XIV 



Computed Computed 



minus minus 



Observer. observed. Station. mean. 



^ elL ' ; "i'D Wardhus +0-6 s 



Sajnovics +2*8 J 



^ ales '- + ' 4 ) Hudson's Bay -01 



Dymond -0'6 J J 



Chappe +0*5 



V. Doz —0-4 SSt. Joseph — V6 



Medina — 5*4 



Green +5'8 



Cook -4"2 



-0-9 Kola -0- 



jotaheite + 0"8 



This is not the place in which to enter upon a detailed criticism of 

 the above discussion; nor, with the information now at our disposal 

 from the subsequent Transits of Yenus of 1874 and 1882 and other 

 more recent sources, would it be fair to do so. Although it is now 

 certain that the above value of the solar parallax is about one per 

 cent, too great, and that the representation of the observations 

 conveys an impression of accuracy which is far greater than that 

 obtainable in such observations, it is but justice to Stone's memory 

 to quote the opinion held at the time by astronomers of his own 

 country in regard to this work. In February, 1869, on presenting 

 the gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society to Mr. Stone for 

 his " Rediscussion of the Observations of the Transit of Yenus in 

 1769 and his other contributions to Astronomy," the President, 

 Admiral Manners, said : — 



" By this important investigation, Mr. Stone has earned for him- 

 self the gratitude of astronomers of all countries. He has shown, 

 beyond all doubt, that the method pursued by his illustrious 

 countryman Halley, when fairly treated, is capable of furnishing a 

 value of the solar parallax commensurate in precision with the 

 expectations formed of it. 



" But this is not all. Mr. Stone, by his researches in this 

 instance, has wiped from astronomy a reproach, which did not 

 indeed legitimately attach to it, but which only one of those intel- 

 lectual triumphs which from time to time have adorned the annals 

 of our science was capable of extirpating." 



In order to illustrate the sequence of Stone's researches, we have 

 thus far recorded only such of them as bear upon the determination 

 of the solar parallax and its allied constants. We must now return 

 to other works which he carried out during the period that he was 

 chief assistant at Greenwich. Amongst the most important of 

 these was the large share which he took, under Airy's direction, in 

 the preparation of the Greenwich seven-year catalogue of 2022 stars 

 for the equinox 1860. 



