OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : JUNE 4, 1872. 467 



invisible in the northern observatories, were carefully re-examined by 

 Herschel from his more favorable point of view. The Magellanic 

 Clouds, that miscellaneous collection of individual objects in strange com- 

 panionship, were dissected, and found to be composed, the one of 919 

 and the other of 244 distinct stars, nebulte, and clusters. Chapter II. 

 tells us that his catalogue of double stars, which had reached 3346 in 

 the northern hemisphere, had grown by his southern contributions to 

 5542. Chapter III. marks the indomitable perseverance of the astron- 

 omer, who found relief from severer toil in determining the relative 

 brightnesses of many of the southern stars. Neither did Herschel 

 omit, as we learn from Chapter IV., to apply to the southern stars and 

 the southern galaxy the system of gauging, instituted by his father, to 

 discover the comparative popidousness of the sky in different spots ; 

 on which, as upon a scientific basis, and not, as others had done before 

 him, by mere speculation, he ventured an outlook into the structure of 

 the universe. Probably an astronomer less zealous than Herschel 

 would not have allowed the opportunity to slip of observing a comet as 

 remarkable as Halley's, at its last appearance in 1835. But as we turn 

 over the pages of Chapter V. of the Results, and rehearse the numer- 

 ous observations therein recorded, and examine the admirable delinea 

 tions of the changing phases of the comet, comparable in excellence 

 with those which Schwabe and Bessel made in Europe, and ponder 

 upon Herschel's weighty discussion of the physical condition of comets 

 (better revealed by this comet than by any other except Donati's), we 

 cannot but congratulate science on the well-timed visit of comet and 

 astronomer. The two remaining chapters record observations on the sat- 

 ellites of Saturn and the solar spots. No one knew better than Herschel 

 the need of new evidence for computing the orbits, or even verifying the 

 existence, of these remote satellites ; and the course of recent investiga- 

 tions into solar influences has given an importance to all good observa- 

 tions on the sun's spots greater than any one could have anticipated. 

 Herschel realized, no doubt, that the new views of the celestial scenery 

 which he had enjoyed, the intellectual gratification which he had re- 

 ceived from his discoveries, and the filial duty that he had discharged 

 to astronomy, were an over-payment for whatever he had sacrificed by 

 a self-imposed banishment' from his native land. Nevertheless, he had 

 given to astronomers a bright example of the victory which a passion 

 for truth may gain over present comfort and social enjoyment, and an 

 example which others have been ambitious to imitate. His return to 

 England was, therefore, as it deserved to be, an ovation. 



