Astronomical Society. 293 



your indefatigable President, who, agreeably to the Regula- 

 tions of the Society, resigns the chair this day. Much of the 

 time and labour of the computei's, engaged in this extensive 

 work, was saved, and the liability to error very much abridged, 

 by the use of printed skeleton forms, which he had constructed 

 expressly for their use from formulae reduced to the most 

 simple and convenient shape for calculation. The work itself 

 has been brought to a successful termination by the extraor- 

 dinary diligence, activity and perseverance of Lieut. Stratford, 

 of the Royal Navy, one of your Secretaries ; who, in the midst 

 of his other various avocations and duties, has been unremit- 

 ting in his attention to pi-omote the progress and secure the 

 accuracy of this highly useful work ; and who is entitled to 

 your best and most cordial thanks for such a devotion of his 

 time and labour. In fact, the Council, desirous of expressing 

 their sense of the benefit conferred on the science of Astro- 

 nomy by this important undertaking, have awarded the gold 

 medal to Mr. Baily ; and the silver medal to Lieut. Stratford, 

 for the service rendered by these gentlemen in the promotion 

 and completion of the work. May we hope that some ex- 

 perienced astronomer will now take up this new catalogue, 

 and make a series of observations on every star contained 

 therein, whereby we may be enabled to ascertain more cor- 

 rectly the proper motion (if any) that should be attributed to 

 each star : and thus deduce a Fundamental Catalogue that 

 may assist astronomers for many years to come. The ex- 

 pense of computing and printing this Catalogue has encroach- 

 ed on the ordinary funds of the Society ; and has induced 

 many members to suggest the propriety and advantage of de- 

 fraying the expense not only of this, but of any similar under- 

 taking, by means of a separate subscription amongst the mem- 

 bers. Should a measure of this kind be recommended, the 

 Council trust that it will meet with the support of every friend 

 of Science*. 



The Council, bearing in mind the objects which it is the 

 wish and desire of the Society more particularly to promote, 

 have also awarded the silver medal to Col. Beaufoy for his valu- 

 able collection of observations communicated from time to time 

 to this Society, and more especially those relative to the Eclipses 

 of Jupiter's Satellites. Part of this collection has already been 

 published in the Memoirs of this Society ; and the remainder 

 will appear in the ensuing volume. These observations seem 

 to have been made with great care and diligence, and allbrd 



* [The subscription was immediately set on foot, iinil met with very con- 

 8iderai)lc support. The list of subscribers is in the liancls of the Secretary, 

 and may be seen by any of the members. — tSVr.] 



nnothci' 



