10 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 



establishment of a Universal Time and the determination of a com- 

 mon Prime Meridian. While the present Astronomer Royal, Mr. 

 Christie, takes a favourable view of the question, his predecessor, Sir 

 G. B. Airy, reported unfavourably. The report of the Astronomer 

 Koyal for Scotland, Prof. Piazzi Smith, is decidedly adverse. These 

 documents have been transmitted to the Institute.* 



In Italy, the Italian Geographical Society has given its counten- 

 ance to a work by Mr. Fernando Bosari, who, in a pamphlet of 68 

 pages, reviews the whole question at length, and lays down three 

 principles: 1. The determination of a Zero-meridian ; 2. The estab- 

 lishment of Cosmopolitan Time based upon it ; 3. The notation of 

 the hours from 1 to 24 in a continuous series. 



The question of Universal Time and the selection of a Prime Meri- 

 dian is discussed with ability in a paper published by M. Thury, 

 professor at the University of Geneva. 



At the meeting of the Association for the Reform and Codifica- 

 tion of the Laws of Nations at Cologne, Prussia, in 1881, the 

 question of regulating time on the new system was considered and 

 resolutions moved. 



In the same year (1881), the subject occupied the attention of the 

 International Geographical Congress at Venice, at which a Delegate 

 from the Canadian Institute attended. The general question was 

 warmly discussed, and resolutions adopted. The appointment of an 

 International Conference to meet at Washington, specially to consider 

 the question, was then suggested by the Canadian Delegate, and 

 warmly supported by gentlemen representing the Government 

 and scientific societies of the United States.* The President 

 of the Congress communicated the resolutions to the Italian Gov- 

 ernm-ent, and Prince Teano, on behalf of the Italian Government, 

 undertook to conduct the oflScial cori-espondence. Out of this appears 

 to have sprung the important discussion at the meeting of the Inter- 

 national Geodetic Association at Rome, in October, 1883, when the 

 utility of Universal Time was recognized, and a sj)ecial International 

 Conference for the establishment of a Zero-meridian for Longitude 

 and Time recommended. 



Returning to this side of the Atlantic, the question of regulating 

 time for railway, telegraph, and civil purposes generally, was consid- 

 ered at the Convention of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 



* See Documents printed with this. 



