Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-01
oBsrRv,roRr, ALrI.spslA BOARDING School.

OBSERVATORY, ALEXANDRIA BoARpisa School
5rH No. 27rH, 1854.
The eclipse OF the occurred las. evening. as our
citizens had the pleasure of seeing in q. act
with previous prediction.
Tho weather was unusually favorable for observation
win pleasant oreeze and an elastic atmosphere and
scarcely a cloud visible through the whole day.
We com nenced our observation with the barometer
md THERMOMETERS al about o'clock p. NJ aud recorded
them every fifteen minutes
The barometer varied very little standing pretty uni
'ormy at So oil inches which reduced by IN king allow
ince Tor temperature, gives altitude of 90 IS inches
Tue u atmospheric pressure.
The standard Thermometer in the shade 76 degrees
Al O'Clock; 1t rose to IS degrees at quarter past g. aud
then stood at a degrees till the eclipse was ended
The thermometer, with blackened bulb, placed on
black ground and exposed the direct RAYS of the sun
rose to LA degrees alta quarter past 81 it then gradually
Tell till half when down to 100 after which
t rose till quarter past Q, when it stood at ll6 de-
grees.
In the shade the bulb thermometer previous to the
commencement OF the eclipse ten deg ees below the
dry bulb The difference least 40 minutes past s.
when II was seven degrees below the dry bulb
when the Thermometers were suspended and exposed
TO the sunshine aud free CT air the greatest diff
ference was II degrees which pretty constant from
10 o'clock, at which time the dry bulb SIS l-2 de
grees and the wet bub II Ia the difference was least
al 10 minutes past g. when the dry bulb 10 aud the
wet at 81 degrees showing difference Of degrees
The black bulb suspended in the air was highest nj n
quarter past 4, when it % le at half past |,
had fallen to 49, and at quarter past it again So
degrees.
Efforts made with the telescope TO see the edce
Of the moon previous its with the sum- in &C
coriance with the suggestion OF Deisle the correctness of
Which suggestion was partially verified during the eclipse
OF 1881 but the gssses used protect the eye
too dark TO render efforts successful The sun being
so much larger than the moon it necessarily ilumi
nate more than one-halt" of that bodylat the same
stant in consequence Of which, a. or near the time of
conjunction, border OF the thus illuminated surface OF
the would DO towards the earth broadcast on the
part nearest the SUM- and could no doubt under vora-
BILE circumstances and with proper of protecting
the eye be seen As the moon treversed the disc
minute dark points project from the moons
edge on TO the surface of the sun.
Experiments were made with the prism determine II
difference could be observed during the eclipse in the
relative proportion OF the red and violet rays the
trum through the reracive influence OF lunar atmos.
phere, or the infection OF light BY the moons surface
but no such difference could be detected.
Several interesting drawings were made by the
OF the lights and shades through the leaves of the trees
giving beautiful exhibitions OF the eclipse in its different
phases.
The shadow of ball. too was very peculiar exhibiting
an enlarged penuDors the side with the eclpsed
portion Of the sun.
1t was remarkable TINT not single solar spot was vsi.
bio with our telescope during the day circumstance we
have not known before 70; many years.
AT the time OF the greatest observation the aspect of
things was peculiarly soft and poetca which was not
little heightened by the cearness the atmosphere and
the freshness OF vegetliol. Two little birds (al we sau
went to roost placing its head beneath its wing in
true evening POSTURE but it reused by return
To witness phenomenon OF so sublime character az
that OF solar eclipse, occurring the very instant tina,
had long been ior"tod by calculation especially when il
stecoccied that this calculation has balance the
rOus IL dnences producing irregularities in the NOV.
nents of the moon AID apparent positions Of the sur
arising not only from the perpetual change in the dis'a
ces aud angular positions OF the three nodes the SUI
EARTH and moon, which constant alteration in
10th the direction and amount OF the disturbing forces
but also nm similar Disturbances by the influence of
OF the different planets Of our SYSTEM fail 10
ken feelings OF pleasure, mingled with ard grandeur
10 inspire the spectator with increased conf cnce in the
harmony and stability Of the dniyerse that Power
by which It IL governed aud to give q more elevated
opinion OF the intellectual powers with which man ha.
been endowed 10y his Creator that thus ,be hun with
such perfect precision to make the predictions. Perha
the J effect Of this be realized by Those only ~ho
are qnanted with the intrc'cy Of problem, but
must TO some degree be felt by all.
BENJAMIN UALLOWELL