PHYSICS AND NATURAL HISTORY OF GENEVA. 199 



superseded by the establi;^hmeut of the present industrial and commercial col- 

 lege by the government. 



Astronomy was, with M. Wartmann, always the science of predilection. He 

 discovered, September 6, 18.31, in all probability, one of the small telescopic 

 planets of our system ; but the complete discovery eluded him through a defi- 

 ciency, at that epoch, of instruments of precision, and the consequent impossi- 

 bility of determining the elements of the orbit. More recently he drew up charts 

 of the trajectories of the comers of Halley, Enke, and Biela, and constructed, on 

 a new plan, two large planispheres, which comprised, to the number of 2,800, 

 all the stars from the first to the sixth magnitude, visible in Europe at a mean 

 latitude of 4-5° to 47°, and calculated for the 1st of January, 1850. His atten- 

 tion was also directed to the shooting stars, and he publish(^d, (Corresp. Mathem. 

 and Pliys. of Quetelet, vol. xl.) on those which he had observed in the night of 

 10th to 11th of August, 18-38, a memoir, accompanied by a chart, in which he 

 traced the trajectories of 372 of these mysterious meteors. Having become a 

 member of onr society in 1832, he arted as its treasurer from 1834 to 1858. 

 Besides his own researches in astronomy and meteorology, he often communi- 

 cated to us extracts from his correspondence with foreign astronomers. His 

 scientific labors will be found dispersed in the BihUofJieque Unirerselle, the 

 Comptes Rendus of the Academy of Sciences of Paris, the Bulletins of the Acad- 

 emy of Brussels, and in certain other foreign scientific collections. But this brief 

 notice would still be imperfect, did I not cite the admirable qualities of heart and 

 temper of our deceased colleague — qualities which endeared him to all, and 

 which will dispose us long to recall his courteous and prepossessing presence. 

 Let us not forget also to commemorate the punctual observance with which it 

 was his habit to attend each of our meetings, and to express the hope that this 

 example of persistent assiduity may not be lost upon any of us. 



I will not conclude this report without adding that the progress of the society 

 has been satisfactory, as in the past. In eti'ect, during the whole year, the num- 

 ber of memoirs, notes and verbal reports which have been read or presented to 

 us, shows that the scientific impulse has suffered no abatement among us. Our 

 sittings have been replete with interest, of which your zealous attendance, as 

 witnessed by our records, is the surest exponent ; and in each of our reunions 

 the most agreeable forms of mutual kindliness and simplicity have never for a 

 moment ceased to predominate. If to these considerations we add the steady 

 augmentation of our resident membership, an augmentation which is for us the 

 proof of the increasing interest which our society excites in the enlightened 

 part of our population, you will be justified in concluding that our jiosition is 

 firm, our advance well sustained, and that we need only desire to see this 

 favorable state of things maintained in the future. But for that, gentlemen, it 

 must not be forgotten that youth imposes obligation ; for it is the hour of genius 

 and the age of great labors. Such is the reflection which an old colleague 

 thinks it not unsuitable to present to you at the close of what he has been 

 called upon to say touching the progress and prospects of the society. 



