New Grand Observatory for the Russian Empire. 77 



ther. He has just given instructions that, to the present astro- 

 nomical establishments shall be added a central and chief ob 

 servatory, situated in the neighbourhood of the capital of the 

 empire, which shall be the property of the Academy, as the 

 leading scientific body, and which shall be constructed of the 

 largest dimensions, and be in every way suited to meet the most 

 recent exigencies of the science. 



Is it demanded, What is the use of so many observatories ? 

 The answer is direct and easy. The frontiers of Russia are so 

 extended, that the relative position of the more distant parts of 

 its territory can be determined only by means which are purely 

 astronomical. Thus, then, even in a geographical point of view, 

 astronomy is required for Russia. But, besides, it is not easy to 

 tell its value, at a time when the maritime power of Russia is 

 assuming its proper level. And, besides, how important is as- 

 tronomy merely as a science ! How inexhaustible the field 

 which the science presents for observation I Every thing is 

 changing, — all is in motion in this universe. Armed with his 

 telescope, the astronomer watches the stars at immense distances 

 during the silence of the night ; he compares the new results he 

 obtains with older ones, and thence infers the alterations which 

 are taking place in their movements ; alterations, some of which 

 are affected in short periods, and others in periods of such vast 

 duration, that we are even now just beginning to recognize the 

 traces of them. How then can a single man, or a small number, 

 ever embrace the whole field of research, even had they Her- 

 schel's means of observation, his genius, his perseverance, and 

 his protracted days. It is only by the united uninterrupted 

 efforts of a large number of individuals, that posterity will ob- 

 tain those results which science promises to supply. 



The Academy of Sciences were fully aware of the fact 

 that its Observatory no longer fulfilled the demands of the 

 astronomy of the present day. The instruments, though excel- 

 lent for the time at which they were procured, were now, so 

 to speak, superannuated, and their position, in an elevated 

 tower, in the midst of a populous city, was any thing but suit- 

 able. The means which were employed to remedy its deficien- 

 cies had, and could, but partially succeed. In a word, the ca- 

 pital of the empire still required an astronomical institution 



