TWO EMINENT ASTRONOMERS.
THE general impression conveyed by the remarks which close the recently issued Report of the Astronomer-Royal to the Greenwich Board of Visitors is that they are intended to be valedictory. Some time may still elapse before the onerous and important duties of the office are resigned into other hands, but it is generally understood that for some years past the office has only been retained that certain works might be completed under the management which originated them. In the report just issued, indeed, we find passages which will bear no other interpretation than that which, as we have said, has been generally placed on them. Thus after describing the work carried on during the forty years which have elapsed since he succeeded Mr. Pond as Astronomer-Royal, Sir G. Airy proceeds as follows, "Turning now from the past to the future, I see little in which I could sug- gest any change." This remark manifestly relates to the work of a successor, seeing that an Astronomer-Royal does not suggest -changes, but carries out any changes which may appear necessary. It is, indeed, known that the question of a successor has been already considered by Sir G. Airy, who, according to ancient ,eustotn, has a voice in the matter, though we need hardly say that the appointment itself resides with persons higher in authority It is with reference to this question that we propose now to make a few remarks. It seems to us that the matter is one of national, not merely of official interest, and it so chances that there is a -somewhat wide difference of standing between the persons from -among whom the choice will eventually have to be made.
It should be premised that the field of selection is far narrower -than many imagine. The office of Astronomer-Royal requires a -certain training which is perfectly distinct from the mere study of astronomy, or from such study combined tvith ordinary ob- .servational work. A man may be a perfect master of mathe- matical and theoretical astronomy, acquainted fully with all the principles of practical astronomy, as well as with the construction -and use of astronomical instruments, and thoroughly versed in -all the lore of physical astronomy ; he may himself have carried out long series of observations and researches ; and he may even have done more to advance astronomy as a science than all the Astronomers-Royal since Greenwich Observatory was built : yet the may want the special training necessary to make a useful Astronomer-Royal. The two Herschels were such men. No one can doubt that from 1780 to 1829, the elder Herschel was the greatest astronomer not in England only, but in Europe ; or -that Sir John Henschel held a similar position from 1835 till his death in 1871. Nor need it be said that Newton during Flan- steed's tenure of the office of Astronomer-Royal, and during the first years of Halley's tenure, stood far in advance of either. Yet it is probable that neither Newton nor the elder IIerschel would have discharged the duties of an Astronomer-Royal so well as those who actually held the office in their time. Certainly Sir G. Airy's contemporary would not. No doubt either of the Herschels would have thought the office somewhat beneath his -acceptance in point of dignity, while in a pecuniary sense there can be no question that it would have been a sacrifice for either of these great astronomers to have accepted it. But also, neither possessed the requisite training,—in other words, neither had served his apprenticeship (so to speak) in a Government Observatory. An Astronomer-Royal is made, not born. Many years of constant observatory work, long study to obtain perfect familiarity with numberless technical details, and constant practice in the reduction of observations, are necessary parts of the training of an Observatory chief,—not, indeed, that he will have to make practical use of such experience, but that he must know the precise nature of the work which has to be carried out under his supervision. When we remember that among those who enter upon this course of training only a small proportion possess the higher knowledge which an observa- tory chief must also possess, or the mathematical insight which is necessary to give real value to the operations of an observatory, it will be perceived that there is not a wide field from which to select an Astronomer-Royal.
But when we examine the list of those English astronomers who are experienced in the work of official Observatories, we find one astronomer whose name, by common consent of British and foreign science, stands pre-entinent above all others, not even excepting the deservedly honoured name of the Astronomer-Royal himself. Thirty years ago the scientific world was moved by the announcement that a foreign astronomer, already eminent for many mathematical researches, was engaged in the apparently hopeless task of endeavouring to direct the telescopes of astronomers towards the place of a planet as yet unknown, a planet whose existence was only suspected because another planet known for less than sixty years had not followed the precise track indicated for it by analysis. We speak of this task as apparently hopeless, for so, indeed, it had appeared to no less an authority than the Astronomer-Royal, then in the prime of his powers. Already, though the fact was not then known to the outside world, he had received from a young Englishinan—a mere lad scarcely out of his teens—a communication conveying the result of a masterly analysis of the self-same problem to which the French astronomer had devoted his maturer powers. What this result was is well known. The young astronomer pointed to the sell-same region of the star-depths to which a year later the Frenchman directed the telescopes of observers. Ile indicated a space in the heavens, which a diligent telescopist could have searched through effectually in a few hours, as that wherein the unknown planet lay. Within that space the planet really lay, though the search was not then undertaken. Only when the news arrived that the French astronomer had obtained a similar result was the planet looked for, and even then so leisurely, that though twice mapped down (each time in a different place), the planet was not recognised as such until news came that certain German astronomers, within two hours of receiving a message about the planet from Paris, had secured it in their telescopic toils.
We do not mention these details with any thought of recalling a discussion long since forgotten. It can serve no useful purpose to indicate the nature and extent of the injury then occasioned to our distinguished countryman by official delays. The mis- chief, once done, was irreparable. Let the matter be explained as it may, and the just claims of the astronomer who first pointed to the place of the unknown planet be presented ever so distinctly, the judgment of the majority even in England is guided by the one circumstance which ordinary minds can understand,—the French astronomer said to the German telescopists, "search such and such a spot," and there at once the planet was found. But our countryman's achievement and other achievements since effected by him in physical astronomy have marked him as one whom discerning Englishmen should delight to honour. From that day he has been looked upon by all as the natural successor of Sir G. Airy in the highest post which Government has to offer to the astronomer. The only question has been whether the office would be worth his acceptance. But since, before long, he entered on the special astronomical course of training mentioned above as necessary for observatory chiefs, it was generally sup- posed that this question had been in effect answered in the affirma- tive. Whether this inference was just. or not, we have no means of forming an opinion. For aught we know, the great astronomer would be altogether unwilling to succeed thevAstronomer-Royal at Greenwich, and certainly the remuneration can scarcely be one- quarter of what a man of his name and power could obtain with a tithe of the labour which that office involves. But assutning that there is no objection on his part, it will be a matter of regret and surprise to Englishmen if the office should be as- signed to any other person. Unfortunately, it is rumoured that those in authority would prefer to confer the office on some one less eminent. Indeed, an astronomer is named who, though distinguished by great zeal, ability, and industry, and pos- sessed of exceptional experience in observatory work, is known to the world outside Greenwich for only one series of researches,— the result even of that series being more than questioned by foreign astronomers. We would not, however, say one word against this gentleman, whom we believe to be worthy of all esteem. He would, we are sure, be the first to admit the unrivalled claims of the astronomer who is recognised not in England alone, but on the Continent and in America, as the greatest living English =eater of the mathematics of astronomy. Apart from the im- portant, we may even say the national considerations which make it desirable that this great astronomer should be Sir G. Airy's successor (if willing), we believe it would be most unfortunate for the present Astronomer-Royal if any other were appointed, unless it were clearly understood that at least his own choice had pointed rightly. Any opposition by him would be regarded throughout the length and breadth of England as illustrating the bitter saying.—
"Forgiveness to the injned does belong, But he ne'er pardons who has done the wrong," —a wrong done unwittingly in this instance, but not the less real, nay, perhaps the greatest scientific wrong that it has ever been one man's misfortune to inflict upon another.
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