CHARLES HENRY DAVIS. 315 



But while the labors of our deceased associate in the hydrographic 

 work of the Coast Survey establisiied his reputation as an accomplished 

 and able investigator, and were of high public value, he rendered still 

 more important benefits to his country and to science by his successful 

 organization and conduct of tlie '• American Ephemeris." Tlie establish- 

 ment of this work was urged by its projectors, and especially by Lieu- 

 tenant Davis (the prime mover in the undertaking), wiih two motives: 

 first, to advance the scientific character and standing of the country, by 

 a publication of the highest order fiom a scientific point of view ; and, 

 secondly, to promote the cause of astronomy itself, and render substan- 

 tial services to navigation, by producing a work on a higher plane tiian 

 the '• British Nautical Almanac," fully conformed to the latest develop- 

 ments of knowledge, and likely to give an additional stimulus to pure 

 research. To carry out this ambitious plan, with the revision of the 

 solar, lunar, and planetary tables, and of various points of astronomi- 

 cal theory, which it involved, it was necessary to eidist iu the work the 

 ablest mathematical astronomers of the country, and at the same time 

 to train up a body of young computers, and to inspire them not only 

 with the spirit of numerical accuracy, but with the tiiie love of science 

 and desire to advance it. To this arduous but most interesting task, 

 Davis brought his admirable judgment and his fine scientific talents, 

 together with that fortunate temperament which easily united various 

 men in loyalty to one enterprise, and that generosity of nature which 

 thought only of doing the work in the best manner, and gladly gave 

 the freest possible play to others' individuality. The first volume of 

 the " E^pliemeris " appeared in 1852, and was very favorably received 

 on both sides of the Atlantic ; and it may be safely said, that, except 

 the Coast Survey, of which the vast scope of course gives it pre-emi- 

 nence, uo scientific work which has been carried on in this country has 

 redounded more largely to the national credit. " The policy adopted in 

 the newly formed office," writes one who was familiar with it, and 

 whose judgment is authoritative, " tliough not in all respects to be per- 

 manently imitated as a piece of administrative machinery, was such as 

 to make it a more efficient promoter of mathematical astronomy in this 

 country than any organization we have ever had. Young men of 

 talent were looked for from all quarters, were employed without regard 

 to personal or political influence, were paid according to their efficiency, 

 and were encouraged to engage in any branch of mathematical or 

 astronomical research which would tend to improve the almanac. In 

 the work of th« office there was a freedom from discij)line ami restraint, 

 which, though it might work badly under other circumstances, was 



