165 



November 16, 1854. 

 Colonel SABINE, R.A., V.P. and Treasurer, in the Chair. 



J. Lockhart Clarke, Esq., and Captain Moore, R.N., were ad- 

 mitted into the Society. 



The following communications were read : 



I. Letter from Lieutenant MAURY to Admiral SMYTH, For. 

 Sec. R.S. 



" National Observatory, Washington, 

 October 21, 1854. 



" SIR, I have the honour to state, for the information of the 

 Royal Society, that a new asteroid was discovered here by Mr. James 

 Ferguson, Assistant Astronomer, at 11 P.M., 2nd of Sept. 1854. 



" He was observing Egeria at the time, and found that, the 13th, 

 and this, the 31st, in the field together. 



" I have delayed this communication, waiting to ascertain whether 

 the planet might not have been discovered by observers in other parts 

 of the world ; and it appearing that it had not, the priority of the 

 discovery, therefore, belongs to the National Observatory ; and this 

 new star is added to the family of asteroids as the first representa- 

 tive of America among them, and a memorial of her zeal in the 

 cause of astronomy. 



" As a testimony of the high appreciation in which the talents and 

 the industry of Mr. Ferguson are held, the honour of naming this 

 planet was left to him. Following the rule adopted by astronomers 

 with regard to the asteroids, he has selected the graceful name of 

 Euphrosyne. 



VOL. VII. S 



