292 Astronomical Society. 



dividuals, who nobly sacritice a great portion of their time 

 and fortune to this laudable pursuit, — prove that the science 

 is now more generally followed and encouraged than at any 

 former period. 



To enable the Society to continue their assistance in pre- 

 serving and promoting this favourable change, the Council rely 

 on the cordial cooperation of all those members who have the 

 means, in their power, of conducing to this grand end. Those 

 even, who have only small instruments in their possession, 

 may still do much good, by a careful and judicious use of 

 them : for although every astronomer must admire the vast 

 field that has been opened by the powerful and splendid tele- 

 scopes of Messi-s. Herschel, South, and Struve, and the pa- 

 tience and skilful assiduity of these observers, yet we ought 

 not to lose sight of those innumerable aids which may be ren- 

 dered to astronomy, by more humble instruments, nor of the 

 assistance that may be afforded to the physical and other de- 

 partments of the science by those who are not possessed of 

 any instrument at all. 



In the last Report of the Council it was stated, that a letter 

 had been received from M. Bessel, relative to a plan for a 

 general survey of the Heavens, and for making detached 

 Charts of the same. The prospectus relative to this subject 

 was translated and distributed, not only amongst the mem- 

 bers of this Society, but also amongst such other astronomers, 

 as might be supposed desirous of encouraging so useful and 

 important an undertaking. Two applications were made from 

 this country, to the Committee at Berlin, appointed to super- 

 intend the distribution of the allotments ; but, it is doubtful 

 "whether more than one of them can be appropriated here, as 

 it is understood that the rest have been, or probably will be, 

 taken up by different astronomers on the continent. 



The Council regret that all the various prize questions, that 

 have from time to time been proposed by the Society, still re- 

 main unanswered : the period having expired for the deter- 

 mination of the whole of them ; except that which relates to 

 the moon's place, which will not terminate till Feb. 1st in the 

 ensuing year. How far it may be expedient to renew them, 

 or to substitute others, will depend on the views entertained 

 on this subject, by their successors in office. 



The new Tables for computing the Aberration, Precession, 

 and Nutation of 2881 principal fixed stars, together with a 

 Catalogue of the same, are now completed, and have been 

 some time in the hands of the public. This important work 

 was first suggested, and the formulae for the computations 

 were investigated and practically arranged by F. Baily, Esq. 



your 



