for the year 1864. lxxix 



and, however great their disappointment may have been at 

 the refusal which they received on that occasion, they will 

 if the present hopes are realized, have no reason to repent 

 that it has been left to the Colony of Victoria to carry into 

 execution an undertaking, which may well be expected to 

 hold a high place in the annals of science in all future 

 time." 



During the early part of 1863, an extended correspon- 

 dence was carried on amongst the men most distinguished 

 in this department of astronomy in England, for the pur- 

 pose of determining the best form of telescope for the 

 purpose, considering the especial objects for which it is 

 designed. This correspondence has resulted in the offer by 

 Mr. Wm. Lassell, of the four feet reflector, which he erected 

 at his own expense, and which he has been using for several 

 years at Malta,, as a free gift to the Colony of Victoria, on 

 the sole condition that it is considered suitable for the 

 purpose. 



The success of Mr. Lasseli's observations leaves no room 

 for doubt as to the excellence of the optical part of the 

 telescope ; it will, however, require very considerable altera- 

 tions in the mounting to suit it to the latitude of Melbourne, 

 and the greater increased range of zenith distance which will 

 be requisite, in order that it should take in some of the most 

 important of the southern nebulas ; and the Legislature of 

 Victoria has just voted £3,000 that the colony may avail 

 itself of Mr. Lasseli's most munificent offer without delay. 



In the past year, the Observatory has been removed from 

 Williarostown, where it had gradually grown since its first 

 establishment in 1853, to the new Observatory erected in 

 the Government Domain, near the Botanical Gardens. This 

 was accomplished in June last, and soon afterwards the 

 Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory, which had been 

 for several years so ably directed by Professor Neumayer, 



