The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-07 00:00:00

THE TOTAL ECLIPSE IN NORWAY.

The Scotsman of Saturday last contains an inte-
resting communication from the Astronomer-Royal
for Scotland, who proceeded to the western coast of
Norway, for the express purpose of witnessing the
solar eclipse of July 28. This account of the re-
markable phenomenon is important, not only as
being the first which has appeared in this coun-
try from any quarter in which the eclipse was
total, but as being probably the only account which
we shall have from all that part of the line of com-
plete obscuretion, bad weather seeming to prevail
everywhere else in the neighbourhood., which was,
moreover, one that could hardly have been reached
but for the unusual assistance which way obtained in
the present case. The paper is as follows:
~
After all that has lately appeared in print in va-
rious places, it is perhaps hardly necessary to refer to
the extreme importance of a total eclipse being ob-
served at that narrow strip of the earth's surface where
it is quite total. There it is everything, elsewhere it
is nothing. That is, there, a darkness approaching to
that of night is experienced, and a host. of interesting
phenomena then, and then only, rever,A themselves,
and furnish the only clue, which .we can ever
hope for, to the physical nature of the :light and heat
giving surface of our sun, with the state! of which the
whole of our well-being is so intimately bound up.
But elsewhere than on that contracted line, but 100
or 150 miles broad, though the eclipse le! a large one,
still if the smallest particle of the sun .'s disc be left
unobscured, there is still the brightness of day, and
none of those phenomena are displayed.
" The places where an eclipse will be total, are, in
the present state of astronomy, easily a ia,d accurately
computed beforehand, so that observers. may choose
their stations with certainty. After full considera-
tion of what was preparing, and was likely to be done
elsewhere, there seemed a probability of the western
coast of Norway being less effectively occupied than
any other part of the line ; by reason, pralbably, of its
inaccessible nature, caused by the absence of any di-
rect means of public conveyance by sea or land. But,
at the same time, the eclipse happening e arlier there
than in any other part of Europe, would r ender it, in
so far, the most eligible station of all. A. representa-
tion was therefore made by the Astronom•?,r Royal for
Scotland to the Commissioners for Nortt tern Light-
houses, on the important results which might accrue
to the science of astronomy from the total ei Aipse being
well observed on the western coast of Norm eiy, and the
Commissioners, with their usual readiness be do all that
they fairly and properly could towards the promo-
tion of science, without detriment to their.own imme-
diate interests, examined their programme of work
for the season, and finding that their steam-vessel
would be employed at almost the very time of the
eclipse on a point in the Shetland Isles, orrly 20 hours
distant from the desired part of the coast of Norway,
kindly expressed their readiness to concur in
the general object proposed, so far as the means
of conveyance were concerned. The next step,
therefore, to insure this liberality being turned to
good account, was to provide a sufficiency of ob-
servers and of instruments. The former requisite
was eminently secured by the Rev. Dr. Robinson,
the well-known astronomer of the Armagh Observa-
tory, having engaged to join the party, and to him
the general direction was unanimously awarded.
The latter desideratum was supplied by making
application to the Hydrographic Department of
the Admiralty, which, in the person of
its chief, Sir F. Beaufort, not only offered
the loan of any of the royal navy's surveying
instruments, thus rendering the Scottish expedition
more complete in this respect than perhaps any
other, but prevailed on the Board of Admiralty to
procure through the Swedish ambassador, from the
Governor General of Norway, full leave for the party
to land with their instruments on any part they
pleased of the coast of Norway, of which, moreover,
he procured an accurate manuscript chart.
" These matters, therefore, being arranged, the
as-
tronomical party being taken on board as the vessel
passed on its way to the Shetland Isles, and the in-
spection of the light-houses there being completed,
a rapid run was successively accomplished to the
Norwegian shore, and a station was selected on one
of the outlying Bue Islands in lat. 61 degrees 20
minutes. This position not only placed us in the
centre of the line of shadow, but gave us a clear
horizon in the direction of the sun at the
time of the eclipse, and removed us suffi-
ciently far from the great meridian chain of moun-
tains, running along the western coast of Norway,
and gathering about them that morning a multitude of
clouds, to make up, as it seemed, by an unprecedented
deluge of rain, for the unusally long space of uninter-
rupted fine weather, which had been experienced before
our arrival. The instruments were landed at an
early hour, and there were sufficient glimpses of the
sun through the clouds to obtain the necessary
observations for time and for latitude, and before
the commencement of the eclipse each observer was
told off with his instruments prepared, and with a code
of instructions. These, too, were so arranged that by
division of labour it was hoped that, although the im-
portant part of the eclipse was of so short a duration,
and the number of phenomena to be noted so many
and various—that yet none of them, whether refer-
ring to the purely astronomical bearings of the case,
or to cosmical or terrestrial physics, could be
well lost sight of—that is, weather only permit-
ting, but this was by no means so favourable as could
have been wished. Still, however, the commencement
of the eclipse was very fairly observed, and sufficient
was seen during its progress to enable the observers
to take accurate notes of some spots on the sun,
and of mountains on the edge of the moon, so as to
be prepared to state their degrees of connexion, as
regards place, to those wondrous tongues of light,
and the variations of the corona, the moat inexpli-
cable, and the most important of all the phenomena
presented during a total eclipse. Further, the in-
stant of complete obscuration was observed very ac-
curately, and some interesting features were re-
marked, tending to explain anomalies perceived in
former total eclipses, and indicating a rapid fluctuation
in the degree of brightness of the sun's surface. Imme-
diately atter this, however, the clouds became so very
thick that the emersion of the sun was not seen at all,
and heavy rain beginning soon after, continued through
the rest of the evening. But the terrestrial pheno-
mena, to which more attention could be turned, on
the loss of the celestial ones, were of a nature abun-
dantly sufficient to satisfy any soul capable of entering
into and appreciating the awful and the sublime. As
the totality approached, the air felt sensibly colder at
every moment, and the darkness plainly increased;
the clouds seemed to lower, and under the sun was
seen an appearance of rushing descending streams
of them ; while the sea-birds appeared by
their noise to be gathering around the rocks
for their nightly rest or for shelter. The difference
of illumination had also become very marked on the
mountains at different distances, those far from us
being brought out with a vividness and diiinctness
Which made our own increasing gloom the more ob-
servable. Suddenly, at the moment of totality, the
very extremity of darkness seemed to fall upon us.
iNcimteadollirthwee vr,
greaterabsolutely, f forth thee h
horizon
nc
leftoud whichsoen
a
strip of sky extending
high,from N AV. to E.N.E., and two
or three degreesand which at this moment
became of a dark lurid orange
red on one side to greenishon
thcolour, verging from
_other, and enabled
us barely to see each other by a faint unearthly '
sort

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY,—The prevailing spirit of
this day's market has been of a satisfactory character.
Though extremely cautious, and not inclined to exceed
their previous limits, the buyers of yarns and goods
have yet shown a rather better disposition for business
at the rates of last week; and, at the same time, both
spinners and manufacturers, though wishful to keep
under contract, are enabled to manifest fully as much
firmness as they did a week ago. The buying has been
of a general character in goods and yarns, and of con-
siderable aggregate amount, effected generally at the full
previous rates, and attended with a hardening tendency
in some articles. For low mule and water twist, extra
hard twisted Mediterranean yarns, and throstle warps
up to No. 28's, for ith and 36-inch cloths, domes-
tics, T's, and long cloths, there continues to be a
demand, which keeps the market extremely bare.
The Germans still show much hesitation, yet their
timid operations are of fair extent on the whole. Last
week, there might be said to be no commissions in the
market on Eastern account; to-day, howe►er, some
orders, attracted by the low point to which prices have
fallen, have been received by the agency houses, and pur-
chases of shirtings to a fair amount have taken place.
There has been a little inquiry also for Indian yarns of
some counts. There continues to be a moderate call for
fine yarns on Russian account, and also for some numbers
of doubled.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—We have had a steady demand
for flannels to-day, without any change of prices from
the preceding week. Wool is firm, at the last week's
quotations.
MACCLESFIELD, TUKSDAY.—Nothing has taken place
since Friday's report to give an impulse to business in
silk manufactured goods, though some of our principal
manufacturing houses have begun to put out their pat-
tern warps for the approaching autumnal season.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—The aspect of business in our
Piece Hall to-day has not varied much from that of last
Saturday. Low lastings are still inquired for; but the
sale of other descriptions of goods is somewhat limited.
We cannot note any improvement in the demand for
yarn, which meets a heavy sale, at late rates. The
transactions in wool are far from extensive, and, in con-
sequence of the depression, it may be purchased in rather
easier terms.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—The market has been rather dull
to-day; but the woollen trade generally continues active,
and stocks keep low. A fair business doing iu the
warehouses, both for home and foreign trade.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—III our market to-day
there has been an increased activity upon last week's.
In the Cloth Hall a good business has been done in
blacks and mixtures of the middle qualities. Fancies, of
new and seasonable qualities, have been in demand.
Stocks in the Cloth-hall are at present low, indeed much
more so than is usual at this time of the year. The
shipping trade at present is quiet. The market in wools
has been rather more brisk than last week.
BIRMINGHAM, -.MONDA.T..-...1n OUT list Rale° of the
iron trade we mentioned that expectations were enter-
tained of the gradual giving out of such orders as had
been withheld at quarter day, at the prices current
before that time ; and we are happy to say they are
now being realised. During the past week, the demand
has become more active, and specifications are more
freely obtained, though unfortunately there is still
no tendency towards improved prices. Throughout
every branch of the business, complaints of losses and
want of remuneration are most energetic. Confidence,
indeed, is fast giving way to a feeling of anxiety for
the result of the present unmodified production under
such ruinous circumstances. Still the aggregate
employment of our mills and forges is again about
equal to that of the same period in the last quarter.
For rails also there are considerably more contracts in
the market; but the figures at which they are required
render them either unworthy of notice or altogether im-
practicable. We have not heard that more than one
furnace has been put out of blast, though at some the
make has been restricted.—Aris's Birmingham Gazette.

THE NEW SCREW STEAMER PROBE.
The advance of improvement in the manufacture of
merchant vessels, says a correspondent, is in no instance
mere strikingly developed than In the building of
auxiliary screws in the present year. We have had
occasion to take notice of several this year, which
have attracted great attention, but in no instance
have the lines been so fine, or has the model eli-
cited such general gratification, as in that of the
Pbcebe. This fine vessel, of 600 tons register and 150
horse power, was launched on Saturday last, from the
building yard of Messrs. Alexander Denny and Brother,
of Dumbarton, who appear rather favourite builders with
our Liverpool folk; and she certainly does thorn every
credit, as she promises, from her peculiar model and
greater proportionate power than some of the steamers
lately built, to outrival all her predecessors in the Medi-
terranean trade. Although remarkably yacht-like in ap-
pearance, as she gracefully entered the water, still, for
strength of construction, her builders have challenged all
competitors. Her plates throughout are double rivetted,
and she has a larger scantling than any other steamer we
have seen. Her commander, Captain P. P. Brenan, who
is also a large proprietor, expects to have her in Liver-
pool this month, when she will be laid upon her intended
station, via.,—Malta, Syra, Constantinople, and Smyrna,'
and from an experience of upwards of twenty years in
the trade we have no doubt he will make the most of her.
She is the first of an intended line of new iron screw
steamers for the Levant, under the management of
Messrs. Preston and Watson, 'of this town, who have
adopted all the most recent improvements in naval archi-
tecture, and who seeing the daily increasing demands
of the trade are by this means securing
their former prominent position in the Turkey
trade. Messrs. Tulloch and Denny, of Dumbarton,
are putting the engines into the Phoebe, and, on close
examination, they have been pronounced one of the
compacteat and neatest jobs of the kind ever turned out
of the Clyde, and hei proprietors have every confidence,
with all their applianees, of receiving the liberal support
of the shippers to the Mediterranean. She is 175 feet
long, 26 feet beam, 15i feet deep, is barque rigged, of a
peculiar rakish appearance, which is improved by her
bow being planned so as to appear high out of the water—
nearly straight, and particularly light—an improvement
on the late vessel, for which we are indebted to her practi-
cal commander,Captain I'. P. Brenan. Her screw has only
two blades, but it appears particularly strong. She has
comfortable houses on deck for the officers and engineers,
and she has also a bath-room on deck, which is de-
servedly appreciated as a great luxury in trading
to oriental shores. Her cabins were large and spa-
cious ; in fact, the berths appear to us so
airy and commodious that passengers must give
her a preference—their ventilation, comfort, and
elegance being superior in every respect. The la-
dies' cabin is a little drawing-room in miniature—is
elegantly furnished; that also has a comfortable bath-
room attached. She is divided into tour air-tight cum-
partments, and is calculated to carry 650 tons of goods,
and 220 tons of coals, besides twenty passengers. From
the energetic character of her agent, and the great par-
tiality shown by old bands in the trade to the captain,
that success is prophesied to the Pi,cebe which her
spirited originators deserve. —Liverpool Mercury.

We are happy to be able to announce that two
distinguished Hon. Members, Mr. Hume and Mr. Roebuck,
who have been absent from their Parliamentary duties
through severe indisposition, are so far recovered as to be
able to resume their duties this session. Both gentlemen
were present in their seats in the House yesterday morning.
LEGAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE COM-
PANY.—At a public meeting of proprietors in this company,
which took place on Tuesday at the offices in Fleet-street, Mr.
Crowder, QC., wa elected a'director in lieu of Sir Francis
Simpkinson, Q.C., deceased.