.1838.] 



Motion of the Solar System in Space. 



387 



TlLESe 



For a corresponding space of 9| inches x 9| inches (according to 

 the ordinary mode of laying tiles at Bangalore)— the following tiles 

 and parts of tiles were found to cover it. These portions carefully cut 

 off and weighed gave the following result :— 



2 whole tiles =2 



2 half tiles (longitudinally) = 1 



2 portions (f of a tile each) — | 



2 portions (I of a tile each) = 1 1 



1 portion § of a tile = | 



3 do. each -p'^ of do = _3_ t = f 



2 do. each = It > 



Total equivalent to tiles 61 the actual weight of all these was 

 found to be 1 1-lbs. without chunam. 



N. B.— As 6§ tiles cover 9| inches x 91 or 95*0625 square inches 

 which is5 nearly f of a square foot about 10 tiles to the square foot is a 

 fair allowance. 



Neilgherries, December 2^, 1837. 



IV. — Result of Astro7io7nieal Observations made at the Madras Obser^ 

 vatory — Motioyi of the Solar System in Space. — By T. G. Taylor, 

 Esq. H. E. I. C. Astronomer. 



In a former volume of this Journal,* among other results derived 

 from the Astronomical Observations made at the Madras Observatory, 

 is given a comparison of the places of 3003 stars, as observed in the 

 yeais 1834 and 1835, with the places assigned by Piazzi from observa- 

 tions at Palermo in the year 1800 : it appeared from this comparison, 

 that, after a due allowance had been made for the apparent change of 

 place of the fixed stars, by reason of the regression of the equinoctial 

 point, still there was a residual quantity to be accounted for, which 

 was there termed " proper motion"— and that this quantity varied with 

 the situation of the group of stars v»hich formed the subject of consi- 

 deration. It appeared, however, that since the object in view had re- 

 ference to very minute portions of time and space, and required a set of 

 observations, not only refined in quality, but almost unlimited in quan- 

 tity, the above catalogue of 3003 star.s was totally inadequate to de- 

 termine the amount, or to trace the law of the motion in question. With 



» No. 13, p. 53, 



