RESULTS OF BRITISH TRANSIT EXPEDITIONS. 77 



astronomers to utilize particular astronomical phenomena, 

 and upon the value of the results which may be obtained by 

 means of such arrangements. Many seem to suppose that 

 astronomical matters are in some sense like military or naval 

 (warlike) manoeuvres, to be discussed effectively only by 

 those who 'are under authority, having (also) soldiers under 

 them,' in other words by Government astronomers. It 

 would be very unfortunate for science were this so, seeing 

 that in that case those chiefly responsible for the selection 

 of methods and the supervision of operations would be per- 

 fectly free from all possibility of criticism. No one under 

 their authority would be very likely to speak unfavourably of 

 their plans. And no one possessing higher general authority 

 would be likely to have any adequate knowledge of astronomy 

 to form an opinion, either as to the efficiency of the arrange- 

 ments adopted in any case, or as to the significance of the 

 results obtained. In warlike matters, to some degree, the 

 wisdom of the strategy employed is tested by results which 

 all can appreciate, seeing that they affect directly the well- 

 being of the nation. Moreover, there are special reasons in 

 these cases why in the first place there should be a complete 

 system of subordination, and why in the second few should 

 undertake the study of the science unless they proposed to 

 take their part in its practical application and therefore to 

 submit to its disciplinary system. But it is quite otherwise 

 with the science of astronomy. The nation requires, chiefly 

 for the regulation of its commerce, a certain number of 

 trained astronomers, to carry out systematically observations 

 of a certain class, observations having in the main scarcely 

 any closer relation to the real living science of astronomy 

 than land surveying has to such geology as Lyell taught, or 

 the bone-trade to the science of anatomy. The stars by 

 their diurnal motipn form the most perfect time-measurers, 

 therefore they must be constantly timed by trained observers. 

 The sun and moon are the most effective time-indicators for 

 seamen, and therefore their movements must be most care- 

 fully noted. Our Nautical Almanac in fact embodies the 



