1 84 



NA TURE 



[July 9, 1874 



the middle and upper classes, who own the railways, 

 there is certain to be a considerable feeling in favour 

 of a scheme which would be fruitful of so much pecu- 

 niary benefit to themselves, 'and it is well to have 

 it discussed beforehand as thoroughly and as thought- 

 fully as it is discussed here. It is in useful con- 

 servatisms such as these that Universities often do 

 their greatest services. They are mints at which the 

 coinage that is passing current in the commoner ex- 

 changes of the world may be thoroughly tested. 

 Prof. Jevons offers statesmen and politicians an admir- 

 able discussion, luminous with the most practical good 

 sense. Like his colleagues, Prof Ward is conservative 

 in the sympathies of his essay. We have been engaged 

 for many years in breaking down the veneraljle theory of 

 the IJalance of Power in Europe, and we have been 

 attempting to build up in its stead a sort of Temple of 

 Doctrinairism— sacred to a goddess of international arbi- 

 tration, who is to be capable of the cure of all international 

 ailments. Prof. Ward applies the touchstone of his com- 

 prehensive historical knowledge to both. He is utterly 

 hostile to the doctrine of Spinoza that, as the natural 

 state of man is a state of war, no nation is bound to 

 observe a treaty longer than the interest or danger that 

 caused it continues. But the old treaty basis of the peace 

 of Europe having broken down, "the remedy for the danger 

 accruing with new force to the peace of Europe is to 

 be sought, not in an abandonment of the principle of 

 joint action, but in an enlargement and elevation of it, 

 and in the progress of that enlightenment which, instead 

 of enfeebling, strengthens the common action of men and 

 of states. For it is with nations as with individuals. The 

 cultivated, and by culture enlightened, mind is and must 

 be en the side of progress and peace against that of dark- 

 ness and conflict. The obscure men, like the unformed 

 nationalities, are at once materials and causes of that 

 which disturbs, unsettles, and retards personal and 

 national and international life. Where the education, 

 and more especially the higher education, of a country 

 is fostered, there lie the best promises of progress and 

 of peace." 



We do not attempt any detailed criticisms of the several 

 essays. The subjects chosen by fourteen professors en 

 which to address the world are likely to be reasonably 

 well chosen, and the addresses delivered on them are 

 pretty sure to reward the attention of the reader. They 

 strike us as very well chosen ; they sufficiently represent 

 the real variety of teaching and of manner of teaching in 

 the institution ; they containcomplete and occasionally bril- 

 liant discussions of subjects of very considerable general 

 inter,;st. They are tlie expressions of the inner spirit of a 

 seat of learning in which science holds a higher place 

 than she has usually done, but in which there is the 

 most emphatic and continual protest against the 

 degradation or neglect either of literature or of 

 science. They show a body of teachers full of 

 modern life, and at the simo time singularly moderate, 

 truthful, and reverent. Several of the essays are histori- 

 cal studies, and in these cases the reputation of the writer 

 is a sufficient guarantee of completeness. In their collected 

 form the "Essays and Addresses " warrant high hopes 

 of the future of the Owens College. In a sense — perhaps 

 a somewhat too literal sense — it is what it was once 



called in a journalistic epigram, the University of the 

 Busy. With its present staff it will certainly continue the 

 tradition which connects the older Universities with the 

 highest learning of the time. W. J. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

 [The Editor does not hold hiviself responsible for opitiions expressed 

 by his correspondents. No notice is taken of anonymous 

 communications .'\ 



Sir John Herschel's Letters 



It is known to many throui^li the numerous applications I 

 have made, that a collection of the letters of Sir John Ilerschel 

 is in progress. For the many and valuable contributions, 

 as well as (or the kind and sympathetic expressions which I have 

 been favoured with, I cannot be too ready to e.\press once more 

 my sincere aclcnowledgment ; and when I recall these to mind 

 I hesitate to take any less private step to further the end in view, 

 or, by venturing on a public appeal, to forego the advantage of 

 more direct communication. Several consider.ations however — 

 which not even your courtesy in allowing this letter to appear in 

 the columns of N.'VIURE would justify me in dwelling upon — 

 forbid me to depend solely on the activity of a single importu- 

 nate pen. The correspondence in question covers more than 

 half a century. Many of the correspondents were of a former 

 generation, and their present representatives are known to but 

 few. I may instance the names of Davy, Young, WoUaston, 

 — not to mention many continental savans — in illustration of 

 this. Many others, less eminent, but not the less recipients of 

 letters which the student of scientific history will prize as con- 

 taining the germs of much of the force whose impetus we now 

 feel, were hardly knorvn by name beyond their own immedi.ite 

 circles. Many more, as I would fain believe, who either them- 

 selves corres]5onded with my father, or knew him in his letters 

 to their relations, are even now in possession of such letters, and 

 may not be unwilling to let them be seen. Lastly, I hear too 

 much of autograph collectors not to feel a keen desire to make 

 their instant acquaintance. Have they not devoted themselves 

 to preserving individual letters, no matter how trilling, from the 

 fate which has — alas too ofle 1 — overtaken ethers, no matter how 

 numerous, or how valuable ! 



In my applications hitherto I Itave been constrained to repress 

 the e.\p-Ctation of imnriediate publication. I am not at liberty 

 to depart from that now. But that the materials which I may 

 now be permitted to store up 'oill eventually help to form the 

 foundation of such a monument as may be fitting — this requires 

 no student of history to tell us. That it may be amply provided 

 for now, belore it is too late, is my chief anxiety. For my time 

 is limited, and I have drawn too many blanks not to feel that 

 every year increases their number, let who will take my place. 



I apologise for so long a story, and will only add in the most 

 general terms that I appeal to all who possess, or know of the 

 existence of, autograph letters of Sir John Ilerschel— no matter 

 how insignificant they may seem, for collation with others can 

 alone supply a true test — but of course with due regard to per- 

 sonal consideration — to communicate with me at oace. It is 

 hardly necessary to say that all autograph letters will be returned, 

 aird that any restrictions will be attended to. 



21, Sumner Place, Erompton, S.W. J. IIerschel 



Coggia's Comet 

 Your readers may be interested to learn that the light of the 

 comet is by no means strongly polarised. On the 2nd and 4th 

 ins ant I examined it with a double-image prism, but could not 

 with ceitainty detect any difference between the brightness of 

 the two images. I also examined it whh a plate of right- and 

 left-handed quartz in the principal focus ol the 4-inch tele- 

 scof e and a Nicol's prism packed among the lenses of the eje- 

 piec;, but could not detect any traces of colour. With a Savant 

 placed between the eyepiece and the eye no bands were dete.t- 

 able. but on the 6th, about midnight, when the comet was 

 shining very brightly, I could perceive a difference in the bright- 

 ness ol-the twj imiges with the double-image prism, indicating 

 polatisition in the pbine passing through tlie sun's estimated 

 place. But I was still unable to detect any traces of polarisation 

 either with a Savant or Biquartz, or with a plate cut from a natural 

 crjs'al of right- and Iclt-handed quartz giving a band across tl.e 

 field in which the two crystals overltp ; a form of polariscope 

 whieh has been found on other occasions very delicate for faint 

 lights. 



