204 Total Eclipse of August 7, 1869. 



Report by J. C. House, Esq. 



Waterford, Aug. 16, 1869. 

 To Prof. G. W. Hough: 



Having been so kindly received by yourself and given 

 a place among your party of observers during the recent 

 eclipse at Mattoon, I take pleasure in transmitting to you 

 the results of my observations. 



My station was near that of your own (about 5 feet 

 N. W, as marked on the diagram. The observations, were 

 made with an achromatic telescope 3.25 inch aperture, 

 with a terrestrial or direct eye-piece, having a power of 

 about 35. A convenient arrangement for reducing the 

 aperture was attached to the telescope tube. In the shade 

 of the brass standard supporting the telescope was sus- 

 pended a Fahrenheit thermometer having an ivory scale, 

 with which the observations for temperature, during the 

 progress of the eclipse, were noted. 



A portion of the observations were timed by a watch 

 previously set to Mattoon mean time, but the most import- 

 ant coinciding with your own, which were recorded by 

 the chronograph within my hearing, I did not note the 

 time. I did not see the first contact of the projecting sur- 

 face of the moon, but caught the real contact of the moon's 

 limb, at the instant I heard your signal key record the 

 same. 



At 4h. 30m. 0s., by watch, as the moon's limb advanced, 

 I noticed its eastern edge slightly tinged with red. 



At 4h. 35m. 40s., by watch, noted the contact of moon's 

 limb with 1st solar spot. 



At 4h. 52m. 24s. with 2d ") 

 " 4h. 54m. 20s. " 3d I Central group. 

 " 4h. 56m. 42s. „ 4th ) 



