310 Astronomical Society. 



hide of publication. It will lead to a more diligent examina- 

 tion of the treasures of Oriental literature preserved in public 

 and private libraries. In cordial cooperation with the existing 

 Societies in India, it will assist their labours, and will be as- 

 sisted by them. It will tend to an object first in importance; 

 the increase of knowledge in Asia, by diffusion of European 

 science. And whence can this be so effectually done as from 

 Great Britain ? 



" For such purposes we are associated ; and to such ends our 

 efforts are directed. To further these objects we are now as- 

 sembled ; and the measures which will be proposed to you, 

 Gentlemen, are designed for the commencement of a course 

 which, I confidently trust, may in its progress be eminently suc- 

 cessful, and largely contribute to the augmented enjoyments of 

 the innumerable people subject to British sway abroad ; and 

 (with humility and deference be it spoken, yet not without 

 aspiration after public usefulness,) conspicuously tend to British 

 prosperity as connected vvith Asia." 



April 1 9. — The second Meeting of the Society was held at 

 Willis's Rooms, H. T. Colebrooke, Esq., Director, in the 

 Chair. The Laws framed by the Council were submitted and 

 approved. A magnificent donation was announced from Sir 

 G. Staunton, of more than two thousand Chinese books, ma- 

 nuscript and printed. Such an auspicious commencement au- 

 gurs well for the establishment of a noble library of Oriental 

 literature. A part was read of a Memoir concerning the Chi- 

 nese, by J. F. Davies, Esq.: from which it appeared, that the 

 marvellous antiquity claimed by some of the chronicles of China 

 is rejected as fabulous by the learned men of that country. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



April 1 1 . — The Papers read this evening were : 



1st. A Letter from M. Pastorff to the late President, on a 

 Photosphere, observed at Buckholtz in Germany, round the 

 Planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. 



2d. Extract of a Letter from M. Littrow, Director of the 

 Imperial Observatory at Vienna, to the Foreign Secretary, re- 

 lative to the Cause of certain Discrepancies in Astronomical 

 Observations, and on the Construction of Instruments, and 

 Correction for Refi'action. 



An Address lately published by the Society announces that 

 medals in bronze, silver, and gold, are to be bestowed as ho- 

 norary distinctions on such persons as shall make material 

 discoveries or improvements in the science of astronomy. And 

 in order to direct attention to the objects most worthy of en- 

 couragement, the following list is given : 



The 



