New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
.,o.nop,o poRpER1AND OF SCIENCE.

trol nb;losophy for the union of scientific en-
shnsiasm with literary culture. The productions OF
his pen eyince less familiar acquaintance
18th the refnemeDts OF letters than the habit OF
,rofound research lie combines to singular degree
che mower of lucid and vigorous expression with
scientific depth and accuracy. In aiming at popular
effect he never becomes superficial, nor does he fall
into obscurty in the pursuit of exactness of thought
and thoroughness of analysis. His writings, more
over even on the most abstract points, exercise
rare charm in their perfect individuality lie never
presents the deductions of science in the form OF
skeleton but with all the glow and freshness OF life
He throws the colors of imagination around the most
intricate themes, without mpainng the hdehty OF
his expositions Everything bears the impress of
his own feelings and character He Is so singularly
free from egOtism, that he can bring the light OF
his own experience TO the illustration of bis subjects
without oense He is willing to speak in the first
person when necessary, but he never forces him
self upon the scene unless it is demanded by the
occasion,
In the present volume, Mr.. Proctor has collected
Rortion of his essays popular science which have
already appeared in one of the London magazines,
and which treat of subjects which may be supposed
10 possess a certain degree of general interest.
The first paper is devoted to account of the
tributions of the Hersches to astronomical science.
II is written in tone of high appreciation Of the
work which they accomplished, but presents
discriminating view of its real character There are
not o few mistaken impressions concerning the
slams Of the Herschels to the admiration of the
world and to the gratitude of astronomers. The &C
tnal work of the Herschels according to Mr. Proctor
was the survey of those regions of space which lie
keyond the range of the unaided vision. The elder
Hersche in particular, was devoted to bringing the
construction of the heavens within the sphere OF
scientific knowledge. His discovery of unknown
planets was but accidental result OF his labors
while attempting TO solve the secret OF the star
depths The first problem in bis study of the celes-
tial architecture was to ascertain the distances of
she stars A method equally ingenious and simple
suggested itself to his mind. But his researches for
years brought only disappointment. so far as his
main object was concerned. Ii gradually dawned
apon his mind that there had been flaw In his rea-
soning. He had assumed in his comparison of faint
stars and bright stars that the faint star must be at
relatively enormous distance He now perceived
that this hypothesis was unfOunded. He became
convinced that the fainter and the brighter star lay
at the same distance, or, in other words that they
formed physically associated pair This view which
has since been firmly established by his own labors
and those of his son. changed the meaning of the
lessons taught by the stars. 1t had hitherto been
believed that the stars are distributed through
space 80 as to be independent of another.
A few thoughtful men, as Wright Kant,
Lambert, and Mitchell, had indeed expressed
doubts as to the Justice of this view and Mitchell
had even gone so far by the mere force of alb
stract reasoning to anticipate the conclusion
90 which Herschel had been led by
observation. Still il the prevailing opinion
among astronomers that the stars distributed
throughout space not in systems, but singy. Mean
time Sir W. Herschel devoted his attention to the
general architecture of the heavens seeking espe-
cally TO determine the figure of the vast scheme of
oTbs of which our sun is member. In the applica-
lions of his method he was led to the belief that the
system of stars was in the shape of clOven fiat
disc. 81 cannot wonder" says Mr. Proctor, that
'NAory so noble in itself and presented with the
.;,anlo o., rndeur of dicton which distinguishes Sir
Nv Uerscbels s> eulatOns, should have engaged the
earnest attention of astronomers, and should again
and again have been referees TO or quoted In asrO
nomical treatisesr Sir John Berschel, gauglng the
depths of the southern heavens" "aa .o to the same
conclusions as those of his father Hence il seems
impossible regard the theory so often presented
in our books involving the definite conclusions OF
the Herschels in regard to the scheme of the fixed
.tars The conclusions thus presented by the greatest
authorities in stellar astronomy that have ever lived
must be such as few students of astronomy would
care TO call in question. II WILL therefore, surprise
MANY TO be- told that within seventeen years
of the enunciatiOn of the theory by the elder
Herscbel, and which his own son seems always
IL have regarded as established, il was abandoned
by it's author as untenable The illustration of this
change in the views of Sir w. Hersche and its re-
laon to the theories of his son. presented with
admirable clearness in the remainder of the essay.
An incidental notice of differences In the men
tai characteristics of the two iustrous astronomers
Will be read with interest 1t was popularity of
Sir John Herschels mode of dealing with such mat
tba no did mot "
He had not, indeed, firm grasp of facts. Again
and again in his published works we find him reason
ing in absolute forgetfuluess-or as il in absolute
forgefulness-of facts he had already demonstrated
or admitted. He differed in this most markedly
from his father who never let 60 his grasp of
fact Both these great men had light hold of
theories but the elder Herschel bad at the same
time vice-like hold of facts-Sir John Herschol
not unseldOm let them slip through his fingers
MI Proctor adds that while be regards Sir John
Herschel as by far the greatest astronomer of our
times he is forced TO believe that in his mode of
dealing with demonstrated facts he TO say the
least not so happy a. bis father " He almost
10 have regretted TO certain questions pass be-
yond the field of controversy into the domain of the
known
The papers entitled A Voyage 10 the Sun" "A
Voyage TO the Hinged Planet" Giant Planet
90 Life in Mars" and ." A Whewellite Essay on the
Planet Mars" are remarkable for the felicity with
which the writer eucidates the celestial phenomena
from the resources Of chaste scientific imagination
He ventures into the realms Of fancy far enough TO
embellish the facts Of nature with brilliant color
ing but without impsring the proportions of reality
or the mOdesty of truth His style is alike admir-
able for his choice of dction and his aptness of illus
tTaon- The discussion OF scientific problems usually
opens an unuvitng field for the DISPLAY of elOquepce