z6 HJJIory of JJlronomy for 1798- 



An interefting memoir, accompanied with a trigonome- 

 trical chart, fen'ing to reduce the apparent diftance of the 

 moon from the fun, or from a ftar, to the true diftance, and 

 to refolve other queftions of navigation, hasjuft appeared, by 

 J, R, Maingon, lieutenant de frigate. This ingenious chart, 

 of great utiUty to the navy, was engraved by order of the 

 minifter, and pubhflied at the depot. It will fupply the 

 place of the large charts of Margetts, and enable navigators 

 to fubftitute operations with a pair of compafles for calcu- 

 lation. 



The Geographical Ephemerides, undertaken by M. von 

 Zach, of Gotha, at the commencement of the year, are a 

 remarkable and ufeful work, as there are found in them every 

 month curious obfervations ; information refpefting new 

 books and charts, new voyages and geographical maps, fuch 

 as thofe of Ireland, Africa and. the Black Sea, of fo much 

 importance at a time when the public attention is direfted 

 towards thefe countries ; alfo portraits, fuch as thofe of 

 Herfchel, Delambre, Sir Jofeph Banks, &c. ; in a wcfrd, every 

 thing that can be interefting to aftronomers, geographers 

 and navigators. An extenfive correfpondence with all coun- 

 tries enables M. von Zach to form a mutual communication 

 between learned men, even the moft: diftant from each other. 

 The only inconvenience is, that the German language is not 

 fufficiently cultivated in the South. I have requefted that 

 a profefTor of German may be eftablilhed in the Collegt- de 

 France, as I am fully convinced of the importance of that 

 language to var'.ous branches of fcience. No journal was 

 devoted to aftronomy and geography ; and there was little 

 reafon to hope that any of the kind would be undertaken. 

 Adelbulner and Bernoulli had attempted it without fuccefs. 

 The high efteem in w hich M. von Zach is held, has given 

 to his work a fufficient degree of reputation to enfure a fale, 

 and confcquently the continuance of this ufeful publication. 



M. Martonfi has publiflied, in Tranfylvania, a defcription 



of 



