300 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
distributed among different observers the better. The Committee 
bad entertained no doubt that her Majesty’s Government would 
give ready, if not liberal, assistance. On the last occasion of a 
solar eclipse — viz., in 1868 — several European Governments sent 
expeditions to India, where it could best be viewed. Ours gave 
the use of a ship, besides appointing officers, and paying expenses. 
But when the committee, last summer, applied to the Admiralty 
to ascertain if one of her Majesty’s ships would be allowed to 
convey the English astronomers, the answer they received was that 
Parliament had not placed either ships or funds at the disposal 
of the Admiralty for any such purpose. This was a rebuff little 
anticipated ; and, I may add, little deserved by those of our 
countrymen, who, in a noble spirit of disinterestedness, had offered 
to give up their time, and leave their homes, to undergo fatigue 
and risk in the cause of science. In consequence of this answer 
some delay arose, to consider what was to be done. An appeal 
against the decision of the Admiralty, to the Premier and the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer, was resolved on. Some farther 
delay occurred in consequence of the absence of these high 
functionaries from London. Meanwhile, the United States ship 
arrived in England, bringing with them the American astronomers. 
They soon learnt the unsatisfactory position of the negotiation 
with our Government; and, in consequence of it, they sent a 
formal invitation through their director, inviting the English 
astronomers to accompany them in their ship to Spain and Sicily. 
This letter was published in the London newspapers ; and severe 
comments were made by the press on our executive, if they should 
oblige the English party to avail themselves of the invitation, and 
be beholden to a foreign Government for assistance. Fortunately 
for the credit of the country, our Government at length yielded to 
the pressure. A sum of L.3000 was agreed to be set apart to pay 
expenses, and a .troop ship was appointed to convey the party and 
their instruments. But no Government astronomer received 
authority to accompany the expedition, and no engineer officer, or 
other official representing the Government, was appointed to take 
charge of the expedition, and give assistance. In all these 
respects the British Government fell far short of what had been 
done by the United States Government, to aid in the cause. 
