Miscellanies. 167 



intensity, projecting from near the lower cusp. This phenomenon 

 was not seen by Prof. Alexander in the Fraunhofer with green screen 

 glass, till 61 seconds before the formation of the ring, and then only 

 as a luminous spot. This difference could not have been the result 

 of any oversight on the part of Prof Alexander ; as Prof. Henry, 

 immediately on seeing it, called out to Prof Alexander, and described 

 its appearance. The optical capacity of the Fraunhofer is superior 

 to that of the Dollond. Prof Alexander is well known for his nice 

 observations of the annular eclipse of the 13th February, 1831, and 

 of the total eclipse of the 30th November, 1834. Its explanation 

 must be sought for in the nature of the rays of which this arch and 

 brush of light are composed ; rays absorbed by the green screen 

 glass, and transmitted by the red. The moon's limb became brightly 

 illuminated at 4^. 32ot. 53.28s. " An appearance, similar to a row of 

 beads, was regarded as the formation of the ring." " The drops en- 

 dured for a second or two." Expecting a longer duration of the ring, 

 the attention of the observers was not directed to the sun's limb at 

 the instant of the rupture. The light succeeding the rupture of the 

 ring was visible in the Dollond telescope till 4A. 41m. 16.27.5., (the 

 minute uncertain, perhaps a minute earlier,) having disappeared sev- 

 eral minutes earlier in the Fraunhofer refractor. 



No. 28. The beginning of the eclipse was observed by William 

 Cranch Bond, at his private Observatory, with a two feet Gregorian, 

 power 44 ; latitude 45° 19' 15" N., longitude 4L 44m. 17.29s. west of 

 Greenwich, (or 0.69s. in time west of Boston State House by Mr. 

 Paine's trigonometrical survey,) as follows : — 



Beginning, 3/i. 28ot. 10.90s. mean time of place of observation. 



End, lost by clouds. 



No. 29. The beginning was observed at 3A. 28m. 11.6s, at the 

 State House, Boston, by Mr. Borden, with a 3i feet refractor. Clouds 

 prevented its observation at Cambridge. 



The Committee also reported the following observations of R. T. 

 Paine, Esq., on the occasion of his journey to Washington to observe 

 the eclipse. These were made with his sextant, constructed by 

 Troughton for the chronometrical survey of Massachusetts, and care- 

 fully corrected by that artist for all sensible error of eccentricity ; and 

 "with three excellent chronometers used by Mr. Paine in the survey. 



