National Republican., 1873-11-24
DsvEIorMsNr or AsrResoMY.


Prof Nswcs~s's Third tsssurs.
The third lecture Of the Coiunbia college
course on the development Of astronomy was
delivered BY Professor Hewcomb, on FRIDAY
evening. He, commenced By saying that this
lecture would be devoted to the second stage Of
our knowledge OF the oeicstiai motions. In the
nrst Stage men were acquainted oaiy with tAs
apparent motions Of the heavenly bodies around
the earth ~ . centre. The nrst two lectures
have been founded on description Of these mo-
tions. In the second stage We pass from the
apparent motions around the earth 70 the real
motions Of the earth on its axis, and Of the
earth and planets around the sun. A. Hlppar-
chus was the father Of astroaomy In M Afss
stage, 90 Copcrnicus was the author Of TIE ssc-
ond s.aes. eec.n:e 4 not sbsclassly tss asss
he was the nrst Who demonstrAted II IN sacA
way ~ TO compel ~ ooeptanoe By ell q1ali1sd
10 G.ds, @ ps:. 2 y me "a Sesa Of
rHE LAWS or RrtAnvE NOTION.
Experience shows that We are entirely uncop.
sclous Of 8 uniform and steady motISn, sSd tSSs
By compsrison win somscody Which We ssSs e
81 .oMs,sr sH sss Ne mss %S'Ss e
sSe % We're i' Il rest, and oSjscts q ii r,:t in me
oa sss opru: w I'm, % c q K. is. oos Rs
motion, bodies al rest seem 70 be moving Il ss
s. az s.. ,aS % s 3 s'ss e .ss Ssns 4
similar circle.
rHE corERsicAN svsrsx.
These principles were then sppiiod 10 TIE sp-
parent motions Of the heavens 70 show how far
thel were only apparent bs.se das y the nsucs
nrst shown how We could assure ourselves that
me apparent diurnal motion Of the sun and stars
BY which sthey were carried from cast TO west
ing the observer with II from west 70 east. II
was then shown that the eplcyclic motion OF tho
planets waa Of Inc same nature, beirg dec to The
thich the former was cisssined q one Of the
planeta. Thus was formed the Copernican sys-
tem Of astronomy, in which the sun isthe roal
pIsneis revolving around IL Copernlcus heIl-
lated 20 long about publishing his discovery TIT
% was only on the day Of he death, IN The year
ss ss'a 81 ss ssSss ~ a.: .G;s p.os %
In his hands. '.1
TINE SUCCESSOR os corHnncus,
The great astrsnomsv who succeeded Coper.
the investigator, and Calico, the teacher. Aboat
Of Urambours, which he made tho most osle-
bratcd Of modern times. He brought the ART Of
astronomical observation 70 mach hiehes state
curiously enough ne rejected the Copcrnioan
system sni adopted tAst 81 Appoionius, IN which
the sun 10 the centre Of the planetary movement,
sai Sas Il! 40 s.rs bss1
he theory, for they afforded Keplcr the means
OF giving more complete proof Of the Coperni-
saG 1s noSS sss ss ss.r s rs ns.s
These lawa arc
l. Eaes plane. moves in su ellipse. having the
4. Tne radius - vecior; or line drswu from the
sin I'd the planet, describes eduai areas In equal
udes. In other words; the velocity Is the greater
ds sa,ss Fs sds!i.s q y n ~ :p e. 81 r.,odod. .,
~ AMEN @ 4. ~ sds Ts f2s .1 " ssss rs sSs
follovihS rule for nadlng the distance Of any
Seafs, and extract the cube root Of this square.
rbS fesult viii give the distance Of the planet 10
seihi-diaraeten Of the earths orbit
| dlLiLzo AND rHl mouIsrrioN.
while Keper was making and psblishlag these
ins sSs % copsrnic.n syssem N fioesass II va
celebrated a the inventor OF the telescope, and
. the nrst who ever pointed that instrument q the
. h s As . Il. % .SS p.
OF the Inquisf,iou. His teachlnen soon became
90 obnoxious 70 this body that 10 was cited be-
e a. Ss s' o ss ss tn
pronounced heretical and contrary to Scripture,
and the promise was extorted from Calico nevei
again 70 teach u; Ne remained for while In
coniempiibis were the views Of his enemies, he
was compelled again TO speak. Eighteen years
Afterwards no psbllshed book on the system ol
the World In the form Of dialogue, in which
the ancient system was defended BY character
called simpllcius. During all the interim CALLED
had snloyed tho conndencs and respect Of VI.
work raised Q clanor on the pan Of the clergy,
which the Pope was unable 70 resist.
They persisted him that he was himself osri-
catured In the character OF Simplicius, and that
0alileo Was thus guilty Of the bssest ilGra,iiude
towards hun. The now honorable philosopher
was once moro cited bcfore the Inqulsitios, who
were deaf TO every argument In HE 6ehalf. He
was found guilty Of circulating the proscribcd
opinions, asd w.. .satenosd 2 iadedaits Y. Y.
more complete he was required. with one band
on the Bible, 70 pronounce and sign solemn
abjuratiou Of the opinions which he had spent
his life In trying TO promulente. The widest
possible circulation was gtven 70 this abjufAiion
sHs%ss 2saS q e IN % re
In Justice to these men it wss, however, stated
that Il had been recently claimed that 0aiileo's
/ offence was not promulgating the new doctrines,
fact that ooPernicus had been Allowed 70 pso.
pound the sane doctrines without being subject
10 censure Of any sort, seems 70 show that this
view may he partially correct, and that BY show
Ing proper deference 10 the ecclesiasttoai au-
thorities, Calico might have sottes along With.
it h afact that the work OF Copefnicus was con.
demned along with that Of 0alileo, and this
seems to snow oonclusvely that the view In
question cannot be entirely correct. Probably
the truth Is that Calico excited the rcsentmelt
Oss s' q ssn :nS s me mfsa
that this led 70 the general denunhation o. his
doctrines, and TO his being punished for holding