The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-26
Urban Jean Joseph lie vcrricr.

WASHINGTON, September 23.-The Smith
sonian Institute has received telegram an
nouncing the death Of the celebrated as
tronomer LIE Verrier. He died at o'clock
this morning, Paris time.
The science OF astronomy loses its most
eminent disciple in the present century by
the death OF NJ. lie Verrier. lie was born
in 1911. His admission to the astronomical
section OF the French Academy OF Sciences,
in 1916, was based upon bis essays on the
orbits Of certain comets. Shortly after his
election he began the researches which were
destined to add new planet to the solar
system and bring him imperlshable fame.
The method by which this great dlscove-
" was reached cannot be more than vague
" indicated here NJ. LIE Verrier was en-
gagged in studying the orbit of what was
then supposed to be the outer planet, IRA
nus. The deviations OF the orbit had been
attributed solely to the attractions OF Saturn
and Jupiter. The work which NJ. LIE Yer
rier undertook was to account for the devil
atoms by these attractions. Gradually he
became convinced that the form OF the orbit
of Uranus could not thus be explained.
By q refined mathematical analysis he found
that the conditions of the problem could be
met by the supposition that planet outside
OF Uranus exercised an attraction upon it.
He calculated the position OF the hy-
pothetical planet, and announced to
the Academy of Sciences that at a
certain point in the heavens, at a GER
tain time not far distant, the new planet
might be found. Within less than four
months afterward the planet Neptune was
found in the region indicated, being first
seen by German astronomer. The calcu-
lation of the place Of the unknown planet
was correct within two degrees. No event
in the whole history OF astronomy has ever
caused so great establishment. It was every
where hailed Us among the greatest tri-
umphs Of science. Honors were heaped
upon NJ. lie Verrier by all the scientific
academies OF the world. BY curious CO
incidence the same class Of calculations had
been completed, with a similar result, by
John Couch Adams, the English astrono-
mer, and only failure to announce his re-
suits at an early date deprived Mr.. Adams
Of a claim for priority Of discovery.
In 1S4S n. LIE Verrier entered political life
as Democrat, but after election to the Le-
gislatiye Assembly be gradually modified
his opinions, and eventually sided with the
Imperialists. He held the title Of senator,
and became Inspector-General Of Public
instruction under Louis Napoleon, but he
never relinquished his work in astronomi-
cal science, and he continually kept up the
investigations Of the planetary orbits, which
was the chief business OF his life. In 1853,
on the death Of Arago, N. LIE Verrier sue
ceeded to the position of Director Of the
Observatory at Paris, post which he held
till 1870, when he voluntarily resigned.
He was resppointed in 1872, and has
since retained the position. The erec-
ton of the great telescope now in
place in the Observatory was a mat
ter of great concern to lie Verrier. He
tried to hasten the progress of the work,
with little result. When at length it was
complete he was congratulated upon it: "It
comes none too soon," he replied c6ldly.
It was not soon enough for his use. His
laborious calculations on the distance Of the
sun, and his studies Of the orbit OF Mer-
curry, with view to determine the exist
ence of inter- hiercurial planets, are believed
to have caused sleeplessness which injured
his general health, and within few months
incapacitated him for further work. But
wat he had already accomplished is among
the most valuable, as well as the most volu-
minious of the modern works Of SCIENCE
Mem York Tribune