which M. Pons has rendered to this branch of astronomical science, have been acknowledged by the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris adjudging to him a prize for the re-discovery of Encke's comet in 1818, and sharing between him and M. Nicollet a prize for the comet discovered in January 1821.
Had equal diligence been devoted to this research by other observers at remote stations and in various climates, it is highly probable that a greater number of comets might have been detected in the last age; and it may be presumed, that increased vigilance in time to come will be recompensed with enlarged knowledge of comets, and with correspondent advancement in this branch of science.
The Council of the Astronomical Society, desirous of marking their sense of the services rendered by M. Pons, both in acknowledgement to him for his usefulness and with hope that his example may be followed by others, have resolved to present to him the silver medal of the Society; which accordingly I now do, in their name and in that of the Astronomical Society, as a token of the sense entertained of his indefatigable assiduity in that department of astronomy, and especially for the discovery of a comet on 31st May and another on 1st July, 1822.
