, 1860-06-01
The Ecllnsn.

The following important petition has
been laid before Congress. Two copies Of
it were presented to the House, one by the
Hon. +. Joy Morris, of Pennsylvania, and
the other by Hon. Thomas d. Eliot, Of
Massachusetts,. That presented by Mr..
Morris was signed by Geo. B. Wood, pres
ident, John G. Cresson, Isaac Lee, and
Geo Shars, Otis Kendall, John L. lie
Conte, and j. P. Lesley, secretaries, on
behalf and by authority of the American
Philosophical Society, and that presented
by Mr.. Eliot was signed by the president
Of the Boston Board Of Trade, by the pres
ident, vice presidents, and secretaries Of
the American Academy Of Art and Sci,
encCs, and the president and officers oi
Harvard College;
To The Senate and House of Representatives.
ofthe United States IN Congress assembled:
Your petitioners respectfully represent,
That an eclipse of the sun will occur on the
18th Of July next, which will be visible as
partial eclipse throughout the United
States, but as a total eclipse only in por-
tion Of Washington Territory. The cen
trail line Of the moon's shadow on the earth
will pass from thence in a north east direc.
ton, and leaving North America in lati-
tude 59I degrees, will bend southwark, SO
as to cross the peninsula Of Spain, the Ba-
learic islands, and the continent Of Africa
as far as the Red Sea. 1t is especially de-
sirable that it be observed from the central
line Of the shadow Oh the Atlantic, as well
as Pacific shores Of our continent.
Not only astronomers in the employ Of
the different Governments, but also the
weallhiest amateurs, are making extensive
preparations in Europe to visit the places
most suitable for its observation there
These results will afford comparative data
for and Independent astronomical deter
minaton Of the longitude of this continent.
Any correction to the longitude Of the
coasts, or any information which will
impart additional confidence in the ac-
cepted longitudes, is of vast and direct
practical benefit to every ship frequent
ing them I For this reason every possible
opportunity, from the origin Of the coast
survey to the present time, has been availed
of, which could thus add to the security of
the millions of floating property constantly
near our shores.
From the fact that the eclipse OF July
next will he observed at SO many weII-dc-
termined European stations, and by SO
many trained observers, it will be the most
valuable Que for verifying the relative geo
graphical position of our own country which
will occur in many years, and, therefore,
as the superintendent Of the United States
Coast Survey will scarcely feel justified in
sending observers to the most suitable point
on the Atlantic coast, without the sanction
Of Congress, we respectfully ask such sane
tion by your honorable bodies.
In accordance with the request of the
above representation and memorial, we are
informed that the sum of $4,000 has been
placed at the disposal Of the Superintend.
ent of the Coast Survey to defray the ex
pense Of the observation in this Territory
Mr.. Geo. DAVIDSON will take the observa.
tion at this place JAMES LAWSON, of the
surveying brig Fauntlsroy, at Gray's Har-
Dor, and Lieut.. ]. G. PARKE, Of the Boun-
dairy Commission, at some point on the
line of the survey. All being gentlemen Of
rare scientific attainments, the result Of
their astronomical researches will be looked
for with great interest by geogruphers and
other scientific men Of our conntry-thc
object Of the observation being TO establish
the true longitude for geographical compu-
tation.