ADAMS AND LEVERRIER. 131 



But on this feeling of nationality there were other 1846 

 voices raised. Mr. De Morgan himself says : N 



All the elements of M. Leverrier's discovery were laid else- 

 where, as well as in France ; let it be enough for his satisfaction, 

 as it is for his fame, that he worked out the problem first. Wo 

 may wish that the complete honour of this great fact had fallen 

 upon the English philosopher, but far beyond any such merely 

 national feeling is our desire that philosophers should recognise 

 no such distinction among themselves. The petty jealousies of 

 earth are things too poor and mean to carry up amongst the 

 stars. . Light and unmeaning as they are, they would be found 

 heavy incumbrances on a voyage so long as that to Uranus. 



M. Biot, writing of the address in which Mr. Airy M. Blot, 

 narrated the facts, says : 



Thus, in the first week of October, 1845, precisely eight 

 months before M. Leverrier's first announcement, the new planet 

 was predicted by Mr. Adams, and he alone was in the secret of 

 its position. . . . 



I do not speak here in accordance with the narrow sentiments 

 of geographical egotism, improperly called patriotism. Minds 

 devoted to the culture of science have, in my opinion, a common 

 intellectual country embracing every kind of polar elevation. 



Professor Striive threw in his vote of equal justice : 



Far be it from me to have any intention of withholding our Professor 

 entire admiration from the eminent merit of M. Leverrier. Bat striive ' 

 impartial history will in the future make honourable mention of 

 the name of Mr. Adams, and recognise two individuals as having, 

 independently of one another, discovered the planet beyond 

 Uranus. In the same way it attributes the discovery of the 

 Infinitesimal Calculus at once to Newton and to Leibnitz. . . . 

 Iri Mr. Airy's report we see thit, in September 1845, Mr. Adams 

 arrived at a result, and in October he transmitted to Mr. Airy a 

 paper containing the elements of the present planet, so nearly 

 approximating that it might have been found in the heavens ten 

 months before it really was. 



Mr. De Morgan's belief that the failure which is 

 almost too strong a word on the English side was due to 



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