OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. O 



tion of Harvard University had received letters from Professors 

 Bache and Henry, urging upon their attention the claims of 

 Gould's Astronomical Journal, and inquiring whether some 

 appropriation for its support could not be made from the funds 

 of the Observatory. The Corporation being of opinion that 

 they could not act directly in the matter, and being s-t the 

 same time anxious to promote to the extent of their power 

 this honorable undertaking, had appointed the President and 

 the Treasurer a committee to confer with any committee 

 which the Academy might be disposed to appoint, as to 

 the means best adapted to give a permanent support to this 

 Journal. 



Mr. Eliot moved that the Academy appoint such a com- 

 mittee of conference. 



Professor Peirce made some remarks in regard to the great 

 importance of the Journal for astronomers, and to the high 

 esteem in which it was held in this country and in Europe. 

 He stated that its circulation was as large as that of Schu- 

 macher's Astj'onomische Nachr-ichtcn, while, at the same time, 

 it was impossible that this Journal, or any other one of a 

 severe scientific character, should be sustained by its sub- 

 scription list alone. He hoped that steps would be taken to 

 put it upon a permanent basis, and therefore seconded the 

 motion of Mr. Eliot. 



The resolution was adopted. Messrs. N, Apple ton and Peirce 

 were appointed to act as a committee on behalf of the 

 Academy. 



Dr. O. W. Holmes exhibited a more nicely constructed 

 model of the microscope recently described by him at a meet- 

 ing of the Academy. He observed that the effects of oblique 

 light were very brilliant in exhibiting certain objects, as, for 

 example, the blood-globules ; and that no difficulty was ex- 

 perienced from the position of his instrument, when fluids 

 were used. He also exhibited the contrivance which he had 

 substituted for the common method of graduating the aperture, 

 so as to darken more or less the field of view. 



