Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-10


we knew first the exact intervals round The circle az which
the hour and minute marks placed which would be the
II we had them registered in table from the results oil
previous careful 2dly II we knew the exact
amount and direction OF eccentcy OF the centre OF motion
OF the hands, and 3dly If fully acquainted with all
the mechanism which put hands motion, TO be abb
say every their velocity Of movement.
and To be able calculate without fear Of error HOW
MUCH time should correspond MUCH angular Increment
"The visible surface OF the starry heavens IS the dat plate
OF clock the the fixed marks distributed around
its circuit, the is the movable hand, which, with
motion that, specifically cousdeed uniform, but
which, when carefully examined is found 10 be far otherwise
and regulated by mechanical laws astonishing completely
and intrieacy IN result though beautifully simple IN principle
and design, performs monthly circuit among them passing
usbly over and hiding, il Called occultng some
and gliding beside and between Others and whose position
among them at any when is visible be exactly
measured by the help sexant just might
The place OF hand among the marks on its dalpate
with pair of compasses and thence from the known and cal
cuated laws OF its motion, deduce tbs time"
Now, sir, this is very fair and very beautiful usira
ton OF the lunar method of asceraning longitude. And
have quoedths long passage for the purpose of demonstrating
to the mind OF every in the House that there be
valid constitutional objection the appropriation proposed
IL Indispensable for Government make Of this
celestial clock For this purpose national vessels sup
piled with the instrument for observing 1.-THE But
II necessary the indications Of this celestial clock
not OF course in its actual motions but relatively in
knowledge OF It, Now, it is just competent for our Gov
eminent to make all astronomical observations necessary
complete and accurate understanding OF this celestial clock
il is TO purchase ascertain its indications.
There can be no this argument You deny
the power OF navigation at ALL you must yield the power
to adopt all The instruments and appliances necessary its
perfection
But, sir, it is not in navigation only that this expedition
will be of actual benefit the Government Ihope day
TO see different system adopted in reference the survey of
our vast public domana system OF typographical examine
ton and survey, in which the utmost possible accuracy will
preyaiin which the meridian lines shall be medians
and the section lines actual parallels of latitude This not
the at present and important difficulties result from the
imPerecton The day, hope is distant when the pub
he lands will be the subject OF operations similar to those of
the coast survey, so far they applicable The
OF the Government and the people require it.
do not design Mr. Chairman to consume the valuable
time OF the committee in useless speaking MY object is SIM
pie and pertinent explanation II have succeeded in this
have done all that desired But the committee will tolerate
further remark in connexion with this subject 1t is aside
from the direct utility the expedition question, but hope
will not be without its weight. The Government of the
United States, is acknowledged has contributed but little to
the interchange of scientific knowledge among the nations Of
the world. The proposed expedition the Southern hemi-
sphere will be slight Offering On part in return for the
thousand obligations have incurred the abors and sci
of the old world Indeed the accuracy and efficiency Of
the very Instruments in conducting these obse-
vaons and all the tables of which Government and peo
pie must avail themselves in navigation, chiefly due The
Investigations and abos of European astronomers hope
shall not refuse take this single step towards repayng
our national debt to the science Of the world
Mr. EVANS Of Maryland, said that the object of tn
amendment proposed BY the gentleman from Tennessee r
expedition for the pupose Of giving on opportunity to
scientific officer of The navy Lieut GIILIss) to put TO
practical test the method proposed by GERLISG of Maburg
for asceranng the suns paraax This method for the sake
of distinction, he should call g Gerngs Method though it
had been suggested by other many years SINCE
and though this and other methods nearly allied TO il were
well known TO scientific men, DIR. Gerng however, had
more lately called attention this subject which had been
brought prominently into notice in this country by the scen
c ardor Of Lieut. Gss The method OF GerIng consists
Of observations TO be made upon the planet Venus at the
times Of its inferior conjunction and at the stationary periods
when the positions Of the planet carefully ascertain
ed from those Of certain fixed previously selected whose
places have been determined with the utmost possible accura
cy These observations to be made with astronomical in
sruments OF the best workmanship with all the modern i'm
provemens' they are 10 embrace considerable period OF
times the observers 10 be nearly under the meridian
but in different heisphees the 10 be- as il proposed
at the observatory this city, aud the other at some point of
the west coast Of the South American continent as remote
rom Washington as practicable SO as to obtain the longest
possible base line must then be apparent the commit
tee that these Observers thus separated from each other will
not see the planet in precisely the part Of the heavens
The difference of position of Venus viewed from the north
em and from the southern points will be susceptible of direct
observation and ascertanmeni and from this difference the
paraax OF the planet and thence that OF the SUM- NAV by an
easy computation be deduced The method lust explained
is IN It's essential particulars that Of Gerng it is not neces
nor II II were done, would
the committee in all probability take any greater interest it,
or understand it with greater cearness
Perhaps it is well TO here to the committee that
other methods for the ascranment Of the suns parax have
been proposed and adopted Of these and perhaps the
rudes is very old. 1t is to observe the moon when dchoo-
mzed. II is necessary dwell further upon this plan
as 1t is not possible by it to determine the paraax with any
accuracy.
Another method good deal dwel upon particularly be.
fore the anss Of Venus in the century is by OBSERVE
tons made upon Mars in opposition by these means the pa
rsax OF that planet has been determined and that Of the sun
thence deduced to about nine seconds and half
AS well this method however, all others yet proposed
yield point of accuracy to those made upon the transts
venus over the suns disc, which are the gentleman from
tennessee Mr. STANTON has correctly stated occurrences
Of great rarity happening only alternate periods Of about
eight years and Of upwards Of century apart Thus there
were uansls at different nodes in 1901 and 1862 while the
next transit will not until the year lS74 At the inter-
mediate conunctons the planet will not be seen upon the
suns disc. The transit Of 1869 engaged the aten
ton Of all the OF the world Expeditions were
hed out for almost every part Of the globe where that phe
nomenon visible, and observations upon were made at
Paris, at Greenwich, OF Wadhus Pekn on the island
Oiahete at Kola, at Santa Ana in California and al mum
Der Of other places The observations at Wardhus made by
Pene He'll have been considerably dstrusted and made
at Santa Ana by Vequez have been absolutely dscreded
and subjected TO the charge Of forgery being pretty gene
rally believed that he computed his observations from the
amount Of paraax deduced y other II upon
the remaining observations these being asde that the
amount Of paraaS at present received Of eight
and ffty-eght hundred,hs rests for its accuracy
Mr. e. further observed that will il the committee are
not already completely wcled by these Details be proper at
Qpar Ia ntphaf