thorough attention to them never to be neglected on any pretence. But it was thought that a great deal might be done in the way of reading lessons in history, in popular elementary works of science, or in selections relating to subjects which the pupil ought to understand. Objections were made to the exclusive use of such reading books as those of Pierpont and Emerson; on the ground that, however elegant and excellent the various articles may be in themselves, they are not adapted to the state of the pupil's mind; nor do they convey the information that he most needs, in which he would feel the liveliest interest, and by reading which, he would acquire the most natural and spirited manner. The "Franklin" series were mentioned by some speakers as works of decided excellence in this respect; and there seemed to be a general feeling of the desireableness of having the plan of that series carried out and more generally adopted.]

Resolved, That this Convention recommend the formation of a permanent County Association for the promotion of popular educa

tion.

Resolved, That a meeting be held in Woodstock, on the first Tuesday of June next, to organize said association.

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to make arrangements for securing a general representation at that meeting, to procure an address to be delivered on that occasion, and to make such other arrangements as they shall deem expedient.

Hon. J. Collamer, Rev. J. Thurston, and Rev. Z. Bliss were appointed as the Committee.

[It was one of the objects of the meeting to organize a County Association. But, after considerable discussion, it was thought best to adopt the course indicated by the above resolutions, in order that different parts of the County might be more fully represented, and take an active part in the formation of the proposed Society.]

Resolved, That great benefits would result from the introduction of libraries and apparatus for illustrations into primary schools.

[As this resolution came before the Couvention, it contained the word "periodicals," which, after discussion, was stricken out. A motion was made to strike out the apparatus also. It was feared that, as the resolution stands, it would be regarded as recommending the whole apparatus system, about which so much noise is made. This the Convention evidently did not intend; but only to express an opinion in favor of a proper use of a few articles,—such as the black-board, globes, blocks for explaining the extraction of the cube root, &c. A good deal of the trumpery that goes under the name of school apparatus was pointedly condemned.-Nor did the Conven

tion mean to recommend the purchase of any of the "School Libraries" that are or may be in market. Against those now in market, there are decided objections; and as to those in prospect, they must be examined before they can be recommended. It is not believed, however, to be desirable, that all our school libraries should be composed of the same books, selected by somebody in Boston, New York or Philadelphia. It will be better for each school to make its own selection, and procure books adapted to its own wants.]

Resolved, That this Convention strongly recommend to other counties in this State to hold conventions on the subject of education.

A Committee consisting of Messrs Collamer, E. C. Tracy, and Holmes was appointed to consider and correspond on the subject of establishing a Journal in this State, devoted to the subject of education.

It will be seen from this very brief and imperfect sketch, that the Convention was not one merely to give impulse, straight forward, to any ball that happened to be in motion. The subjects that came up were discussed on their merits, in an independent manner, and for the most part by men who had evidently bestowed no little thought upon them."-Vermont Chronicle.

This article ought to have been inserted long ago. It is however, of permanent value, The Convention deserves to be considered a model for business meetings of the kind.

OBSERVATORIES.

(By Professor Hopkins of Williams College.)

In Europe the first Observatory was built about the year 1582, by Tycho Brahe of Denmark, 'The attention of Tycho appears to have been drawn to the science of Astronomy when quite young by a remarkable coincidence between the calculated and observed time of an eclipse. At the instance of the Landgrave of Hesse, whose acquaintance he formed in his German travels, and who had himself a passionate fondness for astronomical observations, the King of Denmark was induced to grant to Tycho a small isiaud in the Baltic, about ten leagnes north of Copenhagen. Here he erected his observatory and furnished it with instruments at his own expense. The sudden appearance of a new star in the constellation Cassiopeia, so brilliant as to be visible at midday, led Tycho to make accurate observation on 776 of the principal stars. In these observations and others upon the motion of the moon and the planet Mars he occupied himself incessantly for the space of twentyone years; when a change in the ruling powers banished him from his favorite retreat to Prague. It was here that this "generous and magnificent Dane" invited to himself and became the patron of the indigent and youth

ful Kepler. His pupils were, at the time, reducing the observations made upon the motions of the planet Mars, at Uraniburgh-the appellation bestowed by Tycho on his old observatory. These observations he gave Kepler the opportunity to inspect-who soon deduced from them the important fact that the orbit of that planet was an eclipse. This law he soon extended to the other planets, and by the aid of Tycho's observations constructed what were termed the Rodolphine tables, so called from Rodolph II. who gave the Danish astronomer a welcome reception at Prague, and built him a second observatory. The construction of these tables constituted an epoch in Astronomy. Owing, however, to a false assumption of Tycho, giving to the ecliptic an obliquity somewhat different from its true amount, these tables were not perfectly accurate. Near a century after, the inaccuracy in question, pointed out by Flamsted to King Charles II., led that prince to desire a repetition of the observations on which the tables were founded. For such a purpose, some convenient place was necessary, and Sir Christopher Wren, the famous Architect, one of those to whom the selection of such a place was entrusted, fixed upon Greenwich, a few miles out from London, as most suitable. The foundation of the edifice was laid on the 10th of August, 1675. It stands upon the brow of a lofty eminence just above the Marine Hospital, overlooking both Greenwich, and London if the smoky atmosphere would permit the eye to reach so far. Clumps of heavy Fir trees, interspersed with venerable Oaks, invest the ascent to this origin of Longitudes, and depository of the most cel ebrated products of Astronomical skill, with an air of grandeur which well corresponds with the elevated ends of the science, to whose promotion the spot is consecrated, and in comparison with which, our attempts at rural magnificence must appear tame for centuries. The edifice itself lays no strong claims to architectural symmetry. It has rather the appearance of a castle at a distance-an immense pile, to which successive domes have been added, to suit the convenience of successive observers. Within we have an epitome of the history of Astronomy, in the instruments belonging to different eras, and which mark the progress of the science. In one apartment the old sextants, belonging to the age of Flamsted and Halley, with the identical telescope, by the aid of which Bradley discovered the aberration of light. In another, the more perfect instruments of a later date, until, at length, we find our feet upon the first meridian, with the magnificent ten foot transit and mural circles of Troughton before us.

The rival Observatory, at Paris, was built a little earlier than that at Greenwich, under the auspices of Louis XIV. It is about a mile directly south of the old Palace of the Luxembourg, between which and the Observatory, extends a walk perhaps twenty rods in width, skirted on the right by a noble forest, and, farther on, passing through grounds tastefully arranged after the method of the French. The Observatory is a noble building in general, quadrangular in its shape, and regular in its appearance-though of a form of architecture somewhat unique. It was founded in 1664, and occupied eight years in building. The instruments in this Observatory, though less interesting and valuable as connected with the history of Astronomical science, are probably, at present, not less perfect than those at

Greenwich. Thus much must suffice on the history of Observatories, which are, at present, endowed with princely munificence in most of the European Capitals.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THE illness of the Editor during the past month, has prevented an examination of many books which have been put into his hands. We can do little more than give the titles of a few of them. FIRST LESSONS IN GEOMETRY; with practical applications in Mensuration and Artificers work and Mechanics. By Charles Davies, Author of a full course of Mathematics. A. T. Barnes & Co., Hartford.

1839.

C. CORNELII TACITI HISTORIARUM LIBRI QUINQUE. Accedit de Moribus Germanorum Libellus; Julii Agricolæ Vita; de Oratoribus Dialogus. Cum Excerptis Varioruin Notis. Editio Altera. Novi-Portus, Conn., Sumtibus B. et Gul. Noyes. 1833.

M. TULLII CICERONIS AD QUINTUM FRATREM DIALOGI Tres de ORATORE. Cum Excerptis Variorum Notis. Editio Tertia. NoviPortus Sumtibus B. et Gul. Noyes. 1839.

The text of these editions of Tacitus and Cicero, has been well selected. The notes, many of which are selected, and a large part of which are in Latin, are brief, pertinent, and judicious. They were prepared by Professor Kingsley, of whom we think it not too high praise, to say that he is the most accurate and careful Latin scholar our country has produced.

NOTICE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

With this Number the publication of the Annals of Education will cease.

The Editor retires with somewhat of regret, from a labor which has been pleasant to him, to other occupations which this has too much interrupted.

The editors who have exchanged with this work, will of course, discontinue the exchange on the receipt of this Number.

The Publishers would say to those whose subscriptions are yet due, which number is very large, that it is necessary to close the pecuniary concerns of the work at once; and that it is owing to this neglect on the part of the subscribers that it is deemed expedient to discontinue the publication.