AMEKICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 41 



consideration of this offer, as to its possibility, use- 

 fulness, and probable expense, was referred to the 

 Committee on Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, 

 but we do not know what was the result. It is 

 probable that the expense was found too great. 



The Society, however, at that time, had already 

 appointed two observations to be made, but instru- 

 ments were wanted, and they had no funds. They, 

 therefore, applied to the Legislature for aid and 

 that body, very liberally, by their resolution of the 

 15th of October, granted a sum not exceeding 100 

 sterling, for the purchase of a reflecting telescope 

 and a micrometer, which, after being used by the 

 Society were to remain the property of the As- 

 sembly. 28 



This Society, it must be owned, enjoyed the patron- 

 age of the Government, of which the other was de- 

 prived. 



Various observations on the transit of Venus, were 

 made after the union of the two Societies, which were 

 published in the first volume of our Transactions, 

 and attracted the attention of the learned in Europe. 



I must give credit, however, to the American So- 

 ciety for a liberal act, which evinces their generous 

 spirit and their zeal for the improvement of their 

 Country. It shows also the progress that had been 

 made at that time in the culture of our native vine. 



On the 25th of November, while the negotiations 



28 Votes, Vol. 6, p. 111. 



