Astronomical Society. ♦Sft 



infra ovarium thalamo inserta. Torus basi in ovarium globosura 

 ampliatus ; inde tubulosus, corollaceus, staminiferus, fauce 8 — 10- 

 lobo, lobis inasqualiter bi- vel tri-serialibus, conniventibus. Stamina 

 plurima nutantia, tubo tori intus adfixa eodemqueinclusa; superiora 

 sterilia ramosa. Antherae nudae. Styli plures, fundo tubi radiatim 

 inserti, supra foveam verticis ovarii conniventes, basi coniiati. 

 Bacca carnosa, globosa, calyce sutfulta corollaque coronata per- 

 sistentibus, multilocularis, polysperma. Semina globosa, setis car- 

 nosis obtecta. albuniinosa, inversa. 



May 24'. — The Anniversary was held on this day, as directed in 

 the Charter, at the Society's House, A. B. Lambert, Esq V. P. in 

 the chair ; when the following were chosen as Officers and Council 

 for the year: — 



President: Sir James Edward Smith, M.D. E.R.S., &c. — Vice- 

 Presidents : Samuel Lord Bishop of Carlisle, LL.D. V.P.R.S. F. A.S. ; 

 A. B. Lambert, Esq. F.R.S. A.S. & H.S ; W. G. Maton, M.D. 

 F.R.S. and A.S.; and Edward Lord Stanley, M.P. F.H.S.— 

 Treasurer: Edward Forster, Esq. F.R.S. & H.S. — Secretary: James 

 E. Bicheno, Esq. — Under Secretary: Richard Taylor, F.S.A. Mem. 

 Astr. and Asiat. S. Also to fill the vacancies in the Council: Arthur 

 Aikin, Esq. V.P.G.S. ; John Barrow, Esq. F.R.S. ; Francis Boott, 

 M.D.; Mr. George Loddiges, F.H.S. ; Richard Waring, M.D. — 

 Many members of the Society afterwards dined together at Free- 

 mason's Tavern, Lord Stanley in the chair. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



An Address delivered by J. F. W. Herscliej, Esq. Presidejit of the 

 Astronomical Society of London, on the Occasion of the Distribu- 

 tion of the Honorary Medals of that Society, on April 11, J 827, 

 to Francis Baily, Esq., Lieutenant W. S. Stratford, R.N., and Co- 

 lonel Mark Beaufoy. 



Gentlemen, 

 The ordinary business of the evening being now terminated, it 

 remains to fulfil the object for which we are especially convened 

 this night, which is one of no less interest than the distribution of 

 the Honorary Medals awarded by your Council, in pursuance of the 

 principle of encouraging works of great labour, high practical utility, 

 and steady perseverance in astronomical observation, and in re- 

 demption of the pledges held out in the Address circulated at the 

 origin of this Society, explanatory of its objects. 



On former similar occasions when we have been called on to 

 witness the execution of this important duty, it has frequently been 

 our good fortune to acknowledge and applaud the claims of foreign 

 merit, and to prove by our awards, that nomean jealousies, or narrow 

 and mistaken views of national honour, are capable of blinding our 

 judgement or biassing our decision ; but that he who, whatever be 

 the spot of earth he inhabits, most promotes the cause of Astrono- 

 mical science, is most our brother and our countryman. Vet, I am 

 sure it will be gratifying to you to know that on this occasion, ample 



scope 



