t04 Hyiory of Aftronomy for the Year 1801. 



IM. Tra\iafi'os, fecretary of the Academy of Lllbon, has 

 fent me ohfervatiGns by M. Ciera, which have confirmed 

 the longituJe of that ciiyj the Nautical Ephemcrides pub- 

 liflied to 1 803, and various works of the Portuguefe Academy, 

 of vvhich vye had no idea, and which the jNatioiud Inilitute 

 of France received with much intercft. This negotiation 

 was conducted by the chevalier d'Arai^j;). 



Aflronomy vias long in a languilljing condition in the 

 Batavian republic: M. Fokker has eltablifhed, at his own 

 expenlesj an oljfervatory at Middleburg; he his purchafed 

 inftruments, and fent us fevcral obfervalions made between 

 1797 and 1801. M. Fokker, during the revolution of 1795? 

 was member of the committee of public fafcly, and at that 

 lim€ obtained a tower in the abbey ; but the rcvolutioii of 

 the I2th of June 1796 interrupted his plans for the improve- 

 ment of the obfervatory. He is now engaged in the finance 

 department of Zealand ; but his fpare time is employed on 

 aftronomy, and he has fent me feveral interefting obferva- 

 ttons. 



In Germany aftronomy continues to be cultivated with 

 great alliduity. Baron Von Zach's tour to Bremen and Li- 

 lienthal has produced new activity ; and the focicty formed 

 for the purpofe of fearching the htavcns are liill occupied 

 with that object. He obferves the moon with great diligence j 

 and gives me reafon to hope, that I fliall fee next funnner a 

 part of the German altronomcrs afleniblc in an allronomical 

 congrefs at Cjolha, as was the caie in 179H. Amidft the 

 horrors of war, the French altronomers fignalizcd their ijeal 

 for altronomy. Genivral Moreau, being at Cremsmunfter, 

 where there is a celebrated obfervatorv, canfed a bill to be 

 ■polled up denouncing the punilhment of death againlt every 

 ])crfon who fiiould be gniky there of anv depredation: and 

 neither the obfervatory nor the convent of the Bencdldines 

 Villained anv iuiurv. It is flattering to the French to have 

 officers who diitinguifh themfelvcs by a talle for thefciences. 

 Jt will no longer be faid that military men, in conicquence 

 of their fituation, arc ignorant and ferocious. 



The Academy of Peterlburgli has requcfted an obfcrver, 

 but Burg and V/urm have been retained bv their fovcreigns; 

 ;nid this beautiful obfervatory is Rill ufclcfs, notwithftanding 

 tile number of excellent inftrumcnts with which it is fur- 

 nilhed. 



C. Henrv has had the f^itisfaftion of ere6ling the large 

 mural quadrant by Bird, and of making fome obfervations 

 with it. ' 



'I'hc irrcguluiily in the degrees of the earth hitherto mea- 



fured. 



