50 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. 



Uranus ; and that its discovery by Galle must be regarded 

 as a nappy accident. Besides that solution of the prob- 

 lem which Le Yerrier and Adams obtained, there is 

 another solution which corresponds to the orbit and mass 

 of Neptune. The fact however that Neptune does not 

 correspond to Le Verrier's solution can not detract from 

 the merit or value of his investigation. Since, by using 

 all the observations within his reach, he found an orbit 

 and mass capable of accounting for the observed motions 

 of Uranus, he is entitled in the opinion of mathematicians 

 to all the admiration he would have received had such a 

 planet actually moved in that orbit. 



To some it has appeared a matter of surprise that the 

 new planet was not sooner discovered. Le Terrier's sec- 

 ond memoir, which assigned the probable place of the 

 disturbing body, was presented to the Academy on the 

 first of June, 1846; and his third memoir (containing 

 every thing which Dr. Galle had in his possession at the 

 time of his discovery) was presented August 31st; yet 

 Galle's discovery was not made till September 23d. 

 "What were the astronomers of Paris doing meanwhile ? 

 Why did they not immediately point their telescopes to 

 the heavens? "Why did they neglect the opportunity of 

 securing to France the glory of both the theoretical and 

 practical discovery, and leave to a German astronomer 

 the verification of the sublimest theory of modern 

 science ? The answer is plain. The astronomers of Paris 

 did not expect to find a planet within one degree of the place 

 computed by Le Verrier. Le Verrier himself did not ex- 



