JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 99 
as 300. As Lohrman had done before them, they followed 
Schroeter’s system of describing by numbers the relative brightness 
of objects they observed. Their scale, since in common use, runs 
from zero for shadows to 10 degrees for the brightest lights. 
Beer and Meedler’s great work enjoys the reputation of being a 
model scientific monograph. Without trace of vanity or egotism, 
the workman in it is lost in his work. One of them, not content with 
his protracted labor on a difficult portion of the moon’s disk, adds: 
Que potui fect, faciant meliora potentes. Involuntary one bows in 
respect to these plodding, sincere workers, as they say in conclusion : 
“The time and strength our labors have taken, make us aware this 
“is the chief work of our lives, but our toil will be rewarded if it 
“meet the expectations of the scientific world.” Beer was a German 
banker, brother of Meyerbeer, the musical composer. 
Schmidt, of Athens, for many years held a chief place of honor 
among observers of lunar phenomena. He made more than a thous- 
and original drawings for a lunar map 75 in. in diameter. His 
map was completed more than thirty years ago, though publication 
was delayed from the question of cost. 
In 1364, the British Association appointed a ‘‘ Moon Commit- 
tee,” of which Mr. Birt was secretary. They decided to map the 
lunar surface on a scale of 100 in. to the moon’s disk, and to use 
for that purpose a telescope magnifying 1000 times. It was decided 
to use preliminary sketch maps double the size of the map to be 
finally engraved. Some of the sketch maps were issued, but I am 
not aware that the finished map has ever been published. 
Among English writers on lunar subjects, Nasmyth, the cele- 
brated engineer who invented the steam hammer, is entitled to a high 
place. His book, ‘‘ The Moon considered as a planet, a world, and 
a satellite,” was issued in conjunction with Mr. Carpenter, and has 
run through several editions. It is much prized for its chapters 
concerning the physical condition of the moon, and for its exquisite 
drawings of lunar craters, mountains and plains. Nasmyth’s excep- 
tional skill in drawing never shone to more advantage than in his 
illustrations of lunar scenery. In his most interesting biography, 
Nasmyth describes his method of obtaining these illustrations. He 
first made, directly at the telescope, careful drawings of the part of the 
moon’s disk selected for description. Full notes were taken with the 
