Position data of sunspot groups from the period 1874-1902 are used to investigate the differential rotation of the Sun and the meridional motions of the sunspots. The equatorial velocity is higher than in the period 1940-1968 investigated by Balthasar and Wöhl (1980), while differences between the northern and southern hemispheres are less. For cycle 12 we find meridional motions towards north while in cycle 13 the motions are directed towards south like in the period 1940-1968. Our other results are comparable to those of Balthasar and Wöhl (1980) for the period 1940-1968.