REPORT ON ASTRONOMY. 
185 
cise of his intellect, than the mere observation of a body on the 
wire of a telescope. As an instance of the extent to which the 
reductions are carried there, I may mention that in one Italian 
observatory where the planets were considered the principal ob¬ 
ject, not only were the observations freed from instrumental 
errors and astronomical corrections, hut the tabular places were 
computed by direct use of the Tables, (the ephemeris attached 
to Schumacher’s lunar distances not having reached that coun¬ 
try,) and the equations of condition were regularly prepared for 
the correction of the elements. I suppose such a thing has 
never been done in England. This system must however con¬ 
tribute powerfully to produce that strong connexion between 
physical theory and practical observation, which is general on 
the Continent, but which does not exist in England. 
I believe that in the actual state of our institutions, reasons 
might be found which would seem to render it improbable that 
there ever can be so strong a connexion ; and I can only hope 
that my view may be incorrect. There is one point with regard 
to the foreign astronomers to which I cannot help alluding, 
without however intending to draw any distinct inference. It 
is, that they have first obtained distinction while in the lower 
departments of the observatories. Encke’s reputation was first 
acquired, not when he became Astronomer at Berlin, but when 
he was assistant at Seeberg : and Bessel became known in every 
part of Europe, not as Astronomer at K onigsberg, but as assist¬ 
ant at Lilienthal. Walbeck and Argelander, in similar situa¬ 
tions, have arrived at considerable eminence. 
I now proceed, and with great pleasure, to consider the second 
question. And this leads me to explain my opinion on a point 
respecting which I am anxious that I may not be misunderstood. 
I am not one of those who have joined in the cry of “ the de¬ 
cline of science in England,” nor do I believe that in this science 
there is any foundation for that cry. On the contrary, I assert 
without hesitation, that it is now and has been for some years 
rapidly advancing in that country. That there has been a de¬ 
cline, thirty or forty years ago, or rather that we have not kept 
up with the advances made by foreigners at that time, I am 
willing to admit. Perhaps this arose from political separation ; 
perhaps in some degree from our pertinaciously retaining a sy¬ 
stem of mathematics which was insufficient for the deep inves¬ 
tigations of Physical Astronomy, (for it was in this principally 
that we were behind our neighbours). And I have not disguised 
my opinion that in all the important branches of science we are 
still behind them. But in all with which 1 am acquainted a rapid 
progress has lately been made. In Physical Astronomy more 
