aa 
280 Scientific Intelligence. 
ble to the Washington observers, that in the first year of their experi- 
ence, the results of their observations should accord nearly as well as 
those of the long practised observers of Greenwich. 
We have instituted a similar comparison with regard to the observa- 
tions with the Mural Circle. The following Table shows the difference 
between the greatest and least mean Declinations deduced from the 
twelve stars most frequently observed, excluding the reflected observa- 
tions ; and for comparison we have taken all the direct observations of 
the twelve stars most frequently observed at Greenwich in 1837, with 
the Troughton mural circle. 
WASHINGTON. i is GREENWICH. se! 
» . Object. |No. obs | Extreme diff’e. Object. No obs. Extreme diff’e.| 
Polaris, 135 ‘ Polaris, 45 4!sdd xc 
a Persei, 16 3° 96 Sirius, 58 7° "iQes 
« Urs Majoris, | 20 6: 76 {« Urse Majoris, | 14 2° .32 
8 Urs Minoris, | 16 4° 79 |y Urs Majoris, 1 4 20 
7 Draconis, 25 3° 37 |¢ Urse Majoris, | 20 4: 36 
0 Urse Minoris, | 17 5: 02 | Urse Majoris. | 33 4: 40 
oe Lyre, 48 6° 88 | Arcturus, 3° 84 
yre, 21 2: Urse Minoris, | 18 3° 30. 
y Aquilz, 18 3° 11. {y Draconis, 1 3-75 
61 Cygni, 19 4: 22 |8 Draconis, 14 4 67 
« Piscis Australis,| 29 5° 50) |e Lyre, 13 3 75 
7 Cephei, © | 44 | 8 99 (Ip Sagittarii, 14 3 73° 
ae ee, Nee ee ee $5. 
The mean of the differences at Washington is 4’-53; at Greenwich 
4-18; and the number of observations at Washington is the largest: 
from which we see that the Washington mural observations accord quite 
as well as those of Greenwich, We conclude, then, that the Astron: 
expected in a foreign one. ; de, 
After the favorable opinion we have thus freely expressed respecting 
the Washington observations, perhaps we may be indulged in a few 
suggestions. We have remarked some deficiences which are excusable ® 
under the circumstances of the first volume, but which we hope may 
be remedied in future ones. We wish to see the observations of the 
sun, moon, and planets, fully reduced, and compared with the Nautical 
Almanac. The circumpolar stars «, 0, and 4, Ursa Minoris, and 51 
Cephei, are omitted in the catalogue, p. 272, and in the reductions, 
p- 246, although they were repeatedly observed. We do not unders' 
