OF THE 



OPERATIOiXS OF AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO OBSERVE THE TOTAL 

 ECLIPSE, 1883, MAY G, AT CAROLINE ISLAND, SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN. 



To Prof. C. A. YotTNft, 



Chairman of the Eclipse Committee of the National Academy of Sciences : 



My Dear Professor Yoxjnct: It gives me great pleasure to address to you my report of the 

 Total Solar Eclipse of May 6, 1883, together with the reports of the other members of the Ameri- 

 can expedition and with a memorandum from the chief of the English photographic party which 

 accompanied us. We had all hoped and expected to have you for our director in this expedition, 

 and you will allow me to express my regret that unforeseen circumstances prevented this. 



My first official connection with the expedition dates from my reception of the following letter 

 of instructions, under which I acted: 



Washington, D. C, February 28, 1883. 

 Prof. E. S. HOLDEN : 



Dear Sir : The Committee of the National Academy of Sciences on the Solar Eclipse of May 

 6, 1883, has selected you as the Chief and Scientific Director of the partj' organized under its direc- 

 tion for observations of the various phenomena on that occasion; to prescribe and arrange the 

 work of each member, except so far as it may have been laid down by the committee in special 

 instructions to any one, or may have been assigned to the representative of the United States 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey. The names ot the party and the letter of instructions to each have 

 been communicated to you. This leaves the eclipse work in your hands, but the committee desires 

 that every facility which can be obtained, be afforded Mr. Preston for his gravity determinations. 



As for your own special work, the search for intra-mercurial planets, the programme sketched 

 in your letter to me of February 6, marks out distinctly what you should aim at accomplishing. 



I send you letters to Admiral Hughes, commanding United States naval forces, Callao, and 

 to Captains Carpenter and Ftffe, commanding U. S. S. Hartford and Fensacola, one of 

 which will be detailed to convey the party to their destination. They are communicated for your 

 information. Mr. Rockwell will act under your direction as to the expenditure of funds, and it 

 is desirable to have your certificate to his vouchers after your leaving New York. 



It is expected that you leave New York in the Pacific Mail steamer of March 2, for Panama 

 and Callao. On arrival at the latter place please report to Admiral Hughes for conveyance to 

 Caroline Island, as indicated in directions given him by the Navy Department. 



I wish you a pleasant voyage and full success in the enterprise intrusted l;o you. 



I am, very truly, yours, 



J. H. C. COFFIN, 



Secretary of Committee of the National Academy of Sciences. 



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