ASTRONOMY IN AMERICA. 
353 
which has established a first meridian has also established an 
•observatory.” Mr. Lambert brought in a bill proposing the 
erection of such an observatory in 1813 ; but nothing more was 
done until 1815, when the memorial on which the bill of 1813 
had been based was referred to a select committee. No steps 
were then taken, however, to carry a bill. In November, 
1818, a third memorial from Mr. Lambert was presented, and 
referred to a select committee ; but the resolution asked for was 
not finally passed until March 3, 1821, when Mr. Lambert was 
appointed by the President, “ to make astronomical observations 
by lunar occultations of fixed stars, solar eclipses, or any 
approved method adapted to ascertain the longitude of the Capi- 
tol from Greenwich.” In December 1823 Mr. Lambert, in a 
report of his labours, gave for the longitude of the Capitol 76° 55 ' 
30" *54, closing his report with a strong appeal for the erection 
of an observatory. 
Two years later, President Adams urged on Congress the 
establishment of a national observatory as part of a wider 
scheme for the advancement of knowledge. His remarks on 
the astronomical portion of his scheme serve well to show the 
position of astronomy in America half a century ago. “ Con- 
nected with the establishment of a university,” he says, “ or 
separate from it, might be undertaken the erection of an astro- 
nomical observatory, with provision for the support of an 
astronomer to be in constant attendance on the phenomena of 
the heavens, and for the periodical publication of his observa- 
tions. It is with no feeling of pride as an American that the 
remark may be made, that, on the comparatively small territorial 
surface of Europe there are existing more than one hundred and 
thirty of these lighthouses of the skies ; while throughout the 
whole American hemisphere there is not one. If we reflect for 
a moment upon the discoveries which in the last four centuries 
have been made in the physical constitution of the universe by 
means of these buildings, and of observers stationed in them, 
shall we doubt of their usefulness to every nation ? And while 
scarcely a year passes over our heads without bringing some new 
astronomical discovery to light, which we must fain receive at 
secondhand from Europe, are we not cutting ourselves off from 
the means of returning light for light, while we have neither 
observatory nor observer upon our half of the globe ” (!) “ and the 
earth revolves in perpetual darkness to our unsearching eyes ? ” 
In March 1826 a bill ££ to establish an observatory in the 
district of Columbia ” was brought before Congress and read the 
first and second time, but the House Journals show no further 
trace of it. This bill was due to the recommendations of Mr. 
Adams, who did not relax in his efforts to secure the erection 
of a national observatory, though delays and disappointments 
YOL. XV. NO. LXI. A A 
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