VENUS OX THE SUN'S FACE. 67 



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

 the good ship " Endeavor," of 370 tons, was placed 

 under the command of Captain Cook. The astro- 

 nomical work intrusted to the expedition was com- 

 pletely successful ; and thus it was held that England 

 had satisfactorily discharged her part of the work of 

 utilizing the rare phenomenon known as a transit of 

 Yen us. 



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 ex- 

 peditions. 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 

 mouth-piece 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 

 granted to meet the cost of several important and well- 

 appointed expeditions ; and doubtless further material 



