Davis's Report on the Nautical Almanac. 331 
» This, which is known by distinction in Europe as the Ameri- 
can method, leads to the detection of former errors. But neither 
in this nor in similar cases, are the errors regarded otherwise than - 
as unavoidable defects, unveiled and remedied in the continually 
advancing progress of the science; and to this progress it ma 
be said, the Nautical Almanac will make a valuable contribution. 
With the authority of the Department, Mr. Sears C. Walker has 
executed for that office the great task of computing the numerical 
values of what are technically known as the “Le Verrier coeffi- 
cients of the perturbative function.” 
The eminent design of this undertaking is to correct the errors 
of former astronomers, and to create the means by whieh more 
Precision is to be given to astronomical science. 
Il. After the first Nautical Almanac is published, will the suc- 
ceeding numbers probably cost-as much or more than the first ? 
_ After the first volume of the Nantical Almanac is published, it 
1S estimated that the sum of $19,400 will be the probable cost of 
the succeeding volumes; and this sum is not more than sufficient 
to allow the first class computors, who must be gentlemen of lib- 
eral education and of special attainments in the science of as- 
tronomy, the lowest salary paid for similar services in other offices 
of the government. The annual estimate for the British Alma- 
Nac is between sixteen and seventeen thousand dollars ; but, gen- 
erally speaking, intellectual labor commands a higher compensa- 
on in this country than in Great Britain. - 
_A portion of the appropriation will be returned into the treasury 
every year when the sale of the book commences. ‘The cost of 
the first number includes the expense of the various works of 
Preparation already detailed. ‘These preparatory productions are 
Permanently useful ; they are the instruments to be employed in 
the compntation of all future numbers. If the American Alma- 
nac should be continued uninterruptedly for as long a pert 
the British has existed, the cost of preparation, thus distributed, 
would amount to about two hundred and twenty-two dollars a 
number. 
12. Will the same time be necessary for the second and subse~ 
nt numbers, respectively as for the first? . : 
The succeeding numbers of the almanac will appear annually 
three years in advance of the year for which they are computed, 
according to the custom in England, France and Germany. The 
time spent in the computation of each number will be one year. 
Finally, in reply to this resolution in general, let it be said that 
the Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris is not a 
work of insignificant value, or of trifling labor. It has been 
viewed by the Department, and is considered by American as- 
m rs and mathematicians as a work of consummate utility 
