504 Scientific Intelligence. 
to 93,300,000 miles. The New Zealand es were not 
included i in these calculations ; their mean result is 8"°764, almost 
identical with the above. It is remarked that any persons may 
perhaps consider that the more clo cp agreeing phases 6 and ¢ 
should be employed in deducing the value of the parallax to the 
exclusion of the others. If this be sous we shall have from the 
Ingress 8"*748, and from the “gress 8”:905, or with their due 
weights a mean valne 8”°773 
In this outline of the details contained in the Astronomer- 
Royal’s first report upon the observations _ the transit ied Venus, 
the conclusions to be drawn from t we have adhered 
closely to his own words. Pending the pend of the deduc- 
tions to be made from the complete measuring of the photographs, 
the results before us are perhaps to be regarded as — 
ones only, or we have not yet learned all that may be done from 
Sir sn of any astronomers we can imagine will regard 
with some secpieiba so small a parallax as 8"-76, whidke: is a tenth 
of a borate Jess than has been given by the most reliable previous 
investigations, ra different principles. In illustration we ma 
From meridian eee? tions of Mars, 1862 8”°855 
From ea, observations of Mars 1862 8"°842 
— ality o of the m 8"-838 
From the lu wien tion of the ear 8”-809 
From the transit of Venus, 1769 (Powaiky’ s reduction) 8"-860 
From Foucault’s e es | on hgh os. 8"-860 
To these may be added Leverrier’s Mage pu eanenuly deduced 
from the ae tary one , which is also Newcomb’s 
mean figure, taking account of Soe corres ae to the prob- 
able errors is 8’*848, which, with Capt. Clarke? *s measure ot Be 
earth’s equator, implies that the mean distance of the is 
92,393,000 miles. Sir George Airy’s 8’°760 would AEE ob Boe 
the re at a mean distance of 93,321,000 ng 
tunity as is presented by a close opposition of ae as nln 
at least as favorable conditions, and the result of Mr. expe- 
dition to Ascension to utilize the late eppomtian will be. on this 
account awaited with much interest. Nevertheless, whatever 
degree of ae might be entertained by competent authorities, 
it appears to have been felt by those immediately responsible for 
action, in different civilized nations where science is enGonraant 
that so rare a phenomenon as a transit of Venus could not 
allowed to pass without every exertion being made to utilize * 
and this country may lay claim to an honorable share in the great 
scientific effort, thanks mainly to the long-continued and admur- 
co ay irected endeavors of the Astronomer-Royal to secure this 
sult. 
