142 Astronomical Society. 
Astronomers, men of considerable science, activity and perse- 
verance, and possessing instruments far superior to those, 
which were in existence in the time of La Caille. The advan- 
tages of this kind of pre-arranged co-operation, to which your 
~ Council here advert, are so well understood in the present ad- 
vanced state of Astronomy, that a mere hint will (it is hoped) 
suffice, to produce the desired concert.” 
The Report then adverts to the contributions and exertions 
of other scientific bodies. ‘* The erection of an Observatory 
at the University of Cambridge, and the still more recent an- 
nouncement of a prize of 75/. at Edinburgh, to be awarded to 
the two’ best essays on Comets *, cannot but be hailed as of 
auspicious tendency. in the developement of knowledge. In 
the same light, too, may doubtless be considered the deter- 
mination of the British Board of Longitude, to employ ade- 
quate computers on the reduction of Mr. Groombridge’s Ob- 
servations at Blackheath, as well as to devote a part of the 
funds, which are at its disposal, to the arrangement and pub- 
lication of the Observations of Tobias Mayer (so justly cele- 
brated for their importance and accuracy) from the original 
manuscripts, which have been forwarded to this country for 
that express purpose. 
* As another subject of congratulation, the Council cannot 
avoid noticing the interest which appears recently to have 
been excited in the United States of America to the subject of 
Astronomy. On the opening of the present Session of Con- 
gress, the President pointed out to them the propriety and 
advantage of constructing Observatories in various parts of 
their immense territory, and of establishing a system of co- 
operation between each other. A plan of this kind, under 
the direction of active and skilful Astronomers, cannot fail to 
advance the science, and is worthy of the patronage and pro- 
tection of a great and powerful nation. 
*¢ No less than five comets were discovered within the com- 
pass of as many months in the last year, and one of these has 
(as it was predicted) been seen again within the last fortnight. 
This is a natural result of the augmented attention, which has 
been lately paid to these bodies, and to the investigation of 
the laws, which their motions obey. 
“With respect to the Prize Questions proposed at the last 
general meeting of the Society, the Council report that they 
have received only one answer to the first question, which being 
just delivered in, is now under investigation. ‘The period 
allotted for the determination of the second question will not ~ 
* Open to all students who have attended that University during the last 
ten years. 
expire 
