362 Miscellanies. 



Byu. c. S urs3B minoris, Aug. 13, Latitude 41 14 35.1 

 " 17, 36.2 



mean, 41 14 35.7 



From which he concludes that the latitude is 41° 14' 37" nearly. 



The paper contains a series of fifty moon culminations, one eclipse, 

 and six occultations, observed in 1838 and 1839. These furnish data 

 for determining the longitude of the Hudson Observatory when cor- 

 responding European and American observations shall have been ob- 

 tained. Prof. Loomis gives for the approximate longitude bh- 25to. 

 425. It may be proper to add, that one of the undersigned, S. C. 

 Walker, having reduced the six occultations contained in this paper, 

 and compared them with four corresponding observations at the Phil- 

 adelphia Observatory, four at the Dorchester Observatory, two at Mr. 

 Paine's House, Boston, and one at Princeton College, New Jersey, 

 finds for the longitude of the Hudson Observatory bh. 2bm. 47s. 



The instruments for this observatory were selected by Professor 

 Loomis during his late journey in Europe. This economical estab- 

 lishment appears to be more complete than any of the kind now 

 known to be in operation in the United States, and the Committee 

 cordially recommend the example of the Western Reserve College, as 

 worthy of being followed by those universities which are desirous at 

 moderate expense, of inculcating practical astronomy, of making ob- 

 servations highly useful for geographical purposes, and of prosecu- 

 ting interesting researches connected with the progress and advance- 

 ment of astronomy. ~ 



The Committee recommend the paper for publication. 



Sears C. Walker, ^ 

 R. M. Patterson, > Committee. 

 Geo. M. Justice, } 



The recommendation in favor of publication, was adopted. 



Dr. Bache, on behalf of the Committee on Dr. Hare's paper enti- 

 tled " On the extrication of Barium, Strontium and Calcium," report- 

 ed in favor of publication in the Society's Transactions, which was 

 ordered accordingly. 



In this paper Dr. Hare first calls attention to the following phe- 

 nomenon observed by him almost twelve years since, and published. 

 When the circuit in a galvanic battery, the deflagrator of the author, 

 was completed through a saturated solution of chloride of calcium, 

 the anode being formed by a coarse, and the cathode by a fine pla- 

 tinum wire, the latter was rapidly fused, while, when the situation 

 of the wires was reversed, the ignition was comparatively feeble. It 



