Aslruno)nual Sucu-ti/. 1 39 



2nd, all stars to the 6th magnitude inclusive, whose decli- 

 nation should not exceed 30° ; and 3d, all stars to the 7th 

 magnitude inclusive, within 10° of the ecliptic, — and that a 

 considerable portion had already been computed under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Baily and Mr. Gom})ertz, and would 

 be forthwith published, accompanied by an explanatory pre- 

 face drawn up, at the request of the Council, by Mr. Baily. 

 The Report then noticed, in terms of well merited panegyric, 

 the very valuable collection of astronomical tables lately pub- 

 lished by Dr. Pearson, the Treasurer ; and it will be no little 

 gratification to the scientific world to be informed that the 

 tables constitute onl}' a part of a comprehensive treatise on 

 Practical Astronomy upon which Dr. Pearson is still engaged. 

 It then adverted to the visit of Mr. Herschel (the foreign 

 secretary) to Italy and Sicily, from which, besides other very 

 considerable benefits, the Society had derived increased fa- 

 cilities of communication with the continental astronomers, 

 nearly the whole of whom the Society had now the honour 

 of numbering amongst its associates. The Report conveyed 

 a just tribute of respect to the memory of the late Major-ge- 

 neral John Rowley of the Royal Engineers, F.R.S., and a 

 member of this Society, of which he was a cordial friend from 

 its commencement. After alluding to the a'cquired stability 

 and acknowledged utility of the institution, which might jus- 

 tify an application to the Crown for a Charter of incorporation, 

 the Report stated that the expediency of such an application 

 would most probably engage the consideration of the Council 

 for the ensuing year. It concluded by strenuously advising 

 concert and co-operation — observing, that though much had 

 been done to advance astronomical science and much was in 

 progress, much yet remained to be done. "On the retro- 

 spect of the past, however, youi- Council derive confidence 

 with regard to the future. Let tlie zeal, activity and talent 

 of the Members and Associates for the next ten years but keep 

 paccM'ith the efforts oi"the last five, and the most interesting, 

 brilliant, and beneficial results may unhesitatingly be antici- 

 pated." 



A list of the pajKjrs read at the ordinary meetings, followed 

 by a numerous list of benefactors and a gratifying statement 

 of the Society's finances was then read, ailer which the Mem- 

 bers jiresent j)roceedcd to ballot for the Officers for the ensuing 

 year,w hen the following were declared to have been duly elected. 



Prc&ident : Francis Baily, Ksc]. T.R.S. & \..i^.—i'icc-Pre- 

 sidents: C^harles Babbage, *Ks(|. M.A. F.R.S. L. & E. ; Rev. 

 John Brinkley, D.D. F.R.S. Pres. R.I.A. Aud. Prof. Ast. Univ. 

 of Dublin ; Davies Oilbert, Esq, M.P. V.P.R.S. cS: E.L.S. ; 

 George \\m\ of Macclesfield, F.R.S. — Treasurer: Rev. William 



S 2 Pearson, 



