74 SIMON NEWCOMB 



zeal; that it was used to determine the longitude of Baltimore 

 as early as 1844 by Captain Wilkes, and that it was put into 

 practical use in recording observations at the naval observa- 

 tory as early as 1846. 



At the Cambridge observatory the two Bonds, father and 

 son, speedily began to show the stuff of which the astronomer 

 is made. A well devised system of observations was put in 

 operation. The discovery of the dark ring of Saturn and of 

 a new satellite to that planet gave additional fame to the 

 establishment. 



Nor was activity confined to the observational side of 

 the science. The same decade of which I speak was marked 

 by the beginning of Professor Pierce's mathematical work, 

 especially his determination of the perturbations of Uranus 

 and Neptune. At this time commenced the work of Dr. B. A. 

 Gould, who soon became the leading figure in American astron- 

 omy. Immediately on graduating at Harvard in 1845, he 

 determined to devote all the energies of his life to the prosecu- 

 tion of his favorite science. He studied in Europe for three 

 years, took the doctor's degree at Gottingen, came home, 

 founded the Astronomical Journal, and took an active part 

 in that branch of the work of the Coast Survey which included 

 the determination of longitudes by astronomical methods. 



An episode which may not belong to the history of astron- 

 omy must be acknowledged to have had a powerful influence 

 in exciting public interest in that science. Prof. O. M. Mit- 

 chell, the founder and first director of the Cincinnati observa- 

 tory, made the masses of our intelligent people acquainted 

 with the leading facts of astronomy by courses of lectures 

 which, in lucidity and eloquence, have never been excelled. 

 The immediate object of the lectures was to raise funds for 

 establishing his observatory and fitting it out with a fine 

 telescope. The popular interest thus excited in the science 

 had an important effect in leading the public to support 

 astronomical research. If public support, based on public 

 interest, is what has made the present fabric of American 

 astronomy possible, then should we honor the name of a man 

 whose enthusiasm leavened the masses of his countrymen 

 with interest in our science. 



