Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-03
aAI. R%ERstAEL.
The Distinguished Son Of the
Great Astronomer, In New
Orleans.
And Coming mp the River to
Memphis.
Nsr Orleans Time,.pemoerai, 81.

MAJOR JO0n nerScnel, Ol tno ueO9a
Engineers, Her Msjesty's Indian ser
vice, accompanied by his sister, Mis-
Rose Hersohel, arrived at the st
Charles Hotel on Thursday, and vii
remain in our city for two or threI
DAYS. Major Herschelis the youngesi
of the three sons of the illustrious as
tronomer,
SIR JOHN FREDERICK WILLIAM
HERsCHEL,
and has speut about twenty four o
the fOrty-fve years Of his life in tn,
| British East India service, remaining
away from India only occasionally OF
leave.
His eldest brother, Sir William
the present Baronet has resided al
Oxford, Eng, for the past three years
undergoing a regular curriculum, a:
though he were but a stripping about
to enter the arena Of life. He has re-
Gently taken honors and resides al Ok
ford with a professorship. His second
brother. Alexander, occupies the posi-
ton of Professor of Physical Science
at Durham University. Newcastle on.
Tyne, Eng. Thus it seems that the
three brothers preserve intact the
scientific traditions OF their house.
Yesterday afternoon a representa-
tive of the Times Democrat called
upon Major Herschel. at his room at
the ST. Charles, and gained
AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW
with him. The Major prefaced bis
remarks by stating that this is the
first time be had ever experienced the
novel sensation Of being interviewed
He was called upon once during bis
recent stay in Washington, bat de.
clined to be interviewed.
Il came home TO England from
India about two years ago, commits
stoned by the Indian government to
prosecute some inquiries into the use
Of the pendulum for geOdetic pur-
poses. Subsequently / was further
commissioned by the Secretary Of
State for India to take certain
PENDULUM OBSERVATIONS,
both in England and 10 America, with
the ultimate purpose Of Strengthening
the connection already made by thl
coast survey Of the United States
The term connection here has refer.
ence to tue force Of gravity at tn,
places Of observation and the pendu.
lum is used to determine the differ
ence of the force at these places,
II arrived at Philadelphia on Feb
ruary 10 by the American line steamer
British King, and after a stay of onll
a few hours went on to Washington
Here | made observations at the
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE,
which occupied six weeks. DurinJ
my labors | was kindly furnished b,
the United States Naval 0bseryator,
with Geographic clock signals"
Upon the conclusion Of my labor
in Washington | took my instrument
to New York and made similar obser
%vations at the Stephens Technologica
/. Institute, at Hoboken. Here l wa
, again kindly assisted by clock signal
communicated by telegraph from th
National observatory at Washing
ton.
my observations at Hoboken oc
cupied fully q month, and near thei
close l received By cable from Ii
? India House, London, sanction 70 tax
/ two months
LEAVE or ABSENCE,
which | wished TO devote to a tour {
the States.
Il returned 70 Washington for tz
J or three days, for the purpose Of dil
cussing the subject with which | ",
occupied with the Superintendent 40
officers Of the United States Coast an
IGeOdstic Survey Department the
took the train for Chattanooga. G
route for jacksonville, Pl1rida, too
. trip up the st. Johns river. Tisiti1
several large grange groves, but a.
was a bad time Of year 70 see them
was somewhat disappointed.
Returning 70 Jacksonville, / can
= Oh 70 New Orleans. via Montgomer
without remaining for any length
time at any place. From here / ii
tend going up the Mississippi
AS PAR AS MEMPHIS,
u perhaps further. / will then make
n detour BY rail as far west a. Kansa
: It any rate not further west thi
u Omaha, aud az far north a. ST. PaJ
MINI. Among other points Of inte
2 est. / intend 70 visit the Mammo.
Cave, Kentucky, the Washburn o
seryatOry, Wisconsin, and Chicago.
will then gradually work back 10 n,
York By the lakes and Boston. psrlta
Montreal, 60 that / leave New 70
by the first week in July. for Londo
le where / will reduce and publish /
0bseT vations.
ut Il wrote 10 the New York Herr
y. some three weeks ago, pointing out
r certain
COhCDkhkhCk OF PLANETS
~ nov visible, especially in these ia
q, tudes In northern attitudes It
,fo considered a rare thing TO see Nj
eury, but in lower ATTITUDES, Of couri
n the occasions upon which this inn
he most planet becomes yirible are mr.
~ frequent, 80 that here 10 New {
cI leans there are, probably, many "
,ot have seen him frequently.
an still il remains a fact that on
present occasion Mercury attains
altitude at sunset which is ezceptit
ally great. II also happens. by
led merest coincidence, that within a f,
her Of reaching
and HIS GREATEST ELOEGATIOH,
lole Venus is passing toward her elon
ton close by, so that, on or about |
date, the two will be within what \
be considered a very short distar