AMERICAN ALMS FOR BRITISH SCIENCE. 91 



to them as Englishmen. As our readers know, sixty- 

 eight persons had volunteered to go to Spain and Sicily 

 to view the total eclipse of December 22 ; our scientific 

 societies had voted large sums of money for the equip- 

 ment of the two observing parties ; and everyone was 

 certain that Government would supply the means of 

 transport. But everyone was mistaken. The Admiralty 

 discovered that the nation would assuredly disapprove if 

 room were found for mere men of science and their trum- 

 pery in any of Her Majesty's ships ; and accordingly, 

 just when the extensive preparations requisite for the 

 expeditions were in full progress, news came that the 

 means of transport must be found by the observers 

 themselves. We do not care here we hardly have 

 patience, indeed to discuss the probable cause of a 

 refusal so discreditable to the scientific repute of Eng- 

 land. It had been announced by the Astronomer- 

 Royal (in connection with another matter), that Govern- 

 ment would always be found liberal in scientific 

 matters, if a sufficient cause were shown by persons 

 in whom they had trust ; and we do not care to inquire 

 whether the Astronomer-Royal was mistaken in this 

 matter, or whether the Government declined to put 

 trust in him or in the Presidents of our Astronomical 

 and Royal Societies, or whether, lastly, the sufficient 

 cause was not brought before the Government with 



Organising Committee ; while fortunately the zeal of the expeditionists 

 averted the risk (which at one time seemed serious) that rather brusque 

 usage would cause some of the most important members of the expedi- 

 tions to withdraw their aid. 



