The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-22 00:00:00

ADDRESS.

When I first set myself to the task of preparing to ad-
dress you on the present occasion, my impulse was to begin
with an apology for appealing before you in so prominent
a position—for assuming apparently a station in the world
of science, for which I had no pretensions. On second
thoughts, however, it appeared better—more respectful, in
fact—having consented, though with unfeigned reluctance
to accept the office, to say no more on that head, but to
discharge its duties as best I might. This, however, I
must ask of you, not to expect from me what you have
had from many of my predecessors—a luminous review of
the state of physical science, a recital of its recent various
triumphs, 'and suggestions for their further extension—
that I should in the words of the poet, though in a different
sense—" Allure to brighter worlds, and point the way."
Though I have been no indifferent spectator of the rapid
and triumphant march of science which, within the last
50 years, has been extending and enriching the old domains
of knowledge, and planting as it were, new colonies in
hitherto unexplored and untrodden regions, yet I have
been only a spectator—my avocations have been less with
the propsyties of matter than with the busy concerns of
men ; and if I attempted now to assume, for the first time
the philosophic garb, I am afraid that the awkwardness of
my gait would soon betray me. There are, however, some
points of high and general interest, which, in a meeting
like the present, cannot be entirely neglected, and in re-
gard to which the kindness of friends has supplied me with
some matter not unworthy of being submitted to your no-
tice. How, for instance, in the land of Newton, and in
the greatest seaport of the world, should I negleot astro-
nomy? And here Professor Challis has been good enough
to furnish me with a statement of its present condition
and recent progress, which, with your permission, I will
lay before you.
-

NOTES ON THE PRESENT STATE 01?
ASTRONOMY.
[MEMORANDUM BY PROFESSOR CHALLIS.]
Since the meeting of the British Association last year,
four planets and four comets have been discovered. Three
of the new planets were found at Mr. Bishop's observatory;
two by Mr. Hind, and ono by Mr. Maith. The last was
also discovered the following night at the Oxford obser•
vatory—another of the many instances presented by astro-
nomy of independent discoveries made nearly simulta-
neously. The fourth planet was found at the observatory
of Bilk, near Dusseldorf, by Mr. R. Luther, an astronomer
distinguished by having already discovered two planets.
Of the comets, one was discovered at Berlin, two at Got-
tin,gen, and the fourth was seen very generally with the
naked eye at the end of last March. None of them have
been identified with preceding comets.
The large number of planets and comets discovered of
late years, while it evinces the diligence of astronomers,
has at the same time brought additional labourers into the
field of astronomical science, and contributed materially
to its extension. The demand for observations created by
these discoveries has been met by renewed activity in
existing observatories, and has led to the establishment,
by public or private means, of new observatories. For
instance, an observatory was founded in the course of last
year by a private individual at Olmutz, in Moravia, and
is now actively at work on this class of observations.
Various such instances have occurred within a few years.
In addition to the advantages just stated, the observations
called for by the discovery of new bodies of the solar
system, have drawn attention to the state of the stellar
astronomy, and been the means of improving this funda-
mental part of the science. The following are a few words
on the existing state of Stellar Astronomy, so far as regards
catalogues of stars. Subsequently to the formation of the
older catalogues of bright stars, astronomers turned their
attention to observations in zones, or otherwise of smaller
stars, to the ninth magnitude inclusive. Lalande, Lacaille,
Bessel, Argelander, and Lamont, are the chief labourers in
this class of observations. Buttheseobservations, unreduced
and uncatalogued, are comparatively of little value. The
British Association did great service to astronomers by re-
ducing into catalogues the observations of Lalande and
Lacaille. A catalogue of part of Bessel's zones has been
published at St. Petersburg, and a catalogue of part of
Argelander's zones at Vienna. Lamont's zones have also
been reduced in part by himself. The catalogue of 8377
stars, published by the British Association in 1845, is
founded mainly on the older catalogues, but contains, also,
stars to the seventh magnitude inclusive, observed once
only by Lalande or Lecaillee The places of the stars in
this catalogue are, consequently, not uniformly trust-
worthy ; but as the authorities for the places are indicated
I the astronomer is not misled by the circumstance.
The above are the catalogues which are principally used
in the observations of the small planets and the comets.
This class of observations must generally be ma id F noeans
of stars as fixed points of reference. The observer selects
a star from a catalogue, either for the purpose of finding
the moving body, or for comparing its position with that
of the star; but, from the imperfection of the catalogue, it
sometimes happens that no star is found in the place indi-
cated by it, and in most cases, unless the star's place has
been determined by repeated meridian observations, it is
not sufficiently accurate for final reference of the position
of the planet or comet. In catalogues reduced from zone
observations, the star's right ascension genergly depends
on a single transit across a single wire, and its decijilati°n
on a single bisection. This being the case, astronomOg
have begun to feel the necessity of using the catalogue
places of stars provisionally, in reducing their observations,
and of obtaining afterwards accurate places by meridian
observations.
"It will be seen by this statement that by the observa-
tions of the small plates, and of comets, materials are
gradually accumulating for the formation of a more accu-
rate and more extensive catalogue of stars than any hi-
therto published. The British Association would add
greatly to the benefits it has already conferred on astrono;
mical science, by promoting the publication, wheu sufficient
materials can be collected, of a general catalogue of all
stars to the ninth magnitude inclusive, which have been
repeatedly observed with meridian instruments. The
modern sources at present aYailablo for such a Work arc the

"To complete the present account of the state of Stellar
Astronomy, mention should bo made of two volumes re-
cently published by Mr. Cooper, containing the approxi-
mate places arranged in order of Right Ascension of
30,186 elliptic stars from the 9th to the l2th magnitude,
of which only a very small number had been previously
observed. The observations were made with the Markree
Equatorial, and have been printed at the expense of her
Majesty's Government.
" The determination of differences of longitude by gal-
vanic signals is an astronomical matter of great practical
importance. This method, employed first in America,was
introduced into England by the Astronomer Royal, and
Iris been applied to the determination iu succession of the
differences of longitude between the Greenwich Observa-
tory, and the observatories of Cambridge, Edinburgh;
Brussels, and Paris. In the first and last instances results
have been published which prove the perfect success and
accuracy of the method. Mr. Airy, on recently announc-
ing in the public papers the completion of the operation
between the Greenwich and Paris observatories, justly re-
marks that such an experiment could not have been made
without the assistance afforded by commercial enterprise,
and that commercial enterprise is in turn honoured by the
aid thus rendered to science. In the summer of last year,
Professor Encke, following the example set in England,
determined successfully, by galvanic signals, the difference
of longitude between Berlin and Frankfort-on-the Maine.
"Galvanisn has also been applied to astronomical pur-
poses in other ways. The method of observing transits by
the intervention of a galvanic circle (just put in practice
iu America), in which only sight and touch are employed,
and counting is not required, is now in operation at the
Greenwich Observatory. It is found to be attended with
more labour than the old method, but it is free from errors
to which the other method is liable ; it lays claim to
general acceptance. At Greenwich, also, the galvanic cir-
cuit is most usefully employed in maintaining the move-
ments of distant sympathetic clocks, and in dropping time
signal balls. A ball is dropped every day at Deal by a
galvanic current from the Royal Observatory.
" Some anxiety was felt by astronomers respecting the
continuation of that most indispensable publication, and
'Astronomische Machrichten,' after the decease of the edi-
tor, Mr. Petersen, in February last. This lels been dis-
pelled by a recent announcement that the King of Den-
mark has resolved to maintain the Altonaobservatory, and,
in connexion with that, the editorship of that work. The
Astronomical Journal,' an American publication of the
same kind, undertaken by a young astronomer and mathe-
matician, Mr. Gould, for the especial information of his
countrymen, has reached the end of volume three, and
will, it is hoped, be continued.
" Generally, it may be said of astronomy, at the present
time, that it is prosecuted zealously and extensively, active
observations being now more numerous than ever, and that
the interests of the science aro promoted as well by private
euterprise as by the aid of governments.
" Cambridge Observatory, Sept. 14, 1854."

"J. CHALLIS.

You will have observed that Professor Challis speaks of
the activity of private enterprise in the cause of astrono-
my ; and can Lein this place, pass over the labours of a
Lassells° , of the enlightened public spirit of the corpora-
tion of this town, which, stimulated by our visit in the
year 1837, has now for some years maintained an excel-
lent and well provided observatory, under the able manage-
ment of Mr. Hartnup, who has not only conferred groat
benefits on the navigation of the place by the regulation
of its chronometers, but great honour upon the institution
by the general services which ho has rendered to meteo-
rological as well as astronomical science. Mr. Hartnup's
improvements in the chronometer, by which the errors
arising from variations of temperature are either corrected
or estimated and allowed for, have been of the greatest
value. In the words of a report of the council of
the Royal Astronomical Society, "It is found experimen-
tally that when a captain will apply the rate thus cor-
rected for temperature the parformance of chronometers
is much improved ;" and in regard to the importance of
the subject to the practical interests of navigation, I would
take the liberty of quoting further, "There are risks at
sea against which no foresight can provide ; but loss from
defective compasses, or ill-regulated chronometers, should
be treated as a crime ; since common sense and common
care will secure the efficacy of both these instruments. It
is to be feared that life and property to a large amount are
yearly sacrificed for want of a little elementary knowledge,
and a small amount of precaution on the part of our
seamen, who neglect the safeguards furnished by modern
science."
You may remember, that atthe period of your last meet-
ing, arrangements with Government were in progress for
the construction of a reflecting telescope of four-feet aper-
ture, which should bring to bear upon the nebulae, and
other starry phenomena, of the southern hemisphere, a
far higher power than that to which they 4had been sub-
mitted by Sir John Herschell. You will regret to hear
that, although the estimate was not objected to by the
Government, it has not yet been submitted to Parliament.
We must make some allowance for the pre-occupations
of war. _ _

The labours of your Kew committee are carried on with
unabated assiduity and extending usefulness. You will,
perhaps, forgive me for taking the liberty
_of urging upon
you the importance of continuing to them an unabated, if
not an enlarged, support. By eying accuracy to the various
implements of observation, the thermometer,the barometer,
and the standard weights and measures. they are doing a
work of incalculable benefit to science iu general, in this
and in other countries. At this moment they have in
their hands for verification and adjustment one thousand
thermometers and fifty barometers for the navy of the
United States, as well as 500 thermometers and 60 barome-
ters for our own Board of Trade, the instruments which
are supplied in ordinary commerce being found to be sub-
ject to error to an extraordinary degree. At the sugges-
tion of Sir John Herechell they have also undertaken, by
the photographic process, to secure a daily record of the
appearance of the sun's disc, with a view of ascertaining,
by a comparison of the spots upon its surface, their places,
size, and forms, whether any relation can be established
between their variations and other phenomena. The
Council of the Royal Society has supplied the funds, and
the instrument is in course of completion. The same beau-
tiful invention, which seems likely to promote the interests
of science, in many branches at least, as much as those of
art, is employed, under the able direction of the commit-
tee, and of Mr. Welsh, the curator, to record, by a self-
acting process, something similar to that of the anemome-
ter, the variation in the earth's magnetism. But I will
not pretend to anticipate the results of the careful and ex-
tended study of this subject by our able associate, Colonel
Sabine, who has been kind enough to promise that we shall
hear them from his own mouth in one of our evening, meet-
ings. Neither will I anticipate the report of my learned
and distinguished predecessor in this chair, Mr. Hopkins,
on the subject to which he called the attention of the as-
sociation at its last meeting, and on which, in conjunction
with Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Joule, he has been engaged
in a series of experiments. I allude to the effects of pres-
sure on the temperature of fusion, a problem of great im-
portance, as bearing on the internal condition of our
planet.
A report of the committee of the Institute of France,
consisting of MM. Lionville, Lame, and Elie de Beaumont,
on the subject of a theory of earthquakes, has been trans-
mitted to me for the use of the association. From a care-
ful discussion of several thousands of these phenomena,
which have been recorded between the years 18'i1 and 1851,
and a comparison of the periods at which they occurred
with the position of the moon in relation to the earth, the
learned professor, M. Perrey, of Dijon, would infer that
earthquakes may possibly be the result of an action of at-
traction exercised by that body on the supposed fluid cen-
tre of our globe, somewhat similar to that which she exer-
cises on the waters of the ocean, and the report to the com-
mittee of the institute is so far favourable that, at their
instance, the institute have granted funds to enable the
learned professor to continue his researches. You will re-
collect how often the attention of the association has been
drawn to the subject by the observations of Mr. Milne and of
Mr. Mallet, which latter are still going on; and that the ac-
cumulating facts are still waiting for a theory to explain
them. _ _

----
On Geology. —I am sorry for the slightness of my ac-
quaintance with so captivating as well as so practical a
study. I have nothing to report, save that the increasing
scarcity of ironstone and coal is driving the practical men
to have greater respect for a science which enables them to
form a very sound conjecture where such minerals are likely
to bo found, and to coma to something like an absolute
certainty as to where they are not. When the questions
begin to be asked, " Is there a square mile in all the coal-
fields of Britain unoccupied by the mines ?"—" Of its 5000
square miles of visible coal tract, how much remains un-
touched? " it is time, indeed, to listen to that science which
has taught us so successfully in the hands of a Murchison,
a Phillips, and others, where further resources for the sup-
ply of this, the life of Britain, is to be found.
I need hardly tell you of the services which meteorology
may be expected to render to practical life, and perhaps
there is no better instance of the value of the accumula-
tion of facts, though in themselves apparently of small im-
portance, and having apparently little connexion with each
other.
What, apparently, can be less subject to rule and law,
even to a proverb, than the changeful wind and the trea-
cherous wave ? Yet, even here, observation and compari-
son have done some good work for science and for man, and
aro about to do more. You aro all aware that th
i Ameri-
can Government have now for some years, at theinstance
and under the direction of Lieutenant Maury, been collect-
ing from the mercantile vessels at that
nation observations
of certain phenomena at sea, such as winds, tides, currents,
and temperature of the oceahaveand that the results, di-
gested into charts and books,. already been. the means
of adding speed and safety to their voyages in an extraor-
dinary degree.
You are aware that application was made to our Govern-
ment to co-operate.in this great work of common benefit to
every mercantile nation, and thatour the
.subjectwas brought
before Parliament by one of vice-preside pts, Lard
Wrottesley, in a speech which he has since published, and
which I would commend to every one's perusal who doubts
of the importance of this branch of science to the interests
of commerce and navigation. You are perhaps aware that
the Government has agreed to the proposal, and has created
a special department for
the purpose in connection with
the Board of Trade, placing it under the management of
perhaps the one man best fitted to carry it out with energy
and success—my friend Captain Fitzroy ; one not less
known on the banks of the Mersey by old associations than
on the general fields of maritime science. Conceiving that
I this was a subject of special interest to the place of oar
-.sent meeting, and that for such an object it was desir-
lin - . publicly and as widely as possible to solicit the co-
shit; a'-• , of all who are connected with the commerce of
operatic- T have asked Captain Fitzroy to communicate
the country, - ' ^ondition of the question ; and he has
to me the present ~ -t officially, with the following
kindly furnished me, /1,.... -permission, I will read :---
memoranda, which, with your 1.,

--tread over
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