92 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 
representatives of the interests of science, the Congress counted in its 
midst as delegates the world-renowned Director of the Cambridge Ob- 
servatory, Mr. Adams; the Associate of the Academy of Sciences at 
Paris, M. Janssen; Mr. L. M. Rutherford, of New York, of acknow- 
ledged merit by his labours in the territory of Astrophysics; the 
scientific representative of the U.S. Signal Office, Mr. Cleveland 
Abbe. Besides as if opportunely happened that many scientific men 
were in Washington domiciled, or accidentally there for a time, the 
Congress invited them to express their opinion on the matters under 
consideration ; the head of the American Nautical Almanac, Mr. 8. 
Newcomb, renowned by his genial and comprehensive labours in the 
field of astronomy ; the Director of the Coast Survey, Mr. Hilgard ; 
the celebrated natural philosopher, Sir William Thompson, and the 
Director of the Carlsruhe Observatory, Dr. Valentiner. 
In the whole, 25 countries were represented at the conference. It 
was resolved that voting would be simply by states, with equal 
authority without regard to the number of representatives, or the 
stand-point of national development [Cwliurstand], the extent of © 
territory, or the amount of population of each country. There were 
many important points of consideration differing in character, which 
pointed towards this mode of proceeding. Indeed, as it turned out, 
a procedure essentially different apparently would have led to the 
same result,‘as the proceedings, as they are set forth in the Protocol, 
testity. In all important matters, Great Britain and the United 
States went hand in hand with Russia, and this accord on the part 
of the representatives of those countries, which, at least with regard 
to extent of territory, were the most affected by the questions under 
discussion, perceptibly exercised great influence on the result of 
the vote. 
As the conference on the 1st October, 1884, met in the Diplomatic 
Hall of the Department of State, in Washington, they immediately 
selected as President the Honourable Admiral Rogers, of the American 
Navy. The prudence, skill, and impartiality with which he presided 
over the proceedings are sufficiently established in the record of the 
Protocol. Lieut.-General Strachey, of the English, M. Janssen, of 
the French, Dr. Cruls, of the Brazilian Legation, were appointed 
Secretaries. 
The conference held eight sittings between October lst and Nov- 
ember Ist ; some of which were prolonged for many hours. After 
several delegates, among them those of Russia, had made the 
declaration that they were unable to consider the resolutions of the 
conference as binding on the countries which they represented, and 
that they could only pledge themselves to recommend to their res- 
pective governments, such resolutions as they might vote for, the 
determination was then taken as to organization, and the mode of 
conducting the business of the congress. With regard to the essential 
