312 Proceedings of the British Association. 



plated ; and even in the very limited range afforded by the speci- 

 mens now presented, affords ground for interesting remark. Thus 

 we see that the march of the barometer in the only two Irish sta- 

 tions which have furnished observations, (Markree and Limerick,) 

 while agreeing well with each other, differs most decidedly from 

 its corresponding march in all the English stations ; which, on 

 the other hand, offer a good correspondence, inter se. * * It 

 would be premature, at present, to enter fully into the details of 

 the further steps contemplated in these reductions, as they will 

 be, of necessity, materially influenced by the aspect under which 

 the subject shall present itself in its progress, and especially by 

 the discussion of one or two of the most complete series, among 

 which, thanks to American zeal and industry, the group including 

 the United States promises to be the most prominent. Only a 

 very trifling sum (under £2,) has been hitherto expended (for 

 the printing of the skeleton forms,) out of the original grant of 

 £100; but the continuance of the gram will be required to meet 

 the further requisite expenses. It is only justice to Mr. Birt to 

 observe, that his part of the work appears to be executed with 

 great care and judgment. — Signed, J. F. W. Herschel. 



Reduction of the stars in Lalande's Histoire Celeste. — The 

 Committee appointed to superintend the reduction of stars in the 

 Histoire Celeste, report, that about 33,000 stars have been already 

 reduced, the cost of which has been about £412, exclusive of 

 about £52 for printing skeleton forms for the use of the com- 

 puter. They further report, that there are about 16,000 more 

 stars to be reduced, the cost of which will be about £200 more. 

 As the original grant will not cover the whole of this expense, 

 (there being only about £35 remaining out of that grant,) the 

 Committee suggest the propriety of extending the grant for the 

 ensuing year to the £200 above mentioned, which, they trust, 

 will complete the work. Aug. 25, 1840. — Fkancis Baily. 



Catalogue of Stars of Roy. Ast. Soc. — The Committee ap- 

 pointed to superintend the extension of the Royal Astronomical 

 Society's Catalogue of Stars, report, that the work is in consid- 

 erable progress, and that it will probably be completed before the 

 next meeting of the British Association, in 1841. They further 

 report, that £360 have been already paid for computations, and 

 about £70 for printing and other expenses, making a total of 

 about £430, out of the original grant for £500. As this balance 



