Herculean attempt, and to act in 

 concert together in such manner as should be judged most con- 

 ducive to the end in view." The following summary with which 

 the address concludes, may be quoted in order to convey at once 

 a distinct representation of the purposes of this Society. " The 

 objects of the original members may be sufficiently gathered 

 from what has been already said, and may be thus summed up 

 in few words ; viz. to encourage and promote their peculiar 

 science by every means in their power, but especially — by collect- 

 ing, reducing, and publishing, useful observations and tables — 

 by setting on foot a minute and systematic examination of the 

 heavens — by encouraging a general spirit of inquiry in practical 

 astronomy — by estabhshing communications with foreign obser- 

 vers — by circulating notices of all remarkable phenomena about 

 to happen, and of discoveries as they arise — by comparing the 

 merits of different artists eminent in the construction of astrono- 

 mical instruments — by proposing prizes for the improvement of 

 particular departments, and bestowing medals and rewards for 

 successful research in all; — and, finally, by acting as far as pos- 

 sible, in concert with every institution, both in England and 

 abroad, whose objects have any thing in common with their 

 own; but avoiding all interference with the objects and interests 

 of estabhshed scientific bodies." 



On the ninth of February, the first annual general meeting of- 



