The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-24
National Observatory.
:

WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1917.
10 THE Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
DEAR SIR-You did me the honor, yesterday.
to ask that would give written description OF
the Observatory, with other information relating
thereto, including an explanation OF the object
and uses of the different instruments.
need not speak OF the pleasure 1t gives me to
comply with your request; the only alloy to this
pleasure is found in the circumstance that have
not the leisure and If the leisure, not the ability
to make the answer as full or as satisfactory as
would have 1t.
Your efforts to advance in America the cause
OF practical astronomy, are known to the world
The lively interest which you continue to mani.
fest IN all that concerns the Observatory, causes
you to be considered of its most active
and Jealous friends. 1t is proud of the relation
1t feels honored, and Is encouraged by every adj
ditlonal proof of the interest felt by you in its
pursuits and for its prosperity.
AS subject for congratulation with one who
has borne so conspicuous part IN establishing a
Naval and National Observatory IN this country,
permit me 10 call your attention to the interest
which, since the establishment by the govern
ment of such an institution, has commenced to
manifest itself in the public mind IN the cause OF
practical astronomy.
The act of Congress founding this establish
ment, Was passed in 1912. Since that time pub
lie meetings have been held, plans matured, and
subscriptions proposed, In various parts of the
country, for establishing observatores. 1t is not
hazardlng too much to say that within the last
hve or SIX years, more has been done IN the Uni
ted States to encourage and advance astronomical
general stock OF such knowledge, than during
the whole period of our previous existence, either
as nation or a people. and IN this fact, the
friends of the science do out recognise the first
fruits OF the seeds til at were cast by you many
years ago.
There never has been, in the history of astro-
nomy, a period OF so much activity and ener-
gy as the present. Within the last two years.
the names of four new members have been add
ed to the list of planets Within this time
the world has been astonlshed, and the might
lest lntellects IN 1t have considered with ad-
mlratlon the feats that have been performed
by men engaged IN astronoml cal pursuits
The most remote planet known TO the system
Was SUBJ -ct 10 pertur0atlons from an unknown
c4use The dlstur bance was far beyond The
reach OF the un aided eve;and was unk to te-
lescopic vision. But there were astronomers liv-
Ing who, tor the first time. undertook TO invest
THIN tcal analysis with the space-penetrating
power of tn telescope. They succeeded in thu
bold attempt, and from tn closet ponted the
Observers telescope to the locus of the stranger
the clrcums a1ces connected with the disco
very OF the p tnet Neptune ARE alone suilclent 10
stamp the age in WIN en- We live, as a remarkable
era IN tn progress of astronomy So, to-, with
regard 10 Struve's 'SIelIar Astronomy" aud
Mld'er's Central Sun."t THIS object or point,
invisible though 1t b., and inCorporeal though II
may b., has been IN ide to "tremblr GA the verge
OF analysis" These lliustrIous sarans, with de-
gre OF probability and force OF reasoning that
have every where arrested the attention of sstro-
nomers and challenged the respect of mahemati-
clans, have shown that the sun, moon, and
planets, with their train Of satellites and comets,
are In macon as Il unit, If ! may be allowed the
Inquire, about some grand centre poised in the
remote regions of space and situated In the
direction of the Pliades, towards the star
Aicyone. Perhaps this point Is also the g. Cen
tral SUM-" about which the suns of a thousand
other systems hold their way. Our uminary,
with Its splendid retinUe, Is computed 10 revolve
about this centre at rate Of not less thaa thirty
millions OF niles year; yet so remote Is IL,
that many millions of our years are required for
the cOmDlefIOn of reyDlutIOn. Here. then.
indeed, is an anus mdgnus" OF vast import.
la the contemplation OF II, may.we not regard
those comets which dash through our system,
never 10 return, as lights sent from other systems
TO guide US on our wayl Or, at least, may we
not feel assured that they answer wise and USE
ful purposes IN the great economy
j might point TO other triumphs OF mind over
matter, IN illustration of the leng 9Th of line
which astronomers and mathe atlcIans are
casting out, to iathom and explore the regions
OF space.
appearance for the third recorded time, to the
inhabitants of the earth. On the occasion OF
its former visits, IL carried terror and dsmay TO
the minds of kings and princes. In 1861, II Was
regarded as a messenger charged with the exc
cutlon OF sentence OF death upon Pope Urban
".
At its next return, the Emperor, Charles V. of
Spain, wrote of it, Z" His ergo indiceis me nea
tdta cocant" 1t is said tina the resigned his crown
TO prepare for the dread summons.
IL has now been gone for another period of
near three hundred years, and Is soon to come
back provided with an earning" which Will be
as significant TO the astronomer OF what it has
encountered In the depths of space, as is OF the
depths OF the ocean, the sand to the mariner,
which adheres TO his lead.
But tar from its expected appearance, iG
lS4S, being cause OF dread and alarm 10 powers
and pOtentates, Its coming is looked for even by
the multitude, with degree of eager interest
and WI be hailed with pleasure and delight IN
many lands.
From a mysterious messenger, bringing Ii.
dings of dreadful, potent and awful calamity "a
terror-strlcken world, astronomy, by its pro.
gress, has changed In the minds of men the
character OF comets they have been made ODE
dent to law, subseryieut, instructive and use.
full to man, In his upward and onward progress
They teach important truths, and assist To re-
veal the secrets OF nature.
You Yourself may recollect the time when as
tromers were called upon TO quiet the public
mind In one Of the most refined capitals o
Europe, and sooth the dreadful apprehension
with wnIch the approach of comet was regard
ed. YET even during the short interval, such hal
been tne bctlVlty and the progress In this depart
fnent oil SCIENCE, that comets have ceased to be
regarded as objects OF terror sent at long inter
vals TO warn or 10 punish; they are rather looked
upon as ieIlow-trdvellers and Instructive com
panlons TO man In his journeys through space
Instead OF years, scarcely month now elapse,
without the announcement that some ne w come
has been discovered such is the activity o.
~ Since this written another planet has been dis
covered Flora it's name and 1t lie the sth in the IA
mily of Asteroids
Sir John Herschels Cape Observations Is another O
the spirit OF the eye upon astronomical pursuits