The New York herald., 1874-12-07
HISTORY OF THE EXPEDITIONS.
Commerce, Navigation and Science
To Be Benefited.
TEE AMERICAN STATIONS MAPPED
The TranSitS Of the Past and Our ReyO-
luti0nary Sires.

As the evenSful day OF the 5th OF December
draws near the whole scientific and commercial
world becomes more and more astir On that day
. question of vital importance 10 commerce, nayi-
cation and science 10 10 be denniteiy aud, II is
hoped. finally settled. A common error OF our
times s that the beautiful and sublime science OF
astronomy has to deal with questions OF little
practical utility, and that the votaries thereof
confer but little material benefit upon man. NO
greater mistake can be made; for apart from the
mines OF wisdom and tne rapturous delight ex-
perienced IN contemplating the thousands Of mys-
ferrous worlds that spangle the eternires OF space
and time there Is an amount OF palpaole, tangi-
BILE value IN the results OF all such explora-
ti0ns especially those TO be made on the stn OF
December, that may not be perceived al nrst sight.
The thousands OF vessels afioat, bearing from land
70 land the richest luxurIes ana the indispensable
necessaries OF le are surely subject OF interest.
The safety OF the families ntrust their destl
MES to our navgators the success OF our naval
forces In time OF war, as well their security in
time OF peace, are certainly matters dear 10 the
hearts OF all our citizens. And yet all these In
terests, and many more, will be affected by the OBJ.
servau0ns OF the coming transit OF Venus by the
grand array OF astronomers scattered over the
glooe to-day. They expect to solve problem
which Will perfect the science OF navigation, In
crease geographical knowledge and thereby con.
world. II is to be regretted that the long looked
for transit of Venus viii take place wnne 1t Is
night time with Us, precuding the posi-.
bilfty OF Its being observed from our Continent.
II 1t could be seen upon these shores the advent
OF numerous scientists from Europe, the bril-
liancy OF their equipments and the vast sums OF
money that they would expend, with o view 10
success In their laoors, would convince the ave.
rage American OF the importance OF the labor to
be performed In observing the passage OF the
planet Venus between the earth and the sun.
AMERICA IN 1869.
But although their appointments and marvel
ious scientific apparatus might lar outshine those
Of The last century when a transit took place, our
interest IN them could hardly excel the entnusl-
Asm which our predecessors manifested at the
part borne in that scientific work by the colonies
during the transit OF 1869. Notwirhstand-
ing the excitement which attended the
advent OF English regiments from Halifax
80 crush the proud spirit OF resistance
flaming In The American breast; Notwithstanding
the smoudering OF the revolutionary fires and the
silent preparations Of those sturdy sires OF
defend their liberties and homes, they did ior-
get the glorious scientific event tnat was to be
witnessed in every portion OF the Continent on
Sne Sd day OF June 1869. The American Philo-
sopnical Society OF Philadelphia held long con-
sultation as to the best means OF having their
country play prominent part In the endeavor to
solve the great problem. They selected as q rep
resentative David Rttenhouse, whose youth nj
days were not unlike those OF Robert Burns, ana
who was remarked IN mis- boyhood for inscrb bing
ON walls and fences, on hts ploughpeam and old
barn doors the calculations OF his restless mind
regarding the movements OF the heavenly bodies.
This gifted man was assigned to a position at New
Earriton Pa, whittier ne proceeded to make ready
for the appearance OF the phenomenon. He was
assisted by William Smith, D. D., Provost OF the
College OF Philade phia; John Lutkens, Surveyor
General Of pennsylvania, and John Sellers, the
representative or Chester county IN the Assembly.
several associate committees we're appointed to
share the labors involved in q careful observance
OF the transit. At the time OF their appointment
they labored under many disadvantages, being In
want Of suitable telescopes and delicate angle
measures. The Provincial Assembly voted large
preparation for the purchase OF one Of the best
rejecting telescopes ana fl00 extra TO detray the
expenses incidental to the erection OF an observa-
tory About this time the Rev. Nev Maskelyne,
VINO was Astronomer Royal at the 0oserva-
tory OF Greenwich, England, wrote to
Thomas Penn, one OF the proprietaries OF
the province, giving full details OF the
methods to be pursued by the observers, and
recommending Pennsylvania as most favorable
place for making successful observance. In
accordance with mis- request, Penn urged the
Philosophical Society to send to England Tor tel
escope OF the most approved pattern, with a re-
Hector two ieet SIX inches In diameter, and q Dol
land micrometer (an instrument for measuring
with extraordinary accuracy the moment when a
celestial object passes given point) to be trans
mitted with all possible haste. These apparatus
were procured accordingly, and were afterward
presented TO the college. Rev. samuel a. Will
liams at the same time prepared to view the oc-
currence from the observatory al Newbury, Mass.
EUROPEAN EXPEDITIONS OF THE LAST CENTURY.
While these things were transpiring ON the
American Continent ike preparations were being
made In every part OF the globe rom
wnicn 1t was calculated the transit would be
visible. Great Britain, France and Russia,
as at present, interested themselves In
the event, and expeditions were ordered to Cape
Wardhus, Kola, Cajaneburg and otaheite. Cap
tain Cook, at the personal expense OF King George,
sailed over the Southern oceans, and IL was then
he discovered tnat New Zealand was an island,
and gave particulars OF the geographical position
size ana nature OF the SANDWICH group. During
the transit he was stationed at Otaheite The
government or France was represented In India by
Bougalnvllle and Degenti. Father Chappe was
sent TO California and Ptngre TO ST. Domingo.
Positions were likewise taken up at Fort Prince
OF Wales and along the northwestern border OF
Hudson's Bay. The commencement or the paners
passage across the solar disc was seen In every
part OF Europe and the closing scenes OF
The wonderful spectacle we're observed at
fakutsk, camilla, Petersburg Batavia, Pc
King, orenburg ana various other places
along the eastern shores OF Asia and
tne central regions OF Siberia. Ii was fondly
ooped that the embarrassing phenomena OF l7eI
~ouiu NOT oe repeated. In tnat year, It will be re-
memDered, as Venus was approaching the suns
edge, shadowy cushion had appeared between
the two oips, nattening and dstorung the shapes
OF the bodies. huge blur spread over their rims
when lasted for several seconds and ali on a aud.
den. the planet made convuislve rush in upon
wnlcn gave 1t q pearshaped appearance. The re.
suit was that difference OF twenty millions or
miles was i0nnd 10 exist between the great
from the earth. All these difficulties 1t was