rG HisLonj of Asircnomy for the Year I8O6. 



lertsl in forwarding the preparations, and furnished all the 

 requisite assidiance. Infinite pains were taken in preparing 

 the stations ; -200 men were employed in cutting a sentry 

 box in the rock of Mongo; 60 men, and as many mules, 

 at Tvica ; the tents were blown down by a dreadful north 

 wind ; but at last, on the 7th of December, all the re- 

 verberators and signals were placed. M. Arrago is indefa- 

 tigable. Thus the sciences have lost nothing by the war. 

 The Royal Society of London requested the French Insti- 

 tute to set at liberty an English astronomer, who was a 

 prisoner in France ; \\ hieh was instantlv complied with : 

 this is the second tin)e the sciences have had this privilege 

 granted them. 



On the nth. March, I8O6, the council of state decided 

 upon giving captain Flinders his libertv, and upon restoring 

 his galley the Cumberland, 



The sixth volume of the Memoirs of the Institute for the 

 class of Sciences contains the eulogy upon M. Mechain ; 

 a new formula to reduce distances by several observations, 

 by Messrs. Mechain, Messier, Burckhardt, andLalande (my 

 riephew). I have there given the results of the transit of 

 Mercury in 1803, and the consequences resultins; from it, 

 in order to correct my tables. M. Coulon^b has tliere oiven 

 *' Methods ibr obtaining the sireatest degree of magnetism," 

 and M. Buache a memoir upon the discovery of America; 

 where he shov/s that Columbus had consulted Toscanelli, 

 and that the Isles Antillia, which had been thought to be 

 America, were the Azores, which he recognised in a chart 

 of 1367 : he thence concludes that it was certainly Christo- 

 pher Columbus who discovered Airierica. But I have 

 shown in my Alindgemeni of Navigation, that there were 

 several preceding events which led him to it. 



The class of Sciences has also published the first volume 

 of Savafis Eirangers, which has been a long time expected : 

 it contains some observations of M. Bouvardj some me- 

 moirs of M. Burckhardt upon several comets and upon 

 mlcrmneters ; a memoir of M. Dangos upon the terrestrial 

 refractions; meteorological observations made at Cavenne 

 during 10 years, by M, Mentelle, whose loss we, regret: he 



was 



