38 UNIVRRSAL OR COSMIC TIME. ; 
all its “ times and seasons,” appointed to them of old, for purposes of 
His own, in the government of this world, now comparatively near 
establishment, according to all the more chronological of the Prophets 
both of the Old and New Testaments. 
PIAZZI SMYTH, 
Astronomer Royal for Scotland. 
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY 'TO THE SEC- 
RETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. 
ADMIRALTY, 4th October, 1879. 
Str,— With reference to your letter of the 28th of August, cover- 
ing a Pamphlet advocating the establishment of a Prime Meridian, 
that should be common to all nations, I am commanded by my Lords 
Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information 
of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that it does not appear to 
their Lordships that there is a sufficient demand by the public to 
justify Her Majesty’s Government in attempting to change the 
existing practice, and that before seriously considering the question, 
they would be glad to learn that it had been more extensively 
discussed among the geographical and nautical bodies who are more 
interested in it. 
Team cer. 
ROBERT HALL. 
The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. 
SIR M. E. HICKS-BEACH, COLONIAL SECRETARY, LONDON, TO THE 
MARQUIS OF LORNE, GOVERNOR-GENERAL, CANADA. 
(Canada, No. 367.) DowNING STREET, 13th November, 1879. 
My Lorp,—With reference to my despatch No. 343, of the 17th 
ultimo, enclosing copies of letters received from the Admiralty and 
certain scientific bodies respecting the pamphlet entitled “'Time- 
Reckoning and the establishment of a Prime Meridian,” I have the 
honour to transmit to you a copy of a further communication on the 
subject from the Royal Society. 
I request that this paper may be forwarded for the information of 
the Institute at Toronto. 
Ihave, &e., 
M. E. HICKS-BEACH. 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL, 
The Right Hon. the Marquis of Lorne, K.T., G.C.M.G. 
