39 i Aslronomical Svcieli/.— Music. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON". 



May 1 1. — A Letter was read from the Rev. Nl. Vv'arH, stating 

 that on the evening of May 4th, he distinctly sav/ the spot, called 

 Aristaichns, on the unenlightened portion of the moon's disc ; 

 having the appearance of a small comet. He presumes this ha* 

 been mistaken, bv many observers, for a volcano. Mr. Ward also 

 gave an account of tl;e orcultation of the star 136 Tawi. 



A paper was next read from Professor Moll, of Utrecht, giving 

 an account of the late solar eclipse, cis observed in many parts of 

 Holland. It was annular at Amsterdam, contrary to the expec- 

 tations of many persons. The formation and dissolution of tlie 

 annulus presented that singular optical phsenomenon, so frequently 

 observed in annular eclipses: namely, an apparent adhesion of 

 the periphery of the moon to that of the sun, as if formed of a 

 glutinous substance. This remarkable occurrence had been 

 pointed out by Mr. Baily, in his tract on this very eclipse, and 

 he had thereby excited the attention of astronomers to observe it 

 more particnlarlv. It has been noticed by several persons in their 

 accounts of the eclipse. 



W. 



LXIX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



MUSIC. 



K understand that a very curious invention, or discovery, we 

 know not well which to call it, has been made in the art of mu- 

 sical composition. As it ha- been described to us, cards are pre- 

 pared, on each of which a bar of an air is arranged according to 

 a certain rhythm and key. Four packs of these cards, marked 

 A, B, C, and D, are mingled together; and as the cards are 

 drawn, and arranged before a performer in the order of that series, 

 it will be found that an original air is obtained. The cards hitherto 

 made, we bave been told, are as waltzes, and succeed perfectly. 

 The invention inav be called Musical Permutation. It has re- 

 ceived^ however, improperly, that of The Musical Kaleidoscope. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES. 



The Editor has great pleasure in announcing that be hopes, 

 should no unforeseen impediment occur, to be enabled, by the 

 kindness of a friend, to comnnencc publishing in a month or two, 

 A New Catalogue of Fixed Stars. The present estimate comprises 

 nearly 4000; but the catalogue, when completed, may a little ex- 

 ceed that number. It will be accompanied with notes, and pre- 

 faced by a short account of the materials employed in its com- 

 pilation, compri'ijng nearly the whole of the catalogues (both Eng- 

 lish and Foreign) which arc held in estimation by astronomers. 

 In wrd'cr not to occupy an undue share of our pages, the portions 



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