NATURE 
[ Dec. 7, 1882 
RETARDED EGRESS. 
Brisbane Observers.—Capt. W. G. Morris, R.E. Lieut. H. 
Darwin, R.E. Mr. Peek. 
New Zealand Observers.—Lieut.-Col. Tupman, R.M.A. Lieut. 
Coke, R.N. 
Besides these observers sent specially from England, the 
Observatories at Melbourne and Sydney are most favourably 
situated for observing the Egress. The Directors of these 
Observatories, Mr. Ellery and Mr. Russell, have promised their 
co-operation, and their Governments have placed funds at their 
disposal to cover any necessary expenses. 
Unless unfavourable weather should prevent the transit being 
seen at some of the stations, we may expect some nine or ten 
pairs of corresponding observations, both at Ingress and Egress, 
from the British expeditions alone. These observations are 
certain to be largely supplemented by those made by the observers 
of other nations ; and it is hoped, from close agreement between 
the instructions issued to the different observers, that the whole 
may ultimately be available for combination in one general 
discussion. 
The American astronomers, encouraged by the partial success 
which attended the plan they adopted in 1874, are relying chiefly 
upon the photographic method ; they have sent expediticns to 
South America and the Cape of Good Hope. 
Austria does not take any active part in oserving the Transit. 
France sends out eight well equipped expeditions, full parti- 
culars of which have been published in the ‘‘ Comptes Rendus” 
for October 2. 
From Holland no special expedition will be sent out, but 
Lieutenent Heyminz, of the Dutch Navy, will observe the 
transit in the West Indies, probably at Curagoa. 
Italy will confine its operations to observatories in that country. 
Russia, also, has decided to send out no expeditions of its 
own, but it has aided the efforts of other countries by lending a 
6°5-inch reflector to the Danish Government, and has placed two 
excellent 43-inch heliometersin the hands of the French 
astronomers, MM, Tisserand and Perrotin. The considerations 
which led the Russian Government to this conclusion have been 
explained in the following paragraphs of a letter from Mr. 
Struve to myself : 
“«Experience since 1874 has sufficiently proved that there is no 
prospect whatever, even with combined international efforts, of 
obtaining by the present transit a geometrical determination of 
the parallax of the sun, which would not soon be surpassed in 
accuracy by other recent methods (for example, that suggested by 
Mr. Gill), methods which are capable of being repeatedly 
employed, and that without any costly expeditions. 
**Further, although it must be admitted that so rare an 
opportunity of studying the atmosphere of the planet ought not 
to be neglected, yet it seems certain that so many and such 
excellent data will be obtained through the agency of the 
United States, as well as by other countries having well pro- 
vided observaturies in the southern hemisphere, as well as by 
other seafaring nations.” Under these circumstances Russia has 
not considered it incumbent on itse!f to organise any observing 
parties. 
Spain has sent two parties of naval officers, well equipped 
with 6-inch equatoreals and other instruments, to the Havana 
and Porto Rico. 
Last year I expressed a hope that the difference of longitude 
between Singapore and Port Darwin in Au tralia would be deter- 
mined by Commander Green of the United States’ Navy in 
concert with Mr. Todd. ‘This operation, however, in conse- 
quence of some incorrect information furnished to Commander 
Green as to the intentions of our home authorities in the matter, 
was not carried out. After various proposals, extending over a 
period of not less than two years, I am happy to say that it now 
appears likely that the work will be performed. Through the 
liberality of the Secretary of State for War an extension of | 
leave has been granted to Lieutenant Darwin, who accompanies 
Captain Morris to Brisbane to observe the transit of Venus, 
enabling him to undertake the work. He has received instructions 
to arrange with Mr. Todd all details of the operation. ‘The 
publication of the results obtained by Oudemans and Pogson for 
the difference of longitude between Madras and Singapore has 
now left only one link wanting, namely, that between Batavia 
and Port Darwin, to connect Australia with English longitudes, 
Lieutenant Darwin is eminently qualified for the work ; and it 
seem; a happy coincidence that it should fall to his lot to connect 
| published, making six in all. 
astronomically the distant port named after his father with the 
furtherest ascertained point in that direction. I should not omit 
to add that Mr. Todd has placed all the telegraphic appliances 
under his command at the disposal of this service, and it is to be 
hoped that the determination will prove as useful to the Austra- 
lian colonies;as it will be valuable for the purposes of the transit. 
The best thanks of the Committee have already been given, but 
I am glad here publicly to recognise the valuable assistance 
rendered to the Committee in these long negotiations by the 
Great Eastern Telegraph Company. 
Iu the course of last year the Treasury made known to the 
Society that in conseqnence of Sir Wyville Thomson’s ill health, 
their Lordships proposed that his chief assistant, Mr. Murray, 
should undertake the general editorship of the Reports of the 
Challenger Expedition ; so that Sir Wyville might devote himself 
more exclusively to the personal narrative. At the request of 
their Lordships a small Committee, with whom Mr. Murray 
might consult from time to time, was appointed, consisting of 
the President and Officers, Sir Joseph Hookerand Prof. Huxley; 
but before the Committee could meet the lamentable death of Sir 
Wyville Thomson occurred. They met, however, shortly after- 
wards, and having added Prof. Mosely to their number, they 
received from Mr. Murray, who attended, a detailed statement 
of the existing condition of the whole arrangements conected 
with the Report. From this statement it appeared that, in 
addition to the original estimate of 20,000/. given by Sir Wyville 
Thomson, the work actually in progress and entrusted to the 
several authors required a further sum of about 20,000/., and 
that if the series should be completed, by describing on the same 
scale groups as yet unallotted, an additional expense of about 
6,coo/. would be entailed. In forwarding this statement to the 
Treasury, the Committee stated that, in their opinion, Mr. 
Murray’s estimates were drawn up with great care and judgment, 
and that in view of the remaining Reports being carried out on 
the same scale as those already published, they were reasonable 
and sound. As to the cause of the great discrepancy the 
Committee felt themselves unable to offer any explanation ; the 
conduct of the whole business having been left in Sir Wyville’s 
hands, without reference to the Society. They further were of 
opinion that Mr. Murray might safely be entrusted, under the 
control and supervision of the Committee, with the entire future 
management of the undertaking. 
After some further correspondence it was suggested that Mr. 
Murray should furnish the Committee with a statement of the 
existing condition of the Reports and their management, which 
should form a starting point for the responsibility of the Com- 
mittee ; and that he should keep the Committee well informed 
fromm time to time of the progress of the undertaking. These 
suzgestions were cordially accepted bp their Lordships, and with 
the general statement which Mr. Murray submitted in October, 
the special duties and responsibilities of the Committee have 
begun, 
Since last year, three more volumes ef the Report have been 
The new volumes form volu nes 
iv. and vy. of the Zoology, and volume ii. of the Narrative. 
The latter volume comprises the magnetic results, the meteoro- 
logical observations, the report on the pressure errors of 
the thermometers, and the petrologyiof St. Paul’s rocks. Vol. 1. 
of this section, containing the narrative proper, is partly in type; 
and will, it is hoped, be issued during the summer of 1883. 
Other volumes will als» appear from time to time. 
In connection with this subject, I may mention that the col- 
lection of specimens from the C/allenger Expedition are being 
received at the British Museum, as the particular portions are 
released by the progress of the publication of the Report. 
Those derived from the A/ert Expedition to the South Pacific 
Ocean, have been deposited in the Museum by the Admiralty, 
and are now being arranged and described. Dr. Giinther hopes 
to be able to produce a printed descriptive catalogue of the 
collection before the expiration of the present year, And I 
desire here to acknowledge the service rendered to science by 
the Admiralty in commissioning Dr. Coppinger to accompany 
that expedition for scientific purposes. 
Iam indebted to Mr. Murray for the following interesting 
account of a cruise made last summer to complete some part of 
the Challenger work. 
H.M.S. Zrifon was engaged, from the 4th of August to the 
4th of September, in a re-examination of the physical and 
biological conditions of the Faroe Channel. 
The chief objects of the cruise were to ascertain by actual 
i ee oe ae 
