ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 9 
for the purpose of securing concerted action in observing the coming 
transit of Venus. Eleven European and three American States 
were represented at the Conference ; but the United States were 
not represented, although it is known that extensive preparations 
for observing are being made there. Mr. Stone, who represented 
England, stated that England would have sixteen stations—the 
principal centres being: 1. The Cape, with three stations, 2. 
Australia, with the Observatories of Sydney and Melbourne. 3. 
New Zealand. 4, Jamaica and Barbadoes. 5. Madagascar, and 
possibly the Falkland Islands. He added that England would 
do little or nothing with photography; for although the American 
photos, had turned out better than was expected, the results 
had been published too late to give time to get the instruments 
made and adopt their method. It was announced that France 
would have eight stations, placed as follows:—Florida, Cuba, 
Martinique, Mexico, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Rio Negro, and Port 
Desire. Each station will have twoequatorials, an Sand a 6-inch, but 
photography will only be employed at two, which are not 
yet named. That Germany would have four stations, and would 
not make any use of photography. Two stations would be in North 
America—one in the Argentine Republic, and one in the Falk- 
land Islands. That the Danish Government would send a party 
to St. Thomas ; the Netherlands would send a party to Curacoa 
or St. Martin ; Portugal would have parties at Lisbon, Coimbra, 
and perhaps one of the Portuguese Colonies ; Austro-Hungary 
will send a party to South America ; Spain will send parties to 
Porto Rica and Cuba ; Brazil will have three parties—one at Rio 
Janeiro, one on the hills 6,000 feet high, and one at Pernambuco— 
in all thirty-nine stations. The Conference agreed to instructions 
for observers, which were based upon the proposals of the British 
Commission, as to the phenomena to be observed at the contacts. 
It is therefore evident that the astronomical world is determined 
_ tomake good use of the transit of 1882, and will spare neither 
Money nor time to ensure a better result than that obtained in 
1874. One of the strongest proofs of this is the concerted action 
that has already been taken. But I will not detain you now by 
