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day, the distance of the moon from the sun and the stars. 
La Caille regretted that his other occupations would not 
permit him to compile this nautical Ephemerides himself, 
At a later time, in his treatise on navigation, he reverted 
to the same subject, and gave anew the sketch of his. 
almanac, limiting himself to giving the distances every 
four hours for the meridian. His design was not followed, 
Lalande contented himself with analysing and discussing 
La Caille’s method in the Connadssance des Temps for 
1760, As to the French Marine, it was content to use 
“WVétat du Ciel, calculé par Pingré et rapporté a usage 
des marins, 1754, 1755, 1756, et 1758.” It was very 
different, however, in England. 
(To be continued.) 
SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM 
CBS Cape Argus for July 10 contains the report of the 
curator, Mr. Roland Trimen, of the South African Mu- 
seum, for the previous half year. Many valuable additions 
have been made to the museum during that time, but its 
efficiency is very seriously crippled through want of funds, 
mainly due, we are sorry to say, to the parsimony of Govern- 
ment. We regret to see that the number of subscribers 
has seriously diminished from what it originally was, but 
the success of so valuable an institution should in no way 
be dependent on the capricious revenue to be derived 
from such a source. Let us hope that recent changes in 
the personnel of the Government will lead to greater 
liberality for this and for other scientific purposes. We 
cannot do better than give a few extracts from an excel- 
lent leader in the Avgus on the Curator’s report. 
“ Now that strong efforts are being made to for- 
ward the interests of education in the Colony, those in- 
stitutions that aid in the work should not be neglected. 
We do not at present refer to colleges and schools, for 
these, whenever education is discussed, come prominently 
before the popular mind, but our remarks are directed 
rather to such places as museums, whose work in higher 
education of the kind required in modern days is of con- 
siderable importance . . . It has often struck us as rather 
a reflection on Cape Town that there is no Society here 
for the discussion of natural science subjects, and though 
we are aware of some obstacles to the successful working 
of such a body, we see no reason why they should not be 
overcome. In the capital of every Colony of which we 
have any knowledge, a Society of the kind exists, and 
indeed in the Cape itself there are towns that, in this 
respect at least, are ahead of the metropolis. 
“But though we have no Natural Science Society 
in Cape Town, we have what, all things considered, 
may be said to be an excellent Museum. . . . The 
Museum was founded under the enlightened influ- 
ence of the then Governor, Sir George Grey, in 1855, and 
in 1857 was incorporated by Act of Parliament. Its first 
trustees were Mr. Rawson, the Colonial Secretary at the 
time, Sir Thomas Maclear, the then Astronomer Royal, 
and Dr. Pappe, the then Colonial Botanist. On Dr, 
Pappe’s death Mr. C. A. Fairbridge was appointed a 
trustee, and upon the resignation of Mr. Rawson, on his 
departure from the Colony, his place was filled by Mr. 
Southey, now Lieut,-Governor of Griqualand West. It 
will be thus seen that the Museum has from the first been 
under the management of trustees alike of scientific ac- 
quirements and business ability. In its first curator, Mr, 
Layard, it was extremely fortunate, and it had the advan- 
tage of his enthusiastic labours for the lengthy period of 
fifteen years. 
“But though it has had the advantage of excel- 
lent management, the development of the institution 
has been seriously hindered ‘rom want of funds, 
and it has not received, either from the Legis- 
lature or the public, that pecuniary support neces- 
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NATURE 
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| Aug. 28, 1873 
sary to secure the services of efficient officers and to” 
meet the thousand and one expenses of cases, glass, 
chemicals, and the appliances and apparatus required in — 
carrying out the work of a museum. It is a wise policy — 
on the part of the Legislature to vote grants of money to — 
such institutions in proportion to the pecuniary support — 
received from the public, and if Parliament is to be in- 
duced to make a larger grant to the Museum, the private 
subscription list must be extended. The small sum of 
one guinea represents the subscription for a year, and we 
are quite sure, when it is known how much the institution 
stands in want of funds, the list of subscribers will be- 
come larger. | 
“Strangers who visit the Museum and who know how 
such things are managed elsewhere must smile when told 
that its curator is a clerk in the Civil Service, whose time 
is chiefly occupied in doing the work of a subordinate 
officer in the Colonial Office. We say this without any 
intention of disparaging the gentleman referred to, for his 
attainments in one branch of Science at least are univer- 
sally admitted ; but we do say that, if the South African 
Museum is to be anything like worthy of the name, and if” 
it is to continue efficiently to perform the work so well 
commenced by Mr. Layard, its curator should devote the 
whole of his time and attention to the duties of that office. 
Under existing circumstances, that, however, is not to be 
expected, as the salary is not sufficient to induce any 
qualified gentleman to give up other positions for the 
sake of applying himself entirely to the work of the 
Museum, 
“There are other matters connected with this institution 
to which we might draw attention, but until more publi 
support is given to the Museum it would be a waste of 
time to refer to them,” 
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF AUSTRALIA AND 
TASMANIA * 
cues surveys have been proceeding, to a 
greater or lesser extent, in all the Australian colo- 
nies for several years, and in Victoria the work has been 
prosecuted so systematically, and with such success, that 
the main features of the surface geology of the country 
are comparatively well ascertained and mapped out, 
The example in this respect set by Victoria has been 
followed to a very considerable extent by Queens 
land, and in a lesser degree by several of the other 
colonies. A geological map of Australia has, however, 
never been issued. Such a work would be inval 
able, and the materials obtained are quite sufficient to 
justify an attempt being made to carry it out. Such an 
attempt is now being made by the Mining Department o! 
Victoria. Some months since the Hon. A. Mackay, 
Minister of Mines, put himself in communication with 
the Governments of the other colonies with the view ol 
obtaining from them all the information in their posses: 
sion respecting the geological characteristics of the te 
tories over which they presided. The application was 
readily acceded to, and a large mass of materials he 
been since placed at the disposal of the Mining Depa 
ment of Victoria. Under the direction of Mr. R. Brough 
Smyth, F.G.S., Secretary for Mines, this has beer 
thoroughly digested and arranged, and is now being em 
bodied in a map, which, when completed, as it will be 
shortly, will show at a glance the result of all geological 
surveys made in Australia and Tasmania up to the pre- 
sent time. As the value of such a work necessaril 
depends upon the accuracy of the observations upon 
which it is based, it may be well, before attempting 
a brief description of its main features, to indicate 
the source from whence the materials used in its com- 
pilation have heen derived, The gevlozical sketel 
* From an article in the Melbourne Argus, July 7 8 
