load. It is constructed almost entirely of heavy gaspipe, and is extremely rigid. The polar axis is hollow, and is fitted with an eyepiece, as an aid in adjusting. The automatic arrangements for securing certainty in exposing have been elaborated upon to such an extent that the inventor now feels certain that nothing can go wrong, at least with this part of the expedition.

Professor BURCKHALTER'S parting injunction to his friends was not to wish him a good time or a pleasant journey, but that he might have two minutes of clear sky at the right time. Those of us who have heard him describe the disappointing day in Japan in 1896, and who realize what the success of this expedition means, will be certain to remember him on the eventful day. If friendly good wishes can insure success, he will have it. ALLEN H. BABCOCK.

ELEMENTS OF COMET b, 1897 (PERRINE).

From Mt. Hamilton observations, made on October 16th, 18th, and 20th, we have computed the following elements of the orbit of this comet:

A comparison of observations made on November 1st with the ephemeris positions computed from these elements shows a W. J. HUSSEY and R. G. AITKEN.

satisfactory agreement.

November 3, 1897.

ASTRONOMICAL TELEGRAMS (Translations).

Lick Observatory, Oct. 17, 1897.

(Sent 1:00 A. M.)

To Harvard College Observatory:

To Students' Observatory, Berkeley:

A comet was discovered by C. D. PERRINE, October 16.7398, G. M. T.; R. A. 3h 36m 7.6; N. P. D. 23° 13' 16". The comet is about 2' in diameter, is as bright as an eighth magnitude star, has a well-defined nucleus and a tail less than 30' long.

Lick Observatory, Oct. 18, 1897.

To Harvard College Observatory:
To Students' Observatory, Berkeley:

(Sent 1:40 P.M.)

Comet 6, 1897 (PERRINE), was observed by C. D. PERRINE, October 17.7121, G. M. T.; R. A. 3" 30" 25.7; N. P. D. 21° 42' 47''.

Lick Observatory, Oct. 18, 1897.

(Sent 9:55 P.M.)

To Harvard College Observatory:
To Students' Observatory, Berkeley:

Comet b, 1897 (PERRINE), was observed by W. J. HUSSEY, October 18.6498, G. M. T.; R. A. 3" 24" 28.2; N. P. D. 20° 16' 06".

Lick Observatory, Oct. 19, 1897.

(Sent 5:10 P.M.)

To Harvard College Observatory:

Comet b, 1897, was observed with the Meridian Circle by R. H. TUCKER, October 18.9011, G. M. T.; R. A. 3" 22" 5.5; N. P. D. 19° 52′ 49′′.

Lick Observatory, Oct. 19, 1897.

To Harvard College Observatory:

(Sent 9:15 A. M.)

Elements and ephemeris of Comet 6, 1897, were computed by

W. J. HUSSEY and R. G. AITKEN.

[The ephemeris at four-day intervals, from October 20th to

November 1, 1897, is here omitted.]

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HELD IN THE ROOMS OF THE SOCIETY,

NOVEMBER 27, 1897.

Mr. PIERSON presided. A quorum was present. The minutes of the last meeting were approved. The following members were duly elected:

LIST OF MEMBERS Elected NOVEMBER 27, 1897.

Prof. ALBERT S. BICKMORE

Miss GEARON

Mr. A. PERRENOD.

American Museum of Natural
History, Central Park, New
York, N. Y.

St. Margarets', Barrowgate Road,
Chiswick, England.
Saint-Pierre, Martinique.

The following letter was presented to the Directors:

MOUNT HAMILTON, October 1, 1897.

The Board of Directors, Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

GENTLEMEN:-I beg to tender my resignation as a member of the Directors A. S. P., and as one of the Committee on Publication, to take effect on December 1, 1897. I shall hope to retain my connection with the Society during my lifetime. I have the pleasure of thinking that the situation of our Society is much improved since the early days of its formation, and that our power and influence for good is now well established, thanks to the unwearied efforts of some of the members. In spite of some obstacles which have had to be overcome, it would seem that we are now firmly established as a veritable force for advancing Science in the United States and elsewhere.

I wish for the Society continued success and usefulness, and it will be my effort, in the future as well as in the past, to contribute to these ends to the best of my ability.

With my personal good wishes to each one of your Board, and my thanks for your friendship during the years of our pleasant association, believe me, Gentlemen,

Very cordially yours,

EDWARD S. HOLDEN.

Upon motion by Mr. PIERSON, the following resolutions were adopted:

WHEREAS, Dr. EDWARD S. HOLDEN has tendered his resignation as a member of the Board of Directors of this Society, and the Board is now called upon to act on the same, be it Resolved, That it is with sincere regret that the Board accepts said resignation, which it does solely for the reason that Dr. HOLDEN's absence from the State prevents him from attending to the duties of the office;

Resolved, That as the founder of this Society, as its First President, as a continuing member of its Board of Directors, and as the able editor of the Publications of the Society, Dr. HOLDEN is entitled to the gratitude of all its members, and deserving of such marks of esteem as this Board has the power to grant; and it is therefore further

Resolved, That Dr. HOLDEN be, and he is hereby elected a Life Member of this Society; and the Secretary is instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to him.

The following members were appointed to fill the vacancies caused by Dr. HOLDEN'S resignation; to date from December 1, 1897:—

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
OF THE PACIFIC, HELD IN THE LECTURE Hall of
THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,
NOVEMBER 27, 1897.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. WILLIAM S. MOSES. The minutes of the last meeting, as printed in the Publications, were approved.

The Secretary read the names of new members duly elected at the Directors' meeting.

The following papers were presented:

1. Dedication of the Yerkes Observatory, by Mr. FREDERICK H. SEARES.

2. Planetary Phenomena for January and February, 1898, by Professor M. MCNEILL, of Lake Forest.

3. Catalogues III and IV of New Nebulæ discovered at the Lowe Observatory, by Dr. LEWIS SWIFT.

4. The Yerkes Observatory, by Professor W. J. HUSSEY. 5. Comet b, 1897, by Mr. C. D. Perrine.

Mr. SEARES delivered an address upon the dedication of the Yerkes Observatory, giving a description of the equipment of this institution, and an account of the opening exercises, which he attended in person.

Adjourned.

Board of Directors - Messrs. ALVORD, MOLERA, MORSE, Miss O'HALLORAN, Messrs. PERRINE, PIERSON, SEARES, ST. JOHN, TUCKER, VON GELDERN, ZIEL.

Finance Committee-Messrs. WILLIAM M. PIERSON, E. J. MOLERA, and C. M. ST. JOHN. Committee on Publication-Messrs. AITKEN, BABCOCK, SEARES.

Library Committee-Messrs. HUSSEY and SEARES and Miss O'HALLORAN.

Committee on the Comet-Medal-Messrs. HOLDEN (ex-officio), SCHAEBERLE, CAMPBELL.
OFFICERS OF THE CHICAGO SECTION.

Executive Committee-Mr. RUTHVEN W. PIKE.

OFFICERS OF THE MEXICAN SECTION.

Executive Committee-M. FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ REY.

NOTICE.

The attention of new members is called to Article VIII of the By-Laws, which provides that the annual subscription, paid on election, covers the calendar year only. Subsequent annual payments are due on January 1st of each succeeding calendar year. This rule is necessary in order to make our book-keeping as simple as possible. Dues sent by mail should be directed to Astronomical Society of the Pacific 319 Market Street, San Francisco.

It is intended that each member of the Society shall receive a copy of each one of the Publications for the year in which he was elected to membership and for all subsequent years. If there have been (unfortunately) any omissions in this matter, it is requested that the Secretaries he at once notified, in order that the missing numbers may be supplied. Members are requested to preserve the copies of the Publications of the Society as sent to then. Once each year a title. page and contents of the preceding numbers will also be sent to the members, who can then bind the numbers together into a volume. Complete volumes for past years will also be supplied, to members only, so far as the stock in hand is sufficient, on the payment of two dollars per volume to either of the Secretaries. Any non-resident member within the United States can obtain books from the Society's library by sending his library card with ten cents in stamps to the Secretary A. S. P.. 819 Market Street, San Francisco, who will return the book and the card.

The Committee on Publication desires to say that the order in which papers are printed in the Publications is decided simply by convenience. In a general way, those papers are printed first which are earliest accepted for publication. It is not possible to send proof sheets of papers to be printed to authors whose residence is not within the United States. The responsibility for the views expressed in the papers printed rests with the writers, and is not assumed by the Society itself.

The titles of papers for reading should be communicated to either of the Secretaries as early as possible, as well as any changes in addresses. The Secretary in San Francisco will send to any member of the Society suitable stationery, stamped with the seal of the Society, at cost price, as follows: a block of letter paper, 40 cents; of note paper, 25 cents; a package of envelopes, 25 cents. These prices include postage, and should be remitted by money-order or in U. S. postage stamps. The sendings are at the risk of the member.

Those members who propose to attend the meetings at Mount Hamilton during the summer should communicate with "The Secretary Astronomical Society of the Pacific" at the rooms of the Society, 819 Market Street, San Francisco, in order that arrangements may be made for transportation, lodging, etc.