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SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
ASTRONOMY. 
JDROPOSAL for new National Observatories. — Col. Strange has called the 
attention of the Royal Astronomical Society to the insufficiency of 
existing national observatories, in respect of what may he called the physics 
of astronomy. He proposes that Government should be applied to for 
money to found other observatories than those at present in existence, and 
that in these new observatories the study of the physical features of the 
sun and moon, planets, comets, nebulae, and stars, should be prosecuted 
systematically. At present the feeling in scientific circles is in favour rather 
of an extension of the work done at existing observatories, than of the 
foundation of new observing stations. 
The Eclipse of December last . — In the last number of this journal will be 
found the chief particulars of the observations made upon the recent eclipse. It 
was hoped, however, that at the March meeting of the Astronomical Society 
full reports would have been made by the English observing expedition, and 
that many details of interest would then be announced. To the astonish- 
ment, and indeed to the disgust, of the crowded meeting which assembled 
on the strength of this expectation, no report whatever was then made ! 
Nor was any report delivered at the April or May meetings ! The silence 
of those whose duty it was to report the proceedings of the English ex- 
pedition has naturally given rise to much comment, by no means favourable 
to the nominal chief of the expedition ; the more so that the said head of 
the expedition has made free use of the information handed in to him by 
his fellow-observers, as well in lectures as in papers published at a price. 
It is felt that (unless there be some explanation as yet unpublished) it is 
altogether unworthy of a student of science to refrain from making due 
announcement of discoveries effected by the aid of Government money, and 
by the skill of fellow-workers who have unsuspectingly entrusted the records 
of their work into his hands, unless when the announcement can be so made 
as to be repaid with so many pounds, shillings, and pence. We trust for 
the honour of British science that some explanation may yet be forth- 
coming. 
In marked contrast to the action of the reputed head of the English ex- 
pedition, is that of Col. Tennant. So soon as he had reached England, he 
laid his statement before the Royal Astronomical Society, and submitted to 
