Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-15


weighs the and icnss the absef the hsssehhy
bodies, and the untutored Observer who sees
yond the images painted upon the eyv g IS g
The style of these extracts e ensneney graeS'
full and polished and the matter is condensed,
rapid and instructive Below have sketch OF the
history and progress of Astronomy in the United
States which contains many novel aud interesting
facts.
"Tbe translation of the Meca~que Celeste, of Lapaee
opened" he proceeds in the history OF Amer
can science country still almost wholly deficient
in instrumental power but the want was generally fet py
men SCIENCE and the public mind in varus parts OF t1e
country began to be towards the supplying
it. In 1926 President John Quincy Adams brought me
subject of National Observatory before Congress polt
cal Considerations prevented its being vob entertained
that time and not till 1872 ard as an incident OF
the exploring expedition that an m mon N Ms 0n
this modest basis has been reared the National
at Washington; institution which has already taken and
fully honorable position among Inc scieh'ne %
Besides the institution at Washington fifteen or twenty
have within me last Few IF Them on
modest scale for he qualification OF the scenth taste anu
zeal of individuals others on broad 1ounaatoh w nd
pense and usefulness In these p9onc anu
private the means provided for the highest order OF as
Economical observation, research and Instruction mere
to which addition is constantly making and of mathemat
cal Skill the part of men of science adequate 70
manly competition with their European contemporaries
The fruits are already before the world in the trlangnaon
of several of the States in the great work OF the coast
vey in the numerous scientific surveys of the interior OF
the continent i'm the astronomical department of the expo
ring expedition in the scientific expedition to Chili-ln
brilliant abers OF the %
and Cambridge. "These" he remarks and our hmits VIII
include but half only of his catalogue these are but
norton of the achievements of American astronomical SCI
encc within fifteen or twenty years. and fully justify the
sanguine anticipations of its further progress
But the largest portion of the address is directed
to the practical uses of Astronomy. Ihese ne ar
ranges under three heads:
"lst In the place. then, derive from the observa
tons of the heavenly bodies which made at an observ
tory, only adequate measures q" time ana our only
of comparing the time OF one place with the ue Oh
another artificial NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. watches ana
chronomeers however ngenously contrved and admira
by fabricated but Transcript to say OF the cees
tia motions and would be of value without the means
of regulating them by observation 1t is impossible for
them under any TO escape ahe cue VI
with timckeeper east or west fails us
1t will keep home time alone, Like the fond traveller VINO
of ncalcuabe utility but must itself be regulated by the
eternal cock-work of the skies
3D. The second great practical of Astronomical
Observatory connected with the science OF Geography
The first page of the history of continent declares this
truth Profound meditation the shercy of the earth
was one the main which led Columbus to UNI
derake his momenous voyage and hss thorough acqnal-
own judgement what enabled him to the almost
innumerabe obstacles which attended ITS prosecution
(llumbodt, Historic de la geographic &C. Tom l. p. 10
In return find that CopernicuS the commence
men his immortal work dc Revo tionbus orbium cecS-
Fol y appeals the discovery of America compile
ting the demonstration of the Spherclty OF the earth Much
of our knowledge of the figure size density and position
of the earth member Of the Solar system is derived
from this science and it furnishes the of per-
forming the important operations of practical Geo
gaphy Latitude and Longitude which lie at the basis OF
all descriptive Geography are determined by observation
portant points has not been asronomcaly determined
Some of most important political and adminisira
tive arrangements depend upon the cooperation OF this
science Among these l may mention the landsysen Of
the United States aud the determination of the boundaries
of the country believe that till it done by the federal
Government uniform system ofmahemat ica survey had
country been applied to an extensive territory
Large grants ana saes G smd h
adoption of the Constitution but the limits OF these grants
and sales asccrtaned by sensible Objects by trees
streams rocks hills and by reference to adjacent portions
of territory previously surveyed The uncertainty Of boun
daries thus defined failing source of litigation
Large land the Western country granted by
Virginia under this old system of special and local survey
covered with conflicting CLAIMS and the controversies
to which they gave rise formed no small ports of the BUSH
ness the Federal Court after its organization But the
adoption of the present brought order out of
chaos The entire public domain is now scientifically sur
viewed before is offered for sale it is laid of into ranges
townships, sections and smaller divisions with unerring
curacy, resting the foundation of base and meridian
lines and have been informed tn It under this SYSTEM
scarce of contested location and boundary has
presented itself in court. The general andoice contains
lie land is laid down with mathematical precision The
perces of half continent thus transferred III miniature
TO the bureaus Washington: while the local and-oices
Transcripts of these pans copies of which fur
nshed to the individual purchaser. When consider the
tide of population annually flowing into the public domain
and the Importance of lis efficient and economic
cal administration, the utility OF this application OF As
tronomy will be duly estimated
3d. A third important department, in which the servi-
rendered by astronomy equally conspicuous re-
fer to commerce and navigation 1t Is mainly owing To the
results of astronomical observation that modern commerce
has attained such vast expansion compared with that of
the ancient world have already remainded you that
conception in the mind of Columbus of his immortal enter
pIse and to the practical success with which was con-
Quoted 1t mainly his skill the of astronomical
instruments imperfect they which enabled him, in
spite Of the be sderng variation Of the compass-to find
his way across the ocean,.
All these points are illustrated and enforced at
length, with great power and eloquence, by frequent
anecdotes and often by passages of the highest rhe-
torical beauty.
We shall conclude this imperfect review with but
single specimen of the latter, which if mistake
not will take its place beside any similar extract
from any modern author or orator, and rather gain
than lose by the comparison. He is speaking in
connection with the remarks upon the necessary in
accuracy of the most perfect time-piece, made by
human hands:
"But for all the knreds and tribes and tongues of men,
each upon their own merdian.-from the Arctic pole
the eternal Sun strikes twelve at noon and the gor
consultations far in the ever lasting belfry of the
skies chime twelve at midnight twelve for the pale stu
gores of Orions belt if he the meridian ut that
faed hour twelve by the couch of angushng hu-
twelve for the beavng tides Of the ocean twelve for the
weary of labor twelve for the tong BRAIN twelve
the Watching waking broken hear twelve for the meteor
which bazes for moment ami expires twelve for the
comet hose period is measured by centures twelve for
every substantial for every imaginary thing which exists
in the the intellect the fancy and which the
speech thought ofman meridian refers to the
lapse of time"
We would delight to place before read
his splendid description of Florence in his own
warm and glowing language:
"Sheltered the North by the vine clad hills of Fesoe
whose cycopean walls carry back the antiqua ages be-
fore the Roman before the Etruscan power the owery
its stately palaces Dark and fownng piles Of msdeyal