The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-29

joint resolution passed. unanimously the last day OF the
session. instructing our delegation In Congress to
their influence the repeal Of the last act of
Congress relating to newspaper
Eogle.
| 1t is said that Col William p winchester nomi-
mated by the democratic party last evening for the Of
man and so far has claim on the votes of portion Of
the democratic party Heis doubtless brave also
but it should be recolected that such men run
we'll. Besides he has been known Jealous
whig.-Bosion Journal, Nor ~.
Tho National Observatory mt Washington.
This institution founded in 1912, under act of
Congress appropriating sum Of money to erect de-
for the charts and instruments Of the navy of the
United States, whence public vessels might be suita
safe navigation The site Of the observatory is beau
tiful one, commanding ane view Of Georgetown Wash
vernon) and the Potomac river for several miles above
and below the city. 1t occupies University square,
burbs Of Washington on the left bank Of the Potomac
| and about one hundred feet above tide water This
reservation made BY General Washington for the
naval institution, conducted entirely by naval officers,
under the direction Of Lieut.. M. +. Maury A. NJ as
principal superintendent The lawrequres that the
perintendent director shall be either Lieutenant
captain in the navy of the United States
The main building Is Of brick so feet square, and two
stories in height surmounted by revolving dome OF 20
feet diameter in the clear in which Is placed the large
equatorial splendid instrument from the mandatory
OF Merz & Mailer, Munich Attached to the main
building, rs observing rooms are wings extending lS
to the east and I'd hest neS Of So feet Gin
nshed with set Of excellent astronomical nstru.
ments consstiDg-l ofthe large refactor in the dome
already alluded to- of las feet focal length with OBJ
eot glass having ga inches clear aperture it equator
ally mounted, and Furnished with clock. work. . A
clear aperture made by Ertel Son, Munich, and
mounted the meridian in the west wing where
by Parkinson & Frodsham In the sast wing is-s A
meridian circle by the same makers sobect glass hav
es This Is provided with 40 inch CT Circle
divided into of and read to seconds and tenths
by four microscopes few feet from this in the
ROOM stands The elegant mural circle an English
instrument, by Troughton & Sims of feet diameter
divided into arcs Of 5m value and furnished with six
reading microscopes, with which subdivisions Of the
circle obtained in seconds and parts of seconds
The object glass Of the telescope Is Of the with
that of the meridian CIRCLE with focal length Of feet
the clock has mercurisi pendulum and was made by
Charles Frodsham In the south wing, first apartment
ISIS. The fine transit instrument made BY Piston
Martins Of Berlin for the prime vertical It Ia mounted
at end of Its axis and outside OF Its supports is
from to the other side Of these twice during
every and though weighs upwards Of 1000
pounds perfect Its system of the
reversing apparatus that child lit 1t from its Vs.
and replace In them in less than minute
The focal length OF this telescope is feet with clear
aperture Of 40 inches; the clock has grdiron pen
vstiNns made with instruments thus mounted, are
among the most known in astronomy and those
now making In Washington have not been surpassed
by any the oldest observ atories in Europe The
cordsnce Of the resulting declnstions SUCH that
the whols year. which differs as much as sec
from the mean OF all others upon the same star.
catalogue OF all the stars within the reach nstru
ment has been already commenced at the obser
vatory, which, when completed will be regarded by
tronomers as standard work. and perhaps the most
accurate catalogue that has appeared careful
revision Of this catalogue In after years will probably
| lead to highly valuable and interesting results.
But wonderful as Is the degree of accuracy In the
cults obtained from this instrument Lieut. Maury has
discovered In It, which he has sought to
b. smother For this purpose he furnished Mesrs
strumen which has been lately received at the observa
tory, aud which understand those sklful makers
ha thn mia
ment that they have made. II Ia intended to be
mounted temporarily in the prime vertical in the other
piled In this direction the of the several
problems which connected with its position East and
where will be used for observations upon atmospherica
refractons. paraax &C. and for the purpose Of deter
mining both right ascensons and declinstons since
combines all the capacities both Of the meridian transit
instrument and the mural circle But Is the FIRST in
trument in this country for the purpose
the refractions
Lieut. Maury has called 1t the "Rsfraction Circlen
though its objects and uses are by confined to
both mural and transit Instrument by reason
Its facilities for reversal zenith sector also 1t Is well
between north and south stars In the prime vertical it
becomes improved zenith sector and takes the place
Of the prime vertical transit instrument with all the ad
vantages superb Of altitude instrument in that
direction. We have not been able to obtain
measurement Of all parts Of this instrument The tes-
II supported in the middle of the axis between two
piers; 1t has two Affect circles each end of the
divided on RClQ INTO OF minutes value.
Each circle is provided with six reading microscopes
| The telescope has two micrometers, moving in
szmuth the other In altitude. 1t is coptrved that
the wires and not the held Illuminated and every
eyepiece, Of the highest powers Just as 1t is
| uset, and without alteration Of any kind. becomes a
colmatng eye-piece, by simply turning the telescope
down upon basin of mercury. AT end Of the axis
and concentrc with II, two lines situated in
the focus of lens placed ut the other end Of the axis
Upon the proongaion Of this axia line at either end
and attached to the piers which support the tee
scope are placed two comators which are iugeniousy
conrived to stand in the place both of the srid ng
level and meridian marks and which to be for
determining the level Of the Instrument the figure of
the axis and the eccentrcity of the pyos There ia
the deviation Of the level Of the axis from norm Al
state account Of unequal expansion the support
ing piers which Of granite This consists OF another
beautiful continuance by means Of couple OF invaris
BILE rods rods Of we'll determined billy which
inserted vertically through the piers and which,
which take place from this source, in the level
| inclination Of the axis Of the instrument. Thus
| the imperfectons OF the spirt-level are, In a
great measure, avoided and ill the advantages, with
| but part Of the Inconvenience, Of n stri-
ding level to with the instrument secured
Apprecating the advantages which these hne instru-
msns afford the superintendent appears to have begun
results, while they should be the useful would
at the time most rebound to the credit Of the OBJ
sertoy and the navy and TO the honor country
The national observatory being naval institution, Its
first object and duty would to be to undertake
| those observations which are most Immediately con-
nected with navigation, and the results Of which might
afford the data requisite for calculating American
| at once commenced with q regular and systematic
| series Of observations the moon. the