354 An Analysis of Mr. Baily’s Astronomical Tables 
1820 and 1821, and entitled Astronomische Hilfstafeln; and 
which have been considered by many astronomers as of the 
highest importance and value. In consequence however of their 
not reaching this country until more than half the current year 
for which they were intended had expired, Mr. Baity, witha 
generous and disinterested zeal which merits the highest praise, 
resolved to prepare a set of similar tables, prior to the com- 
mencement of the present year, at his own expense, and to pre- 
sent copies of the same to his scientific friends. Mr. Batty, it 
appears, only formed this resolution in September last, so that 
three months only remained, to collect, arrange, compute, and 
print such tables as appeared to him the best adapted to the 
general purposes of the practical astronomer. And with what 
success he has completed this important undertaking, every 
astronomer who possesses a copy, must have ample and satisfac- 
tory means of judging ; and if I might be allowed to express my 
individual feelings on the subject, it would be that Mr. B. de- 
serves the warmest and best thanks of the astronomical world. 
It may however be possible, that some of the readers of your 
valuable Journal may not yet have had an opportunity of seeing 
Mr. Baity’s Fables; and I may, therefore, not be rendering an 
unacceptable service to them, if I endeavour to give a brief ana- 
lysis of their contents, 
The volume consists of three parts, the first of which presents 
a preface detailing the objects of the publication ; the second 
contains explanations of the nature and uses of the tables; and 
the third is devoted to the tables themselves. It is an analysis 
of the two latter, which I intend to offer to your readers. 
The first table contains a list of the principal occultations of 
fixed stars by the moon, visible at Florence, distinguishing the 
day, the name or number of the star, its magnitude, the cata- 
logue from which it is taken, its right ascension and declination, 
and the time of its iinmersion and emersion. This table Mr. Baity 
obtained from Baron Zacn’s Correspondance Astronomique ; 
and although, from its being calculated for the meridian and pa- 
rallel of Florence, it is not adapted to Greenwich, it will be found, 
even in its present form, of much service to the practical astro- 
nomer, and will moreover convince him of the information he 
would derive from a table calculated for the latter place. It 
contains nearly 250 occultations, and all the small stars have 
been rejected, excepting such as take place within a few days of 
anew moon. The table occupies nine pages. 
The second table is.more general in its nature than the for- 
mer, and may be regarded as a kind of supplement to it. It 
contains a list ofall the stars, from the Catalogue of Prazzi, 
near which the moon will pass, in her several lunations, during 
the 
