388 Litmcean Society. — Astronomical Society. 



Passy, near Paris, in the summer of 1825, by James South, 



r.R.s. 



Nov. 24-. — A paper was read On the comparison and ad- 

 justment of the standards of the new weights and measures, 

 by Capt. H. Kater, F.R.S. 



linnjEan society. 

 Nov. 1 and 15.— The following paper was read : Observa- 

 tions on the unimpregnated vegetable ovuliim, and on the na- 

 ture of the female flower in Coiiiferce and Cijcadca:^ by Rob. 

 Brown, Esq. F.R.S. F.L.S. &c. &c. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



Nov. 11. — The Society resumed its sittings this evening, 

 and the President took tlie opportunity of calling the attention 

 of the Members to the remarkable circumstance of the appear- 

 ance of no less than fou7- comets during the recess, an occur- 

 rence unparalleled in the history of Astronomy. Thejirst of 

 these (he observed) was discovered by M. Gambart, at Mar- 

 seilles, on May 1 9, in the head of Cassiopea. The second by 

 M. Valz, at Nismes, on July 13, near ;:^ Tauri. The third 

 by M. Pons, at Florence, on Aug. 9, in Auriga. The fourth 

 (which was the most interesting and important of the whole, 

 since it had been the object of solicitude at every observatory, 

 and was anxiously expected and looked after by every Astro- 

 nomer) was discovered about July or August last. The Pre- 

 sident remarked that this last comet (which is better known 

 by the name of the comet of Encke) has now made 13 re- 

 volutions within the last 40 years : six of which have been re- 

 gularly observed by Astronomers. It was first seen in 1 786 ; 

 afterwards in 1795, 1805, 1819, 1822, and in the present 

 year. It makes a complete revolution in about 1207 days, 

 or about 3^ years. 



A paper was read On the latitude of the Royal Observa- 

 tory of Greenwich, by the Astronomer Royal. The co-latitude 

 of this observatory, as computed from Dr. Bradley's observa- 

 tions under the direction of Dr. Maskelyne, is 38° 31' 22",0; 

 a determmation which is subject to the sum or the difference 

 of two separate errors : one, in determining the zenith distance 

 of y Draconis; the other, in the measure ot the distance of that 

 star from the pole. 



After the new mural circle was erected in 1812, another 

 attempt was made to determine this important element. The 

 result was 38° 31' 21", 5; a result, however, in which it was 

 thought probable that an error of half a second might exist. 



In 



