hence astronomy cannot make any drawing room experiment, it cannot reproduce any of the heavenly phenomena, it can do nothing but observe. If therefore the science of astronomy be more especially an observative science, that which it does not and cannot observe, must be for it as good as not existent. But astronomy may, in addition, be designated the science of observation of the apparent things, things as they seem to be, for it is unable to see or regard the heavenly phenomena otherwise than they present themselves to it. Astronomy is not permitted to observe realities.

If therefore observation is itself a science, it must necessarily be the basis of theory; observation may be set aside—which is what is actually done—in this way we may plod on, we may term our labour what we please; but whatever is produced in this way is not astronomy.

But that glorious science whose sublime object is alone able to unfetter the mind of poor humanity—Astronomy—has a future before it. Any such as feel themselves called upon to study seriously the phenomena of nature, may set about the task. The sun is a sure guide.

The great mass of astronomical observations are almost exclusively of European origin, those which in later times have been made in other parts of the earth, are of a special character—they refer for the most part to the stars and are not numerous enough to furnish any general view, but here the question is of establishing a universal astronomy available for the whole earth, which, founded on the actual type of the phenomena, will become the result of science.

With respect to astronomical knowledge and its dissemination, the discovery and proving of this type of the phenomena is of the greatest importance, they must be found out not by calculation, but by actual observation. When discovered, a large number of important and still undecided problems will be advanced towards solution.

It may be asked: how and where shall we however find this original type? and the earth itself supplies the answer by means of its—Equator. No observer, placed either north or south the equator, can see the two poles of the heaven at once, he cannot see the whole heavenly sphere; at the equator the entire splendour of the firmament passes before his eyes during the space of—12 hours.

The equator of the earth is always turned towards the sun, and it thus indicates the direction taken by our planet; therefore we must be able to find this type at the equator. Either it is there, or it is nowhere else, and it is indispensably necessary that astronomical observations made elsewhere should be repeated at the equator thus as it were confirmed.

The erection of small, simple and detached observations along the line of the earth's equator, at certain distances from each other, and the subdivision of the work amongst the various observers, according the objects, would be of incalculable consequence, and would in the course of a few years shed more light upon astronomical knowledge than all that has hitherto been done at hap-hazard and without any plan. An international scientific society could take the matter in hand. Instruments of the most excellent kind are to be had in plenty, and there is no lack of young and intelligent men. Moreover, ever since 1874 there has been established at Quito, the "Observatorio de Collegio Nacional," the director of which Mr. G. B. Menton might superintend the preliminary operations until such time as the work could be prosecuted with greater resources and according to a well considered plan. Such men as Lick, Bischoffsheim, Remeis etc., who are willing to make sufficient sacrifices in order to establish this