Ixii ' President's Address 



A schooner engaged in pearl-shell fishing anchored along- 

 side us in the evening of the same day. The captain report- 

 ed having witnessed the eclipse about 18 miles north of us ; 

 but on inquiry it was evident that it had only been visible 

 for a few moments through thin clouds. Next day we 

 steered homewards, calling at several islands and at 

 Cardwell. We arrived at Brisbane on the 20th, where the 

 expedition was most royally received ; and I cannot let this 

 opportunity pass without recording the great hospitality 

 and kindness which was shown to every member of the 

 Australian Eclipse Expedition by the Government and 

 people of Brisbane. After three day's stay there, we steam- 

 ed south again, reached Sydney on December 25, and 

 Melbourne on January 1. 



Although disappointed of its principal hoped-for results, 

 the expedition did not return quite empty-handed. The 

 Botanical and Naturalist members obtained some valuable 

 collections, and a regular series of meteorological observa- 

 tions throughout th« voyage was made ; the geographical 

 position of Eclipse Island, the magnetic declination, dip and 

 horizontal force, were also determined. The true position of 

 the Observatory station, deduced from his observations by Mr. 

 White, is lat. 13° 29' 36- V S. and 143° 46' 30" E. The 

 detailed results of the several other Eclipse expeditions, 

 which took up their positions in India and Ceylon, have not 

 yet fully transpired, but the fact that four out of five of the 

 observing parties were favoured with clear skies, and were 

 highly successful with their observations, is nov/ v/ell 

 known. 



So far as can be gathered from the fragmentary accounts 

 that have yet reached us, it appears that the coronal light 

 is not that of the sun or surrounding chromosphere 

 reflected, as has been supposed by some, but is a true solar 

 envelope, containing at least cooler hydrogen and an 



