VENUS ON THE SUN'S FACE. S7 



that they presented a memorial to King George III., 

 requesting that a vessel might be fitted out, at govern- 

 ment expense, to convey skilful observers to one of the 

 stations which had been judged suitable for observing 

 the phenomenon. The petition was complied with, 

 and after some difficulty as to the choice of a leader, 

 the good ship ' Endeavour,' of 370 tons, was placed 

 under the command of Captain Cook. The astrono- 

 mical work entrusted to the expedition was completely 

 successful ; and thus it was held that England had 

 satisfactorily discharged her part of the work of utilis- 

 ing the rare phenomenon known as a transit of Venus. 

 A century passes, and science is again awaiting with 

 interest the approach of one of these transits. But 

 now her demands are enlarged. It is not one ship that 

 is asked for, but the full cost and charge of several 

 expeditions. And this time, also, science has been 

 more careful in taking time by the forelock. The first 

 hints of her requirements were heard some fourteen years 

 ago, when the Astronomer-Royal began that process 

 of laborious inquiry which a question of this sort neces- 

 sarily demands. Gradually, her hints became more 

 and more plain-spoken ; insomuch that Mr. Airy her 

 mouthpiece in this case stated definitely, a few months 

 ago, what he thought science had a right to claim from 

 England in this matter. When the claim came before 

 our government, it was met with a liberality which 

 was a pleasing surprise after Mr. Lowe's placid refer- 

 ence of scientific people to their own devices. The 

 sum of ten thousand five hundred pounds has been 



