204 Address of the Astronomical Socieiy of London, 



dividual objects they present : in other words, the formation of 

 a complete catalogue of stars and of other bodies, upon a scale 

 infinitely more extensive than anv that has yet been undertaken j 

 and that shall domprehcnd the most minute objects visible in 

 good astronomical telescopes. To form such a catalogue, how- 

 ever, is an undeitakin^ of such overwhelming labour, as to defy 

 the utmost exertions of individual industry. Is is a task which, 

 to be accomplished, must be divided among numbers: but so 

 divided as to preserve a perfect unity of design, and prevent the 

 loss of labour which must result from several observers working 

 at once on the same region, while others are left unexamined. 

 The idea now understood to be entertained of establishing an 

 observatory at the southern extremity of Africa, under the. au- 

 spices of the Admiralty, may serve to show the general sense 

 entertained of the importance of this subject, and the necessity 

 of giving every possible perfection to our catalogue of the fixed 

 stars. Deeply impressed also with the importance of this task, 

 and fully aware of its difficulty, the Astronomical Society might 

 call upon the observers of Europe and of the world to lend their 

 aid in its proseeuliou. Should similar institutions be formed in 

 other countries, the Astronomicid Society (rejecting all views but 

 that of benefiting science) might profess themselves ready and 

 desirous to divide at once the labour and the glory of this Her- 

 culean attempt, and tn act in concert together in such manner 

 as should be judged most conducive to the end in view. 



Another beneficial result to be expected from this institution 

 is the diffusion of a spirit of inquiry in practical astronomy; and, 

 Qs a necessary consequence, a corresponding diffusion of a general 

 knowledge of the mode of performing and computing astrono- 

 mical and geodesical observations, and of the use of instruments; 

 especially such as are likely to be found in the hands of travellers, 

 ^lautical men, and others who may i)e placed in interesting situ- 

 ations in remote parts of the world. Widely scattered as Eng- 

 lishmen are, over the surface of the globe, the advantages which 

 might accrue to science from a more general diffusion of such 

 knowledge, are incalculable: yet it is painful to reflect in how 

 few cases, com])aratively, among the innnbers of our countrymen 

 whose prospects in life lead them to distant climates, the actual 

 use of even the simplest astronomical instruments and tables has 

 formed a part of their education or stiidy. In a national point 

 of view, every thing wliich may tend to diffuse a knowledge of 

 practical astronomy is obviously of the utmost importance, on 

 account of its application to nautical purposes. Besides which, 

 the difficultv of finding practical observers calculated to fill situ- 

 *»tions us assistants in observatories, in expeditions of discovery, 

 ■at on other occasions, at moderate salaries, has been felt in va- 

 rious 



