Astronomical Societi^.— 'Collection of Minerals on Sale. 465 



Broderip, Esq. F.R.S. L.S. &H.S.; and R. I. Murchison, Esq. 

 F.R.S. & L.S.-For. Sec: C Lyeli, Esq. M.A. F.R.S. & U.S.— 

 Treas.: J. Taylor. Esq. F.R.S. & U.S.— Council: A. Aikin, Esq. 

 F.L.S.; J. E. Bicheno, Esq. F.R.S. Sec. L.S. ; J. Bostock, M.D. 

 F R S L.S. & H.S. ; D. Burton, Esq. ; Captain G. Everest, F.R.S. ; 

 M. Faraday, Esq. F.R.S.; W. H. Fitton, M.D. F.R.S. & L.S.; 

 U. Gilbert, M.P. Pres. R.S. F.S.A.&c. &c.; J. Lindley, Esq. F.R.S. 

 & L.S. ; Rev. J. H. Randolnh, M.A. ; P. M. Roget, M.D. Esq. Sec. 

 R.S. F.L.S.; N. A. Vigors, Esq. M.A. F.R.S.; N. Wallich, M.D. 

 F.L.S.; Rev. J. Yates, M.A. F.L.S. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



Jan. 9 The President read an extract from a letter of Professor 



Encke, dated Berlin, Dec. 7, 1828, in which he stated the places 

 of his comet, as resulting from his own observations. 



A paper was next read " On the determination of the distance of 

 a comet from the earth," by J. W. Lubbock, Esq. M.A.S. The 

 author in this paper proposes to examine the principle of the various 

 methods which have been proposed for the resolution of this pro- 

 blem,— to bring them under one notation,— and to ascertain from 

 which the greatest advantage is to be expected. 



There was also read a paper On the longitudes of Calcutta, Ma- 

 dras, and Futty Ghur, as determined by lunar transits and eclipses 

 of Jupiter's first .satellite, by Major J. A. Hodgson, Surveyor-General 

 of India, accompanied with the original observations and reductions. 



The last paper read was from Mr. Rumker, the astronomer at the 

 Paramatta Observatory, detailing the observations for determining 

 the December solstice in 1827, with one of Reichenbach's repeating 

 circles ; and likewise the observations of certain circumpolar stars, 

 about the same period of time, by means of the mural circle. In 

 reducing the observations for the solstice, Mr. Rumker (on account 

 of the small zenith distance of the sun) applies a correction dif- 

 ferent from ihat given by M. Biot in his Astronomic. The result of 

 his observations makes the mean obliquity of the ecliptic, reduced 

 to January 1, 1828, equal to 23^ 27' 40"01. 



COLLECTION OF MINERALS ON SALE. 



I beg to announce to the cultivators of mineralogical science, that 

 the extensive and valuable collection of my late brother William 

 Phillips is to be disposed of by private contract. i t 1 



The collection consists of several thousands of specimens, selectea 

 with great care and judgement, in excellent condition ; it contains 

 most of the mineral substances at present known, and is rich m va- 

 rieties of most of them. It is perhaps scarcely requisite to observe, 

 that this collection served as the basis of the late proprietors well 

 known work on Mineralogy, and it is accompanied with many ol 

 the original drawings of crystals with which that work is 'llustrated; 

 as well as the specimens of Uranite, Ituby Copper, and Oxide ot I in, 

 of the crystalline forms of which detailed accounts are given m the 

 Transactions of tlie (Jeological Society. The collection contains 

 N S. Vol. 5. No. 30. June 1829. 3 () not 



