355 



observations made at the observatory of Trinity College, Dublin, for 

 determining the obliquity of the ecliptic, and the maximum of the 

 aberration of light ; the second, published in 1 822, containing the 

 investigation of the elements of a comet observed by Captain Basil 

 Hall ; the third published in 1824, on the North Polar distances of 

 the principal fixed stars ; and the last, which appeared in 1826, com- 

 municating the results of the application of Capt. Kater's floating 

 collimator to the astronomical circle at the observatory of Trinity 

 College, Dublin. He regards the results of these observations as 

 highly favourable to the principle of the collimator, which he con- 

 siders as a new astronomical power, and as even belonging to a more 

 advanced era of practical astronomy than the present. 



Mr. Edward Troughton is the author of a paper in the Phil. Trans, 

 for 1809, entitled " An Account of a method of dividing Astronomical 

 and other instruments by ocular inspection; in which the usual tools 

 for graduating are not employed ; the whole operation being so con- 

 trived, that no error can occur but what is chargeable to vision when 

 assisted by the best optical means of viewing and measuring minute 

 quantities." The intrinsic excellence of Mr. Troughton's method, 

 as detailed in this paper, consists in the process of examination 

 employed to correct the imperfections in laying down the divisions 

 by methods which give only approximate degrees of accuracy. 



The Treasurer made the following statements with respect to the 

 Number of Fellows, State of the Finances, and the Receipts and Pay- 

 ments of the Society during the preceding year. 



At the last Anniversary the Society consisted of 770 Members of 

 whom there were, 



11 Royal Personages, 

 44 Foreign Members, and 

 715 Home Members; 

 Since that date, there have died, 



21 on the Home List, and 

 1 on the Foreign List ; 

 and there have been admitted, 



40 on the Home List, and 



5 on the Foreign List. Of whom 

 1 1 have compounded during life, and 

 29 have engaged to pay the Annual Subscription of 4L 

 The Society therefore now consists of 

 10 Royal Personages, 

 48 Foreign Members, and 

 735 Home Members ; 

 making a total of 793 Members ; of whom 

 598 have compounded for life, 



41 are subject to an annual payment of 2/. 12s. 

 96 are subject to an annual payment of 41. 0s« 



