6 
REPORT ON THE COMPLETION OF 
way.* I mention this, chiefly to remark upon the time and labour bestowed on 
the investigations for these important objects. Could I have been satisfied with 
issuing the volumes of observations from the press uncorrected, as has been done 
in many cases, or have reduced them by the official methods, the volumes might 
have been published immediately after the observations were made, as all the 
ordinary portion of the reductions were performed, and were verified week by 
week. The whole value of such observations, for any present use, depends upon 
these reductions : erroneously corrected observations are as useless as if they 
were uncorrected ; and to publish them in an uncorrected state would be 
simply to place the volumes on the shelf, with large masses of other like 
valuable works, till their proper reduction and discussion at the period \Tilgarly 
denominated the Greek Calends. It is conceived, therefore, that the great 
amount of labour was well spent, which was necessary, first, in attempting 
to obtain satisfactory results from the old processes ; second^ in gradually develop- 
ing and perfecting the new ones ; and, thirds in rendering the factors deduced as 
accurate as possible, by getting rid of those errors which are unavoidable in the 
employment of new methods. It is conceived also, though this well-bestowed 
labour were forgotten, and by far the greater part of it has never shown itself in 
print, that the speed with which the volumes have appeared, will do no discredit 
to your observatory, nor to its director with one complete and one partial com- 
puting assistant. 
Printing. — Considerable time was bestowed in arranging the observations 
into the best forms for printing ; many condensations and improvements were 
gradually adopted till, it is believed, that the volumes for 1844, 1845, and 1846 have 
been printed in the most distinct and condensed way to be unabbreviated ; it 
would have been a great saving of time to have had them printed in twice the 
bulk. The proofs were carefully revised by my assistants and myself; almost 
every sheet passed through my own hands before sending to press. 
Division of Labour. — The general management of the observatory, with the 
correspondence and all other matters relating thereto, devolved upon mj'^self. I 
took a regular share of the work of observing night and day, especially in the 
years 1843, 1844, and 1845, and, with Mr Welsh, performed the principal portion 
of the work of computing, and of the more difficult class of absolute observations. 
I also made, with Mr Welsh, the astronomical observations of transits, &c., 
and performed other occasional work required by yourself. 
* The imperfect system of determining the temperature cooflicicnts bv removing the magnet 
from its place in the instrument to water baths, has been retaineil in opposition to anything like 
scientific caution, after its insuHicicncy has been demonstrated in the case of instruments by the best 
nutkers, treated with at least an average care. 
