104 [Assembly 



tinctness of the image. Powers as high as 1,000 are sometimes 

 used with advantage. It gives a sharp outline of the brighter 

 planets. I have frequently observed Saturn in the autumnal 

 mornings before daylight, the season when the atmosphere is most 

 propitious for nice observations, and remarlied the sharp and dis- 

 tinct figure of the planet, and the division of the double ring, 

 showing in addition a marked subdivision of the outer bright ring, 

 also the interior ash colored ring, with other and more minute 

 points of interest. 



In dealing with close double stars the performance is equally 

 o-ood, showing a dark line of division between the components of 

 such stars as Epsilon Arietis, Epsilon Equlei, Zeta Cancri, and 

 Zeta Herculis. . 



With respect to the last stars I have compared the performance 

 of the instrument with the published observations made at Mr. 

 Bishop's observatory in Regent's Park, London, with an instru- 

 ment somewhat larger, and have seldom experienced the difficul- 

 ties noted in the remarks occompanying those observations j 

 the division is generally distinct and easy, and with increasing 

 powers, the separation is quite wide with the aperture of the 

 object glass reduced to four inches, the division is well seen, 

 although the companion is faint; something, it is true, may be 

 due to the position of the companion after an interval of several 

 years. I have also seen the companion of Anteros with the aper- 

 ture reduced to four inches. It will show, under favorable cir- 

 cumstances, the sixth star in the trapegium of Orion. 



It defines nebulous objects well, and shows the nicety of the 

 workmanship in the discrete appearance of some of .the swarming 

 clusters. 



I could multiply instances, but will merely add, that several 

 competent judges have tested the instrument, and uniformly ex- 

 pressed a high opinion of its performance. 



I remain yours truly, 



ROB'T VAN ARSDALE. 

 Henry Fitz, Esq. 



