ORIGIN AND OPERATIONS 



the mineral baths of Cauquenes. As, of necessity, the journey was to be very hurried, much 

 accurate geographical knowledge was not to be expected, and no other instruments were taken 

 along than a Bunten s barometer and one thermometer. But the excursion brought me in con 

 tact with gentlemen who had visited the sources of several rivers, when crossing different 

 mountain chains, and their information has been used in compiling the maps of Vol. 1. 



Very soon after my return, the government decided to establish a National Observatory, and 

 official information of the fact was communicated by Prof. Domeyko, who had earnestly inter 

 ested himself to this end, and who was requested to ascertain whether our equipment could be 

 purchased. In such case he was authorized to make the necessary arrangements for the trans 

 fer at the termination of our work. This was most gratifying information, a happy result to 

 one of the cherished objects of the Expedition, and congratulations were tendered the Professor, 

 that his adopted country offered this new evidence of its intention to continue, as it always had 

 been, the most liberal patron of science and arts among the southern republics. Having been 

 invested by the honorable Secretary of the Navy with power to dispose of our outfit, the instru 

 ments and few books belonging to the United States were offered at the prices paid for them 

 without after-costs for transportation. Piers, &c., and the observatory building the latter 

 presumed to have deteriorated, and therefore not so valuable as when new it was proposed to 

 have appraised by two competent mechanics. Had it been optional with me, these last would 

 have been freely offered to the government as a slight return for the many services so cheerfully 

 extended us, and the propriety of doing so was immediately submitted to the department. Un 

 fortunately, the letter from the Hon. William A. Graham, then Secretary of the Navy, promptly 

 acceding to the suggestion, did not reach me until the purchase had been effected, and I could 

 take the responsibility to present only the necessary objects and furniture for carrying on the 

 duties of the observatories, which had been obtained in Chile. When the basis of the negotia 

 tion was settled, Dr. Charles Moesta, a graduate of the University of Marburg, was appointed 

 director of the new establishment, and immediately applied himself to acquire practical knowl 

 edge of the instruments. He already had acquaintance with portable astronomical and mag- 

 netical instruments before leaving Germany, and for more than a year preceding this appoint 

 ment, had filled the post of assistant to the chief of the Topographical Survey in Chile; so that 

 two months practice, at the hours we were not using the circle or equatorial, enabled him to 

 become expert in their manipulation. Two of the gentlemen previously mentioned as ap 

 pointed government students were named as assistants very shortly after our departure, and 

 more than one proof has since been given that the administration cherishes a desire to promote 

 the interests of astronomy. The expedition which the President sent to Peru to observe the 

 total eclipse of November 30, 1853, and the purchase of one of Kessel s best clocks, furnished 

 with the most improved self-winding telegraphic register, may be cited as two such evidences. 



The experience obtained in the first series summer as it was with us had led me to expect 

 very little from the last one on Venus. Then the planet was far south, the air was dry, and we 

 had few clouds to contend with : now, every condition was reversed, and in the whole pre-ar 

 ranged period it was possible to make differential measures only on nine evenings prior to the 

 conjunction, and on eighteen mornings subsequent to it. There was not one occasion when the 

 measures were wholly satisfactory. The nearest approaches to it were in the evening twilight 

 of June 23, when the record shows: &quot; Sharp, clean images throughout ; if the star would have 

 permitted a little more light, I should have put down all the measures as satisfactory.&quot; And 

 on the morning of August 12th : &quot;Good morning ; images not very sharp at first, but quite 

 satisfactory during the last observations by daylight.&quot; 



I could find no star in the place of H. C. 15551, R. A. 77*. 50m. 58s. Declination + 23 19 13&quot;, 

 and therefore made measures with the nearest one which was approximatively of the magnitude 

 assigned by Lalande to No. 15551. Of 47 meridian observations, some of them were very good, 

 or at least they were so regarded when made. 



More than the usual amount of work was accomplished by the assistants during fliese three 



