78 



The computations of the quantities themselves being effected by 

 means of algebraical equations of great complexity, and of numerical 

 calculations of considerable length, which afford in themselves no 

 ready means of verifying their accuracy, the author has been under 

 the necessity of examining closely every line of figures before he pro- 

 ceeded to another. Upon the whole he is certain that there is no 

 error of importance in the numbers he obtained; and that the only 

 probable source of error is the inevitable rejection of figures beyond 

 a certain place of decimals. 



In concluding this investigation, the most laborious, probably, that 

 has yet been made in the planetary theory, he remarks that the term 

 in question is a striking instance of the importance to which terms, 

 apparently the most insignificant, may sometimes rise. As an illus- 

 tration of the magnitude of the errors which might under other cir- 

 cumstances have arisen from the neglect of this term, he further ob- 

 serves, that if the perihelion of Venus and the earth had opposite lon- 

 gitudes, and if the line of nodes coincided with the major axis, the 

 eccentricities and inclination having the same values as at present, 

 the coefficient of the inequality in the epoch would be 8".9, and all 

 the other terms would be important. A very small increase of the 

 eccentricities and inclination would double or treble these inequa- 

 lities. 



Anniversary Meeting, Nov. 30. 



HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, K.G., 

 President, in the Chair. 



The President delivered the following Address: — 

 Gentlemen, 



The period, provided by our Statutes, has again come round, when 

 your Officers and Council must be reconstituted by your authority ; 

 and I feel myself called upon, in conformity with the custom which 

 has been sanctioned by my predecessors, to address you upon such 

 subjects connected with the Royal Society and its administration, as 

 the events of the last year may have rendered proper to be noticed 

 by me. But before I touch upon other topics, I feel anxious to say 

 a few words upon my own position in the Society, and my views re- 

 specting it. 



The Chair of the Royal Society has been filled by a rare succes- 

 sion of illustrious men, and I feel proud that I have been judged 

 worthy, upon any grounds, to occupy a situation which has become 

 dignified by its association with the names of those who have con- 

 ferred so much honour upon our country. It is indeed true that I 

 can enter into no competition with such predecessors, as respects 

 scientific knowledge, which my early education, my public occupa- 

 tions, and even the duties of my rank, have prevented me from cul- 



