Asbonomical Societi/. 363 



predicted occultations of other stars be neglected by observers. 

 It is from them that the most accurate determinations of longi- 

 tude are, in the generality of cases, to be obtained j and the tedious 

 difficulties with which they were embarrassed, have been in a great 

 measure removed. The Council have distributed from time to time 

 monthly notices of the principal lunar occultations, for the meridian 

 of Greenwich, computed by Mr. Henderson, to whom this branch of 

 astronomy is under peculiar obligations. It is to be regretted that 

 the avocations of this gentleman will not allow him to continue these 

 useful lists much longer. Fortunately, this loss is greatly diminished 

 by a recent memoir due to our excellent associate Professor Bessel, 

 and inserted in Encke's Ephemeris for 1831, which gives a short and 

 simple method of transferring to another meridian the time and cir- 

 cumstances of an occultation already computed for Berlin, along with 

 the quantities required for the calculation. These subsidiary quan- 

 tities have been prepared for the first si.x months of the present year 

 by Professor Troeger of Dantzic, and inserted in the Astmnoviische 

 Nachrichten, an early copy of which was transmitted to the Society by 

 the accomplished editor. This has been printed for distribution, in 

 the hope that the zeal of Mr. Henderson will find worthy successors. 

 To mark their sense of obligation to this gentleman, and as a small 

 tribute of respect, the Council have unanimously agreed, " That it 

 be recommended to the general meeting to present to Mr. Hender- 

 son a copy of the Memoirs, handsomely bound, for the very valuable 

 assistance which he has rendered to the cause of Astronomy in his 

 various computations presented to the Society*." The numerous 

 communications that have from time to time been received from Ger- 

 many, and the valuable astronomical works that are constantly issuing 

 from tiie press of that country, render an acquaintance with the Ger- 

 man language almost essential to the prosecution of the science. The 

 difficulty which the Council would otherwise have experienced has 

 been greatly removed by the cordial and very valuable assistance of a 

 gentleman deeply versed in every branch of the science, who has, on 

 all occasions, been ready in favouring the Council with translations of 

 such papers as they have from time to time required. To mark their 

 sense also of this obligation, and as a small tribute of respect, they 

 have agreed, "That it be recommended to the general meeting to 

 present to Dr. Tiarks a copy of the Memoirs, handsomely bound, for 

 his kind and ready assistance at all times in translating various foreign 

 papers for the use of the members, and for other valuable services ren- 

 dered to the Society*." 



A simple and ingenious method of determining the mass of the 

 moon, by observing the A\. of the bright limb of Venus, has been 

 proposed by Professor Airy, with a request that the Society would 

 use their influence in obtaining for it an extensive circulation. Copies 

 have, accordingly, been forwarded to every ]>ublic and ])rivate obser- 

 vatory in Kurope, with a strong recommendation for its adoption. 



• [Tlic rccotnniciidatioii of tho Council in Ciith of these instaiici-s was 

 unanimously approved of, and iiiioptcd by, the Members at the Gcncrid 

 .VIccting. —Sec] 



'I'hc 



