412 On a new and certain Method of ascertaining the Figure 



be given to the progress of astronomy in this country : and that, 

 by emulating our scientific neighbours on the continent, we may 

 avoid the lan^entable necessity of resorting to them for almost all 

 our means of deducing the situation of the heavenly bodies, and 

 of investigating the laws which govern their motions *. Probably 

 the object of the Legislature would be more effectually answered 

 if the new Board of Longitude would undertake to lead and di' 

 red the attention of the scientific world to such particular objects 

 as they might think most worthy of encouragement ; rather than 

 to ivait for proposals on every subject (useful or visionary) that 

 may be laid before them. The publication of specific rewards 

 — for the formation of new Tables of the Sun, Moon, or any of 

 the Planets f; — for the best Essays on any particular subject of 

 Practical or Theoretical astronomy ; — for any valuable improve- 

 ment in Time-pieces, Telescopes, Micrometers, or other astrono- 

 mical instruments ; — for the best Engravings of any portion of 

 the celestial sphere, and particularly of the Zodiacal stars J ; — for 

 reducing the Observations of any celebrated astronomer ; — for the 

 Discovery of any New planet, comet, fixed star, or other re- 

 markable celestial phaenomenon ; — for the Translation of any 

 valuable astronomical treatise into the English language; — and, in 

 general, for any other object which may be " useful to science and 

 which may deserve encouragement ;" — would necessarily excite 

 and fix the public attention to those subjects, and perhaps more 

 effectually promote the views of a liberal and enlightened Govern- 

 ment. 



But to return to the subject of the present Memoir. — Tt has 

 been stated by M. Cagnoli, § 4, that the difference of parallax 



viate the necessity of finding the position of the Nonageshnal, — an unneces- 

 sary and troublesome process. As the original calculations of the computer 

 must extend to seconds, there is no good reason for omitti.ig them in the 

 publication. I would likewise (as connected with the subject of this Me- 

 moir) take the liberty of suggesting the propriety of publishing annually in 

 that work, an accurate list of all the Zodiacal stars (including even those of 

 the 9th magnitude) not only in Right Ascension and Declination, but also 

 in Longitude and Latitude, with their annual and secular variations, cor- 

 rected from the latest ob^.vations. The expense would be trifling, com- 

 pared with the advantage to be derived from the result. 



* It is too well kno ,vn that all oar astronomical Tables, «Z/our Catalogues 

 of stars, and most of our astronomical Formulae, in present use, are the pro- 

 duction of the continent. 



t I believe there are no tables whatever of two of the newly discovered 

 planets. 



X Accurate engravings of the Zodiacal stars, upon a large scale, would 

 enable astronomers \vith greater certainty to look out for occultations of 

 fixed stars by the moon ; the observations of which are undoubtedly the best 

 method of determining the longitude of places. 



arises 



