Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-21

venuons uncompleted, ideas undeyeloped, and spe
culations immatured, this pillar was torn from tho
| temple OF science, and there not practical
| astronomer within the boundaries OF Europe who
did not feel the tide of grief for the loss OF Frau
| enhofer flowing within his own circle" "Or
| the tablet erected to his memory his mourning
countrymen have inscribed volume in the word.
sapprorin,aul sidera.'" Twenty years have
elapsed since Frauenhofer's offer to construct
disc of eighteen inches, and fourteen French
inches is the maximum diameter of any one We
perfected" "The furnaces of Messrs. Merz q
MAILER, the successors of the house with which
: Frauerhofer was connected, are in the Tyro
says Mr.. GILLIss, surrounded with high walls
and so ealously is the art guarded that Mr.. Merz
does not permit even his workmen to be present
at the casting, but turns them all outside the walls
: His son is probably the only person living capa-
: BILE to manufacture the glass, Mailer being the
mechanician. There were completed and fitted
into their cells one lens of fourteen, two of twelve
two Of ten and half, and one of nine French
inches, which last l selected. Mr.. Mers offered
to construct one of eighteen inches, if would
allow fue years for the completion ofthe telescope"
1t appears that England and the continent of Eu-
rope depend upon Bavaria principally for large OBJ
Iect glasses The superiority OF the optical portion
Of Franenhoers telescopes is generally admitted,
but great diversity of opinion obtains among asro
nomers as to the style of mounting. The report
gives long description of what Mr.. G.. considers
the best mode of accomplishing this, as well as of
the .Achronaatic Reflector, which constructed for
the Washington Observatory. This instrument
cost $4,000, its objectglass alone mine French
inches in diameter) being valued at $500. The
Z" observing chair" in the Observatory appears
to be most ingeniously constructed it was manu-
featured by our highly esteemed neighbors, Messrs
Il. w. a. r. c. Smith, of Alexandria. "A plan
furnished" says Mr.. GnLIss, .'by myself, but
il is due to those artists to state that their modiica
tons have almost entirely superseded the original
design. q know of no continuance Of like excel
lence in any observatory"
The Transit Instrument was constructed by Err
tel IL Son, of Munich, the objecl-gass, having
clear aperture of five and half inches, and focal
length eighty htinches, was obtained from Messrs
Merz d Mailer, and cost $500; the cost of the
entire instrument being 81 ,4sO.
:" The Mural Circle" says Mr.. GILLIss, ssbeing
peculiarly an English instrument, it was thought
advisable that he should consult the Astronomer
Royal at Greenwich respecting the best plan for its
constructions" and it was fabricated by Mr.. Simms,
surviving partner of Troughton,) under Mr.. Airy's
directions. This instrument is infinitely described
Its cost was about $3.50.
The Prime Terficai Transit was constructed by
Messrs. Pistor & Martins, of Berlin, and cost
$3.50. - 80
The scientific details of the adjustments of the
above named instruments are given with great mi
nuteness.
The Comet Seeker cost $3.50, and was made by
Messrs. Merz & Mahler of Munich.
The mdgneficaI and meteorological instruments
are described at great length and with much scien
tifc mlnuteness, and the account of their adjust
mcnt extends through several pages of the report.
The Library" Much interest" says Lieuten-
ant GILLIss, 8 was evinced in the success of the
naval observatory by the distinguished saUans had
the honor 10 meet; and in token of their gratifica
ton at the establishment of an institution by the
United States where science will be prosecuted
they contributed to It's library the following books
The list enumerates nearly eighty valuable works
compromising about two hundred volumes, princi.
pally in 4to and folio, presented by public institri.
lions and scientific gentlemen in England, Prussia
Belgium, and Bavaria. The Washington Observa-
tory has been placed on the list of correspondent
cies," and will receive the publications hereafter
made by the Royal Society and Royal Astronomi-
cal Society of England; the Greenwich, Cambridge,
Oxford, Edinburgh, Dorpat, Munich, Prague, Brus-
sells, Hamburg, Madras, and Berlin observations,
and the Annals of Magnetism and Meteoroogy
We are glad TO find that the Library Of the OBJ
servatory IS already SO extensive the catalogue
",
subjects connected with the objects of the inst-
tuition.
Mr.. GILLIss gives brief history Of the Depot,
and the progress of astronomical observations which
have been made therein under the direction Of the
Navy Department. Through the influence of
Lieut.. L.. Nj. GoLDsBoRoueH, (now commander,)
: bureau was established in this city, in $780, for
: the care of the instruments, charts, &c. Of the
: navy. One of the duties of the officers connect.
: ed with it was the careful rating Of all chronome-
tiers belonging to the navy, which was effected by
thlrty-inch transit instrument "To Lieut..
marlborough therefore, is due the erection of the
hrst astronomical instrument for the navy at Wash
ington. He was succeeded in the charge of the
depot, IN 1893, by Lieut.. WILKES, (now comman-
der,) who removed the Office to the Capitol Hill.
where 1t remained until 1912. Lieut.. Wilkes
erected there, at his own expense, an Observatory
sixteen feet square, and mounted five feet transit
: instrument made by Troughton" Il do not find
(says Mr.. g. that any regular series of obserya
lions were commenced until the departure of the
Exploring Expedition in 1893, the principal use
made of the transit being the determination of
time"
During the absence of Lieut.. Wilkes in Europe To
purchase instruments for the Exploring Expedi
zion, Lieut.. HITcHcocK took charge of Tire Denot.
Lieut.. GrILIss was appointed his assistant in No
vember, 1886, and left in charge in the followino
spring. When Lieut.. Wilkes accepted the com.
mand Of the Exploring Expedition, in 1898, ,he
importance Of corresponding moon-culninations
OCCUPATIONS, and ecllpses, in determining differ,
ences of longitude with The Expedition. was sue.
gested to the Department, and Mr.W. G. BoSp. Al
Boston, and Lieut.. GLLIss were directed 10 con-
Il =,