SIMON NEWCOMB, F.R.S., LL.D., D.C.L. ix 



Mr. Newcomb was at first assigned to duty as assistant to Pro- 

 fessor Yarnall on the transit instrument. The results of this system 

 or want of system, were afterwards published, forming the Wash- 

 ington catalogue of 10,964 stars, commonly known as " Yarnall's 

 catalogue." Though by no means worthless, this is far from pos- 

 sessing the value which it should have had. The work done at 

 Greenwich, for instance, at the same time, was much superior. 



It is to be remembered that, at the period of which we are now 

 speaking, the Civil War was raging at its greatest fury. Wash- 

 ington was the center of gigantic military operations which seemed 

 to overshadow everything else. But those in authority took a certain 

 pride in having this work kept up without interruption during the 

 conflict. On one occasion only does the serenity, supposed to attend 

 scientific pursuits, seem to have been seriously disturbed. This was 

 on the occasion of the noted raid of General Early in 1864. The 

 defeat by the latter of General Lew Wallace seemed to leave the way 

 open to Washington. It is an open question whether the city 

 might have been taken by a rapid dash on Early's part at this time. 

 Under these conditions, all who were in the service of the war and 

 navy departments were ordered out to assist in manning the en- 

 trenchments which were the only defence of the city. The detach- 

 ment to which Professor Newcomb was assigned was ordered to 

 Fort Lincoln, where for two days they waited an attack by Early. 

 Meanwhile reinforcements arrived from Fort Monroe and Early 

 abandoned any design which he may have had for an attack. 



Captain Giliss, the superintendent of the observatory, was an 

 astronomer of distinction. Previous to his taking charge of this 

 work, he had made many thousands of observations. He was 

 naturally much interested in the improvement of the unsatisfactory 

 state of affairs, but it was not an easy matter, in these exciting times, 

 to accomplish much. At length, in 1863, he obtained authority to 

 procure a meridian circle of the highest order of excellence, which 

 was finally completed and ready for active service on January i, 

 1866. Professor Newcomb was placed in charge with three assist- 

 ants. An elaborate program of fundamental work was adapted to 

 be carried out on a uniform plan for three years. This involved 

 continuous attendance on the part of one or another of the observers. 



