156 
Minutes of 
Wlien first seen it was near the star beta in the constellation 
Cete, and was approximately ascertained to be in R.A. Ou 16 m , 
and dec. 13° south, with a diurnal motion in R.A. of about 0 h 
12 m , It was in conjunction with the sun early on the morning of 
the 28th of February; and as the stream of light forming the tail 
is the continuation of a right line joining the sun and the nucleus, 
it must then have been projected on the horizon, which would 
at that time render it invisible, and will readily account for 
its bursting so suddenly upon us immediately after leaving the 
sun. Its motion was retrograde, that is, from east to west, or 
contrary to the order of the planets; and the inclination of its 
orbit was on the south side of the plane of the ecliptic, at an 
angle of 35 X°. To spectators on the earth it appeared to pass 
nearly centrally through the brilliant constellation Orionis; 
which, from its equatorial position, is most favourably situated 
for observation from all parts of the globe. 
The greatest angle subtended by the tail was 46°, and 
greatest breadth 1° 16', which was on the 11th March, about 
which time it appeared to have attained to its greatest di¬ 
mensions and brilliancy. After that it slowly diminished in 
size, and became fainter in appearance, until it finally disap¬ 
peared on the 7th of April. J. IT. K. 
MINUTES OF THE TASMANIAN SOCIETY. 
Government House, 5th July, 1843. 
Present —Sir John Franklin; Messrs. Barnard, Belcher, 
Bicheno, Bradbury, Gell, Ilenslowe, J. IT. Kay, Milligan, 
Turnbull, Yerreaux. 
After the minutes of the last meeting had been read, the 
Society elected as one of its members— 
Proposed by Seconded by 
W. H. Baylie, Esq.Mr. Gell .. Mr. Milligan. 
Communications were laid before the Society from Captain 
Stokes of the Beagle , dated Swan River, 30th April, re¬ 
gretting that unfavourable weather had forbidden his touching 
at Port Lincoln; “ where,” he adds, “ Sir John Franklin was 
very anxious we should get up the monument he had sent to 
be erected on a hill near, (Stamford ITill, called by the natives 
Kaityaba,) to the memory of poor Flinders. This spot was 
chosen by Lady Franklin, from its being near the centre of 
his most important discoveries on the south coast of Australia. 
It is not easy to imagine anything which could have afforded 
us such lasting pleasure, or would have made such an interest¬ 
ing finish to the Beagle’s labours on the coasts of Australia.” 
—Also from Captain Frome, dated Adelaide, 30th May, 1843, 
with a report upon the progress of the monument above re¬ 
ferred to.- — From Mr. Lernprierc, of Port Arthur, respecting 
a self-registering tide gauge to be set up there.—From Lieut. 
