712 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



greater than we had reason to expect at that place. As the Eclipse 

 increased Fahrenheit's Thermometer, which at the beginning stood at 

 58, gradually fell to 48^ where it stood at the time of the greatest ob- 

 scuration. The weather was sensibly colder though the change was 

 gradual. Our Prospect became confined, & distant objects were lost 

 while those about us assumed a gloomy appearance. The Sky, particu- 

 larly at the northeast, appeared as if charged with a thick fog. The 

 Darkness was so great, that a lanthorn was necessary in counting the 

 Clock ; yet we had Hght enough abroad to distinguish countenances 

 without any difficulty, & to write down our observations. Shades were 

 better defined than they ever are by moon-light ; & the Sun, even at 

 the greatest obscuration, shone with such dazzling brightness, that those 

 of the company, who looked without a colored glass, could hardly 

 perceive the Eclipse. 



"Venus was seen clearly by the whole company shining with a vivid 

 light. Several other Stars were seen, among which were Lucida Lyr^ 

 & Aridef. The part of the Sun which remained uneclipsed was not 

 more than one eightieth part of his diameter, & one eighth of his Cir- 

 cumference. The upper cusp was ragged & the lower one rounded. 

 At the upper point appeared two drops as bright as Stars of the first 

 magnitude. At the end of the eclipse the Thermometer had risen to 

 58, where it was when the eclipse begun. The dew which fell on a 

 sheet of paper twelve inches square was found immediately after the 

 middle of the Eclipse to be 4^ grains. On another sheet at the end of 

 the Eclipse it was 3 grains. The preceding night it was 6|, & the 

 night following 7 grains. On the 28'*' we packed our Instruments, & 

 sent them aboard the Vessel. The next day we set sail, & on the 10'^ 

 of November arrived in Boston." 



It is evident from what I have read to you that the Academy was 

 fortunate in the personnel of its party, — it was well equipped and pre- 

 pared to observe any new and unexpected phenomena which might 

 occur. We can only guess what they might have seen and reported if 

 they had found a more suitable place of observation than was permitted 

 by the military conditions imposed 'on them. That they would have 

 found by their first day's observations for latitude that it was advisable 

 to move further to the northeast, perhaps to the fort itself, seems prob- 

 able, and in that case there would have been an unusually efficient 

 group of men upon the spot. 



To say nothing of their elders, the general character of the six under- 

 graduates who accompanied the party is shown by their later lives. 

 Two were members of the Academy, two were members of Congress, 

 and one a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. The 

 graduate, Mr. Fortesque Vernon, died ir 1790. 



