June lo, 1875] 



NATURE 



109 



he takes a rapid glance over the changes hi the Obser- 

 vatory in the forty years during which he has been at 

 its head. "The Observatory was expressly built," he 

 states, " for the aid of astronomy and navigation, for pro- 

 moting methods of determining longitude at sea, and (as 

 the circumstances that led to its foundation show) more 

 especially for determination of the moon's motions. All 

 these imply, as their first step, the formation of accurate 

 catalogues of stars, and the determination of the funda- 

 mental elements of the solar system. These objects have 

 been steadily pursued from the foundation of the Obser- 

 vatory ; in one way, by Flamsteed ; in another way, by 

 Halley, and by Bradley in the earlier part of his career ; 

 in a third form, by Bradley in his later years, by Mas- 

 kelyne (who contributed most powerfully both to lunar 

 and to chronometric nautical astronomy), and for a time 

 by Pond • then with improved instruments by Pond, and 

 by myself for some years ; and, subsequently, with the 

 instruments now in use. It has been invariably my own 

 intention to maintain the principles of the long-established 

 system in perfect integrity ; varying the instruments, the 

 modes of employing them, and the modes of utilising the 

 observations by calculation and publication, as the pro- 

 gress of science might seem to require. 



" While instruments of the same class, but of increased 

 power, have been substituted for those which I found 

 here, three novel constructions have been introduced ; 

 the lunar altazimuth, the reflex-zenith-tube, and the 

 chronograph ; and, for a special investigation, the water- 

 telescope (now dismounted). I omit mention of auxiliary 

 instruments. To utilise the observations, the numerical 

 reductions for each current year have always been main- 

 tained in the most perfect state that I could devise. 

 From these, elaborate star-catalogues (now in frequent 

 demand) have been formed from time to time. And, for 

 connecting the observations of the moveable bodies of 

 our system in a complete and homogeneous series, 

 beginning at 1750, first the planetary observations, 

 and secondly the lunar observations of my prede- 

 cessors have been reduced, and orbital elements have 

 been corrected. The lunar reductions are probably 

 the greatest single work ever undertaken in astronomy. 

 This portion of our labours may be considered as 

 applying to the combined subjects of astronomy and 

 navigation. But there are also, peculiar to astronomy, 

 the photoheliography and spectroscopy lately intro- 

 duced. And, peculiar to navigation and related subjects, 

 there are the investigation of the laws of magnetic dis- 

 turbance in iron ships, and the correction of the compass 

 by methods now used in the commercial navies through 

 the world ; the maintenance of magnetic observations ; 

 the incessant attention to chronometers ; the extensive 

 dissemination of accurate time-signals ; and the daily 

 dropping of a time-ball at Deal. 



" The subject of meteorology, which has been followed 

 for many years, is scarcely connected with the two great 

 heads of astronomy and navigation, and hardly deserves 

 the name of a science. It is, however, in great popular 

 request. Mechanical self-registration of some meteoro- 

 logical phenomena was introduced by me shortly after 

 the commencement of my residence. Since that time 

 the practical arts of photography and galvanic com- 

 munication were invented, and they were quickly made 

 available in many of our operations. In this increase 

 of occupations, the annual expenses of the Observatory 

 have increased, but in a much lower proportion than the 

 work done. 



" Experiments have been made, bearing on cosmical 

 physics, by Maskelyne for the attraction of Schchallien, 

 and by myself for the vibrations of pendulums in mines. 

 Preparations have been made for observations of echpses 

 and of the Transit of Venus. Assistance has been ren- 

 dered to the Government in training officers lor such 

 services as tracing national boundaries, &c., and in refer- 



ence to National Standards. The Lunar Theory, though 

 most intimately connected with the highest interests of 

 astronomy, scarcely presents itself to me as a work of 

 the Observatory. 



" Turning now from the past to the future, I see little 

 in which I could suggest any change. If it should ever 

 be necessary to make any reduction, I should propose to 

 withdraw meteorology, photoheliography, and spectro- 

 scopy ; not as unimportant in themselves, or as ill-fitted 

 to the discipline of the Observatory, but as the least con- 

 nected with the fundamental idea of our establishment. 

 In the nature of addition, I will indicate one practical 

 point. I much desire to see the system of time-signals 

 extended, by clocks or daily signals, to various parts of 

 our great cities and our dockyards, and above all by 

 hourly signals on the Start Point, which I believe would 

 be the greatest of all benefits to nautical chronometry. 

 Should any extension of our scientific work ever be 

 contemplated, I would remark that the Observatory is 

 not the place for new physical investigations. It is well 

 adapted for following out any which, originating with 

 private investigators, have been reduced to laws suscep- 

 tible of verification by daily observation. The National 

 Observatory will, I trust, always remain on the site where 

 it was first planted, and which early acquired the name 

 of ' Flamsteed Hill.' There are some inconveniences in 

 the position, arising principally from the limited extent 

 of the hill, iDut they are, in my opinion, very far over- 

 balanced by its advantages." 



We quite agree with the Astronomer Royal that a 

 strictly Astronomical Observatory is not the place for 

 such observations as those mentioned in the conclusion 

 of his Report ; it would be much, both to the advantage 

 of astronomy and of the important branches of science 

 referred to, that the latter should have one or more 

 Government estabUshments allotted solely to their inves- 

 tigation, establishments quite distinct from and indepen- 

 dent of the Greenwich Observatory. 



The Report of the Astronomer Royal for Scotland is a 

 little more fervid than the one just mentioned, or indeed 

 than official documents generally are. The funds of the 

 northern establishment continue to be extremely in- 

 adequate to its requirements, and it reflects great credit 

 on Prof. Piazzi Smyth that he is able, year after year, to 

 show such a satisfactory output of work. 



In reference to Zodiacal Light Spectroscopy, the 

 Report, referring to the results obtained by the expedition, 

 at Prof. Smyth's own expense, to Sicily in 1873, states 

 that he has another research of the same kind in pro- 

 gress, which will require him, for its completion, to visit 

 successively with the same instruments the shores of the 

 Arctic Ocean and a tropical mountain-peak. We hope 

 Government will provide him with the very small sum 

 necessary to carry out this important work. Prof. Smyth 

 is also carrying out, under great difficulties, observations in 

 Auroral Spectroscopy, for which he is very favourably 

 located ; but again he is hampered by want of the neces- 

 sary instruments. No doubt Mr. Cross's recent unex- 

 pected official visit, if it meant anything at all, will lead to 

 speedy attention being paid to the very reasonable 

 demands of the Scottish Astronomer Royal. 



An appendix to the Report contains some documents 

 intended to show the real position of the Observatory and 

 of its chief, and his relation to the professorship of astro- 

 nomy in Edinburgh University which he holds. It seems 

 the University Council wish to make out that 300/. of his 

 not excessive salary he receives solely as occupant of that 

 chair, and must resign this sum with the chair. Altogether 

 it seems to us the duty of Government to make a speedy 

 and thorough inquiry into the position of the Northern 

 Observatory, and put it into a state of such complete 

 efficiency that there will be no further rooxn for com- 

 plaints. We regret to see that the new equatorial is still 

 in the contractor's hand^ 



