yU UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 



relatively for the sliglitest saciifice from other countries taken 

 collectively. In the mean time, it was by no means unknown that also 

 other Meridians, namely, that of Paris aiicl the Meridian distant from 

 it 20° in round numbers, which it has been customary to describe as 

 that of Ferro, had well-grounded claims to consideration. Asti'onomers 

 claimed for the former, that of Paris, that the classic 'labours of 

 Laplace, Bessel, Leverrier, Hansen and others had been based upon 

 this Initial Meridian, which had thus been taken as their starting 

 point on Astronomical Territory. It was urged with regard to the 

 latter, that it was the object of constant reference in School Atlasses 

 of Germany, Russia and other lands.. On the other hand, with regard 

 to Greenwich, besides the practical advantages already named, it 

 could be especially claimed that by far the majority of geographical 

 positions on the earth's surface, were principally established accord- 

 ing to this Meridian ; and that the Greenwich Observatory for more 

 than two centuries having published continuous observations on the 

 Moon's motion, and thi'ough manifold labours and investigations bear- 

 ing on navigation, had rendered such service to geography and navi- 

 gation, which no other institution could adduce, or even in any 

 %vay a])proach. 



Influenced by such considerations, it followed that at the Congress at 

 Rome, the resolution in a certain manner was unanimously adopted 

 to reconimend for general acceptance as First Meridian that of Green- 

 wich. Even the numerous French representatives, many of them 

 |)ersons of importance, did not oppose this step, but by abstaining 

 from voting, contented themselves with this expression of sympathy, 

 with the Mei-idian of Paris so acceptable to them. Likewise, some other 

 resolutioiis bearing npon the subject were at the same time carried 

 with such a large majority as almost to make the vote unanimous : 

 viz., that the Longitudes should be numbered from Greenwich to the 

 East around the whole eai-th to 3G0° ; that the Universal Time to be 

 introduced, should be Mean Solar Time, taken from the First Meri- 

 dian, and that the notation of the latter should be without division 

 of the day in two halves, but carried on to 24 hours. A more lively 

 discussion was created by the question, whether the numeration of 

 Universal Time should begin at Greenwich, mid-day or mid-night, 

 was decided in favour of the former. During the consideration of 

 this resolution, the fact came into strong prominence, that as the 

 present custom of astronomers, and to some extent of navigators, is 

 to reckon the date from noon, the arrangement of details and the 

 difficulties which a departure from this custom would carry with it, 

 would be felt equally by astronomical chronology, as by the calculator 

 of the Ephemerides. In conclusion, two resolutions were accepted 

 by the Congress of Rome, the -purport of which was in no way con- 

 nected with its special pui-pose. One of these set forth, that it was 

 desirable for certain ends, especially for geodesy, that the decimal 

 notation should be introduced into the circle ; and the wish was 



