On Mr. South's Catalogue of Double Stars, 443 
as well as I could, the object to be obtained. All this he per- 
fectly well understood, except the reducing the seconds of a de- 
gree into seconds and tenths of time (the right ascension being 
given in space by Bode, but in time by Mr. South). ‘This I told 
him he must leave for me, as it required some little knowledge of 
decimals, which he had not yet learned. My boy was much 
flattered in being thought worthy to attempt what he bad seen 
his father so long puzzling at in vain; but I can never forget his 
exultation and triumph, when he put into my hand his caleula- 
tions, all agreeing with Mr. South’s Catalogue. ‘‘ Why how,” 
I exclaimed, ‘have jvou done it?” ‘* Done it!’ he replied: 
*¢ Why, those plaguing seconds of a degree which I could make 
nothing of, and which I believe no one else can make anything 
of, I kicked out ; and then going on with the calculation as you 
told me, it all came right, and I have no doubt this is the way 
the gentleman does it.” . I endeavoured to repress his un- 
founded exultation, by informing him that this Catalogue was the 
production of a gentleman of great mathematical abilities, a 
member of our most learned Societies, and the author of many 
papers on mathematical subjects of the most profound -nature ; 
that in these calculations I had observed he had had regard to 
even hundredths of a second; and therefore, to say that such a 
gentleman would disregard twenty or thirty seconds of a degree, 
or would find any difficulty in reducing them into time, was 
talking nonsense, or rather like a child as-he was, who knew.no- 
thing about the matter. My boy, however, has a will of his own, 
and insists upon maintaining that his method is right, unless [ 
can show him any other that will solve the difficulty. This I own J 
cannot do; and, to be serious, shall be much obliged to the learned 
author, or any other of your correspondents, if they can inform 
me how these right ascensions were calculated, or whether any 
improvement has recently been made in the rule given by Dr. 
Maskelyne for the reduction of stars from one epoch to an- 
other. 
Excuse this garrulous epistle from an old man, and extend the 
like indulgence to the son of his old age, whom with the par- 
tiality of a fond father he has taken the liberty to introduce; a 
liberty which he would not have presumed upon, but to show 
how, by a fortuitous circumstance almost beyond credit, the em- 
pirical reasoning of a child should lead to the same results as the 
profound calculations of a learned mathematician. 
I am, sir, 
Your very obedient and obliged servant, 
Z. 
3K 2 XC. No- 
