PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 XXIX 



preparation on the basis of the old system of reckoning astronomical 

 time, no cliange is now possible at the beginning of the next century. 



The following letter has recently been received from the Eo3-al 

 Society of London : 



" The Eoyal Society, 



" Burlington House, 



'• London, May 25th, 1897. 



" Sir, — In my letter of February 6th 1 informed you that the council 

 of the Eoj'al Society had appointed an influential committee to consider 

 whether anj'thing further could be done in the matter of the assimilation 

 of astronomical and civil time. 



" The report of the committee was communicated to the council 

 on the 20th inst., and was to the effect that as there is a great diversity 

 of opinion as to the advisability of the adoption of civil reckoning for 

 astronomical purposes, and as it is impossible to carry out such a change 

 in the ' Xautical Almanac' for the year 1901, they did not recommend 

 that the Koyal Society should at present take any steps in support o( the 

 suggested change of reckoning. 



" After full consideration, the council accepted the report of the 

 committee and do not propose to take further action in the matter at 

 present. I therefore regret that the council are unable to comply with 

 the request of the Eoyal Society of Canada that they will urge Her 

 Majesty's Government to move in the matter, as they do not consider 

 the occasion to be opportune for presenting the assimilation of astro- 

 nomical and civil time upon the attention of the powers who have not 

 already assented to the change. 



" I have the honour to be, sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



" Arthur AY. Eucker, 



" Sec. U.S. 

 '' Dr. J. G. Bourinot, C.M.G., 



" Hon. Seci'etary, Eoyal Society of Canada, 



" Ottawa." 



The council deem it proper to remark in respect to the statements in 

 the second paragraph of the above letter, that while there has been some 

 divergence of oj^inion among individual astronomers as to the advisa- 

 bility of the adoption of civil reckoning for astronomical purposes, the 

 investigations of the Canadian Institute and the Astronomical and 

 Phj^sical Society of Toronto have established that the astronomers of the 

 world as a class are in favour of the change, provided it could be carried 

 into effect at a time-epoch easily remembered, such as the beginning of a 

 century. 



