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those Fellows who have died； or had been admitted within the preceding year； were regularly noticed。 And your Committee think； that these lists should always form part of the Transactions； and be stitched up with the last part of the volume。
It requires no argument to demonstrate that the well…being of the Society mainly depends on the activity and integrity of its Council； and as their selection is unquestionably of paramount importance； your Committee hope that our excellent President will not consider it any impeachment of his impartiality； or any doubt of his zeal； if they venture to suggest； that the usual recommendation to the Society of proper members for the future Council should henceforth be considered as a fit subject for the diligent and anxious deliberation of the expiring Council。
There is another point of great moment to the character of the Society； and to the dignified station it occupies among the learned associations of Europe； for its character abroad can only be appreciated by the nature and value of its Transactions。 Your Committee allude to the important task of deciding on what papers should be published； and they are of opinion that it would be a material improvement on the present mode； if each paper were referred to a separate Committee； who should have sufficient time given them to examine it carefully； who should be empowered to communicate on any doubtful parts with the author； and who should report； not only their opinion； but the grounds on which that opinion is formed； for the ultimate decision of the Council。
If it should be thought fit to adopt the suggestions which your Committee have now had the honour of proposing； they beg leave to move； that another Committee be appointed； with directions to frame or to alter the necessary statutes； so that they may be in strict accordance with the charters。
In concluding the Report； your Committee do not wish to disguise the magnitude of some of the measures they have thought it their duty to propose； on the contrary； they would not only urge the fullest discussion of their expediency； but further； that if you should even be unanimously disposed to confirm them； your Committee would recommend； that the several statutes； when they have been drawn up or modified； should be only entered on your minutes； and not finally enacted。 All innovations in the constitution； or even the habits of the Royal Society； should be scrutinized with the most jealous circumspection。 It is enough for the present Council to have traced the plan； let the Council of the ensuing sessions share the credit of carrying that plan into effect。
This Report was presented to the Council very ＇ate in the session of 1827； and on the 25th of June there occurs the following entry on the council…book：
〃The Report of the Committee for considering the best means of limiting the number of members； and such other suggestions as they may think conducive to the good of the Society； was received and read； and ordered to be entered on the minutes； and the Council； regarding the importance of the subject； and its bearings on the essential interests of the Society； in conformity with the concluding paragraph； and considering also the advanced stage of the session； recommend it to the most serious and early consideration of the Council for the ensuing year。〃
Those who advocated these alterations； were in no hurry for their hasty adoption； they were aware of their magnitude； and anxious for the fullest investigation before one of them should be tried。
Unfortunately； the concluding recommendation of the Committee did not coincide with the views of Mr。 Gilbert； whom the party had determined to make their new President。 That gentleman made such arrangements for the Council of the succeeding year； that when the question respecting the consideration of the Report of that Committee was brought forward； it was thrown aside in the manner I have stated。 Thus a report； sanctioned by the names of such a committee； and recommended by one Council to 〃THE MOST SERIOUS and EARLY consideration of the Council for the ensuing year；〃 was by that very Council rejected； without even the ceremony of discussing its merits。 Was every individual recommendation it contained； not merely unfit to be adopted； but so totally deficient in plausibility as to be utterly unworthy of discussion？ Or did the President and his officers feel； that their power rested on an insecure foundation； and that they did not possess the confidence of the working members of the Society？
CHAPTER V。
OF OBSERVATIONS。
There are several reflections connected with the art of making observations and experiments； which may be conveniently arranged in this chapter。
SECTION 1。
OF MINUTE PRECISION。
No person will deny that the highest degree of attainable accuracy is an object to be desired； and it is generally found that the last advances towards precision require a greater devotion of time； labour； and expense； than those which precede them。 The first steps in the path of discovery； and the first approximate measures； are those which add most to the existing knowledge of mankind。
The extreme accuracy required in some of our modern inquiries has； in some respects； had an unfortunate influence； by favouring the opinion； that no experiments are valuable； unless the measures are most minute； and the accordance amongst them most perfect。 It may； perhaps； be of some use to show； that even with large instruments； and most practised observers； this is but rarely the case。 The following extract is taken from a representation made by the present Astronomer…Royal； to the Council of the Royal Society； on the advantages to be derived from the employment of two mural circles：
〃That by observing； with two instruments； the same objects at the same time； and in the same manner； we should be able to estimate how much of that OCCASIONAL DISCORDANCE FROM THE MEAN； which attends EVEN THE MOST CAREFUL OBSERVATIONS； ought to be attributed to irregularity of refraction； and how much to THE IMPERFECTIONS OF INSTRUMENTS。〃
In confirmation of this may be adduced the opinion of the late M。 Delambre； which is the more important； from the statement it contains relative to the necessity of publishing all the observations which have been made。
〃Mais quelque soit le parti que l'on prefere； il me semble qu'on doit tout publier。 Ces irregularites memes sont des faits qu'il importe de connoitre。 LES SOINS LES PLUS ATTENTIFS N'EN SAUROIENT PRESERVER LES OBSERVATEURS LES PLUS EXERCES； et celui qui ne produiroit que des angles toujours parfaitment d'accord auroit ete singulierement bien servi par les circonstances ou ne seroit pas bien sincere。〃BASE DU SYSTEME METRIQUE； Discours Preliminaire； p。 158。
This desire for extreme accuracy has called away the attention of experimenters from points of far greater importance； and it seems to have been too much overlooked in the present day； that genius marks its tract； not by the observation of quantities inappreciable to any but the acutest senses； but by placing Nature in such circumstances； that she is forced to record her minutest variations on so magnified a scale； that an observer； po