246 History of Astronomy for the Year 1805. 
tuted for that of right ascension, that we might have a 
simple name, and one not indicating a thing never seen. 
M. Poczobut and M. Tregshleas astronomers in the uni+ 
versity of Vilna, have sent us a great number of observa- 
tions of the new planets, made in 1803 and 1804 with ex= 
cellent instruments, 
M. Scarpelini has sent from Rome observations made im 
the observatory of the duke of Sermonata (Gaetani) upon 
the eclipses of the sun and moon, and the transits of Mer- 
cury over the sun, 
Pope Pius VII. Chiaramonte, whose stay at Paris gaye us 
so much pleasure, has given me orders to procure a circle, 
aclock, and an achromatic telescopefor the observatory of the 
Roman college ; which Messrs. Calendrielli and Conti have 
rendered icine and which cardinal Litta, prefect of 
the studies of the Roman college, specially protects. 
The astroromers of Florence have requested me to send - 
them a chronometer of Berthoud. 
M. Ciccolini, astronomer of Bologna, has published 4 
memoir upon the eclipse of the sun of the 11th of February, 
1g04 ; which it was thought would have been total in Italy. 
But that was not, nor,could it be the case, according ta 
the diameters of the sun and the moon in my tables ; but the 
observation has succeeded as ill in Italy as in France. 
M, Ciccolini has made an useful addition to the reflecting 
circle. He has made the back part of this instrument a 
quadrant, the radius of which is the diameter of the instru- 
ment itself; and with a plummet and the telescope of the 
circle, he is thus able to ascertain, in half a minute of time, 
the altitude of a star within half a degree, and at the same 
time the degree to which the yernier of the telescope must 
be placed to observe with, In this manner we avoid the 
disagreeable method of trial in observations of altitudes, 
always complained of by the most skilful astronomers and 
navigators. By this method also we can give a greater mag-- 
nifying power to the telescope than is usual; which will be 
extremely advantageous in these sorts of observations. 
M, Lenoir has ee made at Paris a stand, with which a 
single 
