2S6 Prof. Bessel on the Decimation ^36 Fixed Stars, 
South Declin. 
Probable 
Error, 
Pond. 
of// 
ft 
If 
a Aquarii, 
1 11 i5.48 
0.23 
4-4.48 
a Hydrse, 
7 53 1.68 
0.23 
4 4.68 
/3 Orionis, 
8 §5 4.22 
0.24 
-j-4.22 
a Virginis, 
10 13 7.69 
0.22 
4 4.69 
1 a Capricorni, 
13 3 25,59 
0.35 
4.59 
2 a. Capricorn. 
13 5 43.49 
0.35 
4 6.49 
1 a Librae, 
15 14 33.27 
0.25 
4-7.27 
2 a Librae. 
15 J7 15.05 
0.25 
4 5.05 
a Canis maj. 
16 28 37 15 
0.23 
4 1.15 
u Scorpii, 
26 1 23.00 
0.26 
-f 4.00 
a Piscis aust. 
30 34 68.68 
0.37 
-1-2.68 
It is to be remarked, that these observations have been made 
by a meridian circle of three feet diameter, of the construction 
of Mr Reichenbach at Munich. The errors of the divisions, 
though extremely small, have yet been determined by a parti- 
cular method, after the circle had been put up in its place. The 
effect of the bending of the telescope five feet in length, though 
counteracted by levers, has also been taken into consideration. 
The circle can be inverted in its supports, so as to face either 
the east or the west. The Pole star can be observed very well 
in the day time in a bason of water three feet in length. The 
observations have been reduced by Mr Bessel’s own table for 
refraction, which has been improved since the publication of his 
Fundamenta Astronomic. 
Aet. VII . — Abstract cf a Paper on the Electrical Phenomena 
produced in Vacuo By Sir Humphey Davy, Bart. 
P. R. S. &c. &c. 
T HE object of the distinguished author of the paper of 
which we propose at present to give an abstract, was to deter- 
mine the relation electricity to space, as nearly void qf maU \- 
ter as it can he made on the surface of the earth. Mr Walsh 
had maintained, that the electric light could not be produ- 
ced in a perfect Toricellian vacuum, and Mr Morgan had con- 
* The paper of which this is an abstract is published in the PUl, Trans, 1822, 
Part I. p. 64, 
