New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-22
Eycettn Lectures.

The secoud lecture of Prof. Gould was delivered
last evening, at the Lyceum Hail. to 4 very respecta
bic audience, on the position occupied by astronomy
in the great realms of science Taking up the thread
of the narrative where it previously dropped, the
evening devoted to illustrating its progress to
late period, and explaining what astronomy is and
what it is not showing its intrinsic merits rather
than its results.
The preliminary portion was devoted to a very
happy culogium on astronomy and to definition of
it the study of the motions of the heavenly bodies,
and research into their natures. Since the conf
mencement of this century, science has progressed
more rapidly than ever before and with more valua-
bic practical results. Studies widely diverse have
been traced to common center, whence jealous eX-
plorers push out after their respective specialties
and are astonished at meeting, at the end of their
journey, those whom they left at its inception.
Formerly knowledge Of many sciences was
deemed mark of wisdom. 1t is now mark of
superfciaty. We, being finite can occupy only ono
standing ground, and in order to do 50 wisely we
must take some mountain top and choose that which
seems best adapted to us.
Discoveries have enabled us to measure heat : to
outstrip time; to Chain the light down to painting
portraits to make light of iron and to render all
created matters intelligent and subservicnt to our
wishes, and even cause the speed of sound to chro
ncle the rate at which it travels. These wonderful
achievements are not more notable i'll any field than
| that of astronomy. No other study has made more
of the sister sciences sbserent to its progress The
other sciences-cusorily alluded to-are not superior
ormore exalted whether considered practically or alb
stractly. High oratory and craftsmanship, war and
history, appear more attractive but they give nc
more lasting fame, nor afford so broad field fol
exploration. The field of the natural sciences, how
ever cannot be bounded by the telescope micros
cope; cannot be comprehended by the mind of man
We can detect the seven one milliontl Of grain Of
iron in drop of water. What is there more startling
than this, in any ield--iu any science?
There is in the natural sciences as close q dstinc
ton as between the natural and moral scienccs-the
physical sciences are stern and hard, the natural
sciences are warm, brilliant and almost animate
There yet an intellectual qualification attendant npon
the study of the physical sciences which more than
aones for their dryness The laws of gavitation are
wonderful beyond all else, and no phenomena more
fully reward the student Astronomy is the only science
which has subjected all its phenomena to one law and
in many other respects it has prc-emnence. The
Chadean shepherds studied it in the times of Christ
and its certain history is written out for centuries
upon centuries to come 1t has contributed to prove
mathematics an assistance that could not be gained
elsewhere-the diferentia calculus grew out of its
wants, through Newton and Lebnitz, Laplace and his
compeers. New difficulties have since arisen and
been cleared away. A few letters and figures after
few transpositlons and deductions have surpassed all
the results logic. Thus the cold forms of figures
are symbolic of the grand movements of the planets
and growing with the growth of the mother science,
thas become one of the grlndest on the globe so
that now, astronomy and mathematics go, hand in
hand, royalty through the realms of learning
With all the advance made, however, in both these
sciences, we but on the threshold The grandest
discovery of all was the planet Neptune, made by an
American. (Applause)
The study of comets is not the highest branch of
astronomy, for the comet is less than gas, while the
planets are globes and great worlds.
Further remark this field, which is separate and
distinct, deferred until the next lecture, Tues
day evening, when the history of astronomy will be
given, from the first century to the present time.