The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-17
observations OF the Total Eclipse OF Juiy
%, 1851, as observed ON snc Western Coast
of Norway.

of Norway.
From the Scotsman
We are Indebted for the following interesting
communication to the Astronomer Il oval for Scot
land, who has just been to Norway for tho express
purpose OF observing the eclipse; and this account
Of the remarkable phenomenon Is the more i'm oor-
tant, not only al being the first which has poe ared
in this country from any quarter in which the
eclipse was total, but as being probably the only
account which we shall have froia all parts Of Tho
lire Of complete obsourstion, bad weather seeming
TO prevail everywhere else ia toe neighb0rsood;
which was, moreover, Gre that could hardly have
been reached but for the unusual assistance which
was obtaircd in the present case.
After all that has lately appeared in print in va
rous places, it IL perhaps hardly necessary to refer
to the extreme importance Of a total ecipse being
observed at that narrow strip OF toe earth surface
where it is quite total There il is everything,
elsewhere il is nothing That is. there darkness
approaching to that of night il experienced. and
hest Of interesting phenomena then. aud thea only,
reveal themselves; and furnish the only clue, which
we cen hope for, 10 the physical nature Of the
light and heat giving surface OF orr sun with the
state OF whcn the whole Of our weil-being is so in
tlmatiy hturd mp. But elsewhere than on that
contracted lIc, but loo or 40 miles broad though
toe eclipse be large one, still If the smallest par
ticle of the SUMS disc be eft unohscured, there is
still the brightness Of day. nRd none OF those i'll
valuable and curial phenomena arc displayed.
Hence no geyer good the instruments IN q pub
lie obsei vatory in this country. and whatever as
sGrance tbcro might be Of n dnc day (hut which
was by no means likely, and did not, in fast, by
my means prove 10 DC so. Ut 1891 IN
yet it evidently appeared to be well worth each
Astronomers while to proceed, with some smaller
and more portable instruments, TO part OF the
earth's surface where the eclipse would be COM
plete; remembering, too, that Ii this opportunity
was lost, another, equally favorable, might not
occur for whole generation.
After full consideration Of what was preparing,
and was likely 20 be dore elsewhere. there seemed
probability Of the western ooast OF Norway being
less eEectively occupied than any other part of the
line; ny reason, probably, of its inaccessible nature,
caused by the absence Of any direct means Of pub
lie conveyance by sea or land But. at the same
time, the eclipse happening esIlier there than in
any other ra't Of Europe, would render it, ia so
far, the most eligible station at all.
pTcsentation was therefore mGde by the
Astronomer Royal for Scotland to the conmis
,iontis for nortncrn light houses. on the important
results which might accrue TO the science OF astrO-
Dorny, from the total ec,se being well observed
on the western coast Of Norway; and the con,ni,-
sioners, With their usual readiness { do all that
they fairly aud properly could towards the promo
tion Of science, without deTiment TO their own iui
mediate interests, examined their programme of
rok for the season, aud finding that taeir steam
vessel would be emf loyed at alDosg the very time
of the eclipse On point in the shetland lsles only
20 hours distant from tie desired part of the coast
Of Norway, kii dly expressed their readiness to
concur IN tic general object proposed far as the
means Of Conveyance were concerned.
The next step, therefore, to insure this libcralty
beng tuned to good account, vas to provide sui
fcitncy of Observers and OF iDstrumou-s. The
former requisite eIpnently secured by the Rev.
Ir Robinson, the wei known astronomer OF the
Armagh observatory, having engaged 10 join the
parry, and to him the general direction was unani-
Ousy awarded. The latter desidera.um was sup
Piled by shing application to the photographic
deIait, toe admiralty, which, in thc person of
it, chiei. sir Beaufort not ouy offered tho lean of
any ~ the royal navy's surveying insruuents-thJs
reudeIirR tho Scottish expedition more co,npletc in
this resp C, than perhaps any other but prevailed
Oh TIC Board OF Admiralty TO procure, through tho
swedish ambassador, from the Governor General
If En l.aN Cos IN 1919. Ian ~.
their iDtruIoepts on any part they pleaset Of tho
coast of NcTwsy-of which, moreover, he procured
All accurate manuscript chart
These matters, therefore, being arranged, the
Astronomical party being taken on board as the
vessel passed on iis way TO the Shetland lses aud
the Inspection Of the light h0rs.s there being COM
rlCtcd, rapid Iun was successfully accomplished to
the Norweeisn Shore and n station sc ected on
of the outlying Blue Islands, in lat. 81 dog. 20
min. This position not only placed Us in the centre
OF the line OF sha low, bat gave Us clcl horizon
IN the direction OF tho sun ~ the time Of the
eclipse, ard removed us sufficiently far from the
great meridian chain of mountains, running along
tho western coast OF Norway, aud gathering about
them, that orning,a multitude Of clouds. TO make
W. rs IL seemed, by an unprecedented dcluge Of
rain, for the unusually long space Of uninterrupted
Bre weather wLich had been experienced before our
, arrival.
The instrument. were landed at an early hour,
uId there wcfc sufficient gmpscs of tho sun
thrtrgh the clouds to obtain the necessary 90 erva-
iion for time and for latt alc and before the com
menc,ucnt Of the eclipse each observer was told OH
with bis Instruments prepared, and wi coee oil
by division cflabor it was hoped that, although the
important part OF the eclipse of so short dura-
ton, snd the number Of phenomena to be noted so
many ard various, That yet hone OF them, whether
ei,nirg to the purely astronomical bearings OF ne
case, TO terrestrial physcs, could be
we'll lost sight oi--that IS, weather only permitting
| but this was ~ 30 mcans 90 favorable as could
! have been wished. Still, hOwOyor tho commcn &C.
,f Tho geffr~o ~ fairly pl.rry0b. unI
efficient was fecn during IT. progress To enable tho
Cbsfycrs 10 take accurate notes % come spOts the
sup, and 81 mountains op the edge o the moon. 30
TO be rfeIafed 70 STATE their degree Of como ,,
ti1p, rs regards place, 10 those woudfous ton cues
81 light. and tho variations Of tao corona. the
uCXlliCablc ard tic most important OF al tho
Ih,lOmeIa prCft n,ed during total eclipse. Far.
Their, tho instant Of complete ohsruratun wss OBJ
suNed vtry accurately, and Fcme Interesting fca-
tur,s were remarked tcuGilH 20 plain au0ml allies
/ I,Ttthcd torIror total Ccpsas, aud indicating a
rapid fuctusuon la tie degree Of brightness Of the
Inn, da,cly after THE, DO sever, tho clouds be-
| emo go very thick that the cmcision Of The san
vas not seen o. al, ana heavy rain beginning so.u
liter. continued through the rest o. tue eve ming
but be tcTCltTial lEChoiacna, 20 which IN IRE a..
t,nioL could be turucd, thC loss Of che colsstis
o,es, were o. nature ubuncauty efficient to sstis
| g. any fOul capable 81 entering intjaid apprccia
I ting abe Hwtui aud the sublime
rs tie totali aTPrcsc led. the air felt esnsibly
culCtf ar every muutut. mnt the darkness plain y
iccbs,a; the ciouss seemed to lower, aud uasci
| he avn vas seen ~ appearance of rubbing, de-
| .tcLCirg streams Oi them, While the fea birds -
! lsaTCd by their noise 20 be gathering around thu
/ itcks fer their nightly rest. or ior shelter. The
/ dintitice Uf illumination had also become vcry
u.giktd en- tic Uoubtans a. d.fcrcat Distance
ihuic fer ffom ~ being brought out with a vivid
uess mo oisttnctrcss which madc our own ia
crtasirp gloom the more observable. Sddd' My, ~
the moment Of totality, tho vsry cxtre nifty o
uatkng-s Sct,acd t. f4u Uio0 "a Net -. hO ,cycr.
absolutely Tor tee faia 81 afs viii Ia closed IN the
CRATER Iar, Of the horizon. eft opcn strip ut say
exteruing ffom n. " to J. n. B. and tw, or
three degrees high. ard which, ~ this ncut b.
! cane e a Gaik luid Grange c0lO., 'crsng from
ed IN onc side 90 Erc ,1sh the other, ana cua-
he'd u. barely to tch other b. flint incirth
! y sU,t a light snsn had lamps. hhy or sixty
yards en- W - hu'iUw, were usvtsiol' ~ IN DARK
right, ana, wiihtn,ir red lor contracted strange
y With tie geHc,sl green hue ofcyery thing immc-
oiatty aroUud.
But tho appearance Of tho couutry. seen through
that lurid opening uudcr the clouds, was the most
sJIsllirg Though standing In the centre Of the