A cable dispatch announces the death of the Italian astronomer,
Giovanni Santini. The Professor was born at Tuscany, June 30, 1786,
and was in the ninety-first year of his age. He graduated at the
University of Pisa. He soon devoted himself to a study of the exact
sciences, and in 1814 he had achieved so much distinction that he was
appointed to a professorship in the Padowa Observatory in place
of Vincenzo Cheminello. In 1825 he was appointed Rector of the
University, and up to the time of his death he held the position of
Professor of Astronomy and Director of Mathematical Studies. He was
generally esteemed by the learned societies of Europe, and held
a number of honorary titles and degrees from various leading
universities. He was also a correspondent of the French Academy. The
principal books published by him are strictly scientific, such
as "Decimal Arithmetic" (1808), "Elements of Astronomy" (1820),
"Logarithms and Trigonometry," and "Optical Problems" (1821-23). Some
of his elementary works on astronomy for beginners are the best ever
published in Italy.
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