VENUS ON THE SUN'S FACE. 79 



us almost as nearly as Venus, was found an efficient 

 ally. 



The result of calculations founded on these methods 

 showed that the sun's distance, instead of being about 

 95,000,000 miles, is little more than 91,500,000 miles. 

 And recently, by a careful re-examination of the 

 observations made upon Venus in 1769, Mr. Stone 

 has shown that they point to a similar result. 



Doubtless, however, we must wait for the transit of 

 Venus in 1874 before forming a final decision as to 

 the estimate of the sun's distance which is to take its 

 place in popular works on astronomy during the next 

 century or so. Nothing but an unlooked-for com- 

 bination of unfavourable circumstances can cause the 

 failure of our hopes. Certainly, if we should fail in 

 obtaining satisfactory results in 1874, the world will 

 not say that the generosity of the English Government 

 has been in fault, since it would be difficult to find a 

 parallel in the history of modern science to the munifi- 

 cence of the grant which has been made this year for 

 expeditions to observe a phenomenon whose interest 

 and importance are purely scientific. 



(From St. PauPs, October 1869.) 



EECENT SOLAR RESEARCHES. 



SINCE the great eclipse of August 1868, our know- 

 ledge respecting the constitution of the sun has been 

 steadily progressing. One discovery after another has 



