49 



The Royal Observatory of Scotland. 



From the annual Report presented by the Astronomer to 

 the Board of Visitors, approved of by them, and since pub- 

 lished, we find that much has been done, but that more still 

 remains to do. 



All the old observations have been computed and printed, as 

 testified by the recent appearance of the tenth volume of the 

 "Edinburgh Astronomical Observations;" but their importance 

 is much diminished by the poverty of the establishment in in- 

 strumental means, and in the manual resources absolutely ne- 

 cessary to complete the scientific investigations which have 

 been commenced. 



The Astronomer has clearly pointed out in his report what 

 these desiderata are ; and they appear to be generally such as 

 have already been granted to other Observatories and rival 

 establishments ; and that, not only in this country, but in 

 others also where science is not generally supposed to 

 flourish. Thus one of the observatories in Rome has just 

 obtained from the Government there, one of the very addi- 

 tions to its means, which has for several years past been 

 annually applied for by the Edinburgh Observatory, but in 

 vain. Scotland, which justly considers itself in so many 

 points to be better circumstanced than Rome, has not in its 

 scientific department the same attention from her rulers. 



We trust, however, that this neglect will not last long, 

 and then, from the programme of proceedings laid down in 

 this report, we may expect a greatly increased importance 

 to attach to the Edinburgh observations. 



The use, indeed, which the astronomer proposes to make 

 of the proposed addition to his instrumental means, appears 

 so novel in its character, as well as promising and effective 

 in its results, that we subjoin here the concluding part of his 

 report. 



" The previous headings, together with an actual inspection 

 of the instruments and books at the Observatory, will give 

 the Board a fair idea of what has been accomplished during 

 the past year ; but looking also, and more wisely, beyond 



VOL. LV. NO. CIX. — JULY 1853. D 



