SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS. 



75 



tirely beyond the domain of practicability. If such be the case, it becomes ne- 

 cessary to consider how far it would be practicable to secure the desired ad- 

 vantages by adopting as a zero some other meridian which, while related to 

 some existing iirst meridian, would not be national in fact, and would have the 

 same effect as a perfectly neutral meridian in allaying national susceptibilities. 

 The selection of an initial meridian related to meridians now in use gives us 

 a sufficiently wide choice. Allow me to read the foUowing list, showing the 

 number and the total tonnage of vessels using the several meridians named, in 

 ascertaining their longitude : — 



It thus appears that one of these meridians, that of Greenwich, is used by 

 72 per cent, of the whole floating commerce of the world, while the remaining 

 28 per cent is divided among ten different initial meridians. If, then, the con- 

 venience of the greatest number alone should predominate, there can be no 

 difficulty in a choice ; but Greenwich is a national meridian, and its use as an 

 international zero awakens national susceptibilities. It is possible, however, 

 to a great extent, to remove this objection by taking, for a zero of Longitude 

 and Time, the meridian farthest distant from Greenwich. This being on the 

 same great circle as Greenwich, it would not require the establishment of a 

 new observatory ; its adoption would produce no change in charts or nautical 

 tables, beyond the notation of longitude. It would possess all the advantage 

 claimed for the Greenwich meridian in connection with navigation, and as a 

 zero for regulating Time it would be greatly to be preferred to the Greenwich 

 meridian. This Pacific meridian being accepted as the common zero, and 

 longitude being reckoned continuously in one direction, there would be an end 

 to the necessity of any nation engraving on its charts the word " longitude 

 east or west of Greenwich." The one word, "Longitude" would suffice. The 

 zero meridian would be international and in no respect national. Even on 

 British charts all reference to Greenwich would disappear. 



This view of the question is sustained by many distinguished men. I shall 

 only ask permission to read the opinion of Mr. Otto Struve, Director of the 

 Imperial Observatory at Pulkova, than whom there is no higher authority. 



" The preference given to the Greenwich meridian was based, on one side, 

 on the historical right of the Royal Observatory of England, acquired by emi- 

 nent services rendered by this establishment during the course of two cen- 

 turies, to mathematical geography and navigation ; on the other side, consider- 

 ing that the great majority of charts now in use upon all the seas are made ac- 

 cording to this meridian, and about 90 per cent, of the navigators of long 



