New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-09-13
tCheGNcHy PInnct.

European astronomers are still bisily occupied
in discussing and verifying Dir. Lescarbault's dis
coycry Of an intra-Mercurai planet. Since the
commencement OF Tie present year, nearly dozen
eminent men have written on the subject among
whom counted such names as Leyerrier,
Radeau, Wolff, Faye and Darlington.
Few, who take any interest in scientific matters
have forgotten the marvellous process by which
Leyerrier first surmised, and finally proved, the
existence of the planet Neptune. Among all our
centurys example of the poetry of science, this
was, perhaps, the most sublime 1t took rank with
the grandest passages in the lives of Galileo, kep-
Ter and Newton. As being illustrative OF the infal-
libility to which modern progress has brought cal
culatons based on the most delicate perturbations
of the heavenly bodies, it is as much more sgnii-
cant than ancient discoveries, as our age is more
significant than the ruder ages. The exact meas
urement Of the buks, distances and orbits of the
planets, required for such result, is no less
derful than the genius of Legerrcr himself From
these data and from the slight discordancc percept-
be in the machinery of the solar system, he could
tell his fellowastronomers precisely the instant al
which, pointing to minute section of the heavens,
they would perceive new planet more distant
than the farthest then known. Still more amazing
seemed the pre- knowledge OF that planets density
exactly confirmed when the star-searchers found
tile beautiful object i'll the spot where its presence
had been foretod
Encouraged and made ilustrous by his success
in exploring those infinite spaces beyond the orbit
Of Herschel LeFerrier turned his attention TO the
innermost cMcles--the central region OF cur solar
StsLtlllt DttSeu ON
Irregularities in the movement of Mercury, he was
informed OF the existence of some planet or planets
lying still more closely within tile light and heat Of
the sun. While proceeding with his formula, he
received q letter from decentralization poor
doctor of orgeres, village in the department of
Eurre and Loire, i'll Erance--Nho had actually dis.
covered an ntra Mereural body, making its transit
in appearance like small black spot across the
disc OF the sun.
1t seems that at 1 O'Clock in the afternoon of
March 2Gth, 1853, Or. lescarbault who studied the
heavenly bodies solely from a love for such pur-
Suits first saw the planet as described. Possessed
of sensitive and modest soul, all true lovers of
science are, he doubted the reality of his own dis.
covery, and hositated to make it known. Il was
only after vainly waiting nine months, TO verify
Ills observation by another view Of the object,
that he prepared letter narrating what he
thought he had seen, and sent ito the great lever
rier. The latter had Just published IN article on
Mercury pertuTbatons, in the kosmos, of Paris.
A5tonsled ut this conc;dGnt proof of the C0rrect-
ness OF his theory, he lost no time in starting for
the village of orgeres, 10 obtain personal inter-
view with the humble discoverer of the new orb.
The following is translation of an account of the
meeting, as reported in the Kosmos by the Able
Moigne who took ii from the lips Of Eeseffief
himself:
Leverrier left Paris for Orgeres, in company
with Salee, four days after the date OF lesear.
baub $ letter. 0rgeres was twelve miles from, the
nearest railroad station, and the party had to
traipse across the country on foot. On their ar
rival, teYerrier Knocked loudly at the door, which
was opened by the doctor himself, but his visitor
declined TO give his name. The simple, modest,
timid Lescarhaalt, small in stature, stood abasked
before the tall Leverrier who in blunt intonation
addressed hitn thus: . 1t is then yen, sir, who
pretend to have discovered the intra- Mefcurial
planet, and who have committed the grave ollense
ot Keeping your discovery secret for nine months
/ warn you that cone to do Justice 10 y0Hr pre-
tensions, 10 warn yun that you have either been
dishonest or deceived Tell me pneqalvoeally
what you have seem TIE lanlh.Ske doctor