Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-11
PANS, FEnnuAnr 9, ls4s.


permit the numbers of the Sdereal Messenger with
which this very morning furnished by my honorable
friend Mr. Walsh, to pass without few words in reply
send them to Sou begging that you will give them publicity
As this the day Tor the departure of the packet
Paris have not the time TO reply in full however, what am
about to say will be sufficient to make my justification COM
| pete.
Mr. Pierce has discussed the observations on the satellite Of
Neptune made by Mr.. Lass H. and has found eas.
teen days and hall for the time of revolution This is fin
damentalerr0r Of that geometer.
The observations of Mr. Lasse assign less than six days
for the time of revolution of this satellite In this they agree
with the results OF Mr. Strive, which give definitely fire days
and t,centy one hours for the time of revolution.
Every will understand how Mr.. Pierce taking
such the basis Of his calculation the of Nep
tune, has arrived only at erroneous conclusions This
by Mr. Strives rigorous calculations equal 1-l4494 of
the mass of the had given it in my work 1892
The difference is included uin The limits which should
suit from my theory 1t is indeed avowed (page 30, No. A.
Sreal Messenger that has been made when it is
said in editorial Since the above in type
observations by Lasse and Cambridge N T., The satel
lite Of Neptune have modified the results and matters
stand Neptune may for 49, out Of s" of perurba
ton known exist inthe place Of Uranus But at the
time it eamed that the inequalities of Uranus cannot be
accounted for by Neptune "Neptune may account for 49,
out of 1867 of perturbation"
Here theoretical error.The Of ls6" Of the
old theory Of Uranus proceeds from two Isl, from
the in the old eptca elements Of Uranus 3D. from the
perturbaons strictly speaking, produced by Neptune When
Mr. Pierce that the peurbaon strictly speaking do not
ls6" he says what is but he does tell
any thing that is ne,c.
All this 10 be found in the work which have published
the subject But when Mr.. Pierce infers from thence
that Neptune ought 10 account for the discrepancies of
the old theory of Uranus, he is wrong because he
does take into account the most considerable of
those discrepancies that TO say, the naccuracy Of the old
elements themselves. Hence is poveihai, up the pub
LEGATION of No Of the Siderea Messenger Mr. Pierce had
reasoned from wrong hypothesis that he had reco
leced that the nccuacy ohe old elements of Uranus ought
to be considered
NJ, IL e that
the naccuracy of the old elements Of Uranus ought have
been considered and page 81 this is presented i'm
portant fact which had been omitted by Mr. lie Verere and
Mr. Adams The following is from No. of said periodical
Neptune did exist and exerted its influence the
ments of Uranus and its POSITIONS perfectly and
tanly before after its discovery 1t then impossible
that part of its effects should be expended in determining
the permanent elliptic elements of Uranus and only the
manning part would become sensible disturbing agent
is perhaps nearly, if quite impossible ascertain how
the entire Effect of Neptune Uranus divided between
these portions viz the concealed and disguised the
permanent elliptic elements of Uanus and the part expended
in disturbing these elements Until this division be made
would impossible TO obtain data which TO base
investigation having for its object the determination of the
orbit OF the disturbing body.
lie Kerriere and Adams could only take into consdera
ton that part Neptunes influence Uranus which goes
disturb elliptic elements and hence the problem resolved
by them although the problem not the true problem
OF nature
1t evident from this passage that the authors Of never
read with attention either Mr.. Aiys my work other
wise they would have seen, in letter which wrote to Mr.
Airy that my whole work is founded this distinction the
necessity for which they pretend to discover in ls4s They
should have read in my work, page l54 2ss, the following
passage:
If the variation of the pertobaons occasioned by
known could be determined at any me the direction In
which Uranus falls consequence Of the ncossant action Of
the disturbing body might be deduccd om thence And in
this way the direction Of this body could be known But the
problem is far from being simple. The numerical express
sons Of the pertubaons could be dcduced Immediately from
of the elpse described by Uranus about the known
aud these elements cannot be accurately determined unless the
amount of those periubaons be known. SO Is impossible
to divide into two distinct parts the investigation for the ee
mens Of Uranus and for theeements Of the body which dis
turbs it, But way is LEFT - be followed not only the
elements Of the epse described by Uranus but the elements
also Of the epse described by the disturbing planet must be
determined at the time"
Thus all my work was founded upon this important distnc
ton, and whole year has elapsed was published, and
Mr. Airy took the trouble clear up that point The writer's
in he Sderea Messenger however, shut their eyes and say
lie Verce and Adams could only take into consideration
that part Of Nepunes influence Uranus which goes to dis
turb its elliptic elements" - n
again say, my work, from the beginning tone Shat
founded upon the consideration that the inace y writers
ments Of Uranus be accounted for apenon to il
have done. How it be, therce~' read
should declare to that did have not elected to
Undoubtedly they speak Of thing he remaining part Of
But this is enough OF this suat which have been
prove those persons TO be woat another dme il they
their argument Is bette
sderng VIII exposlf ne lie Yercre) had lived IN that
pei me TO DO So al that time his friend had directed his tee
ihey sayion OF the heavens assigned TO the hypothe
year. yerere no planet would have been discovered,
.ptune would have been some 3o OF ~ from inc COM
ID place Of the planet Of theory. III
This Is frie-ero,,cous. The discrepancy here given
,ur or five times great Is the time OF revolution wh
as been assigned 10 the satellite, &C.
One word more AT page 239 ofmy work remark, "Ihe
m we intend TO determine depend the value Of the dsce
which we can admit between the observations and the
which II is impossible to determine
With rigid And then, example Of the sou-
ION that the errors Of the observations will not ex-
eed so ~ DEGREE Il is from this suppostion that de-
;ve Tho limits Of error which had assigned 10 the elements
i've, 81, Nrttupe III had admitted tho discrepancy be-
yyeen theory and observation to exceed s. should have
ound more extended limits Thus, If tie observations OF
yeptpne would force any Of these elements away from the
ims had assigned it ought TO be concluded, that Nep
i moi The planet Of the theory, but that this planet re-
,urc. bet,een observation and calculation discrepancies H.
Ia greater than 81. oresaw the possibility Of small dig.
,oance az Iris kind at page 239 Of my work indicated
hat i would proceed from the imperfect knowledge of the
~ saturn and also that might exist because there may
be some other planets beyond Neptune
yotre dGyouc confrere
U. J. LIE vERRlERE.
Direcleur.. dc robscrvatore de Washington.
Norr-Those papers which copied Professor Pierce are
respectfully requested 10 copy NJ. lie Venere also. NJ
Onoht /; original, !" cannot"
In he original similar aeppngs." At the request OF my
a. .lntlsnw a,x tlar