"Report of the AUronoTnkal Socwly. 277 



such subjects (uniiappily too nuicli neglected among the geome- 

 ters oftiiis country) they reconimciid the proposal of tlie Society's 

 gold medal and twenty guineas for the solution of the following 

 prize question : 



" For the best paper on the theory of the motions and per- 

 turbations of the satellites of Saturn. The investigation to be 

 so conducted as to take expressly into consideration tiic in- 

 fluence of the rings, and the figure of the planet as modified by 

 the attraction of the rings, on the motions of the satellites : to 

 furnish formulae, adapted to the determination of the elements 

 of their orbits, and the constant coefficients of their periodical, 

 and secular equations, from observation : likewise to point out 

 the observations best adapted to lead to a knowledge of ruch 

 determination. The papers to be sent to the Society on or 

 before the 1st day of February 1823." 

 Aud, in order to conceal the name of any unsuccessful competi- 

 tor, the Council propose that each memoir should bear a motto; 

 and that a sealed paper, bearing the same motto, contain the 

 name of the author. In such case, the name of the successful 

 candidate only will be divulged, and the sealed papers of the rest 

 w-ill be destroyed, unopened, in the presence of the Council. The 

 successful paper must be left with the Society, to be published as 

 they may direct ; and the rest will be returned on proper appli- 

 cation of the authors. 



The pecuniary resources of the Society, although of course not 

 large, are sufficient to answer every expense whicii may be in- 

 curred by the adoption of the plans recommended by the Council. 

 The number of resident members is 82; out of which, 12 have 

 compounded for their annual payments; and there are 37 uon- 

 rcsidcnt members: so that the total assets of the Society arisiug 

 from this source are 1*07/. 4.?. together with a present annual in- 

 come of about 140^. subject to a further increase from the ac- 

 quisition of new members. The report of the auditors will state 

 the sums actually received, and the sums paid by the Society, 

 together with the balance remaining. It may be proper however 

 here to mention that the whole of the compositions are, bv a re- 

 solution of the Council, to be invested from time tq time in the 

 Navy 5 per cents, in the joint names of the trustees; aud that 

 the payments of the non-resideut members are at present invested 

 in East India Bonds with a view to a similar permanent invest- 

 ment : it being conceived that these two sources of income should 

 be kept distinct from the annual payments. 



The expenses of the Society, up to the lucsent time, have been 

 very trifling, principally owing to the very liijeral spirit exhibited 

 l)y the Geological Society, in granting the use of their connno- 

 dious apurtuicnts for the meetings of the (/ouucil and the Mem- 

 bers 



