TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-1847. 361 



derful works of the Creator. New double stars maj' be discovered, 

 revolving about each other, by the operation of strange and unknown 

 laws, the investigation of which may be a subject of profound inter- 

 est. Their compensating colors, shedding a mixed stellar influence 

 upon an intimate and curious examination, may possibly reveal to some 

 penetrating eye new and important truths connected with the theory 

 of light. The occultation of Jupiter's satellites enable us to measure 

 its velocity with almost absolute exactness. The contrasted colors of 

 these wonderful binary stars may eventually settle the question, if it 

 be not already settled, between the theory of undulations and that of 

 particles emanating in straight lines, and may, in some lucky hour to 

 some favored son of genius, unfold distinctly and forever the appar- 

 ently intricate and now hidden relations of light, heat, electricity, 

 magnetism, and gravitation. A higher and more complete generaliza- 

 tion of the great phenomena of the universe may be accomplished, 

 and it is wholly impossible to tell how directly and immediately such 

 discoveries may bear upon the practical pursuits which contribute 

 to the physical well-being of man. Who at the present da,y can cal- 

 culate the influence exerted upon the happiness of man during suc- 

 cessive generations by the knowledge of those three strange and won- 

 derful laws discovered, not without long and laborious investigation, 

 by the celebrated Kepler? Who can trace their consequences in the 

 subsequent discoveries of that science, or rather, I should ask, what 

 would now be our knowledge of the planetary system and our ability 

 to apply it to exact nautical purposes if those laws and all that results 

 from them were at this day a blank in astronomical science ? That the 

 radius vector of a planet describes equal areas in equal times! How 

 simple a law, yet how pregnant of consequences, incalculable in extent 

 and value! 



Notwithstanding these admissions and my deep conviction of the 

 great value of astronomical truth, I can not think that field of knowl- 

 edge likely to be so productive of useful fruit that the Smithsonian 

 fund ought ever to have been directed entirely or chiefly to that object. 

 But whatever may have been the conflict of opinion in this respect the 

 dispute is put to rest by the establishment of the observatory. It is a 

 matter of high gratification to my mind that the Government has at 

 last awakened to the importance of the subject and has found a com- 

 plete justification in the hydrographical and topographical necessities 

 of its service by sea and land for the endowment of so useful an insti- 

 tution; and I am glad, sir, to hear it announced that the distinguished 

 gentleman from Massachusetts finds his laudable enthusiasm for a 

 noble branch of science fully met and satisfied by the establishment in 

 question. 



I think, Mr. Chairman, if there be anything plain and obvious in 

 reference to the plan to be adopted for the Smithsonian Institution, it 



