Meteorological Society. — Mr. Pond and M. Bcssel. 389 



were received, and among these were an elegant inkstand for 

 tlie Society's table, presented by an unknown donor, and some 

 curious specimens of glass for object-glasses, made 1 y a new 

 process by a foreign artist, we believe residing at Neufcliatel. 



It was announced from the chair, that the Council had 

 awarded the honorary Gold Medals of the Society to Charles 

 Babbage, Esq. for his invaluable invention of applying me- 

 chanism to the purposes of calculation ; and to Professor Encke 

 for his investigations relative to the comet which bears his 

 name. — Likewise similar Silver ]Medals to Mr. Rumker for 

 the rediscovery of M. Encke's comet in 1822; and to M. Pojis 

 for the discovery of two comets in the same year, as well 

 as for his indefatigable zeal in cometary astronomy. — Such 

 medals to be presented at the anniversary of the Society in 

 Fel iruary next. 



A paper hy George Dollond, Esq. was read, descriptive of 

 a new e j[ual altitude instrument of his invention and con- 

 struction ; and th.e instrument was at the same time exhibited 

 in the room. It is applicable to every purpose of measuring 

 vertical angles or those in azimuth, and, by the adoption of two 

 telescopes iind an artificial horizon, affords no less than thirty- 

 two readings of the same observation, if required ; while the 

 usual attention to adjustment of the levels of the instrument 

 ceases to be necessary, on account of the object being seen by 

 direct and reflected rays at the same time. 



METEOUOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The second meeting of this Society took place on Wednes- 

 day, the 12th instant, pursuant to the resolutions given in our 

 last Number, p. 306, and was numerously attended. Among 

 the new members enrolled were Dr. Bostock, F.K.S., Messrs. 

 H. T. Delabeche, F.R.S., J. F. Daniell, F.R.S., W. H.Pepys, 

 F.R.S., &c. The Society proceeded to appoint a Council and 

 Officers, a list of whom, with further particulars of the business 

 of the evening, will be given in our next. Dr. Birkbeck was 

 elected President. 



LXXXI. LUelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



MR. POND AND M. BESSEL. 



A REPORT has been very generally and industriously cir- 

 -^*- culatcd within the last two months, that M. Bessel has re- 

 cently acknowledged, to a gentleman in this country, that there 

 was an error in \i\>iCalalogne of the decluiation of the principal 



fixed 



