For myself, I would say that there is no use in the Conference resolving that we should count longitude only in the eastwardly direction.  The Conference may say that if longitude is reckoned towards the east, it shall be considered positive, and, if reckoned towards the west, negative; and that is all we should say.  I do not think it is within the competence of the Conference to say that mathematicians shall reckon longitude only in one direction.  Whether you choose to reckon right through to 360 degrees or not is a matter of detail, and of no importance in a scientific point of view.  You can adopt one style or the other, according to which is found the more convenient in practice.

Mr. SANDFORD FLEMING, Delegate of Great Britain.  I would suggest that this matter of detail can very well be discussed and arranged by a committee, otherwise, it may take up the whole time of the Conference.  I move, therefore, that a committee be appointed to take up this matter and report upon it at the next meeting.

The PRESIDENT.  The Chair desires only to carry out the wish of the Conference, but it does not see clearly what we should gain by a committee.  Still, if it be the desire of the Conference to order a committee, then the question will arise as to the organization of that committee, and the Chair would feel some hesitation in appointing it.

Mr. RUTHERFURD, Delegate of the United States.  Mr. President, if this was a new question, in regard to which we had heard no discussion, it would be eminently proper that we should put it into the hands of a committee to formalize and thereby to shorten our deliberations; but it seems to me that the appointment of a committee now would not help us at all.  When the report of that committee came in, we should have to proceed exactly as we do now.

There are only three questions before the Conference, and they come within very narrow limits.  First, shall we count longitude both ways?  Second, shall we count it all around the 360 degrees?  Third, if so, in which direction is the counting to take place?

These are the only three questions, and, after all, they are questions of convenience.  We are just as capable of voting upon these propositions now as we should be after the appointment of a committee.

Baron VON SCHAEFFER, Delegate of Austria-Hungary.  Mr. President, I move that we adjourn until to-morrow at one o’clock P.M.

The question upon the motion to adjourn was then put and adopted, and the Conference accordingly adjourned at 3.45 P.M. until Tuesday, the 14th inst., at one o’clock P.M.

V.

SESSION OF OCTOBER 14, 1884.

The Conference met, pursuant to adjournment, in the Diplomatic Hall of the Department of State, at one o’clock p. m.

Present: