Astro7iomical Society. 361 



anil middle Sub-apennine formations -. — 3rdly, Newer deposits identi- 

 cal with those of the adjoining bay of Vienna, which is shown to have 

 been connected with the bay of Gratz by the intervention of the great 

 tertiary sea which once occupied all the plains of Hungary. 



That the volcanic forces in this region, were first called into action 

 during the most recent of these periods, and were probably continued 

 in activity through the long succession of ages in which the sea was 

 spread over these countries. 



Lastly, That the volcanic rocks stand out in such prominent masses, 

 as to offer emphatic proofs of the enormous degradation and waste 

 of the surface of the country, since the formation of some of the 

 newest regular strata known in geology. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



Feb. 1 2. — Extract from the Report of the Council of the Society 

 to the Tenth Annual General Meeting, held this day. 



Amongst the deaths, the Society have to regret the loss of Mr. 

 Edgeworth, a gentleman of the highest promise and attainment, and 

 worthy of a name dear to science and to literature. 



The exquisite transit circle by Troughton, of two feet diameter, 

 presented by Dr. Lee, is now in the possession of Captain Smyth, after 

 receiving from the hands of its maker some important additions and 

 improvements. Upon these much time was necessarily expended ; and 

 since the instrument was placed in the Bedford Observatory, the 

 weather has not allowed Captain Smyth to prosecute the delicate re- 

 searches in which he is engaged. The Society will have remarked 

 with satisfaction the excellent observations of occulted stars by this 

 active astronomer, and by Mr. Maclear, to whom Dr. Wollaston's 

 telescope was intrusted. The transit clock presented by Lieutenant 

 Beaufoy, and now in the possession of Mr. Herschel, has been lent to 

 the Rev. Michael Ward, and will be forwarded to him by the first op- 

 portunity. The Beaufoy circle has been safely received, but too re- 

 cently to have enabled Mr. Ward to furnish the observations which 

 may be expected from his zeal and attainments. 



A library has been formed, of considerable extent and value, from 

 the contributions of individuals and scientific bodies. The want of 

 any means of consulting this has long been felt ; but the Council have 

 the gratification of stating, that Professor De Morgan has offered hi.s 

 valuable services to arrange and catalogue the books and manuscripts 

 belonging to the Society, — a tixsV which is now nearly completed. It 

 is well known that the Council have long been endeavouring to pro- 

 cure more convenient apartments for the use of the Society, such as 

 would be better adapted to their increasing demands, and utider a more 

 permanent tenure than those which they now hold. It is to be regret- 

 ted that so desirable an object has not hitherto been attained. 



Upon the increasing attention paid to our noble science, it is 

 scarcely possible to speak in terms too flattering. In addition to the 

 increased activity of public observatories, the exertions of private in- 

 dividuals are by no means slackened in tliis race of improvement. A 

 magnificent achromatic object-glass, the masterpiece of Cauchoix, and 



N. S. \'ol. 7. No. 4 L Mm/ 1«3(). f5 A of 



