New-York tribune., 1873-12-24
MR. PROCTORS LECTUREs


Brooklyn, have special interest to the lecture
going community a. the first systematic presents-
tion in this country of the novel and impressive
views which haze almost made astronomy new
science in our own generation Ii is true, we ara
often assured that this is the oldest and most per
feet of the sciences IL began in primeval times by
the observation Of shepherds, who first grouped
the stars into fantastic resemblances t0
animal forms and il has been developed in modern
times into grand system of demonstrated truth ~
accurate and so sure that the future is known even
as the past and both prophecy and history are re-
duced to mathematics. And yet ancient as 10 tho
origin Of astronomy and exact IA are the provisions
to which it has attained, so far from being oon-
pleted science it has but just reached one OF tho
great crises of its unfolding and the contributions
of the present age to Its progress Will well compare
in Driliancy and startling significance with those of
any former time
1t was supposed. not many years since, that when
the sun and planets had been measured and
weighed their distances ascertained, their motions
determined and the starry heavens surveyed and
charted that the work of the astronomers was
mainly accomplished, and that beyond the correc-
ton of previous measurements. little furtler TO
manned 20 be ascertaned about the universe And
vet in the presence of the astronomy of our day.
that of generation or two looks crude aud ee-
mentary. Historic astronomy, though ever lhte'-
esting from the submity OF its phenomena,
was still narrow in the range OF Its ideas
For thousands of years il was matter of tho
simplest observation, the Copernican revolution
having been completed before the invention of tho
telescope Great intellectual grasp and originality
were undoubtedly required to educe the true theory
of the solar system but the elements of the problem
were few and well defined. Astronomy wdened in
the epocl of Newton under the influence OF new
mechanical conceptions, but it still remained ro-
mote and separate di vision of knowledge and while
q noble conquest of the human mind, still con-
quest that it was possible to make in the earlier
apprenticeship of man to the research Of nature.
But by far the greatest step in astronomic advance
yet taken has been made in our own day, by bring
ing it into closer and cOmpleter relation with the
full circle of the terrestrial sciences. If, ia tho
time of Newton, astronomy received vast impulse
by being brought under the laws of mechanical
motion, it has been much more profoundly affected
in our own time by being brought into relation with
the laws of molecular action. Astronomical ques-
tions have been enlarged and deepened, we
might almost say vitazed, by this alliance.
We look now upon the boasted knowledge OF the
past as bare and sterile when cOntrssted with
results so astonishing make the widest specula
tons of former years appear sober and commonplace
beside them. The discovery of spectrum analysis
opens q new chapter in the book of astronomy.
Chemistry, which formerly - OF the earth.
earthly" has at length become q celestial science.
and we now inquire into the mature and consititu-
ton of suns, stars, comets and nebule with the
same assurance of certainty that we do into the
solid matter beneath feet. Ii We cannot visit
the distant bodies of space we have learned how tn
question the messenger that comes from them. by
the wonderful researches into the chemistry of
..IA 4, np 1rlnq
who first photographed the human face. was an
eminent pioneer and which gave rise to an, in
strument of discovery in the hands of Kirchoh lie
radiations of matter give report of the nat OF
their sources, regardless of distance, and the re
contrvance which discoses the changes in st
furnace reveals also the secrets OF the sun. IL Is
even higher stroke in the uniication of nat re
than the law of grayitation ITSELF which invoices
but single relation of power among the bodies Of
the universe, and would hold equally true II all
nature were formed of one solitary element
But the spectroscOpe opens to us the analysis Of
matter and the dlversties of its constitution. and
thus brings the whole scheme of terrestrial
phenomena into coordination with celestial agencies
We have been visited by eminent foreign astrono-
mers within the memory of the present generation
the learned Lardner and the eloquent NichOl and
more recently still we have listened with rapt at
tenttOn to the dscourses of own lamented Mitch
ELL but all these spoke of astronomy that is past,
and had they lived they would be among its anti
quated teachers. The truths they taught were
grand but they grow pale before the grander reyea
tions that have burst upon US, and which those
gifted minds, though so recent would have regarded
as impossible forever These new and remarkable
Developments of the science SO foreign to all that
was previously known, and compicating It's high
questions with the whole course of terrestrial
changes have demanded and brought forth
q new generation of its interpreters. Foremost
among these is the gentleman whose lectures
we shall soon have an opportunity of hearing. Mr.
Proctor is but young man, VINO belongs entirely
TO the new epoch his mind being pervaded by the
modern conceptions Of the subject. In his various
works which hold high rank in the literature Of
the science he treats with great clearness and full
ness of the most advanced astronomical questions
He is the author of the best work in our language
upon The SUM-" and of the only complete treatise
WA have upon "The Moon." In "Other Worlds
than Ours in 1.-The Orbs Around U.s." in his numer-
ous papers contributed to the periodicals. and IN his
new and charming volume entitled The Expense
of Heaven the latest views on astronomical ques-
tions are presented in manner most attractive anu
instructive to general readers.
In his role as popular lecturer. Mr Proctor proves
to be quite as strong in that OF popular writer
His course of twelve lectures before the Lo"eh IN
s,tute was listened to by crowded Boston audiences
with increasing interest TO the end. ready and
fluent speaker, full of enthusiasm over his great
themes. and with remarkable skill in making MS
listeners understand what he is saying he answers
to that best test of popular spesker-whcrc tho
hearers suppose that the lecture has been but half
an hour long. although in fact they have been listen
inc for an hour and a half Mr.. Proctors
courses in New York before the Young Mems CHRIS
tiap Association. commencing Jan. 8, and IN BROOK
l., h.f,ra ,b. Mercantile Library Association whi