ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATOEIES. 235 



to supply their place. But the professors of mathemat- 

 ics have continued with tolerable permanence, and have 

 acquired a corresponding familiarity with the instru- 

 ments, and the computations growing out of their use. 

 The following notices contain the names of those who 

 have contributed most to give character to the ob- 

 servatory. 



Professor John H. C. Coffin graduated at Bowdoin 

 College in 1834, and commenced duty at- the observa- 

 tory in January, 1845. He was immediately placed in 

 charge of -the mural circle, and devoted his time ex- 

 clusively to that instrument until 1851, when his eyes 

 began to suffer from the severe usage to which they had 

 been subjected, and he made but few observations after 

 that time. In 1853 he was detached from the observa- 

 tory, and ordered to join the Naval Academy at Annap- 

 olis, where he is now employed in the department of 

 instruction. Professor Coffin applied himself to his 

 duties as an observer with indefatigable perseverance ; 

 and the published volumes of the Washington observa- 

 tions sufficiently attest the amount and value of his 

 labors. 



Professor Joseph S. Hubbard graduated at Yale Col- 

 lege in 1843, and commenced duty at the observatory in 

 May, 1845. During the first year he had charge of ob- 

 servations with the transit instrument ; in 1846 he was 

 assigned to the meridian circle ; in 1847 he was trans- 

 ferred to the equatorial ; and since that time he has had 

 charge of the prime vertical transit. Since 1850 he has 



