98 THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
be able to give even that proof of the interest, which I feel in its: 
welfare. Whilst I was still doubting on this point, I had the oppor- 
tunity of ascertaining the views of some of our members, who have 
taken a most active part in promoting the welfare of the Institute, 
and they assured me that such uniformity of attendance, as I believed 
to be necessary for the satisfactory discharge of the duties, was not 
indispensable. Influenced by these assurances, and confiding in the 
aid of my able colleagues, the Vice-Presidents, I accepted the office with 
which you have honored me, with the determination to: discharge 
the duties to the best of my ability, and with the persuasion, that 
any necessary shortcomings would receive considerate indulgence at. 
your hands. 
The commencement of a new year suggests to Societies, as well as: 
to individuals, the expediency of taking a retrospect of that which has. 
just passed away, and of considering what they, and what others, in a 
like position, or engaged in similar pursuits, have done during the past 
twelve months. Following out this suggestion, I purpose submitting 
a brief review of the progress which has been made, during the year 
1862, in those departments of human knowledge, which it is the object. 
of this Institute to cultivate. In attempting this summary, it is scarce- 
ly necessary for me to premise that it must necessarily be very imper- 
fect. The brief fortnight which has elapsed since I was unexpectedly 
called upon to prepare an Inaugural Address—the shortness of time, 
suitable for observations, on such an occasion as the present, which im- 
poses cramping restraint in treating so extensive a subject—the vast 
number of particulars which solicit attention—and my own inability 
to handle all the branches, of which I must necessarily treat, with 
the skill, or ease, or confidence, that almost nothing but special atten- 
tion to each can bestow,—all these compel me to give but the merest.. 
outline, and to select from the mass of materials, only those which, as 
it were, crop out on the surface. 
The construction of star charts, those invaluable aids to the practi- 
cal astronomer, is still in progress by Argelander of the Bonn 
Observatory and Chacornac of the Paris Observatory. In the 
volumes, which have been recently published by the former distin- 
guished astronomer, the approximate places are given of 216,000 stars. 
between the parallels of 2° South Declination, and 41° North Decli- 
nation. This magnificent work is intended to be an Atlas of the stars: 
of the Northern Heavens within 92° of polar distance. An impor- 
