Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-21
ASTRONOMICAL.

coMaUNicArEs FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIsEScER.
The MISSING PLASEr.-PARIs, SEPTEMBER l5.-The
only stings OF the Academy of late in which there was any,
thing worth recording and this not of practca
character were those Of the 29h umo and the h instant
On the former day NJ Babnet made communication respect
ing the planet Neptune, which has been generally called M
Leyeiers planet the discovery of having said
been made by him from theoretical deductions which astons
ed and delighted the scientific public What M Leyerrier
had inferred from the action other planets Of body
which ought to exist VERIFIED at least thought
at the time, by actual vision Neptune actually seen by
other astronomers and the honor Of the theorst obtained adj
donal lusre But appears from the OF M
Babnet that this is not the planet of M. Leveer He had
placed his planet at distance from the equal to SO times
the limit of the terrestrial orbit Neptune evoyes at distance
equal to 80 times of these limits which makes difference OF
nearly 200 900 of leagues M. Leveer had assigned
his planet body equal 3s times that of the earth Ne-
tune has only onethird Of this volume M. Leverer had
stated the revolution Of his planet round the take place
IN 2l7 years. Neptune performs its revolution in 64 years
Thus, them Neptune mol NJ LSverries planet and all his
theory regards that planet falls to the ground NJ Lever
rer may find another planet but it will not the cacu
aions which he had made for Neptune In the sitting
the 18th M. Leverrie noticed the communication of M Bab
net and to great extent admitted his error He CON-
plains indeed, that much of what he said taken in toe
absolute sense, but he evinces much more candor than
might have been expected of disappointed explorer NJ.
Leverer may console himself with the reflection that if he
has been successful he thought he had been
might have been equally unsuccessful and as he has still be
fore him immense field for the exercise of observation and
calculation, may hope that he will make some dS
covey which will the vexaton Of his present dis
appointment.
The following particulars in addition to the above will be
interesting to those who feel just pride the progress Of
american science-to those who, recognising the duty and
the desire Of every great nation make its contributions
to the general Of learning and the arts and for The
diffusion Of knowledge among men, regard the reputation
ar laolo.
country be defended with the same zeal against false i'm
puatons and attack the integrity Of the national soil or the
honor Of the national flag.
Ii the sitting of the French Academy of the 2st August,
the preceding the first referred in the above extract
NJ BAnIsEr uses the following language translated from
the Compte Rendu )" "The identity of the plane, Nep.
with the theoretical planet which, BY the labors Of
Messrs. lie Veer and Adams but especially by those Of
the French astronomer, made admirably
for the pertubaons of Uranus being longer admitted by
any of the discrepancies shown
between the actual and the theoretical in
spect Of the mass the time Of revolution the distance from
the sun, the eccenticity, and the longitude Except
ing for the epoch OF the discovery by Mr. Gale and Of the
observations Of Mr. Chais, few years before and af
ter &c. In his remarks upon the communication of NJ
Babne from which the preceding extract is taken, NJ LIE
Verrier (at the sitng) says "By selecting
nience the elements Of Nepunsbeween the limits 10 which
the direct observations Of the planet and Of its satellite
strain them at this day. 1.-THE italics NJ lie Verrer
are enabled to satisfy completely The observations Of
Uranus and Of Neptune"
The elements selected by NJ. lie verer are undoubtedly
those upon which the computations Of Professor Pierce
based and they include the Of determined by
Prof Pierce from the observations Of the Cambridge MASS
Observatory, which alone satisfy the modern and ancient
observations Of Uranus, and make Neptune account for il
perurbations
The results Of Professor Perces computations were pub
shed in this country the Gath Of March, and appeared in
the 637h No. Of the AsronOsce Nachritc on the 25tl
of May three months before this sitting Of the Academy
Thus the entire Of the first announcement
Prof. Pierce that the pare, Neptune the planet Of L
veuers theory is confirmed by the authority Of the French
Academy, and the admission of lie yenier himself.
The part taken by American in these discus
sons G mean that part which is beneficial to science and no
norabe the country has been distinguished by its prece
dence, its sagacy, its bodness and, above ALL (withou
which oil nong) by its truth II has not been decien
in generosity. In his communication Of April 4th to tn,
American Academy, Prof Pierce does ample justice TO th,
"os profound analytical researches Of Lo vercr ant
Adams the results Of which perfectly for the
sumption which they limited these bold and blian
attempts richly eniie their authors to oil tho ecla that ha
been avshed upon them" But he justly observes "Tht
fair consideration Of this question cannot be made withou
recalling the true office and position Of geometry in science
which alone entities il to the appoaton of the key
the physical world Mathematics is the science Of
measurement accuracy is its sole aim and object and it i
this which places 1t in harmony with creation which il
subject to perfect law and undertaking Order An
rate result cannot be geomercal result inaccurate
beyond certain wedefned limits does not belong The
exact science an inconsistency which exceeds certain
amount may not he neglected by him who deals with no
thing but more ts without disturbing the very founda
tons OF his faith" c. ii. D.