251 



ones. There was a light N.W. wind, and the temperature was 

 thus : 



9 o'clock. Midnight. 



Thermometer 37°7 34°-4 



Barometer 30-01 30-00 



Hygrometer '680 '670 



5' 



1. The great Nebula in Orion. — This was now three hours and a 

 quarter over the meridian, and yet it was seen in great beauty and 

 distinctness under the whole aperture, with eyepieces 90 and 150. 

 The trapezium was examined very closely with 250 and 400, which 

 last it bore better than it had yet done ; but only four stars were 

 visible. 



2. o- Orionis. — All the stars of this group were perceptible under 

 the power 250, but they had the appearance of being seen in a 

 second-rate reflector ; so that I know not how a micrometer would 

 work upon this instrument. 



3. Venus. — The crescent which this planet now forms was better 

 seen than heretofore, but an unseemly quantity of light still attended 

 it j and under the higher powers the colours were intolerable. When, 

 however, the focus of power 90 was nicely adjusted, and the planet 

 brought exactly into the centre of the field, it was a beautiful object, 

 despite of a secondary spectrum. The aperture was reduced, and I 

 did not find, either now or on other occasions, that this sensibly af- 

 fected the ocular focus. 



4. y Leonis. — This brilliant object was distinctly seen, and the dark 

 vacancy between the stars increased more than did the spurious discs, 

 while the magnifying powers were being raised, though much loose 

 light and irradiations were thereby produced. And it is singular that 

 the separation was improved by my placing a central disc of card- 

 paper, two inches in diameter, on the outer lens. 



5. Messier s 46th Nebula. — This was very fairly resolved into stars, 

 and better with the whole than the reduced aperture. Eyepiece 90 

 showed it easily, but the higher powers gave it a very turbid appear- 

 ance. The preceding cluster was brilliant. 



6. a Leonis. — This star had a bunch of disagreeable rays shooting 

 from it ; and the light, when under the best adjustment I could give 

 the focus, was curiously thrown to the northward. I was able, how- 

 ever, to raise a tolerable disc, and the small star at a little distance 

 from Regains was unusually distinct. 



7. 24 Covice Beren. — I pointed to this remarkably pretty object to 

 test the colours, and very readily perceived the large star to be of a 

 bright orange colour, and the small a sea-green. This was one of the 

 best sights I had yet had, and on the whole was satisfactory. 



8. i Leonis. — This, though a very close and unequal double star, 

 was well shown, yet at times the stray light would obscure the com- 

 panion. The large star was fairly figured, and the small seemed about 

 the 10th magnitude, and of a greenish hue. It formed a fine test. 



9. Saturn. — I had a good trial of this planet ; and though the 

 powers 90, 150 and 250 were borne, the disc was certainly not well 



