Astronomical Society. I39 



Report upon the state of the Society's affairs and proceedings 

 during the last year was read, and ordered to be printed. 

 This Report paid a due tribute of respect to several members 

 which the Society has lost by death in the last year, and par- 

 ticularly to Col. William Lambton of Madras, and Dr. Wal- 

 beck of the Observatory at Abo. It gives a succinct account 

 of the measurement of the largest continuous arc of a meri- 

 dian yet measured, which occupied the former gentleman 

 upwards of twenty years in India. 



The chairman (Mr. Colebrooke) then proceeded to distri- 

 bute the honorary rewards of the Societv, viz. the Society's 

 Gold Medal to Charles Babbage, Esq. F.R.S., as a token of 

 the high estimation in which it holds his valuable invention 

 of an engine for calculating mathematical and astronomical 

 tables, being the first medal awarded by the Society. A si- 

 milar Gold Medal to Professor J. F. Encke, director of the 

 observatory at Seeberg in Gotha, for his investigations relative 

 to the comet which bears his name, and which led to the re- 

 discovery of it in 1822. The Silver Medal of the Society to 

 Professor Charles Rumker, for the rediscovery of Encke's 

 comet : and a similar Medal to M. Jean Louis Pons of La Marlia 

 in Italy, for the discovery of two comets, on the 31st of May 

 and 13th of July 1822, and for his indefatigable assiduity in 

 that department of astronomy. 



The chairman prefaced the presentation of each medal by 

 a most eloquent, learned, and interesting address of consider- 

 able length, all of which were delivered in the most impressive 

 manner. They were replete with information on the succes- 

 sive improvements in machinery for assisting calculation, as 

 well as on cometary astronomy; and we were happy to find 

 that in consequence of a motion made by Davies Gilbert, Esq. 

 M.P., and seconded by John Fuller, Esq., they will be printed 

 for circulation among the members. 



The election for the Officers and Council of the Society for 

 the ensuing year then took place; when the following appeared 

 to be the unanimous choice of the meeting, viz. 



President : Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq. F. R. S. L. & E. 

 & F.L.S. — Vice-Presidents: Charles Babbage, Esq. M.A. 

 F.R.S. L.&E.; Francis Baily, Esq. F.R.S.&L.S.; Sir Ben- 

 jamin Hobhouse, Bart. F.R.S. ; The Rt. Hon. George Earl 

 of Macclesfield, F.R.S. — Treasurer: Rev. William Pearson, 

 LL.D. F.R.S. — Secretaries: Olinthus G.Gregory, LL.D., 

 Prof. Math. Roy. Mil. Acad. Woolwich ; John Millington, Esq. 

 F.L.S., Prof. Mech. Phil. Roy. Inst. — Foreign Secretary: 

 J. F. W. Herschel, Esq. M.A. F.R.S. L. & E.— Council .- Major 

 Thomas Colby, Roy. Eng. LL.D. F.R.S. L.&E.; George 



S 2 Dollond, 



