A-24 KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



be found, Xearh' one thousand circulars were so forwarded, and replies 

 were asked to the following question : 



•• Is it desirable, all interests considered, that on and after the first 

 day of January. 1901, the Astronomical Day should everj^where begin 

 at mean midnight ? " 



The replies received, classified according to counti'ies. Avere to the 

 following effect : — Austria. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Eng- 

 land. France. Greece, Ital}', Ireland, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mexico, 

 Roumania, Eussia, Scotland, Spain and the United States of America, 

 eighteen countries in all. were in favour of the proposal ; Clermany, 

 Holland. Norway and Portugal, four countries in all. were unfavourable 

 to the change. 



The replies received were not so numerous as the Joint Committee 

 expected, and it is difficult for the committee to determine whether 

 those who did not repl}' were influenced by indifference, or were pre- 

 pared to acquiesce in the change recommended by the "Washington 

 Conference. It is. perhaps, not unreasonable to infer that all who were 

 strongly opposed to the proposed change would have embraced the 

 opportunity presented them of giving expression to their views. From 

 the large number ap])ealed to. 171 replies were received, 108 in favour 

 of and »>3 against the proposal. The result of this appeal to astronomers 

 was referred to in tlie Second Report of the Joint Committee, dated 10th 

 May, 1894. This Report was communicated to His Excellency the 

 C-rovernor-tîeneral for transmission to the British Government, by whom 

 it was referred to the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, 

 and. finally, to the Admiralty. The Lords Commissioners of the Admi- 

 ralty, under whose supervision the Nautical Almanac is published, 

 expressed their willingness to sanction such alterations as may be neces- 

 sar}' U) effect the change at the beginning of the new century, provided 

 other nations who j^ublish astronomical ephemerides are prepared to 

 take the same action. The British Government thereupon instinicted 

 Her Majesty's representatives to ascertain the views of the foreign 

 governments to which each was accredited, with regard to the proposed 

 change. 



The nations jiulilishiiig ephemerides are, including Great Britain, 

 nine in number, viz.. Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, 

 Mexico. Portugal, Spain and the United States of America. 



Of these nine Powers, six have formally given their assent to the 

 proposed change. The remaining three, while the3' have not signified 

 assent, have not expres.sed dissent. 



The six nations formally assenting to the adoption of the recom- 

 mendation of the Washington Conference on the first of January, 1901, 

 are : — Austria, Brazil. France, Great Britain, Mexico and Spain. Of the 

 remaining three. Germany and Portugal have not, so far as is known, 



