1875.] The Late Transit of Venus. 173 
the presumable diligence of official astronomers in England, 
they had been misled, and had missed a fine opportunity of 
advancing scientific knowledge. But as the matter presented 
itself six years ago, there seemed every reason to believe 
that England was about to effect an achievement more than 
worthy of her ancient fame in such matters. 
It turned out, however, rather inconveniently, that “‘ some 
one had blundered.” Other methods were available than 
Delisle’s—were even better suited to the occasion. Other 
regions than those indicated were of extreme strategic impor- 
tance, one of them being indeed the key of the whole 
position. So far was England from having provided ade- 
quately for the whole scheme of operations—that is, from 
having prepared to do more than her fair share of work— 
that actually certain regions in British territory, which it 
behoved her and her only to occupy, had not even been 
mentioned in the official programme. 
When this was discovered, it fortunately was discovered 
at the same time that other nations were willing to 
take at least as large a share in the work as England. It 
was also found that the other nations (whether convinced by 
the reasoning urged in England against the official arrange- 
ments, or for whatever cause) attached so little value to 
Delisle’s method proper, that they might not unsafely be 
expected to devote almost their whole strength to Halleyan 
and mid-transit operations. This was convenient in more 
respects than one. It not only ensured adequate provision 
for the method hitherto so strangely neglected ; but it left it 
in the power of English official astronomers to adhere to 
their original programme (or nearly so) without absolutely 
endangering the success of the whole scheme of operations. 
As they were apprised early of the views of other nations, 
official astronomers quickly adopted this course. They even 
overacted their persistent adherence to the Delislean as the 
sole available method. Where the durations of transit 
could be observed, they said that instead of observing the 
duration they would observe the absolute time of the begin- 
ning and ending, which is a very different thing—at least so 
they asserted. Nay, so completely were the other nations 
about to provide for Halleyan and mid-transit observations, 
that our official folk felt free to add new Delislean stations, or 
rather stations professedly Delislean ; for some among them 
were open to the objection of being excellent also as 
Halleyan stations. As regards the neglected region in 
British territory (North India), official astronomers would 
at first make no concession; then they would have a 
