Total Eclipse of the Sun, July 28, 1851. 363 



Approach of totality. — At about four o'clock, when the 

 cusps were reduced to a narrow line of light extending about 

 40° or 50° on the sun's eastern limb, I was observing the 

 phenomenon through a darkened glass without the telescope, 

 in order the better to ascertain the exact moment of totality, 

 and therefore did not see the black lines or beads which 

 Baily mentions as having been visible in 1836. I doubt, how- 

 ever, that they appeared under this phase of the eclipse from 

 the spot where I stood ; I think that annular and total 

 eclipses present widely different phenomena in this respect. 

 The concentric segments of rings which have been visible to 

 several observers of this eclipse who were upon or very near 

 the southern line of the shadow, and which show themselves 

 upon both ranges of totality, I did not either see, but do not aver 

 that they did not show themselves, as my telescope was not 

 upon them ; I can, however, affirm that I did not see them 

 when the totality was upon the wane. When the sun's light 

 broke forth again it appeared like a star, which gradually 

 took the form of a thin line, and soon after the cusps were 

 observable. 



Totality — Degree of obscurity. — When the last ray of light 

 vanished, I read off by the chronometer 4*^ 3"^ 8^ local mean 

 time, and quickly noted it down in pencil, together with the 

 degree where it disappeared. I could distinguish the minute 

 hand by the light of the sky, but for the seconds it was neces- 

 sary to have recourse to the lantern which had previously 

 been lighted, and burned with a dark-yellow flame as at about 

 three quarters of an hour after sunset at this season of the 

 year, which may serve to give a tolerably correct idea of the de- 

 gree of obscurity which prevailed. I did not waste time upon 

 trying to read, but should say that the large text of the title- 

 page of the Nautical Almanac would have been legible with- 

 out difficulty ; one of my friends thought that smaller print 

 might have been read, but I adhere to my own observations. 



Appearance of object. — After noting down the time, I cast 

 a quick and furtive, but as far as possible, comprehensive 

 glance upon the surrounding scenery, which was enveloped, 

 as it were, in a mantle of darkness ; perfect calm and silence 

 reigned everywhere, and nature appeared devoid of energy 



