MEMOIR OF SIR THOMAS MAKDOUGALL BRISBANE. 601 
«The observations of Hatiey at St Helena had made known the places of a 
moderate number of the brighter southern stars ; but the only catalogue of any 
extent and accuracy which existed previous to the establishment of the observa- 
tories at the Cape and Parramatta, was that of LacatLie, who spent three years 
at the Cape of Good Hope and the Isles of France and Bourbon, and though with 
very inadequate instrumental means, yet, by dint of the most indefatigable 
industry, succeeded in observing and registering upwards of 10,000 stars. 
* But by far the greater part of these observations have never been reduced ; 
a selection only from them of 1942 of the principal ones, not amounting to a fifth 
of their whole number, having been formed into a catalogue and published by this 
meritorious astronomer. It must be admitted, however, that the degree of accu- 
racy stated by LAcAILLE himself to have been probably attained by him is hardly 
such as to make us now very deeply regret their want of reduction, especially 
as the observations themselves are printed with every requisite for that purpose 
when required. Still, however, from his method of observing, which was with a 
fixed telescope and rhomboidal network, his observations have what may be 
termed a dormant value, as they most probably give correct differences for each 
night’s work; and when a catalogue of standard southern stars shall be com- 
pleted, LAcaILLE’s observations will become available by regarding these as Zero 
points, and referring all the rest to them. 
* Such was nearly, with little improvement, the state of the astronomy of the © 
southern hemisphere when Sir THomas BrisBANE was appointed governor of the 
colony of New South Wales. The intention of our Government to found an 
observatory on the largest scale at the Cape of Good Hope was indeed already 
fixed; and the observer, a member of this Society, supplied with instruments 
sufficient for the purpose of constructing a preliminary catalogue, occupied him- 
self with the necessary observations, while awaiting the arrival of those ulti- 
mately destined to adorn that establishment, and the building of his observatory. 
The appropriate catalogue so constructed and reduced, containing all the southern 
stars observed by LacaiLiz, down to the fifth magnitude, is already printed by the 
Royal Society in their Transactions. 
‘Sir THomas BrisBane’s attachment to astronomy had ever been a prevailing 
principle of his mind, and one which, even amidst the distractions of a military 
life of no ordinary degree of activity and adventure, he found means to indulge, 
and which never deserted him, however the calls of his country might demand 
his services in a different and more splendid career. His appointment to the 
important office of governor of New South Wales, however, put it in his 
power to execute to their fullest extent, and under the most favourable circum- 
stances, plans of astronomical investigation which to a private individual would 
have been utterly impracticable. The opportunity was embraced with eager- 
ness. The best instruments, consisting of an excellent transit of 54 feet focal 
VOL. XXII. PART III. 7Q 
