94 British Associatio?i for the Advancement of Science. 



The Marquis of Bredalbane was chosen President for the en- 

 suing year. The next meeting will be at Glasgow, commencing 

 on the 17th of September, 1840. 



Section A. Mathematics and Physics. 



Prof. Whewell, President of the Section, in a brief address, 

 observed that one of the chief objects of the association was to 

 grant sums of money to individuals or committees engaged in the 

 pursuit of particular branches of science. Reports were then read 

 concerning the progress of various committees in the duties as- 

 signed to them, as follows. 



1. On a grant of £200, for the reduction, under the supervi- 

 sion of Sir J, Herschel, Mr. Airy, and Mr. Henderson, of the stars 

 observed by Lacaille at the Cape of Good Hope, and recorded in 

 his Cceluin Australe Stelliferum ; the committee reported "that 

 considerable progress has been made in the reduction of the stars 

 in Lacaille's Caelum Australe Stelliferum ; and that, although only 

 a small portion of the money appropriated, has been actually ex- 

 pended, nearly the whole will probably be required, during the 

 ensuing year, to complete the work." 



3. On a grant of £50 to defray expenses which might arise in 

 the course of an inquiry, committed to Sir J. Herschel, Prof. 

 Whewell, and Mr. Baily, concerning a revision of the nomencla- 

 ture of the stars and a new distribution of the constellations ; it 

 was reported, " that some progress has been made in reforming 

 the nomenclature of the northern constellations; and that the 

 stars in the southern have been commenced laying down on a 

 planisphere, according to their observed actual magnitudes, for 

 the purpose of grouping them in a more convenient and advan- 

 tageous manner. No expense has been incurred in this inquiry, 

 but the committee are desirous that the grant should be continued 

 for another year." 



3. On a grant of £500 for the reduction of the stars in the 

 Histoire Celeste^ under the superintendence of Mr. Baily, Mr. 

 Airy, and Dr. Robinson ; it was reported, " that the reduction of 

 the stars in the Histoire Celeste has been commenced, and already 

 13,000 stars have been reduced, at an expense of about £170. 

 It is presumed that the greater part, if not the whole, of the re- 

 mainder may be completed in the course of the ensuing year ; 

 and it is, therefore, expedient that the grant of money should be 

 continued." 



