250 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
New South Wales not only is work of this kind done at ‘the 
observatories as a matter of course, but when an important 
astronomical event occurs—-e.g. an eclipse of the sun—they 
are able to organise parties to occupy different stations whence 
it will be visible, so as to secure if possible a good observation 
and record of the event. 
- The cost of building, equipping, and maintaining an obser- 
vatory, though it would be small, would yet necessitate a grant 
of money from Parliament. The question might, therefore, be 
asked, ‘‘ What is the good of an observatory ; what useful work 
would it do?” The reply to that is that an astronomical obser- 
vatory is a scientific institution, and that the first object which 
science has in view is the discovery of truth, and not practical 
utility. It is quite true that the discoveries of science have, more 
than anything else, made this age what it is, that they have been 
the main cause which has procured for us so much ease and 
comfort ; but science does not usually disclose her secrets to 
those unworthy worshippers who follow her for what they can 
get out of her. A successful cultivator of science must do pure- 
hearted service. The practical applications will most certainly 
come, but they must not be the first object ; indeed, these appli- 
cations are very often not made by the discoverers of the scien- 
tific principles on which they depend. The history of science 
has shown us again and again that this is the case, and that 
truths patiently worked out, without any motive other than the 
advancement of knowledge, have ultimately yielded the most 
important practical results. Thus the habits and organisation 
of the lowest animals and plants were originally studied by 
naturalists merely because they were beings endowed with life, 
and because there was something fresh to be learned about them. 
Gradually it has come to be known that some of them play a 
very active part in causing decay and disease, and the whole 
world gains by the information which had previously been 
arrived at. In the same way the motions of the heavenly bodies 
have been watched with interest for thousands of years, for we 
have records reaching back to B.C. 2000; but it is only within 
comparatively recent times, since the days of Newton, that 
astronomy has been an exact science. Since then it has made 
enormous strides, and its practical applications have been of in- 
calculable benefit. On it we depend for all our exact ideas of 
time, and without astronomical observations our watches and 
clocks would soon be hopelessly wrong. Again, the art of navi- 
gation is one application of the results of astronomy ; that of 
accurate surveying another. 
Since then the practical applications of astronomy to every- 
day life are so important that it is the plain duty of every 
civilised country to aid in its advancement. This is a view of 
the case which is universally taken, and the result is that in most 
countries this science is being eagerly studied, and that observa- 
tories are springing up rapidly. Professor Loomis, writing in 
