ASTRONOMY IN AMERICA. 85 



matters straight, but differences have arisen which have marred their 

 efforts. In the mean time, Mr. S. W. Burnham, of Chicago, has shown 

 admirable zeal and skill in the systematic observation of double stars, 

 having discovered and measured more than 450 of these objects (all 

 of a delicate and difficult nature). 



But, indeed, it would be hopeless to attempt, in the short space 

 available to me here, to give any sufficient account of the labors of 

 American astronomers, whether attached to Government or State ob- 

 servatories, or working independently. Of the latter, and in my 

 opinion not the least important class, I need cite only Drs. Ruther- 

 furd and H. Draper, the former of whom, besides making other ex- 

 tremely important contributions to astronomy and physics, has pro- 

 duced celestial photographs admittedly better than any obtained on 

 this side of the Atlantic ; while the latter at an earlier period achieved 

 results in celestial photography which were far superior to any ob- 

 tained at that time, or for many subsequent years. The advice and 

 assistance rendered by Dr. H. Draper to the astronomers to whom were 

 intrusted the preparations for the recent transit, were most deservedly 

 commemorated in a medal which the American Government honored 

 itself by awarding to him. 



The most striking feature in the contributions made by Americans 

 to astronomy appears to me to be the skill shown in noting the essen- 

 tial points to be aimed at, and the fertility and readiness of resource 

 exhibited as the work proceeds. In England, students of astronomy 

 are too much in the habit of following conventional rules, and wasting 

 time over unnecessary preliminaries. An American astronomer notes 

 that some particular observation is wanted, and directs his efforts to 

 making that observation, not considering it necessary in the first 

 place to go over ground already repeatedly traversed by others. 



I have been sometimes asked whether officialism is as rampant 

 in America as in England in matters scientific. American scientific 

 officials have assured me that it is, or rather (for they have not worded 

 the matter precisely in that way) they hold that official science is 

 properly (as they consider) paramount in their country. I was grave- 

 ly assured in Washington, for instance, that the course which I had 

 pursued in England, with reference to the suggested official schemes 

 for observing the transit of Venus in 1874, would never have been 

 tolerated in America, despite the fact that the course actually fol- 

 lowed by American official science was precisely that which I had ad- 

 vised. It was the principle, so an eminent American official scientist 

 assured me, which was in question, and no American would have been 

 suffered to oppose as I did the course advised by the chief official as- 

 tronomer. What would have happened to such an unfortunate was 

 not clearly indicated ; and I must confess that all I heard outside offi- 

 cial scientific circles in America suggested to me that any mistake 

 made by official science would be commented upon even more freely 



