378 Astronomical Society. 



The following papers rere read : 



On the cultivation of the raspberry. By Mr. John Mearns, 

 F.H.S. — On a method of forcing the vine into fruit in unfa- 

 vourable situations. By M. Vauden Creuyse. 



Oct. 5. — The following papers were read : 



On a means of arresting the sap in pear-trees. By the Rev. 

 John Fisher. — On the classification of cherries. By Mr. John 

 Robertson, F.H.S. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



This Society held its first meeting after the summer recess, 

 on Friday the 12th of November; the President, H. T. Cole- 

 brooke, Esq. in the chair. Several new members were 

 elected, and others proposed, and a great number of valu- 

 able presents, especially from foreign astronomers, were an- 

 nounced. 



Two communications were read from Sir Thomas Bris- 

 bane, Governor of New South Wales. The first of these 

 contained an account of some observations made at Para- 

 matta, by Sir Thomas, and Mr. Dunlop, on the inferior Con- 

 junction of Venus with the Sun, in October last. The obser- 

 vations were made with a mural circle of Troughton's, which 

 Sir Thomas characterizes as of remarkable steadiness, and so 

 well in the meridian, that with Antares and y Draconis, and 

 any other of the high and low stars, it gives the same right 

 ascension. The observations extend from the 6th to the 25th 

 of October. The account exhibits the polar distances, and 

 the times of culmination of the Sun and Venus, as well as of 

 Antares, (S Argo, and « Lyrce ; to show the state and position 

 of the instrument. The latitude of the observatory at Para- 

 matta is stated to be 33° 48' 4-3" South. Longitude East of 

 Greenwich 10 h 4 m 5 s . 



Sir Thomas's second communication, which is dated 1 7th 

 April, 1824, contains, First, A record of repetitions on the Sun, 

 with Reichenbach's circle for the Summer Solstice, 1823 ; they 

 extend from December 10th, 1823, to January 2d, 1824, but 

 have not yet been subjected to the necessary reductions for a 

 definite result. Secondly, A series of observations on several 

 stars made at Paramatta, with the mural circle, from Novem- 

 ber 20th, 1823, to February 19th, 1824. Twenty of the stars 

 observed are among those, whose places are given annuallv in 

 the Nautical Almanac, and are usually denominated Green- 

 wich stars. 



A letter was also read from Baron Zach to Francis Baily, 

 Esq. F.R.S. dated Genoa, 31st July, 1824, announcing the 

 discovery of a telescopic comet, by M. Pons, on the 24th of 

 that mouth. It was in the head of Serpentarius, without tail 



or 



