273 



as computed from observations, differ more from one another, 

 than the more accurate of these differ from the elements of 

 the comet of 16S9, as recomputed by Professor Peirce of Har- 

 vard from the data collected by Pingre. The differences of 

 the computed elements were, according to Mr. Walker, less 

 than those of the computations made from the observations of 

 Encke's comet in 1795. Mr. W. further submitted evidence 

 of the identity of the comets of 1689 and 1843, drawn from 

 the appearances of the two, and dissented from the conclu- 

 sions of Professor Peirce, which make the latter identical with 

 the comet of 1668. 



Special Meeting, May 12. 



Present, twenty-six members. 



Dr. Bache, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Dr. Chapman, as chairman of the General Committee on the 

 Centennial Celebration, and Professor Bache and Mr. Kane, 

 as the chairmen of sub-committees charged with the detailed 

 arrangements, severally communicated to the Society the fur- 

 ther steps which had been taken by them. 



It was then, on motion of Mr. Kane, 



Resolved, That the Society will hold a special meeting at 

 its Hall on Friday, the 26th instant, to receive communications 

 from the members and friends of the Society on topics of sci- 

 entific interest. 



On motion of Dr. Chapman, 



Resolved, That strangers may be admitted to the meeting 

 of the 26th instant, on introduction by a member of the So- 

 ciety. 



It having been intimated, that some of the members were de- 

 sirous of receiving the correspondents and other friends of the 

 Society at the Hall, on the evening succeeding the Centennial 

 Discourse; it was, on motion of Mr. G. W. Smith, Resolved, 

 That on the afternoon and evening of the 25th, the Hall be ap- 

 propriated to that object, under the sanction of the Committee 

 of Arrangements. 



