86 



Governor Hennessy's Observations on the 



[Recess, 



It seemed to be a tower of rose-coloured clouds. The colour was most 

 beautiful — more beautiful than any rose-colour I ever saw ; indeed I 

 know of no natural object or colour to which it can be, with justice, com- 

 pared. Though one has to describe it as rose-coloured, yet in truth it 

 was very different from any colour or tint I ever saw before. 



This protuberance extended from the right of the upper limb, and was 

 visible for six minutes. 



In fire seconds after this was risible, a much broader and shorter pro- 

 tuberance appeared at the left side of the upper limb. This seemed to be 

 composed of two united together. In colour and aspect it exactly re- 

 sembled the long one. 



This second protuberance gradually sank clown as the sun continued to 

 fall behind the moon, and in three minutes it had disappeared altogether. 



A few seconds after it had sunk down there appeared at the lower cor- 

 responding limb (the right inferior corner) a similar protuberance, which 

 grew out as the eclipse proceeded. This also seemed to be a double pro- 

 tuberance, and in size and shape very much resembled the second one ; 

 that is, its breadth very much exceeded its height. 



In colour, however, this differed from either of the former ones. Its 

 left edge was a bright blue, like a brilliant sapphire with light thrown 

 upon it ; next to that was the so-called rose-colour, and, at the right- 

 corner, a sparkling ruby tint. 



This beautiful protuberance advanced at the same rate that the sun had 

 moved all along, when suddenly it seemed to spread towards the left, until 

 it ran around one-fourth of the circle, making a long ridge of the rose- 

 coloured masses. As this happened, the blue shade disappeared. 



In about twelve seconds the whole of this ridge vanished, and gave 

 place to a rough edge of brilliant white light, and in another second the 

 sun had burst forth again. 



In the meantime the long, rose-coloured protuberance on the upper 

 right limb had remained visible ; and though it seemed to be sinking into 

 the moon, it did not disappear altogether until the lower ridge had been 

 formed and had been visible for two seconds. 



This long protuberance was quite visible to the naked eye, but its colour 

 could not be detected except through the telescope. To the naked eye it 

 simply appeared as a little tower of white light standing on the dark edge 

 of the moon. 



The lower protuberance appeared to the naked eye to be a notch of light 

 in the dark edge of the moon — not a protuberance, but an indentation. 



In shape the long protuberance resembled a goat's horn. 



As I have not time to attempt an elaborate drawing of these objects, I 

 content myself with inclosing to your Lordship two pages from my rough 

 note-book, showing the sketches taken at the moment. 



Though the darkness was by no means so great as I had expected, I was 



