viii Report of Observatory Committee. 



The object we have in view is the establishment of an Astrono- 

 mical Observatory, to be commenced on a small scale which will 

 enable it, when completed, to rank with the first observatories in 

 Europe as regards those instruments which are generally found only 

 in National Institutions, and to possess at the same time a telescope 

 such as those which have been in one or two instances only con- 

 structed by the wealth munificence and zeal of private individuals. 



As regards an Astronomical Observatory generally, it is unneces- 

 sary to do more than draw your attention to the fact that, while 

 upwards of seventy observatories, public or private, are at work in 

 the northern hemisphere, two or three only exist in an efficient state 

 in the southern hemisphere, from which you will at once perceive 

 how great an amount of astronomical work still remains, which can 

 only be clone in a southern latitude. 



But while thus urging the importance of establishing an observa- 

 tory generally, we desire to bring more especially under your notice 

 the peculiar interest which is attached to the department of nebular 

 astronomy. " The mysterious forms on which it is employed are at 

 " present objects of universal curiosity, from their position (outworks 

 " as it were of the universe), their evident analogy to the system of 

 " which we are a part and which we may hope to study in them, 

 " and the dynamic questions which the marvellous arrangements of 

 " many of them suggest." Its history may be briefly given : — 



" About 68 nebulas had been ill seen and worse described when 

 the elder Herschel was led to explore them by the encouragement 

 " and aid of his sovereign, George III. 



" To those previously known he not only added 2500 more, but 

 " by classing them, by clear and methodical description and directing 

 " attention to the relations which connect them with other portions 

 " of the universe, he gave this branch of astronomy its powerful 

 " vitality. 



" His no less distinguished son, following his example with even 

 " greater success, has not merely extended the list of northern 

 " nebulas to an extent which would have ennobled any other name, 

 " but has given the whole work complete precision by an accurate 

 " determination of the positions of all contained in his own and his 

 " father's lists, thus placing them fully within the reach of subse- 

 " quent observers. 



" Not content with this, he transported to "this" hemisphere those 

 " instruments which had done such good service in " Europe," and has 

 " thus enriched astronomy with 1,600 more, equally well observed, 

 " but beyond the reach of European astronomers. 



" Yet, powerful as those instruments were, a much nearer 

 " approach to the limit of useful optical power has been made by 

 " Lord Kosse ; it was therefore to be expected that his telescope 

 " would add considerably to our knowledge of the nebulas, and this 

 " has been fully realised." 



