principle of comparison of observations
made at intervals. On July 30, I went over a zone 9' broad, in such a
manner as to include all stars to the eleventh magnitude. On August 4, I
took a broader zone and recorded a place of the planet. My next
observations were on August 12; when I met with a star of the eighth
magnitude in the zone which I had gone over on July 30,--and which did not
then {389} contain this star. Of course, this was the planet;--the place of
which was, thus, recorded a second time in four days of observing. A
comparison of the observations of July 30 and August 12 would, according to
the principle of search which I employed, have shown me the planet. I did
not make the comparison till after the detection of it at Berlin--partly
because I had an impression that a much more extensive search was required
to give any probability of discovery--and partly from the press of other
occupation. The planet, however, was _secured_, and two positions of it
recorded six weeks earlier here than in any other observatory,--and in a
systematic search expressly undertaken for that purpose. I give now the
positions of the planet on August 4 and August 12.

Greenwich mean time.

Aug. 4, 13h. 36m. 25s. {R.A. 21h. 58m. 14.70s.
{N.P.D. 102 deg. 57' 32.2"

Aug. 12, 13h. 3m. 26s. {R.A. 21h. 57m. 26.13s.
{N.P.D. 103 deg. 2' 0.2"

"From these places compared with recent observations Mr. Adams has obtained
the following results:

Distance of the planet from the sun 30.05
Inclination of the orbit 1 deg. 45'
Longitude of the descending node 309 deg. 43'
Heliocentric longitude, Aug. 4 326 deg. 39'

"The present distance from the sun is, therefore, thirty times the earth's
mean distance;--which is somewhat less than the theory had indicated. The
other elements of the orbit cannot be approximated to till the observations
shall have been continued for a longer period.

"The part taken by Mr. Adams in the theoretical search after this planet
will, perhaps, be considered to justify the suggesting of a name. With his
consent, I mention _Oceanus_ as one which may possibly receive the votes of
astronomers.--I {390} have authority to state that Mr. Adams's
investigations will in a short time, be published in detail.

"J. CHALLIS."[803]

ASTRONOMICAL POLICE REPORT.

"An ill-looking kind of a body, wh