298 Astronomical Society. 
coincidence in most of the measurements made by M. Struve, 
and those made by Sir William Herschel and afterwards by 
Messrs. Herschel and South (although with very different in- 
struments and micrometers), confirms the general accuracy of 
the observations, and marks the degree of confidence that may 
be placed in measurements of this kind. Some slight discre- 
pancies have indeed been observed on a comparison of the 
total results, and some singular anomalies have presented 
themselves: but these, so far from invalidating their accuracy, 
tend to give them greater confirmation, and may probably, at 
some future period, lead to the detection of some hidden law 
which regulates the motions of these remarkable bodies. 
It is for these important observations and discoveries, and 
for the great zeal and talent displayed by these distinguished 
astronomers, in the pursuit of this interesting subject, that your 
Council has resolved to bestow on each of them the Gold Medal 
of the Society: and which I have now the honor of doing. 
[The President, then addressing Mr. Herschel, said :] “ In 
‘‘ the name of the Astronomical Society of London, I present 
* to you this Medal. You will accept it, Sir, as a mark of 
*‘ the deep interest which this Society takes in the object of 
*‘ your labours. Be assured that we are pleased to see (from 
‘*‘ the Paper presented to us this evening) that the subject still 
** occupies your attention, and that it is likely to be pursued 
‘* with so much energy and zeal, by one who can so fully ap- 
‘* pretiate the importance of such inquiries, and who is so 
** competent to conduct investigations of this kind. We trust 
‘that you will have health and strength to pursue the path 
‘¢ which you have thus commenced with so much honour to 
*¢ yourself, and so much benefit to science. Inheriting, as you 
** do, those rare and exalted talents which distinguished your 
** venerable and honoured father, and aided by the resources 
** of your own powerful and enlightened mind, you have al- 
** ready opened another and very interesting field of inquiry 
‘and research in this particular branch of astronomy, by pro- 
“posing a new method of applying such observations to the 
“* investigation of the parallax of the fixed stars: a subject 
** which cannot be fully appretiated till after the lapse of many 
** years, and which we hope will not be lost sight of by those 
*‘ who are engaged in investigations of this kind. The name 
“ 
double stars. With some excellent and beautiful telescopes and micro- 
meters of his own workmanship and construction, this indefatigable and 
careful observer has extended his examination to upwards of 200 double 
stars ; and has detected motions in some of them, not yet noticed by other 
astronomers. It is to be hoped that his very valuable labours will be col- 
lected and published, for the benefit of science. 
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