The eclipse of the 31st December 1880 was not seen here, and thus we lost the opportunity of comparing the computed with the observed times.

In the daily papers at that time expression was given to a feeling of dissatisfaction that any computation should have been added to that recorded in the Nautical Almanac. And therefore, while laying before the Society the results at which I have arrived in regard to the coming eclipse, it may be proper for me to explain how such an investigation comes to be needed.