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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
The French Government has sent out M. Jansen, at the head 
of a well-appointed expedition. A Prussian observing party has 
also been sent out to Aden. The Pope sends out the Jesuit 
priest and astronomer Father Secchi. A plan was formed for 
an expedition of Dutch observers, who were to view the eclipse 
from some part of the Dutch East Indian possessions; but we 
understand that this plan is not likely to be carried out, having 
been formed too late to enable all the' requisite preparations to 
be made. Mr. Pogson, the superintendent of the Madras Obser- 
vatory, will head a third English expedition. He has been 
supplied by Mr. Huggins with spectroscopes and instruments 
for observing the polarization, of light from the corona and 
coloured prominences. 
It will be a great disappointment to all who take interest in 
the science of astronomy if unfavourable weather, or other un- 
foreseen circumstances, should interfere with the success of these 
well-appointed expeditions. If all. should go well, we may look 
for results of extreme interest and importance. Information 
respecting the quality, movements, and variations of figure of 
the coloured prominences around the solar disc can hardly fail 
to be of great value to the students of solar physics. The 
examination of the corona also promises results of interest. 
And it is just possible that in an eclipse of this magnitude 
something may be learnt of the nature and habitudes of the 
zodiacal light in the neighbourhood of the sun’s body. 
