14 



Dv Locke's pamphlet on his electric observing clock was also 

 shewn ; and mention was made of the discovery of the third ring of 

 Saturn, a faint ring interior to the older ones, about one-fourth of 

 their united breadth, but apparently thicker. 



The period of the new Bond and Lassel satellite of Saturn, 

 Hyperion, was given at 21 18 sidereal days. 



Attention was called to a map of the solar eclipse of July 28, 

 1851, sent from the Vienna Observatory, and the great importance 

 of having the phenomenon extensively observed was pointed out.* 



The periods of the new planets, Victoria and Egeria, were given, 

 as well as their places for the month, together with that of Faye's 

 comet, expected on its return to perihelion. 



The successful manufacture of telescopes in this country, especially 

 of reflecting ones, was then spoken of, and the attempt that had been 

 made, but unhappily without success, by some scientific societies and 

 private individuals to persuade Government to establish one of these 

 instruments in some more favourable climate than that of the 

 British Islands. 



It appears that we can make at home far better reflectors than 

 any other nation, but cannot use them on account of clouds ; but we 

 possess colonies nearer the equator with almost cloudless skies, and 

 with high mountains, or table lands, on which the telescopes might be 

 raised above all the grosser part of the atmosphere, and some of 

 our astronomers are most anxious to go out in charge of such instru- 

 ments, confident of the rich results which they must yield under such 

 favourable circumstances, — but yet the Government refuses to do 

 anything. 



3. Farther Observations on Glaciers, — (1.) Observations on the 

 Movement of the Mer de Glace clown to 1850. (2.) Obser- 

 vations by Balmat, in continuation of those detailed in the 

 Fourteenth Letter. (3.) On the gradual passage of Ice 

 into the Fluid State. By Professor J. D. Forbes. 



" It will be recollected that a remarkable stone called ' La pierre 

 platte,' was one of the earliest points on the Mer de Glace at Cha- 



* The line of central obscuration passes nearly through the cities of Gotten- 

 burg and Dantzic, and both are included within the limits of complete eclipse. 



