The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-10 00:00:00

ANNULIR ECLIPSE OF THE Sti.V, 1858.

MARCH 15.

The following suggestions for observation of the
eclipse are not offered as by any means complete,
but as presenting grounds for consideration which
may tend to direct observers in deciding on the
employment of the means which they may possess :
1.-OBSERVATIONS NOT REQUIRING INSTRUMENTS.
1. As the eclipse advances, it is desirable to ob-
tain some notion or measure of the degree of dark-
ness.

2. At what distance from the eye can a book or
paper, exhibiting type of different sizes, he read ?
3. Hold up a lighted candle nearly between the
sun and your eye. At bow many sun-breadths' dis-
tance from the sun can the flame be seen ?
4. If you are in an elevated position, remark the
changes of colour and appearance of the surround-
ing objects in the landscape?
5. If you see spots of light formed by the inter-
secting shadows of the boughs of trees, remark whe-
ther they exhibit the luneform of the sun.
6. When the annulus is formed, you will
probably observe it with a darkened glass; but you
are particularly requested to devote one instant (as
early as possible) to the verification of this point—
namely, When the annular sun is viewed with the
naked eye, does it appear an anuulus or a fully illu-
minated disc ?
--OPTICAL,IL ASTRONOMICA L, An SOLAR- PHYSICAL
OBSERVATIONS, REQUIRING THE USE OF INSTRU-
MENTS.
7. As the eclipse advances, estimate (on the image
seen in the. telescope) the comparative intensity of
the sun's light near the centre of his disc and near
his limb.
8. For the more critical observations, it is desi-
rable that the power of your telescope should be so
low as to give you an easy view of the whole breadth
of the sun.
9. Remark irregularities on the moon's limb.
10. As the cusps become very sharp, remark
whether they are irregular. For this, and for all the
observations near the annular phase, it is necessary
that you be provided either with a graduated pris-
matic shade, or with a succession of shades of dif-
ferent intensity, and that you instantly select the
shade which is most agreeable to your eye.
11. Rsmark whether the sun's light extends be-
yond the intersection of the limbs of sun and moon,
so as to make the moon's limb visible beyond that
intersection. For this purpose the bright parts of
the sun must be put out of the field of view, and
the shade muss be withdrawn.
12, As the annuallrity approaches and is formed,
remark whether Baily's beads and strings are
form.d ; whether first farmed at points corre,-pond-
rig to large inequalities of the moon's limb ; whe-
ther they surround the moon ; how they form and
break. Only an instant can be given to this obser-
vation. It is of the utmost importance to be assured
thatyour vision at the instant immediately preced-
ing, especially of the moon's iuequal ties, is very
dia, loot.

13. Remark, as one of the most important obser-
vations of the eclipse, whether any rel flames are
seen on the sun's limb. For this purpose you must
withdraw the shade, if you are on the annular track,
the instant af er formation of the annulus ;. if y.. 0
are not ou the annular track, as soon as the eye can
heir the sun. Ou the annular track the whole line
(oust be rapidly scrutinised; and when the ring
breaks, the still-illuminated part must ba put out
of the fiAd, and the moon's dark limb must be sur-
veyed. At places not on the annular back, this
plan (namely, to exclude the illuminated portion
of the disc from the field, and to .urvey the moon's
dArk limb) must he followed throughout. It seems
not itnprob .bl.t h the best chance of seeing red
flames will be obtained at places not on the annular
track.

14. At the breaking up of the arnulus, look for
Body's beads as before.
15. Do not attempt any record during or near
the annulari'y, Endeavour to impress observations
on your memory as well as you can. If you have
on assistaut seated at your table with a chrono-
meter and writing materials, you may give him
signals for the register of time, but you must con-
ueit the phenomena with the time afterwards.
16. A good sextint obs: rver may obtain valuable
observations fur correction of the lunar tables, by
measuring th. intervals between the points of thl
blight cusps. The observations will require gre It
nerve, and will be difficult, but where most diffi-
cult they will bo most valuable.
17. It ,eenis doubtful whether any valid photo-
graphic record can be made, on account of the ex-
treme ra ility of the change of appearances. Thus,
in the neighbourhood of London the line of cusps
will change from the vertical to the horizontal posi-
tion in about three minutes of t me.
18. If you have a doubly refracting prism it will
be de3iratde to make observations on the polarisa-
tion of the light from the sun's limb. For this pur-
pose, when the lune is narrow, place the prism Po
:.a to si:parati the two images tiansversrly to the
limb, and remark which image is brighter. Turn
the prism 180 deg. tound the visutl ray, and re-
peat t'ie ob.ervtion. Remark carefully the posi-
tions of the prism. The prism miy be used with
the naked eye er with the telescopy, aveotding to
the amount of its angular separation of images.

111.-METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
19. For change in intenity of solar radiation,
observations with the actinometer or the black bulb
thermometer should be kept up during the eclipse.
The latter are moat tiustworthy when the bulb is
inclosed in an exhausted glass sphere.
20. The barometer should be repeatedly observed.
21. Tne thermometer shou'd b) frequently ob-
served, and the general feelings of cold should be
noted.

22. OSservations of humidity are very impor-
tant. They should be mada by the use either of
atniell's dew-point instrument or of the wet-bu;b
thermometer.
March 8.

G. B. AIRY.

THE SPY SYSTEM IN PARIS.

The following is from a letter published in the
Glasgow Daily Mail of Monday :
" Sir,—M-y I ask the publicity of your columns
for a brief account of some incidents which have
happened in Paris, where I have been residing for
nearly seven years ?
"I was sauntering yesterday afternoon with a
friend in the Champs Elysees. The aspect of this
noble promenade was sadly changed. The benches
on which the Parisians usually sit in t: ie sun were
all de,ierted. Laungers of all nations mike the
Champs Elysees ordinarily a sort of living -end mov-
ing etnnological museum but paterday the mst
notable figures were a number of new and sinister
faces, some of whom might have been taken for
miserable, and some of them for genteel beg?ats.
I observed them trying to overhear the conversa-
tion of myself and my friend, which happened to be
only about the Frerio taste in horses and equip-
ages. Leoking at a shabby little individual, I said
to my friend, but not loud en ugh to be heard,
That is a spy ;' and my friend exclaimed, Wit z:t
a v 11. nous face While we were looking at him,
he came up to me, and addressing me in Italian,
oba,quiously begged a few oholi,' or small
coins. Turninz to my friend, I sail in French, ' I
be'ieve he is a beggar.' Whin I put my lif.nd to
my pocket to give him an alms, the spy 3d me
by the left arm and told me that I wis an Italian,
and he was an 'lnspettore.' I said, So I thought.'
Se told me he desired a little conversation with
me, and that I mast .so with Lim to the commissary
of police. My friend, believing I was talking with
a beggar, was looking at the caiTiiges, when I
called out to him, lam arrested I' The inspector'
said my friend must come as well. On our way to
the office of the commissary, the excited little in-
spector told me I spoke Italian, and was au Italian,
and that it was useless for me to deny it. The
inspector then commenced a formal interrogation.
' What is your name?' I gave hint my card. You
are an Italian. You understlnd Italian. What
are you doing in Paris ?" I will ans ser that ques-
tion to Monsieur the Commissary.' Ah ! well, you
refuse to tell what you are ISeeing me arrested,
and held by the arm, several elderlygentlemen and
ladies darted at me looks of terror anl horror.
In the office of the commissary the inspector said he
could not believe my card, because myself and my
friend were walking with an ' air suspect,' or in a
auspicious manner. Moreover, I knew he belonged
to the police. This correct guess seemed to have
given him great offence. Now, to avoid - detecting
spies is difficula, for they display what they are by
the insolent gleams of conscious power always dart-
ing from their eyes. The secretary of the commis-
sary, fortunately for me, answered he was sure, and
would answer for it, that I was not an Italian, but
au Englishman long re3ident in the neighbourhOod ;
but he turned to my friend, and said, And you,
sir, of what nation are you ?' The suddenness of
to answer sewtroearr.s
ctfhao
lre3nhaisbmaoift
oyAolmuoencsaine,
the ques,tion taking my friend aback, I was obliged
unll:bieseapßaruselo'nia.'n2Loloihke-
ImganaYLt uhelkilillysteadfaztly, said, ''Oh ! there are so
Walt s well known, ,and happened)nttbetoo
btacialytso,luiau cbhor wise I
companion was not an
arahodu
should
Ihgelliteve ler
for roe this inoide
days and night„t aj"-isortmlnent, and and
tuistook 3,1E4 beaansey
conspirat,,r2,- iliahlandear Plorrena'lln

fROBBERIES OF PLAitiA. iw -.-.
of the Rev. F. Fiirhter, sZndli-f„--L"- —wh-i t,_
A great°g°T:lBa'
church, on Sunday lart, 80,0,e-l'" r"d, rZr''e family
house and F tole a quantity of tili'veorra:pas bre'ke 'illviteole tt
Iffy. and art:c!es of value.forks, j„`,-,;.
and jiwellery bas al,o been etolre f. om the c 4„ Pl\lT"t'
SW,.ger, jeweller, iligh-Areet, Stourbridge. ^ 1 --r.