2+0 Astronomical Society. 



dependent of dwelling apartments ; and was built on a hill in the 

 royal park of La Marlia, four miles from the city, with an excellent 

 command of horizon ; and was munificently furnished with instru- 

 ments of the best description. M, Pons was honoured with the 

 titles of " Her Majesty's Astronomer Royal, Director of the Astro- 

 scopic department of the Observatory, and Emerito Professor of the 

 Royal Lyceum." Amongst other arrangements was the payment of 

 100 dollars, from the queen's purse, for every comet that might be 

 discovered : and it is remarkable tliat M. Pons, immediately on his 

 arrival, detected the one forming an isosceles triangle with y and ju. 

 Virginis. From such a commencement, the astronomical world had 

 great reason to form high expectations ; especially as it was decided 

 that the observations should be published annually, after the manner 

 of those at Greenwich. But, the energy of the institution was spent 

 in its mere erection : it promised much, but performed nothing : and 

 after lingering in existence about four years, it was at length forniJilly 

 abolished. M. Pons, after this disappointment, continued to observe 

 with such means as he could obtain ; till Leopold II. invited him to 

 Florence, on conditions as honourable as magnificent. He accord- 

 ingly went thither in July 1825, after having just recognized Encke's 

 comet at Lucca, before his departure. The previous computation of 

 its return had been a guide to his researches ; yet it proved the ex- 

 cellence of his eye at the age of 64, as he saw it long before any 

 one else. 



The Abbe Gregoire, afterwards Bishop of Blois, is known to us 

 principally as having taken an active part in the establishment of 

 the Board of Longitude in France, in imitation of the English board, 

 to which was to be confided the publication of the Connaissance des 

 Terns. The Abbe, in common with many of his scientific country- 

 men, was not insensible to the great advantages to be derived, in a 

 maritime point of view, from a well-conducted Nautical Almanac : 

 and one of the avowed objects for establishing the board in question, 

 was the prospect that the French might be better enabled to compete 

 with this country, with whom they were then at war. 



During the past year, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 

 have consulted the Council also on another important subject con- 

 nected with the advancement of navigation. In consequence of the 

 alterations about to be introduced into the New Nautical Almanac, 

 it has been considered expedient that new Requisite Tables should be 

 formed to accompany it : and, with the view of carrying this object 

 into effect, in the most efficient and satisfactory manner, a Committee 

 has been formed to consider, arrange, and propose such Tables as 

 may be thought most proper for that end. This Committee has al- 

 ready met, and a sketch of the proposed Tables has been draw^n up, but 

 not yet agreed upon : for, in an affair of so much importance, there 

 cannot be too much time devoted to the consideration of the subject. 



The Standard scale, mentioned in the last Report, is not yet ex- 

 ecuted. The work has remained a long time stationary, waiting for 

 the micrometer object-glasses promised by Mr. Tully : but which, up 

 to the present time, he has not been able to complete. 



No subject having been specifically brought before the Council, as 



