The New York herald., 1874-12-09
VENUS TRANSIT.
The Numerous Observations
at an End.
PROFESSOR FRIsBEE,s LETTER.
Progress Of The AncientS in the Pursuit OF
Astronomical Science.

To-day the astronomical event OF the nineteenth
century has taken place. Before the bell tolled
the second1hour OF morning the planet Venus had
described her track between the earth and the
sun; 500 telescopes we're upllfted and directed to-
wara her during her journey across, and many
thousands OF spectators the world over eagerly
scanned the phenomenon.
At this writing the news Is being carried to
every country OF the varied success which the
expeditions met with in their observations.
Contrasting the marvellous progress OF astronom'
lcal lore the present with It's checkered career
during the vicsstudes OF the past, In these pniio
sophie days. when men yearn for knowledge OF
the origin and causes of things, II may
be well TO see how our ancestors long
centuries ago laid the foundations OF what
is universally deemed the most beautiful OF
all the physical sciences. As In the CHRISTIAN
philosophy we told that the udlngs OF the ln'
fant God were first made known TO guileless shep-
herds at Bethlehem when they peheld aoit an
army OF angelic spirits, warbIng In celestial song
the coming OF a New King among men, so also DO
we learn that the elements oil the noble science OF
astronomy were originally gathered BY simple
shepherds who whlled their happy days away In
the midst OF their docks upon the plains OF
Chaldea. More than 5000 years ago these artless
but poetical beings. during the long watches Of
the night, were led to contemplate the sublime
spectacle OF a sky whose height and breadth were
known only to the immortal gods and OF those tiny
silver spheres glowing far OF IN the i'm
penetrable void which divided earth from
the peaceful realms OF the supernatural
powers-from those steep heights OF the
immeasurable spaces, no messenger came
save an occasional comet descending from the
regions OF the Milky WAY, swooping sunward with
amazing rapldlty inspiring the sons OF earth with
awe and dread al the mysteries OF the universe,
and then flying away into infinite space, never
again. perhaps to return. From time to time, no
doubt, those unlettered men OF old beheld, with
increased astonisnment, the fckle showers OF
falling stars OF whose origin they could conjec-
ture little. These inexplcable phenomena, COM
bined with the waving streams OF the Aurora
Borealis the beauty Of the clouds and the rain
bow and the waxing or waning moon, the glories
OF light and heat Deamed upon the world oy the
never fading sun, could not fail TO induce renee
tion upon the nature and origin OF them.
The Jewish philosophers tell US that Adam
himself received from the Creator knowledge Of
the uses or the heavenly orbs. The celebrated
historian Josephus ascribes to Seth and his de-
scendants proficiency In this department or
knowledge and mentions pillars OF brick ana
stone on which they had engraved many OF the
principles OF astronomical science The same
order that they might learn astronomy and geom-
etry. which 1t would take six hundred years TO
master. From this II would appear that our an
cestors before the food must have reached higher
grade in the science than was attained for many
subsequent years. Among the Chinese the Jesuit
missionaries have discovered numerous records
of the high antiquity OF their astronomy. We
have good authority that as far back
era the Chinese made catalogues OF the
stars. grouped them into considerations and dis
yernaI eqninoxes, as well as the true length Of
our solar year. Upward or 1000 years before the
same per0o, na sas cnntry anyote5
whole nights to the study OF the celestial spheres
and the phenomena OF occultations and eclipses.
the present day that Oriental race does not pos
the same reputation, one OF their rulers having
issued decree ordering all the books In the en-
cine and agriculture. After the capture OF Baby
Ion by Alexander there were found IN the city 2c-
years. which must have been begun 100 years after
the Deluge. The fundamental event In the history
Of Hlndoo astronomy Is an apparent meeting OF
the sun and moon which TOOK place 10 tne year
S102 b. G. At the present day the Indians calcu-
late eclipses rom observances that were made
5000 years ago Their celebrated observatory at
Benares affords a striking proof OF Hindoo knowi-
edge OF the starry heavens. Among the Brahmins
the science nourisned with vigor, and n one OF
their old poems still extant, Sir Isaac Newton's
discovery OF the law OF attraction Is anticipated
In obscure strains. The learning OF early Greece
description oil the shield or Achilles, on which the
heavenly artist engraved earth and heaven, as
Pope translates
tn unwearied sun. the moon completely round.
The starry light hat heavens high convex crowned
The Pleads Hyads ami the " 3rthern Team,
And great Orion's refulgent beam.
To which around the axle OF the
The Bear revolving points his golden eye,
Still shines exalted on tn ethereal plain,
Nor bsihes his blazing forehead IN the main
The Egyptian priests, through the celebrated
Ptolemy have handed down to Us In the Alma
gestn d summary or he Astronomical progress OF
the pre-Christian times. This work was saved
from the flames at Alexandra, and through the
agency thereof in despite OF the wars and oarbar-
ls Of the early ages the science has been enabled
70 attain the nourishing stage OF the present day.
view OF the great results OF the present transit
observations Is gwen by Professor Frispie, OF ST.
FRA -cn XavIeI's College, VINO has an admirable
obsery esory and a powerful reiracttng telescope
wft- snicn ne pursues the study OF the science.
The day students OF Yale College Will recog-
ntzk the style OF an old associate.
Letter from Professor Frisbee.
To TIE EDITOR or THE HERALD
Though the actual transit OF Venus over the
SUMS disc Tor the year 1874 has already become
matter OF the past, the astronomers work has
Nutt aphv NIL hr no In.