The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-07
DIR. Cahill ON Autonomy.

F0tKTH AND LAST LbCfVhbs
The concluding lecture Of the Rev. Dr. oahil in his alb
brevated astronomical course, was delivered before an
Overlooking audience at the Academy Of Music last
pg The fame which the talented and reverend gentle
man has gained for himself since bis arrival in America
by his brilliant talents and diversified information, has
been spread through the agency OF the PRESS aud
the longer he stays in the city the larger will his au
dences become As happens however, circumstances
Immediately call him away. The lecture last evening
was highly instructive and entertaining and was intend
ed to demonstrate the power Of the telescope In magnify
ing Objects The reverend gentleman first directed aen
ton to the anatomy Of the human eye explaining thai
the diameter about quarters Of nch and that
this known the axis Of the eye Tho extraordinary
mechanism Of this part OF the body, he eioquentty dis
coursed upon there be any organ that brings near
TO and makes Ike the Creator himself, 1t Is the eye
highest degree OF scientific and philosophical conempa
uon and the illustrations Of the Doctor were perfect in
every respect He then proceeded from this basis 70 the
more immediate branches Of his subject, and showed
how object by distance loses all light In
this connection he gave interesting explanations Of
Light be explained radiates from the centre in straight
lines Near the centre an object will appear IN full gh
but increases in distance the object naturally loses
ali tight What had long been considered as planetary,
vo'Hminous light had been shown by Lord Ross tee-
scope be Of brilliant granular dust, and
this discovery e0re thus resolved billions OF
into one. Astronomers are convinced that there
focky light hitherto believed, but granular light made
up from bih' Of suns appearing as one light On this
absiuse part OF subject Dr. Chl very careful to
explain himself in manner which can only be fully re-
ported. he made a simple experiment with copper
iarhing which he placed in basin, causing water TO be
thrown upon it, in explanation Of the principle Of the re-
fraction OF light person standing at short distance
could mot see the Iar'nng a. the POTION 2. ae ou
The magnify ing power OF telescope and microscopic in
strunepis then reverted TO- and the lecturer at great
the interesting facts IN natural philosophy. The
Iogarahmsc, ugonometricaI mode Of calculation was
nor were the efforts OF the reverend gentleman 70
explain the erratic nature Of the movements OF the
microscopic examinations of anima'cul were indeed
petc with interest and the soundest information and as
would necessarily take course OF at least twelve lee
it will at be how great and varied must be his
informa,ion and the public, at least that portion
which have formed his audiences must regret that he
not permitted to lead them through the vast and ta
bic Geld Of astronomical science on which he has yet
Of 70 o
four beautiful PREDATORY lectures which have been DO en-
Enthusiastically received
that there have been more apparently apprecave
audiences assembled in the Academy Of Nuec Dr. Cahi
again -pf but We, order and decoorum were fully
maintained. When, in calculation OF the won.
derful mechanism Of the human eye, and
informed bis hearers that astronomers have with aer
glasses In the north pole Of Mars-whte and
es,eDing in the ferceness Of s winters and ycowis
IN the warmer seasons--there were numbers
impressed with great surprise and astonshment. The
wonders of the memory Of man then very fully dis
cussed and the reverend gentleman concluded his able
lecture by cordially returning thanks his audience and
70 the people Of New York for the very friendly and hos
pable manner in which he bad been recaved BY them,
and IN warmly rendering to the press Of this city his
Acknowledgements for the notices which their kind
nees he said led them to extend TO him. He stated
his intention TO leave Immediately for the Souhthen
Canada-then perhaps back to relandthen, he lives,
once more 70 return 70 America-when he hopes to
finish this Of lectures successfully begun As
an example Of Dr. CAhns popularity this continent,
may state that he has already received invitations
visit hundred and fourteen cities and towns On
firing last night at the conclusion of his lecture he
sauted with tremendous applause and raising glass Of
wine TO his lips be drank 10 the health the audience
the midst Of applause, loud hearty and unanimous which
can alone proceed from genuine and noble hearts.