14 



tions are making in every part of the world where hu- 

 man knowledge extends; and astronomy is fostered every 

 where with that liberality and even magnificence which 

 the grandeur and importance of the purpose demand. 

 The labors of the astronomers of the present age are 

 not sufficiently appreciated, because they are not seen 

 and generally understood. They work, in the silence 

 of the night, to produce results for future ages. It is 

 only by successive comparisons, made at far distant 

 epochs, of the state of the heavens, well observed and 

 described, that the laws which govern the celestial uni- 

 verse will appear, as the changes produced by those 

 laws operate on time and space. These labors will 

 form a basis, a term of comparison for the future, as the 

 labors of the ancients, although much more imperfect 

 and limited, have served as the means of comparison 

 for the astronomy of modern times. Less eclat, there- 

 fore, is awarded to this pursuit, and the public, dazzled 

 by the frequent and brilliant discoveries in other branches 

 of natural philosophy, does not do equal justice to those 

 of the astronomer. The reason is, that the time has not 

 yet arrived to bring to full light the fruits of their long 

 and patient vigils; but at no epoch of history has astro- 

 nomy, both theoretical and practical, counted among its 

 votaries so many illustrious men, as since the commence- 

 ment of the present century; at no period has the vault 

 of heaven been explored with so much genius, profound 

 knowledge, ability, and physical means, as at this day; 

 and never has been commenced a monument to the 

 glory of science and human intellect more sublime than 

 that of which astronomy is now laying the foundation. 

 Shall we not add one stone to this stucture ? Will we 



