ASTRONOMY 



By Edward Singleton Holden 



Director of the Lick Observatory 



[T is the object of the present chapter to set forth, 

 with such fullness as is permitted by the neces- 

 sary limitations of space, the services of the 

 Smithsonian Institution to astronomy during the 

 half-century of its existence, from 1846 to 1896, 

 In this department of science, as in others, the Institution 

 has steadily kept in view the two high ideals formulated by 

 its founder — namely, the increase of natural knowledge and 

 its wide diffusion amonof men. 



In the prosecution of these ideals it has engaged in the 

 most diverse investigations, either directly or indirectly. 

 Directly — by the individual researches of its Secretaries and 

 other officers: indirectly — in varied ways; by personal in- 

 fluence upon scientific societies and individuals and with Con- 

 gress ; by service upon scientific boards and councils ; by 

 advice in the formation of scientific programs ; by subsidies 

 freely granted in aid of research ; by the loan of its halls or 

 apparatus for special investigations ; by opening the pages 

 of its publications to the printing of scientific memoirs and 



of popular summaries and bibliographies; and by distributing 



571 



