north polar distances of the principal fixed stars. 53 
It has been said, that the Westbury observations of Mr. 
Pond confirm the Southern motion, as also a few stars ob- 
served by Mechain, in the late French measurement. But 
the irregularities to be found in comparing the Westbury 
Catalogue with the two Catalogues by the Greenwich mural 
circle, show that the former cannot be of any use in this en- 
quiry. The few French results that appear to support the 
Southern motion, are opposed to other results by better in- 
struments. 
The Palermo Catalogue, published by M. Piazzi, as con- 
taining the correct result of all his observations, when 
compared with Bradley’s Catalogue of 1755, and the two 
Dublin Catalogues afford a remarkable testimony in favour 
of the uniformity of the annual variation in declination of the 
principal stars. 
This result of the question of the Southern motion, appears 
adverse to the opinion advanced by Mr. Pond, relative to 
the decided superiority of the Greenwich over the Dublin 
circle. If we are to judge of the instruments by the obser- 
vations, I am probably right in the opinion I have long enter- 
tained, of the unfitness of the Greenwich circle for the 
accurate investigation of small motions. Whereas I have 
generally found my instrument consistent in that respect ; 
unless it be said, it has deceived me in regard to the parallax 
of a Lyras. This, resting on the authority of the Greenwich 
instrument, I am not at present disposed to admit. I had 
intended concluding with some notices respecting Mr. Pond’s 
paper “ on the Parallax of a Lyras,” read before the Royal So- 
ciety on the same day as that relative to the Southern motion ; 
but as that paper requires to be particularly remarked on, I 
