Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-18

The result is that during sixty five years my theory de-
duced from indirect considerations, assigns Neptune
res Of positions which differ from the positions obtained by
means OF the direct orbit most only yifth part OF the
circumference of the circle
"Obseve that this sum is called small number Of years.
though know that Neptune has had sensible effect upon
Uranus but for twenty or thirty years at most The f
yhh part OF circle Behold what is termed enormous
when know that the data upon which my theory
was based were not certain but TO a tenth nearly.
"Bn do not insist upon this point because understand
Mr. Babnet to have declared that when he spoke Of
he had not made any calculation Of their amount
aud believed them TO be much considerable than they
really are.
Bu they say, Also that in leaving this period Of sixty five
years we shall find differences Of greater amount Yes with
doubt this results from the very Of the question:
which cannot avoid.
81 determined, have said, the position Of Neptune by
of the perturbaons which produced upon Uranus
When there perturbaons could say where Neptune
but to require me to do long time after the disturb
ing action had ceased simply to require impossbity
a sort Of miracle.
But in examining my chart, which shall in few days
before the public and upon which fhaye traced the
of Uranus clearly that this planet had not been nu
enced by the action Of Neptune but from TO 1912 that
is to say, only for the space of thirty years
IL has been, then, only during these thirty years that
could determine directly the position Of Neptune and
heess the of my theory is only 307 in 1872 at the
moment when the action of Neptune, which then only
commencing had not yet been closely determined afterwards
in proportion this action developed ITSELF the precision
W,
been able to discuss the whole action of the planet not
than the fifth Of degree that is one eighteen
hundredth part Of the circumference predicting the dec-
ton in which Neptune should be seen.
Therefore, far from reproducing my theory for having
made the small of in 1907 and of 60 in 797 il
might rather be asked how it possible give with such
precision the position Of Neptune epochs when exercised
action upon Uanus This could only be done by pro-
longing arbitrarily the curve, which had obtained between
1912 and 1872 apoongaon which has been part of my
work. and which is legitimate determination when has
been pushed too far During these thirty years the planet
Neptune had only passed sixth part its orbit; and
epse very badly determined by arc which embraces
only the sixth part Of its extent.
During the whole of the last century, from 700 to
Neptune had action all upon Uranus. It could have
had less action upon that planet than upon Saturn, which
did not trouble When am desired to determine by my the
DRY where Neptune should have been found the middle or
the commencement of the last century, il is asking nothing
less than a miracle
81 am then right in saying il is false that have commit
ted an enormous error in the longitude Of the planet any
other epoch than that Of its discovery by Gale or few wears
before after During the whole period in which Neptune
acted upon Uranus my theory does devate from that de-
duced from direct observation than 9th Of the
ference And yet it is said that the discovery by Gale
a fortunate accident
In TRUTH would from this that planets of twice the
size of Uranus yet unknown though they shine like stars Of
the seventh magnitude, spread such large numbers
through the heavens that there would be nothing surprising
in directing at hazard finger any point Of the armament
should have great chance discover Of them And
because there merit in discovering hem that observers
disdain TO pay them any attention
I'D. Is il true that there relative to
the distance from the sun No, tina, i false.
Figures have eoquence Of their own.
"Let see, them according 10 my chart, what are the
distances from the sun, in these two orbits for the thirty
during which Neptune exercised any influence upon
Uranus: