The New York herald., 1871-10-23
WASHING cTON.
Return Of ta.e President to His
Winter Quarters.
Preparations for Observing the
Transit Of Venus.
The Case of Payrn<a ste1'
PauldinG.
WASHINGTON, Oct ~, 1871.


WASHINGTON, Oct "a, 1871.
The Return of the President.
The Presidential party returned here this morning
from their New England tour, much pleased with
the cordial reception which they everywhere met
on their journey. Some OF the gentlemen who
accompanied the President declare that ne has
every reason 70 fecitats himself ON his popularity
with the New England people. These persons also
speak OF the absence Of Senator Sumner from oil Of
the demonstrations as exceedingly marked, IN view
OF the fact tnat nearly every prominent public man
within roach OF the Presidents route took occasion
to meet, and In many instances to accompany the
party. Now that the executive branch or the
government Is back to Washington for the winter
we may expect active preparation for the coming
session OF Congress. A number OF Senators are
already here, and every day adds to the list OF
arrivals. Cabinet meeting VIII probably be held
on Tuesday. ga u1. nf
Tho Approaching Eclipse ut the Sun-Prepn-
rations Of the Scientists.
The United States viii not participate with the
governments OF Europe IN making observations OF
the total eclipse OF the the 12th OF December
next The corps OF observers at the Naval Observa'
tory would cheerruly have accepted the invitation
OF the British astronomer, but owing to their abb
sence last year In making observations OF the eclipse
in Southern Europe the work OF the Observatory s
very much behind, and they alone could have been
despatched under orders OF the Navy Department,
our government falling to make provision for an
expedition to Asia. Tne corps Of professors
VINO were IN Southern Europe last December
Messrs Simon Newcomb, Asaph Hall, william
Harkness AMI John X. Eastman-have, In
addition to their regular duties since their return
had the additional work Of preparing reports OF the
observations made on the occasion OF the last total
eclipse. Besides II these additional duties had not
been imposed upon them greater duty has been
assigned two Of the principal professors, Messrs.
Hardness and Newc0mb, now engaged In making
experiments in photography to determine its value
for astronomical purposes. this being the first pre-
paraton for making observations OF the approach
Ing transit OF Venus In 1874 1t will be visible only
in Australia and along the coast OF China and
Japan, and az IL is the intention OF the United
States TO send very large scientific expedition to
this portion Of the globe for the purpose or making
the most extended observations, the Navy
Department desires to take the lead
on that occasion, as did on the occasion Of the
total eclipse Of the sun in August 1862 ana Decem
ber 1870. Congress- at its last session, designated
Admiral Sands and Professors Newcomb and Hark-
ness or the Naval Observatory, and Professor b. F.
Pierce, OF the United States Coast Survey, and Pro-
fessor Joseph Henry OF the Smithsonian Institute,
Board under whose direction all money appr0pri-
ated to defray the expenses Of the preparations for
this expedition should be expended. 1t has long
been dispute among sClentists whether photo.
graphy Is OF trustworthy service In making astro-
nomca observations, and that science may have the
benefit OF their tests, the first appropriation OF
$4,000 Will be used In the most careful experiments
| tina, can be made.
| in southern Europe last December, made by the
Naval Observatory professors, will be the first pub
shed by any or the corps OF observers to the
Mediterranean by the leading nations Of the earth.
The work now complete In the hands OF the gov.
ernment printer, and the first copies are expected
to be ready for distribution on the 1st OF Novem-
ber. It win contain an Introductory article from
Admiral B. r. Sands, Superintendent OF the Obser-
vatory; Professors Simon Newcomb Asaph Hall,
william Harkness and John r. Eastman, OF the OBJ
servatory and Captain G. T. Tupman, OF the English
service. 1t viii be volume Of 131 quarto pages
well illustrated and will contain much valuable In
formation The most important report in the forth
coming volume viii be, as In the one on the eclipse
In 1892 nom the pen OF Professor william Harkness.
He was stationed the Isle OF Sicily, and his line
OF observations were nearly the followed az
Des Mones on August 7, 1859. In this report he ad-
vances an original opinion concerning the physical
construction OF the corona OF the sun. He says that
after thorough discussion OF all known facts he
has come to the conclusion that, when in clear
sky the corona Is purely 0 solar phenomenon, pro-
duced by vast body OF incandescent gas which |
surrounds the sun and Is erupted from II In the
same manner as the red promnences. or this Pro-
fessor HarKness was fully satisfied the conclusion
OF his last observation, and that opinion has been
confirmed by the careful examination OF the reports
OF the most eminent observers who have directed
their attention to what has so long been known
the astronomers puzzle.
The Case Of Major Pauldins.
In connection with the Hodge defalcation state
ments were recently made which do injustice to Ma
ior Paulding, formerly paymaster in1ne army who,
in 1896 was tried for alleged violation OF an
order In having transferred his deposits from the
Ptrst National Bank to the Merchants National
Bank which institution soon thereafter fatled the
government losing the entire amount OF money. In
stead OF having tried as defaulter, he was,
according TO the finding OF the Court, especially ex-
onerared from having any personal or Interested |
motive in making the transfer. Neither s 1t true |
that ne was ever In the Penttentiary. nor |
did the Courts sentence so remand him. He was |
ordered to military prison for year. and was In
Fort McHenry for three months, when he was re- |
leased BY order OF Secretary Stanton. Had it been
thought his action in the removal OF his deposit
anything more than an error OF Judgment II seems
quite certain the penalty for the loss OF $275,0Oo
would have been something more than the one I'm
posed, which was merely nominal confinement
within the grounds Of the garrison on parole. 1t
was shown that he never used for private purposes
dollar OF the $4,000, 900 entrusted to him. and
went out OF ONCE poorer than he was when he en-
tered the service.
Pronsosisn In the Russian Legation. ,
mr.. Boris Dsnzas, FIRST Secretary Of the Russian
LeQation in this city been promoted TO be Coun
cillor OF the Imperial College OF st. Petersburg \
This advancement however. will not interfere with
his duties at the Legation.
MIR. Boutweli