The Council having awarded the Makdougall-Brisbane Prize, for the biennial period 1879–80, to Professor Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer-Royal for Scotland, for his Memoir, entitled “The Solar Spectrum in 1877–78, with some practical idea of its probable temperature of origination,” published in the Society's Transactions, vol. xxix. p. 285, the Medal was presented to him by the Chairman, with the following remarks:—

The first matter of public business for to-night is to present the Makdougall-Brisbane prize to Professor Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland.