The New York herald. [volume], May 07, 1878, Page 4, Image 4

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
MERCURY.
The "Twinkler" Passes Over the
Face of the Sun.
TELESCOPES AT A PREMIUM.
How the Astronomers Watched
the Transit.
WORK OF THE FRENCH COMMISSION.
-Clouds and. Haziness Obscur
ing the Sun.
GENERAL RESULTS SATISFACTORY.
THE OBSERVATIONS BT THE FRENCH ASTRO
NOMICAL COMMISSION AT OODEN, UTAH?
CLOUDS OBSCURING THE SET AT THE EARLY
STAOES?THE EGRESS SATISFACTORILY OB
SERVED.
[UX TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.]
Ouukn, Utah, May 0, 1878.
At live A. M. to-day the sky wag cloudy but Dotal,
together unlavorable for the observations lor tbo
transit of Mercury to bo made here to-day. and tbo
representative of tbo Uxrald repaired to
the Astronomical Observatory built in 1878
by Lieutenant W heeler, which tho Freueh
astronomers had seleotsd for their operation. The
observers are Professor Charles Andre, 01 theObsorva.
tory st Lyons; Professor Alfred AUgol, of the Lyceo Fon
tanel, Parts, and Mons. Phillippe Halt, of tue French
coast survey. Prolessor Ansot conducts bis observations
With n 3ix-mch photo-lithograph equatorial in the
dome ol the building; the oilier two gentlemon obsorve
in a temporary ballding with six-iach equstorlals ofi in
proved oonstruotloii. A heltoslat with phologrsphio
apparatus is also brought into requisition. Ths
representative ot the Hkkald was kindly permitted to
witness the observations. At stx A. M. the clouds
tblckeued and at forty-one minutes alter seven snow
began to fall In flakes.
TUB TRAXSIT.
The transit or Mercury began at 7b. 44m. 43*., but
?wing to the unfavorable atmospheric condluous tho
ingress exterior nnd interior contact wcro only
Imperfectly observed. At half-past one P. M. the
clouds consolidated and by two P. M. Professors Au
dre und Angoi wero busily engaged in photographing
Ibe progress of the trausit. The Hkhalu ropresouta
tlvo bad an opportunity to observo tno phenomena.
The body ol Mercary as it appears on tho sun's disk la
?ol black us thai of Venus, but u water blue. At
3b. 15m. 116s. tbe egress took place by innor contact,
ana ui 3b. 18m. 34a. tho phenomena was over. Sov
eoty-cigbi pholograpnlc negatives by pnoto-lituogruph
and boilosiat wero produced, lho observations lor
egress wero satisfactory and Professor Andro ex
presses himself saiisiled with tho result.
The sky clourcd about noon. Only three photo
graphs were taken up to one o'clock P. M.t
?Her which time seventy Qvo photographs worn
taken till the time ol evtt, which was at seventeen
minutes past tnree P. M. l'be observations ore re
garded as successful and saiisluctory.
OBSERVATION'S IN TEXAS.
[BY TELL'GRAPH TO THE HE1IALD.]
Austin, May 6, 1878.
Tbo transit of Mercury began ai lour minute* past
ton o*. lock and ended at Iwuuty-uuo minutes ol six 1*.
11., Washington time. The first and second contacts
wore lost In clouds drilling. Tho weather was cloudy
all day. Ibc polar una liquatoml Uiumoler.s ot Mer
cury woro measured ana louud equal. No aurora
around planet nud no satellite was seen. Tho third auU
fourth contacts were woll obsorvvd. No black drops
wore observed.
OBSERVATIONS MADE AT WASHINGTON.
Wasn wo ton, May 6, 1878.
According to tho observations of Professor Now
comb and his assistants the second internal contact ol
Mercury with tho western edge cl the sun occurred at
thlriy-ilirce minutes liny scoouds past live o'clock
tbis ultcrnoon, and Iho external coinact two
minutes pud flity seconds later. The planet
through the teleacopo sppoared not larger than a sliver
five-cant ptecfc Gentlemen engaged in the work say
there could not not havo been a hvller day for tho
observations. Protestor Ksstman was at the old
lolcscope at the National Observatory, and l'rolcu.-or
Hall superintended the inking ot photographs of the
passing planet. Tlie-n photographs were produced by
means uf tho oorizontat teiiacupo and rellector.
' Obsi-rv iiions at inc aecoud uud third interval contacts
ol Mercury will he made lust tnia uliernoon. The
Naval Oosorvatory will not be prepared to turnish any
iniortnalion or an ofllciul report of the irumttl until
to morrow, it being necessary lo first make computa
tions lor the adjustment ol lltno.
Tho transit u( Mercury, iu addition to being ob
served at the Naval Observatory, win also obttorved by
tholea-mr Newiumho and several of his assistants, who
wereproviue I with telescopos at tho .\autieal Almanac
office. The observation fully continued the vinous
results lor the motion of tho perihelion ol Mercury.
The internal contact was noted by Protestor Now
comb at 7 miuute* 43 seconds past leu o'clock this
morning, only inn seconds earlier than the time rop
resented by various tables.
OBSERV \TIONS AT CAMBRIDGE, MASS.?THE
TRANSIT CAREFULLY FOI LOWED BY A
LARGE STATE OF ASTBONOM EBK.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE II"? BALD. J
CAUR'tlDOK, May 0, 1H78
The observations at Harvard to-day of the transit ol
Mercury were very successfully insdc, the clearness of
tbe day laminating tbo photographing anil recording,
and when all calculations sball havo been completed
it is expocied that valuable additions will ba mado to
tbe sci'-nttllc data ol tbo day. The transit begun
at iota 17m. A. M. At lob. 30m. tho shadow ongullcd
the eartb. Wnilo the planet was upon the disk an at
tempt was made to discover whether Mercnry was
ftlngcd with a ring ol light Just before touching the
sun, and whether this ring appo.irud as a bright or
dark circle round the pianet. When folly on the solar
disk and also lo note one or more bright spots It
toure are any, upon Mercury, photographs were
taken at stated intervals by Mr. Arthur ncarle, as
sisted by Mr. Hudson and oil,or*. Tbu coutacti w ro
ebservod on lue west equatorial by l'rolessor Picker
tng. at the oast equatorial by Mr. Waldo, and with
smaller glasses by Messrs. W. f'ptou, U 11. Mctcalf
and other* The transit at noon was unsolved ou tho
meridian diameter by l'rolessor William A tlrsy.
Over sixty photographs were obtained, mostly alter
Ihrco o'clock. Between live and six huudiou mea
surements ol tho diameter ol tho planet woro noted,
but tbe records of time 10 transit are not yet worked
out. No appreciable variation trom thu lime antici
pated is expected 10 result from tho figures.
In tho alterooon a clear sky afforded a most favor
able opportunity lor observation. The contact took
place several seconds later th in lUitlfl A. M. I he
general it-suits are considered quilo satisfactory.
IT AMIfLURT COLLEGE, MASS.?FAIR WEATHER
AND MODERATE 8UCCEHH.
Amhkrut, Mass.. May 0, 1.878.
Tbe result ol the observation* at thu College ob
servatory upon to-day'* transit ol Mercury wu* .is
Invorablt as tho weather would pcriult Thu Urn
eoutarl was not taken, but accuriiio mouaiire
ments ol tbe planet's position wer* made
ami the exact tiuto recorded. Photographs
were taken dnrtbg tbe planet's course, and
tho last contact?internal and < sternal?*<i u,*o oh
tamed. Noon signal* Irutn Wnaulftgiuii lo Amherst
are lo ho uublinucd until uexi .-Saturday, mid it I* ex
pected that tho lougituilo ol Amherst will bu deter
mined with exactness. The worn ?? done by l'ro
lessor Ksty, assisted by U. \V. Meatus nud fc. h. Her
bert, ot the senior class.
WATCHINO THE TRANSIT AT THE NAVAL ACAD
1 MY, ANNAPOLIS, HD.
[BT TEI. LOll A I'M TO THE HERALD )
Ax.xst'Oris, May ti, 1878.
Commander John A. Howell, assisted by Lieutenant
Commanders A. 1). llrown and 0. U. Bowen, mado ob
servations today si the Nur.it Acadouty ob
servatory on tho iraoilt ol Mercury. Commander
Howell took the first ooutact ol lierour.v
with tbe disk of the sun and then the
difference* ol the declination hut ween tbe limbs ol Iho
ran and Mercury by tbe micrometer. The observa
tion* are still in progress, and will cad with
the 111 al passage of tbe sun. Throe Instru
mrnie wer* at wnrk tiering the transit. Thu
weather ?n moat lavorable lor the observa
tions, the results ol wbiob will bo forwarded lo
tut tin I ted gu let ObHfVflorjr ?t WftftbUftlMi. Owing
to tho motion ol Mercury witb tho sua, tbe little
pi.iuot mat seemed no Itirgor than a pin'* bead when
viewed through tho big lelotcopo at the Academy
appeared on a mad raco to crosa tho sun's lurid disk,
while really n was making a alow march over the luce
of the rreutor light.
Cotuinoiloro J. A. Howell, head of the department
of astronomy at tho Naval Academy, furnishes the
Associated i'ress too following report of bis observa
tion ol tho transit ol Mercury to-day:?
I'll* following were tho Wwidilugtou limes at observed
with the toiled States Naval Academy retractor,
ii feet fecal length. H-lneli sportttre, power
of eye piece, 212:-Ingres*. exterior coated.
10 hours, 7 ralmitos. It seconds: ingress, iolerio r con
tact. 10 hours. lo minutes. 3 seconds; earess interior con
tact. A hours. 34 minutes, :t seconds; egress extortor con
tact, -> hours, 3d minutes, 30 seconds.
UNFAVORABLE WEATUEE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Hanover, May 0, 1878.
Tho weather hero la unravoruble to good observa
tion of the transit of Mercury, crosscurrents in the
nir causing a haziness, and only occasional good views
are obtained. Mr. l'aul will not roako any cIobo
calculations uuttl alter his return to Washing
ton. Tho arst contact with the sun took place
at 10b. 23m. 26s. A. M. The second contact was not
determinable. The weather this atteruoon encour
age* ibo hope that more desirublo measurements may
be made. Prolessora Quimhy, Emerson and I'm tee
are also taking observations, 'l'bero is a largo number
continually present to viow the planet wncn It is to
bo seen.
Both coutacts of Mercury witb the sun wero ob
served ibis morning (instead of one as tlrst re
ported), they being gm. 00s. apart. There was
a dearer sky this afternoon, though it was
cloudy vrben It was necessary to lake most
ol tho observations. At ball-past lour o'clock, when
the declinations of the sun and Mercury wore the
same, an attempt was made to ilolormliio tho dificr
enco ol right ascension of the two by transits ol
limbs ol (tie sun and Mercury; but, though the sky
was clear, tlio air was unsteady and observations were
ol little value. At tho closo ol tno transit ibo Inter
nal coutuct occurred at oh. 53tn. 13?., the external
contact being 2m. 32s. lator.
SUCCESSFUL OBSERVATIONS AT HAMILTON
COLLEGE?INDICATIONS OP AN ATMOSPHEBE
ABOUND StEBCUBT.
Uttca, N. Y., May 0, 1878.
Professor Peters, o( Hamilton College, Clinton
mado successlul observations ol tbo transit of Mercury
to-day. Clouds Interlercd eomowbat with the ob
servation ol the Internal contact, l'rofossor Peters ts
bf opinion that be discovered Indications ol an
atmosphere oa the planet.
VASSAB ASTBONOMEBS WATCHING MERCURY.
PouoiikKEFsix, N. Y., May 6, 1878.
Tbo students of tho asirouomy class at Vassar Col
lego took seven photographs of tbo transit of Mer
cury to-day at the loilowtng named hours:?10:40
and 11:52 A. M, and 12:14, 12:52, 1:03, 1:21
and 1:3U P. M. Toe first indentation npon the sun's
disk was splendidly seen, and as tho planet passed
along some of the students noted a halo about it. In
the afternoon light clouds interrupted tho observa
tions some, but, generally speaking, all the observa
tions were successful.
Tho entrance of Mercury on the sun's disk wns well
seen at Vassar Observatory and the first photograph
taken at twenty minutes to eleven A. M.
OBSERVATIONS AT PHILADELPHIA?A BEPORT
TO BE PBEP'ABED.
Pin lads i. i* ill a, May 6, 1878.
Close observations wero made in tills etty to-day, In
common with those made at other places, of tho tran
sit of Mercury. A uutnbor of sclontiflc gontlemeu as
sembled In the Observatory, at tho Hoy'a High
School, to wirnoss tho planot In transit, but no ono
was porraltted in tbo Observatory until tho contact had
been dlseovored aud pas-tod, exoept Professor Benja
min Snyder and bis assistant. The first point of
contact was mado at soma seconds past i0:12
o'clock A. M., wtiteh In astronomical reckoo
Ing would be May 5, 22h. 4m. Washing
ton meun time. Tho planot made tho first
point of contact about eighteen degree* above tbe
equator ol the sua, and, pursuing a wost southwest
direction, emerged at a quarter beforo six P. M. some
sixty degrees below tbo Equator. Tho data taken by
Proiesaor Snyder will be careluliy computed and em
bodied in u report to bo soul by hi tu to the Washing,
ton Observatory.
OBSERVATIONS AT LkWIBTON, ME.?THE
WEATHER UNFAVORABLY CLOUDT.
Lrwiston Mo., May 6, 1878k
Profossor Follerton, ol liaios eological School,
mado observations of the transit of Morcury to-day.
In tba toronooa It was obscured and in tho altorooon
clouds intcrlersd.
AT WEST POINT AOADKMY?SUCCESSFUL OB
SERVATIONS OF THE TRANSIT.
Wk&t I'oixt, N. Y., May 6, 1878.
Observations fur all four contaots of Morcury with
the sun wero sucoosalully made to-day at tbe West
Point ubsarvatory.
THE OBSERVATIONS AT DETROIT UNSATISFAC
TORY ON ACCOUNT OF CLOUDINESS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.]
Dkthoit, JMicb., May 6, 1878.
Tbe observations on tho transit of Morcury made
hero to-day by the scieuliQc corps of tbe lake snrvey
were unsatislactory. The first contact was rated
Ibo condition ol the atinoepliere being tavorablo, out
shortly alter Clauds and base intcrlctud uud the view
of tho'small planet was obscured, much to the sorrow
of tho oager observers.
THE IIEItALD OF THE GODS.
Tbc conditions proved highly Juvorably yesterday
for tbo local lelescopic-uinoked window-gluts observe
noua ol Mercury's transit. At tU? hour ol Am ex
luraul contact old .Sol beamed down Irom a sky
?lightly flecked with clouds, which ?erred a good
purpose tu now and theu shading his in
tense brilliancy, and enabling the thousands ol
uinatour astronomers to bring thslr pieces ol smoked
glass to a proper bearing. The preparation ol a pieoo
ol window puuo lor au astronomical obierratlon Is an
undortaklug requiring no little skill and olrcuiu-pec
lion. It Is necessary, lor lostauce, to use or ralbcr
burn an oleagcnous tubstanco in order to prooure
the proper dogrco ol lutilncss iu tho smoke.
The glass mast be big enough so that the
scientist may uol burn his own lingers In tho opera
tion or amoking, aud, Anally, tho smoky sldo ol the
glass must be turned toward the heavenly bony under
observation, otherwise tbe observer is likely to
get smudged wltb lampblack on tbo brow or
nose, itiedolic.no russet Huts ol some specimens of
lager boer bottles aro just the nues proper for making
au observation through smoked glass. Unlortunatlcy
the oouveklty ol the surlaue exposed to tbe solar rays
ot a piece ol broken (utile docs not produce tbo
aestreu effect on tho vision. The auglo ol Inci
dence being equal to thai ol reflection a scalier
nig of Hie rays of light takes place, so that
an observer using a bottlo is likoiy 10 see
sever ?i linages and is likely to And It hitOault to toll
winch is lb'.* right one. A* exactness Is essential to
secuung u valuable insult It has been deemed advisa
ble by uiodern scientists to ub.tuuou the u?u ul ibe
achromullc beer bottle lor observations ol the sun,
and to suustiiule tbo simpler methods ol smoking u
pieco ol window glue.
w Alter the lirst extvri al and flrsl Internnl coniuot<i
wore observed M? rcury wis burly on bis travels tfer
the sen's disk, lie gradually drew from the centre or
wliut uilght be termed the northwest quadrant ol the
solar diss toward aud north ol the centre. In Ibis
transit llio planet looked like a small lusck spot
burled in a sea of light, > et preserving Its distinctness.
II ibe pi iuet rind no atmosphere Its appearance would
be very much clearer. Uui. as it has a dense en vuloj o
ol sir or ctuer g.ircous matter uboui II, me solar rays
were retracted tnrough th a airaoepherc and tended to
I diminish II.0 dluttiulur ol Hie planol, oxoepl to these
i looking at It through lurgo hu<j powerful lei
I oscope". Drawing uetr noon tho sky became
I overclouded nnu threatening, and the snu was
' Iriqueutiy obscured, though Ids rays broke through
' m.my ruin iu the vaporous veil ovorbtau During
] tins period ol eloudmo-s business wlili amokol glu-,s
j ana telescope was sus|iendeu lu New York, but puoltc
| curiosity aid out nbalu in the least. Many people, who
< hud not heard or mad ol Mercury's transit, could not
i make out what other people were at, staring up at the
I sun through a bit of sooty glass. Theireunosiiy was as
i to what ibvso apparently crazy peopio wore doing.
Others watched ibe sun In v.uli lor a sigsi, nut saw
noiiiing ou his bright I ice. rtovernl ooepla were Just
sure tnul they suw ihtin?' Ibein" muuiitng mimi
flgurce which tbo observer boliovod necessary too
j pMierly conducied transit. Mo ihn d?y wore on und
the clouds passod off, giving in tbo inier hours ?
splendid opportunity lor obscrnug the liuai moro
nisms o( Morcuiy.
The tact thai Mercury can be seen with Isr less dll
Acuity una without the Intervention of smoked or
other glues si humorous slated poriods every yosr,
,.ini llie addluoiiHl lact that he could not be si cn yes
terday executing through a powerful opera glass or
leleaeo|ie wefe no tlrawbaiks to the inleuse Uo-iro
ul Hiu lu'iuy iiuiHteur moon starett?or, n* tho sua
gram in atisis have it, astronomers?to son him
uurnig the time id bis transit. Why lhey wished 10
see iiitu It was hard to say, lor tlicv could calculate
nothing irom il. kvou Hid live-incU lelo-cupo winch
I'roiessor i'sck aimed ui lbs God ol Day was nut large
enough tu afford scientifically valuable views, tint llio
rage ol tho peopio was nono the less, and Irom
overy available root and moat ol llio kiroot cor
ners In Hie city "ob-ervutions" wero taken. As a
IMA. probably ust one ol Ihoso who bad strained their
iieoke and w. akenod tnelr eyes really saw Mercury;
but uuring the evening, strange to any, there was
hardly a ciilxoii m .New York who had not "liad en
cxci Usui View ol Ibe experiment." The gen
llemun who was amue I lino ago arraigned
lu the Tombs Police Court as s vagrant,
snd who reluted the charge by explaining
.>kt b? prajcssiea wm antiUM ilMWI Xflf isUVKHk.
yesterday made enough to ka?p him In broad and
bear tor weeks. Tba peripatetic aoieatist who per
lornia on a big telaecope la the streets, charging tan
tenia a (quint, made aleo large profits, and everybody
, who owned or could borrow aa opera glass was proud
' and buppy.
i frofaeaor Feck, aa waa bin ted, aimed tba big
Columbia College telescope at the sun from the veo
I Una ground ol the observatory on the colloge green
and curious students and grave professors la
great numbers took observations at second
bund, a large cunvas screen being srranged
la sucb s way tbut a redaction ol the
pbeuoinenon was cast upon It. Duriug the transit a
uuiubur ot yosng ladles tram a neighboring seminary
oame on, not to see tbo students, but to view ilia
transit. Two or throe of them were late, and were
?cry much disappointed wben tboy were told tbai tbe
Professor would by nomoaus "repeat the experiment."
Mr. Kuifierforu. of Second avonuc, has a gloss of
oleven inches wbicb bo bad trained on tbe point of
observation, and assisted by Professor Ingorsoll, of
Columbia College, took a number ol valuable photo
graphic views of tbo transit, wblch probably uHord
tbo only Important soientido basis ol oaloulalion that
was obtainod m tbo city.
WATCHING THE CBOSSING PLANET AT PBOrES
BOB DBAVEB's 0B8EBVAT0B7, HASTINGS, ON
TUB HUDSON.
In anticipation oi Mercury's transit across the sun's
disc several astronomers and scientists met
on Sunday last at tbo observatory of Proles
sor Henry Draper, Hastings, on tbe Hudson. Bosldes
Ibis gentleman tbere wore prescut Professor Gcorito
F. Barker, of the Uuiversityol Pennsylvania; Pro
fessor J. W. Draper, ol tbo New York University;
Professor h. S. Holden, of tho Naval Obsorvatory
Washington, D. C., anil Dr. Daniel Draper, director of
tbo Mctoorological Observatory, Central Park. Sunday
bight was spent In inuktug sols of preuuratory obsorva
talus of some of tbo planols, und In getting all tbo in
struments Into a stato of porlcot working order.
Yesterday morning tbe party, togothcr with several
other gentlcmeo, wore on watch at tbo obsorvatory
by eigbt o'clock, and made tho dual adjustments of
tbe apparatus about to bo used.
TUB DRAPER OUSBItVATOKT.
The observatory itself is composed of two domes en
closlug circular spaces in which the great telescopes
are mounted. Betwooa tho aomos there is a photo
graphic operating room, to tbe north and con
tiguous sro a workshop well supplioa with
mechanics' tools and a beautilully dtted up
hoi air engine ol two horse power, that drives tho
lathe upon which Pro lessor Draper turned all the
shafts and pinions, and cut tho complicated wheel
work used in mounting his great telescope. On tho
west side of the larger dome, which is twenty-two
leet In diameter, is a traosit room with
instruments that are principally used in observing
the sun's passage across the meridian. In tbo largor
dome is mounted the unsurpassed iwenty-oight inch
reflector which took Fro lessor Draper eighteen years
to coustruot and hi up. This instrument, wltn Its
delicately adjusted clockwork, so urraogod us le
uJiow tho gluss to noisoieeslv follow the heavenly
bodies in their courso, is said to be tar
superior to tho great telosaopo ot Lord Kosso.
wbicbwas at oue lime considered to be tho beat in
tbe world. Next to It in point of merits the instru
ment used in tbo Naval Ubservatory at Washington
D. C. Close along tho surlaoe ot tbe tube ot ibis im
mense telescope two others ot less power are mounted
in directions parallel to the axis ol tbo tube. One ol
tbeso instruments Is u twelve Inch rcllector the
work of Mr. Alvsn Clark, and tbo other is a val uable
six-laeh achromatic rellector. Tho two last named
glassos woro principally used yesterday, for the rea
son that tho employment of u vory great tolescopio
power would give to tbe planet observed too much
the appearance ol a dancing or "boiling" motion.
In tho suahor donto thero Is a very fioo Ulteou
inch Newtonian reflector, which was mostly used by
Professor Barker. Professors Draper and Holden
took iboir observations from tho other two instru
ments. In a corner of the room adjoining tbo larger
dome a chronograph Is fltted up. The ofnee ol ibis
instrument, aided by a chronoinutor having a pair
of electric wires to oonnect it with a glass pen is to
enubio the observer to measure tbo time of uuy ob
servation down to tbo hundredth part of a second.
A camera ten tnohes square was fastened to the lace
of tbe lube of tbe great rellector, and hud an
Instantaneous shutter, whereby tho exposure ot tbe
si-usaiiznd glass to the light was regulated, and in
this way tho position of tbe planet photographed
Irom time to time as It mode its course across tbe
sun's disc Irom right lo left. So dellcitely was the
photographic apparatus arranged that uu exposure of
1-1,00'iof a second in duration could be obtained.
THK WKAT11K11 CONDITIONS.
Tbe weaiber was, upon tne whole, favorable for tbe
important work on bund; tbe fore part of the
day was cloar, and tho latter part alternately
clear and cloudy. Tho atmosphere, though
apparently uudisturbed and beautiful was,
In ibo lorcnoon, cbarged with au amount
of gaseous vapors and caloric that made it extremely
diflicull to got correct observations ol the time ol the
planet's Ursi contact with ibe sun's limb.
TUK TRANSIT.
The predicted tlmo lor the first contact was. accor
ding to Washington mono time;?
I. lOh. 6m. fib sec.
II. lOh. Dm. t> sec.
The difference between the first and second times of
contact, us above gtveu, shows tho approximately cal
culated time occupied by the planet Irom ibo instaut
of lis first coutact with the sun until ibut
wnen Us outer liuih comes opposlto that ol
the suu; or, lu other words, ibe time
occupied by Mercury in traversing on tho
suu's disk, a distance equal to bis owu appareot
diamotor. At tho iustaui ol first couiact the pi met
was "boiling;" that I', Jumping about ou the sun's
surface lor u uinauco about equal lo three llinos his
own' diameter, aud therefore the exact tlmo ol first
contact could not be accurately uscertuioca. It
may be coulldonily staiod, nowevor, that tho
error between the estimated und tbe real time ot Ursl
ocniaci docs not exceod hall a minute. It is also cer
Ulu that tno dtllereuce between the prodiolod
und ibe real iitnu ol contact was not
ntorc than ball a tuiuuie. As thero was
no time yesteiday to compare, rcducu and
arrange tho flguros oblniued the exact
tlmo ol couiuct could not bo given. During the ob
servations the sun's disk was Drought to the eyeglass
ol tbe loleacope and sbowa on u reddish colored
glass, with tho planet not larger m appearance
than a grain ol mustard seed, dancing around
so as to take ibo sharpo-t vision to da
llue Its diameter. A moment's inspection ol this un
steady little globule ihowed at oncu how dillkuli it
was to got tbe lusiunl ol his first ooninct with the
sun, ou ucoountof tho vibratory motion imparted lo
biui through the unfavorable condition 01 tho at
mospheres
rlUfMEB or TUK PUINOXKXO*.
Let tbe circular part 91 a twelve-inch clock lace
represent tbo MB, men a very aaaU pea M Ha *ur
luce Will bear nbom (be nine ptuporlloii to It that the
image of Mercury dul yoslerdoy to tbo sun's disk. P01
low.uk Una iltusir.il 1011 a good Idea may bo ob
luiued of 1 tie planet's course acru.-a tbu miu if wa
?U|>|>usa that be coutmeacod to loterposo himself be
l-.vo.11 us and llio giu it luminary at a spot winch
would b; properly ludiotticd us hall punt Tour o'clock
ou tbo clock dial. Prom tbu point tbe
course of Mercury was upward, id u slightly
curvilinear direction, toward eight o'clock,
between wbicb and hail-past eight be
weutoll tba sun's disk. While the placet wus court
ing his way gradually over tba suriaoe of the sun
olghloeo photographs of turn were taken by Professor
Draper, several of iho negatives being very good
ouea. Tbo photographs are ou a piato eight by
sis inches, and show n picture of iho sun
live inches lb dianiulor with me little dark speck
it a pi inot In Its true position at 1110 time ol expos
lug n.e plate. The negative* wero limed bv u euro*
do muter making aidoreal tiuie, winch is two hours
unu hity-iour niniutcs earner than man time. Too
lullowiug are the different times at which Iho picture*
Were made;?
11. it. S. 11. V S.
1 1 2:1 '.'0 10 (cloudy) 6 10 24
2 1 32 0 11 5 30 54
if,., 1 40 57 11 ...Sot exposed
4 1 61 11.5 lti 0 6 57
2 2 4?I it 0 14 39
6 2 41 44 15 U 22 4.1
7 2 51 7.5 JU 0 42 ?
* . 3 21 6 17.. fi 64 36.5
0 5 1 1 IS 7 69 6M.0
10 a<d ono net er 111 llxtng tbe position ol me planet
the tu.1'1 .isk a as marked with a parallel Hue 01 right
ascension, w filch showed the course ol Mercury to bo
all tbrougn In the siin'a nortuern lieniispliore.
TDK CbOalMI OltSKKV ATIOSI4.
> When the pinnnt was about 10 emerge from the sun
fMie atmospheric condition* wero allowed to ba
very good, and by usm* small powor* on Iho
teletcopus it* Well defined outline could bo
seen in considerable detail. While taking
1 tin last observation* Professor* Drapor and
liotdon ware huddled closa togetner on llio *iop lad
d. r ciusu to III* luatrunieuia, cacr. with au eyo intent
U|ioii tbo images rellecteil in the eyeglasses. Dr.
Draper ws* perched near them on another step
ladder and i'ruioaaor U >ra*r wna at their leet watch
ing the reduction of Memory ou iha ground gla*a of
the camera, where it had beeu projected by tbo
groat I idea cope Mr*. Henry lira per nil bur alnud
by the oiiruooineter, beiuiug olf tue seconds and re
pealing tacni. !hu other parties grouped tnomselves
around too ct le, impiiient to know, u possilile, tho
teauiisol ilia observations The predicted time lor
the piiuel to enlarge front iho sun was (according to
Washington, D 0., mean inuvl, as follows;?
III. 6h. 57ui. 111.,
IV. 5li. lorn. 26s.
The above observations, llko tho two that worn
taken wuon tha p suet ass eutcrlug on the sun, wero
designed to snow but ruversely the timo ol (lrnt and
avcund contact between the circumlorence* ol tbo two
bodies. Proleaai.r Draper was well satisDad with tbe
con'lodlng observations; he had observed llio
lam conmct to within l lii) ol tbo planat *
dlutnolur, which ho ascertained to bo
three minutes on arc nl the ctroie. Professor H irker's
calculated time (approximately reduced) was unor
stood 10 he
ll L 611. 35 in. 53*.
IV. 6h. 37m. 46*.
In the corresponding third and fourth observation*
(ol Iiits 1 contact) tho result* registered by tbo otbor
telescopes were ascertained to be: ?
*1x1 mt.viscii mtri.ttr ron,
III. 6b. 33m. 13*.
IV. 6I1. 30m. IIa.
SIX-ISO!! K*fI.KCTOR.
III. 6h. 33m. 20*.
IV. An. 30m. '20'.
Prom lbs lor. going li will be perceived that tbe ex
act 1 tinea ol exterior and interior contact have not yet
been toduend *0 ?* to givo tho data now printed tba
foroe of olllcial authority ; but tbo figure* Aft) Within It
kj"MU a*VI tauu Uttxhtui pam*
Tha appearance of Mercury oa tbe sua was blaok,
but no? 10 dark as had Usao expected.
No bright a pole were observed on the dark diak of
Mercury, Mr M there any appearance of a satellite
near the planet. No solar spot* were observed; uellher
were solar protuberance* observed.
LOCAL OBSEBVATIONS BT FBOFESSOB PABK
BUR8T?A COMPLETE EXPLANATION OF THE
PHENOMENA OF THE THANSIT AND THE OB
JECTS OF ASTBONOMKBS IN OB8EBYIKQ IT.
To TBI Editob or tbx Hkrald:?
Tbe great popular interest in tbe transit of Mer
cury, which hu taken place to-day, arises from its
repeating, on a reduced soale, tbe phenomena of tba
transit of Veaua, which will be vleible here In four
years from pext December. In the transit
at 1874, the only one that has occurred
within the liretime of tbla goneration, astronomical
expeditions were aent ont by the principal civilized
nations to those parts ot tbe world where U would be
beet aeen, end from that day to this meuy computers
bare been at work reduelng the observations tben
taken, without having yet gleaned from them all the
information which they could give with regard to lbs
earth's distance irotn the suu, the elemental meuBure
of tbe planetary spaces
A phenomenon precisely similar In klad is to-day
expected to yisld results entirely different in their
cbarsoter. In observing tne transit of Venus the
obiect Is to determine the aun's distance Irotu the
parallax, and this can best be done from observations
of a planet wbich Is near us. wblcn has as largo un
orbit as possible und from points on the ourtb's sur
face where tho parullax will he grealoBt. Oa tbo con
trary, In tbo observation ot tho transit ol Mercury,
whoso distance Irom as Is so much groalcr and whose
orbit is so much smaller, tho main object is to deter
mine the absolute position of tho pluuot In Its orbit.
This pluuet is so dilUcult ol obsorvatlou, and its orbit
U so impcrloctly known, that there Is a difference of
about seventy seconds between the British
and tbo Atneriean predictions of tbo time ot tho
transit. Tne position ol Hie pi met can best be obtained
by ohserviillou from points on tbo ear.h's surface
where tbe parullax is least. Tbo very best position
lor observing either contact would bo that at wbieh
tbe sun would bo vertical at tbe lime of the con
tact, lor Micro would be no parallax. But as
thoro is an interval ot more than seven hours betwoou
the first und the lust contaet, no unc place can give
this condition, even approximately, lor tho \wioio
transit. Any point within too Uiiiiou Status will di
vide the Interval boiweeu the ingress and the egress,
snowing tbe whole transit well without leaving home,
therefore American ustronomors have bad to-day us
good un opportunity to reach useful resulis from the
observation ot the transit as If tbey had travelled
thousuuds ot utiles to witness it.
oujxct or tiik obskrvationb.
Tbe primary object ol tne observations has been to
determine the position cf Mercury in its orbit; but
tbe main object lias been to determine tho position of
tbo orbit itself; and this, not lor Its own sake, bat
lor tba purpose of usecriainlUR whether there is
n planet revolving around tbe sun interior 10 tne
planet Venus. The soarch I or this interior planet,
wmch has beuo by common ooutont named Vulcan,
bas proved In vain. Astronomers have coma to tbo
conclusion that it la almost impossible that sucn an
Interior planet could exist without baving been
long since discovered and having bad its orbit
fixed. Leverrier considered It probable that such a
pluuet uoos exist, and urged a special search lor it,
relying to a great extont upon tbo fuels mat the peri
beliou ol the orbit of Mercury advances mero rupluiy
tbaa can bo accounted lor by tho action ol tbe Known
plauets, indicating tbe exisiouoe either ot un interior
planet or ol soino zone ol planets, or meteorites or
oiher matter revolving around tne sun within tba
orbit ol Mercury. The question ot to-day, then, la
tne veriUcuilou ol tbo luct ol the actual umouni of
tbo advance of the perihelion ot the orbit ol Mercury.
Tint flaskt'h ohbit.
It Is to be remembered that tbe orbit ol a plnnot I*
not a material ring; H Is simply the path through
which tho planot moves, having no more actual ex
istence than tho path ol a bird in the air. Tbe action
ol tne planeta is not upon tbe orbit, but upon the
planet Itself. Tbe change ol tho orbit la
as If a bird, being attracted by soma
object, Bhouid change Its course and Uy
in a different direction. Tbe path of Mercury
Is very nearly a circle, but the auu is cot in its cen
tre, so tnat at a certain point Meroury Is nearer tbo
sun than ut any other; but It Is louud that tbe next
limo that Mercury reaches tnat point It moves forward
about 240 miles, or one-tblrteunth ol its diameter,
further uvfore It begins to recede. As Mercury it ap
proaching its aphelion the eflect ot a large motion
if the perlncliou would bo to cause ihe pluuet to bo
further advanced iu its orbit, and thereforo to hasten
the iinto ol the transit. If, thoroforr, Mercury should
be found to-day, upon a comparison ol all tbe ob
servations, to have appeared earlier than can bo ac
counted lor by the action of the suu and the known
planets it will make it probable that there Is other
uttruciiug matter yot undiscovered.
We aro not to conclude that this attracting matter
la a planet. The amount ol matter ivinch may exist
in the protuberances nod to the corona around tua
suu, ol which wo may hope to loaru more iu the total
eclipse ot tbo sua next July, or lu tbe Zodiucal
Light, or iu streams ol lnuteorio manor, such us
give rise to meteoric showers, maybe all that is re
quired to account lor tho motion ol Mnroury.
? OllSUKVATIONS THROUGHOUT TIIK oouxrxr,
lu nceordauec with tho invitation ol tho National
Observatory amateur observers liuve to day, doubt
loss In very many places, careiully observed ibis tran
sit. At some the clouds must have intervened and pre
vented recording the times ol Ingres- aud egress; but
ncro, although tbo sky was covered with clouds most of
the day, wo had a clear sky at both of tucse important
times. Our only trouble was the commotion ot the
atmosphere, prevcutlug a distinct image ol tbo plaaot.
Tho modus ol preparation have beau various, hut I
will Quacribe that which 1 adopted, tho more fully he.
cause 1 believe it will he tbe bust method for amateur
observers to adopt In the observation ol lbs ap
proaching truest! of Venus.
It bus been my experience from carefal comparison
tbat 1 cau obtain u more satisfactory vtow ot tun suu
by rec iviug its image upon u screen tUau by
direct vision, l'bc screen I employed was about
a loot lu diamotur und wus aupported by a wire
framework. By a prlstn the light was rellectod at
right angles, so tn*t the screen did nut luce the
suu, bat stood with its edge toward it. Tbis made it
easy to cxclud* tne direct sunlight tiom tailing upon
tbo scrceu without the necessity lor unclosing II, as is
sometimes done, lu u pasteboard lunuul. Although
not necessary, and almost useless iu the aitcrnoon
from tbo high wind, 1 provided curtains to exclude
irem the observatory nearly all tne direct sunlight
around ibo telescope.
? Reducing the aperture ol the object gluts to otgbt
lectio* una applying u power sufllciout 10 make ihu
imago ol itio cBtirv tuu a elrviu ol forty racket la
din meter nuil the imago ol Mercury one-quarter ol au
inch, a* shown in too above diagram, the clockwork
luotiou Kept itie to iohco|hj pointed at tho sun. with
that tnrt of tbo eastern im.b ol tbo suu wlioro
Mercury wm expected to uppo.ir uear a line drawn
ucro.is (be ecrerd tangent to tbo limb. There wero
tureu observer* at my obsorvainry in ilrooktyii and
au nvsistani to count the tune Iroiu tlio ctironotueior.
The computaiiou Irmn the termula in the American
?pbvmerit indicated inul the external coutucl would
take )>iaco luu. 16ul ao*.. New York timo,
tbero being a probable delay ol ' Six or
olgbt second* betore lUe Indentation would
bo soOlcieut to bo perceptible. At 17tu. 4t.
wo all saw tbo indentation upon the limb o| tho tuu,
cltar and distinct, noiwltn landing iho tremulous
motion caused by too uiinospneric disturbance, al
though ut mut moment the icugtb of tho Indentation
dul nut appeal to exceed four stcdud- ol space. As
the plane; entcrou lurtherupon iiicd.sk tnc trorn
ulousuess seemed to increase, and tlio "black drop,"
ss olten ?.eeu iu truuaiis ol Ycim*, became plainly
visible bolorc the internal couiuct. At 19 mm. :Ui eeo.
two ol tlio observers saw the first undulation ol light
ucroas tills black drop, but wo did not catch auoilier
glimpse ol this nghi uutil seven seconds later, and In
the luealilllno the third observer, nt forty ono second*,
caught the llrsl distinct glnnpsu ol the light. Shortly
utier the clouds ciinn np slid covered tliu sky, lorbnl
ding lurthcr obeervaMM, except by occasional
glimpao*, during ions; of iho thy.
A LOCAL VUfW.
At timo*, as tno cloud* passed a a ay, Mercury coultt
bo aeon 10 novo around it a fringe which aecmo! to
me decidedly darker til hi the surl.ioo ol tho diac ol tho
Kiln; but others seeing iho samu tr.ngu, described It as
yellow, and brighter ttiau Iho disk. AS tlio run de
scended toward tbo horizon tho prismatic speotruin
from tho relrncuou ol our atmosphere was sj
strong, causlug a bright rod Irlnco on ono
side and a bright biuo irlngo upon tlio utber,
as to make it Impossible In tee ilie oilier which J had
toted earlier. At tho tune of tlio egress it aeoiuod
almost useless to attempt observation, ireni tlio
Very gronl tieiuulou-nesr ol Ino 1111113 ol tho p anel.
Nevertheless, tho inrec observers oscu mado Ins Inde
pendent rotord ol tbo internal and external contact,
agreeing much lienor than wo expected. We mado
the Internal couiuct .ill. 46m. Pa, and the external
contact 48in. 40a. i'he prediction of tho American
Kpheineris wounl bo lor the last noinact dim. Us.
At tin* lust internal contact, the black drop was again
plsiniy seen.
Comparing tho observed limes with tboso derived
from tnc Kpbcinorit mere are several points 10 bo
noieil. Instead ol llie timo ol tbo Ingres* and ol Iho
egress boiug a n mutes 7 socuuda wo mado It loss tbau
2 iiiinuies 4a kocoipIs, and it did not nrem possiblu
that tho dillnreucn ni J4 seconds arose Iruui our not
seeing the ludenlalion soon enough in tho morning !
or late enough in tbo alteration. Agsio, tbo
duration ol ttie transit wo made loss tbau that pre
dicted, wbtcb would seem to indlcato a paih
further to tbo norm than woe expected. Aud,
finally, tbo wnole transit appeared to b? earlier
than predicted, the predictions bung hised
upon tHbies ns early no 144s, and therefore
heiore iho later investigations ol l.evrrrier; so that
If the ob-erva! ions rlsew bern correspond within so
which wu have made, and if 1 am right in Inv inter
pretation ui the results, the "result ol Lu Verfief,
that Iho action of llie perihelion ot Meruit is mark
greater than that due lu the action ol the anew*
planets," I* sustained. IIKNHY M. i'AKKUl K - >.
Nkw York, May 6, 1878.
SUSPENSION OF MANUPACTUBEUK
11 avrrhill, Mass., May tt, 18TS.
William II. Carletou 4t Co., shoo manufacturers
siupendod (Ills morning, with liabilities of about
$Ob,OUO
1,. Johnson A Cot, slioa manufacturers, suspended
this aiioruuQn, With lutbUUisa ui irorn ?160,9W W
jJ|*P
RUSSIA'S DESIGNS.
LATEST ARRIVAL OF RUSSIAN AGENTS IN AMER
ICA?WHAT ARK TH ET AFTER ?
Aa announced in tbe Hkhalii of yesterday la a
despatch from Baltimore, tbreo speolal agents of Uie
Russian government arrived on the steamship tier
manic trom Liverpool May 3 und proceeded at once
about their business, which is believed by those best in
formed to rotate to transacting the purchase and tilting
oat of vessels lor objects or privutoering. These three
agents wore Captain A. Grippenberg, of tbe Russian
Navy, brother of Conol Grippcnberg, now on board the
Clmbria at Southwest Harbor, Me., and holding, as It
ts generally presumed, the sealed orders ot tbu Rus
aian government In regard to operations from bore,
Mr. H. W. Hunt, of Boston, a gentleman who has
spent sotuo time in Russia und executed several im
portant contracts for the Czar, and Mr. Paut Butler,
son 01 General B. F. Batter, who, It ts alleged, stands
high in tbe councils of tho Russian government. A
iisRALO reporter culled at tbe Kvereit Rouse last
evening and with tbe uid of a clerk, whose name it Is
not necessary to give, interpreted the entry on tbo
register tor Saturday last of "W. McKuy
and two frionda, l'nilalelpbls, rooms 152 and 153," to
mean Mr. William McKay, son ol tbe great ship
builder, of Boston, Donald McKay, and Captain A.
Grippcnberg and Mr. W. ft. Hunt. Mr. l'aui Butler
siguod bis numo in lull uuderueuth. Tho latter rc
maiuad behind while tho lormor party proceeded th
saino evening by tho nine o'clock train to Washing
ton. Their suddon Icnvotuking of New York was
said lo be on account ot a despatch trom the Rus
sian Minister iu Washington. Captain Kennedy,
ol ino Germanic, ou which steamer these gentlemen
name over, knew nothing of tneir character, nor did
any ot his ulllcors, even including tho pursor, who is
ordinarily supposed to know everything about tho
passougors tbo stoamer carries. When, bowover,
they discovered yesterday who these peoplo wero
they wero ondlcss in recalling iucldeuls ot
tbe voyago wboru tho Russian agents made them
selves conspicuous, and nobody ever suspected tbclr
designs. They wero foremost In tbe usual gumo of
quoits on deck, und in the smoking room their merri
ment excelled all tho rest. Between tnc parser and
(Jupiuin Griffonborg u strong Intimacy sprung up,
though it tbu purser, who is a true J"bu Bull, hud
knowu the precise mission of tbe Ciiblalu at tbu mo
ment there might bavo been a summary end to their
entente cordiale.
A FINE LOOKINU KKI.MW.
Ho took great pains iu showing the Captain and
Hunt over tbe vessel, tbo former having been Intro
duced to blm uy tho latter as an officer ot the Swedish
government going to America chiefly tor the bouclll of
bis Health. -'Well," said the purser, "he was really
a flue looking, cordial fellow that you could not help
liking. His stylo of address was ol that off
hund character that lakes so much with Amor.
Iciiiis uud Englishmen. Nothing 'stuck up'
about him, as you people say. His English
wus not very pluin, but you took such an
Interost in the man from his appearance and behavior
that you readily understood ail be said or meant to
say. lie went ail over the ship, taking a particular
interest in us entire construction and asking about
the whole minutisa of ber cost for engines, coal, teed of
furnaces and all these things that a man contemplat
ing tbe building of a line of steamers migbt be sup
posed to inquire about."
It was noticed duriog tbe voyage that Captain
Grippcnberg, Mr. iiuui and Mr. Butler wero con
stantly together, and their relations to the Russian
government wore suoh that there is hardly a doubt
uut that tbo scheme of prtvatoering is more or less in
their bunds.
SltiHTIXO HAVANA 8TBAMK1IIPS.
What gives additional color to the story tnat Russia
has been at work bore with tbe design ol striking a
blow at the vast commerce of England, In
which sbo can do moro damage to her than
by any operations on laud, Is the faot
that a Russian agent, who decliued to give his narno,
visited a short timo ago tbe ofllco of Messrs. Alex
andra & Co., the owners ot the tine line ul' boats teat
ply betweeu this city und Havanu, and made a prop
osition lor tbe purchase ot such as wore available.
Be simply said be wunted to buy a class of vossols ot
great speed. Mr. Alexandre was rsudy to sell if tbe
prices uttered tor his ships wereoi the right figure. He
offered to sell the City of New York, 1,715 tons, the
City ot Vera Cruz, 1,874 tons; the City of Merlda, 1,492
tons, and the City ol Mexico, 1,200 tons. The Russluu
agent was agreeably disappointed tn Uniting Mr. Alex
andra so freely Inclined to dispose of bis ships, be
cause to him tbo matter ol price was ol smelt moment
and ho ilkod tho ships bocnuso they were wooden, and
as he expressed It, mure easily repaired In
oase of uccldent than It tbey were built
of Iron. Mr. Alcxanuro said that most of
bis vessels uvcrage thirteen knots an hour
and with slight changes would tnnko quite formidable
privateers?as uucb so as tbo Alsbamu or Florida. In
regurd to tbe steamers owned by other companies and
sailing oat of this port, ull that can be said Is this,
that If there is any party In tno market for steam
ships they will flnu willing sellers to willing and liberal
buyers, without anything being Intendod as a viola
tion ot tbe neutrality laws.
ENGLAND'S INDIAN TliOOPS.
OPINION OP A BRITISH OFFICER WHO HAS
BEEYED IN INDIA REGARDING THE VALUE OF
THE NATIVES.
Lkogztt's Hotzi., May 0, 1878.
To mis Editoii or this IIrhald:?
Will you allow me a smnll sp ice tn your column! to
say a word lor tbe native soldiers of Hor Majesty's
army In India, who i seo treated by a writer In yes
terday Dispatch as ball savages and a doubt expressed
whether they can stand a European climate. Their
llgbtiog powers are contemptuously compared by the
writer to that ol tbo French zouaves uud the Turcos
Apart trom the Ignorance ol the man. who sooms to
supposo the zouave to be anything but what bo really
is, a Frenchman, 1 cannot allow tbo remarks on this
ludian army to pass mo without a protest. 1 have
had tbo bouor to aerve Her Majesty as an officer lor
many years, clevon ol whict wero sorveu In lodiu,
where I was lu garrison with Her Mujcsty's native
troops, and I cau ?.<Ioly say that a liner body ol men
lor drill, disclpltue and lighting qualities 1 have never
seen, the two regime nut ot cavairy now on tno eoas
on their way lownrd MsiU are as Queojvalry aa there
ure la the world As swordsuieu and horsomeu they
cauuol he surpassed, while they aro mugniUcectiy
mounted and well equipped. 1 tool sure that the abio
General, Lord Napier ol Mugduia, who is nominated to
comiuaud any army England may put into the Held
(should she unhappily have to go lo war) nas not only
cousontcd lo, hut has urged the employment ol tbo
unlive urtny, with whom he his served for nearly
lolly years, and in whose loyally uud couruga be
kuows he Can depeud, and wdo 1 believe will jirovo,
wbeii led on by thoir European officers, as good troops
as any lu the world. 1 here ncod oo lililu lenr on the
scoru ol climate, ludiun climate alouu oilers sufl)
Ciont varieties ol temperature to test tbo endurance
ol Hie soldiers. In tho North ol the l'unjab tbo sol
diers lu tbo winter are clotbed in sboeiiskin corns,
much the samo as they would wear lu wioier lo Eu
rope. Tbo way in whlcn the ill clothed ship Laacers
brnvo out tho cold wueo they are in European sens is
a 3uH1eiaut prooi th it tuo natives cau stund tho win
ter. Your obedient servuut, W. WVNDUAM.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A BRAVE MIN Fit STONED TO DEATH WHILE
DEFENDING AN OLD MAN AGAINST RUFFIANS.
Sckaxton. May 0, 1*78.
John I'aull, a minor formerly living to liuusmoro,
one ol ttio suburbs of thus city. Ui?il this morning iroin
ibo result ol injuriea sustained on TueeJ.iy last, when
be had his skull nattered tu by B'.ouee while defend*
log au old man Irutn tbo lury of n gang of ruffltus.
This terrible scene wss enacted at five
o'clock in the nfirrtioon on tbe open
Htrco', in front of Dupuy's hotel at Duumorc, and was
witnessed try lorty man, luo terror stricken to inter
iors. The uirrar originated in Dupuy's hotel. A dev
parade, named Jack Cualello, and another uainoa
Mcllugb, entered and called lor drinks. Thcv refused,to
pay for them and spoke tbreatcuingly to iho bar
keeper, a lueble old man named Liytun. Lostello
drew a razor from Ins pocket and rushod bis way into
the hotel parlor, where about hall n doxen liioti were
sssli'd. His pra.seace created a panic and inoet ol tne
periy baetuned Iroin the place r.a qntekiy aa possible,
while otuersrenioueirsiod with bun sn i succreuou in
prevailing on hiiu 10 put away tbe ruser in b? hip
po: ket,
LAVTON ATTACK kl>
Costello end hit companion west Into tbe street
ngsir, and itiidluit the old bsrkeopcr standing ottside
tbe door they aliauked bint, endeavoring to throw
hi in over an adjoining lence. At this Juuoturs John
I'aull, n pen' caolo n. iner living in the neighborhood,
who cmiiu in lbo drug sioro to got medicine lor one
ol lue children who wae dying with sc. net irv. r,
interlcrrd, rrqoeatiug Ibe rullltua tu lot ibu old inaa
atone.
A RKAVR MAN'S FATS.
1 lieu they attacked fault nut a terrible fight took
place, lie knocgoil tboni down rcpeatodiy, and,
although buttered with atones, never toll once during
tbe meter himself. About nail a duzoo of Coeiello's
co in pun in ii h Joined In tbe bloody ussaiiit, whton lasted
nearly ball au hour, auu poured u shower of stones
u[mid I'aull. The light occurred In tbo middle ol
the street and wss carried on lrani one oud oi the
block tu the other. All tble lime I'aull was alone. At
l-i-i I'.I mi staggered iuio a nelgliiiui lug iiotiai, nnd
waa n it there many minute* before lie w.ie seised
wttli courutsioiis.
A CRl'SIIRD AkCLL.
The doctors touud tne skull lenrlully batlsrod In a
Lute aoovu tbo leit ear, another wound appeared
abevn tbe right aud tbo back of the head was also
sashed and torn. .Several pieces of the akull were re
seated by Dr. O'Urieu, and it roe .nod as It fault
might Hvat
A smiCKKN FAMILY,
To add to bin groat sorrow, however, tbo liok child
for wii.-m be had gone on an errand when aitnrked
died on Friday, and two other children wero soiled
witli ilia leter, winch ne bllntrlf rmtght a Itiilu beiom
hisuiaih. Mis wile naa auu since beeu etmuscd by
the fever, and li not expected to recover.
fault's murderer* made their escape on the oigbt el
liJMUMt*/.
THE STATE CAPITAL.
THE SENATE VENTILATING THE BILL OF TBI
SOCIETY FOE THE PREVENTION OF CHIME
VETOES BT THE OOVEENOE?AM ACT TO
ABOLISH THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]
Albasy, May a, 1878.
Tho uninteresting character oi the proceeding* of
tbo Assembly to-night is regarded u a lull be.
fore the storm. The important movement against
the Governor's veto ot the Bonded Indebtedness
bill, the Contcrence Committee on the amended Publto
Burden'* bill and tho effort to seeute a now code com.
mission are all promised as part of to-morrow's
work. The energy or the members wee oonsorved to.
night in order to be able to meet tboee emergencies
to-morrow.
FRBVRKTIOX Or CRIXB.
The Sonate bold an ammatod session and oonsumed
most ot the evening in debute on the btll incorporat
ing (he Society for the Prevention of Crime. On
motion of Senator Kcoleslne seat ion 8, which roads:?
"One-half ot tho Ones and one-bait of the penalties
collected by Mio aid ot or tbrough the Instrumentality
| of the said society or its agonU for violations of
tbo law shall nccruo and b> paid lor the benefit o(
the said sooiety," was striclcou out* A motion to
reconsider this volo gavo riso to a dobato. wblcb
lasted UDtil olevon o'olock, and was Anally
lost Koaleaine sought to have Kings and
Now York counties exempted trout tbo .opera.
Hon ol section 9, which roads, "The pro
visions of this act shall be general within
ibe bouudarlos of the State," but the effort latlod.
During tho debato It was explained that if the society
accumulated oue-hall tbe moneys oolloctod trora floor
for violation of the Excise law, it would in twenty
years be a moro powerful organization than tbe Swt
India Company.
VICTORS.
Tbo Governor sent to tbo Be note two vetoes ibis
svening, one of the bill extending tbe time lor tha
sale of the Genosee Valley Canal and oi the bill author*
?zing the County Judge oi Allognny to appoint loir
constables.
tub insurance dkfartukxt.
Tho followtug is a copy ol tbo bill of Mr. Sessions,
introduced In tho Senate to-nignt, abolishing tho In*
suranco Department:?
Suction I.?The act entitled "An not to establish an In
sa reuse depart n?nt " pinned April 15. 18.10. and section 1
of ibo act ol April 20, 1881, and she act to provide for the
Incorporation _ol lite end health innurnnce companies,
pawed April 17, 1869. end tho not or April 25, 1871. sad the
amendatory net or May 22, 1873. are all hereby repeulod.
Skc. 2 i lie net AtithorimuK life insurance) companies to
mane special deponlte ol securities In She Innuinnce Do.
pnrtmeut, t" require special reports or naid ooinpauies.
passed April 24. 1867. and the not o' May 18, IStitt are
uoroby repealed, Having all rights which have accrued and
nil trusts una oollgution* which have been lawfully incurred
miller each net*, and for the protection of aoeh right!
and the lultllment or such trusts the Treasurer or the .stats
it authorised to lake possession oi all deposits and securi
ties Hitherto made tu the Ineurauce Department uodit
such nets, and to hold suoU securities in trust for tbe use
end pnrposos for which tlier were deposited, exorcising toe
same powers sad performing tho saaio duties with regard
to such doDosits ns are uxslgncd by the said acts to tbe
Muperintemlent of the Insurance Department.
Sk.:. 3.? W hooever by any law not repealed by thla act.
any Insurance eompeuy Is required to deposit any securi
ties or uiouey In the iusuraoes Department, such deposit
i? h"ruhy required or permitted to ho made in tho Treasury
of tbe Htato, suajoct to all tbo conditions and provisions of
such law, aud the Treasurer it hereby authorised and re
qu.rod lo rocelve such deposits and to parlorin ell the
duties ir. regard to their, which under such laws might have
lieou pei formed by tbe 8uperioiou<tout of tho Insurance
Department.
hoc. 4.?Whenever by any law of the State not repenled
by ihls act. any powers are granted to the Superintendent
of the Insurance Department or any duties imposed upon
sech Superintendent other then those assigned by eeotiont
2 and 3 of this act to the State Treasurer such powers are
hereby granted to and such duties imposed upon the Seore.
lary of State.
owns murphy's tejusurb.
Speaker Hunted introduced a bill wbieb will no
doubt dellcbt the hearts ot many ot Ibo retail liquor
dealers of Gotham. It provides that tbe Mayor ot New
York be empoworod and authorised to receive moneys
paid to tbo Excise Commissioners of tbe city during
tbe year 1877, by persons applying tor licenses and
to whom no licenses have been grantod, from those
who now have the custody ot such moneys, aud thai
ho be authorized to distribute tbe samo equitably to
and among tbo partiee who shall in bis Judgment be
eulilUd to tbe same. Tbo bill was read a inird time
and rolorred to the Committee of tbo Whole.
8MVKXTU ItKC.lMKNT VKTBRAKS.
Tbe bill Incorporating the veterans of tbe Seventh
regiment wan passed.
JUDURA' COMPENSATION.
Tho passage ot tbe bill directing tbe Boards of Su
pervisors 01 tbo several counties in tbo third Judioial
district 10 annually appropriate tbe sum ol $10,004
to bo applied to tbo payment of salaries ol Jus
tices of tbe Supreme Court ol the district in
addition to tbe compensation uow allowed by law, was
moved, but as It received only sixiy-one vote* it was
doclarod lost. Mr. Bergen made a motion that the
vote bo reconsidered and that tbe motion bo laid ou
tbo table. Carried.
RKCRIVRH'a RKPORTS.
Mr. McDouough's bill concerning rocelvera waa
passed to-nigbt. it provides ibst all receivers of coi*
poraiioue heretofore appointed by order of any court
or Judgo, and not discharged from the duties of tnoli
respective trusts, aud all receivers tbal may boroaftoi
bo so appointed, shall at least once in every six montbt
daring the continuance ?t their respeotivo trusts
flic with ibe Secretary of State, under oatb, a report
ol their proceedings as such receivers; tho first report
to be made by eecb receivor shall contain a parttoulai
description ot all properly that may huvs
co wo into bis possession as such receiver,
and each succeeding roport shall contain ?
statement of tho property remaining on
hand at tbe liuio of tbe last preceding report,
and In addition thereto, a statement ol all property
tbat uiay in the mcanitme have come into bis bands
us each receiver. 8 a oh reports shall also contain *
statement of all dividends that havo been
paid during tbe period covered by the re
run, a statement ot all diabursementa er payments
made during aueb period and what disposition has
been made of any property tbat inay have oome into
nis poesesMon ns such receiver, together with the res
sou and authority for saoh disbursements, payments
aud disposition ol property. Auv receiver failing lo
meko tbe report provided for shall bo romoved by
tbo Court or Judge waking tbe uppointmont upon thn
application Ol any stockholder, bondholder or or editor
ol tbe corporation of which be may be the receiver.
Any receiver wilfully making any fiilse statement in
any of tue reports snail, upon conviction, be
adjudged guilty nl perjury In the flrst do
grec, and abail be pumabed accordingly. The
Secretary ot Etate shall, during the month of
Juuuury in each year report, to tbe Legislature what
receiver* nave complied wiin this net, together with
a copy of all tbe reports made by said recoivera.
At ten o'clock Mr. Grady, of New York, ollered n
resolution coune ruing the memory of the latnr'elli
Murpny, ox-incinber of Assembly Irom the decent
New York district, aim naked tnat out ol respect t?
deceased tbn House adjourn, which was curried.
CLOSING ITS DOOBS.
THE COMUIBCB 1N8U&ANOK COMPANT ABOUT
TO WIND UP ITS AF7A1B8.
A meeting of tUe board oi Directors of the Com?
mere* lseurance Comnioy ot this city was tela I am
woelt at the company'* office, No. 17} Broadway. Th?
advisability ol closing the doors ol tbs orguuizilk>n
was tben discussed, ana most of tbs gentlemen pre?
cot were of tbs opinion that the existence of tbs
company should be terminated. The reason lor this
movement was the unsettled state ol tbs tnsuranoa
business In the past, tbe depression ol tbo present
and tbe unfavorable outlook of the luture.
Tbe company was organized In 18A9L Its officers am
Duncan McDougall, prosidont, and William E. lioxie,
socrotary. lbs last staMmeat was mads on January
1, 1S7*. Tho capital was statod st $'100,000, tbe assets
at $2-M>,371> and tbe aurplua at $2,008. Mr. McDougall
bat bceu presldont lor lour years. He was formerly
a stockholder.
A Hkkai.i> reporter called upon Mr. MoDounll a$
his residence last evenlug. That gonticmeu said that
lor notno time past ibo company had been going
unietly along, tbo iimee not permitting any profits to
be maus. It bad been pay log Ita stockholders out of
tbe surplus; bot this bad now dwindled down, and It
was thought advisable to oioao tno company's
doora A law lately panned enabled tbe di
rectors to cosoolldato with another company
il tboy cbose, and perneps Ibis consoiida
lion iingbi take place. There were two paruoe
among inu directors, one advocating Uieoloalng ol tbe
company's doora tho other favoring a consolidation
with some stronger company. Tbe termer, compris
ing many ol tbe heaviest stockholders, were in tbo
majority, and hence consolidation was oalv a possi
bility. ihe nrescot condition ol the company's af
fairs, Mr. McDougall added, was snout tOe same as
when lbs statement was mads lb Janutry
Inst, ltiero was as defaulting and no losses to
stockholders, l'ho compauy was solvsot and per
lectly able aud willing to pay all it owed. The stock
fielders knew they would realise the fall amount tboy
bad Invested, and ibis led thorn to doslro i he Closing
or the organisstton ratbor man Its coutinuaucu by
consolidation Were tbo compso v able to pay only t
part el lie indebtedness there would bs tbe dsslre ou
lite psrt ol tbe stockholders to join with another com
pany In I no bops ol regai ntug tho lull amount Invested.
TUB ASSETS.
Tito assets wers very gwo?. t he greater part were
In government bottde and tbe rost hi a tnsirtgsge
which was worm in the neighborhood ol double tho
ainouui. fur. Meliougsll lurther said this uciiou ol
tbe directors was bui natural, as very low of the in.
suranoo companies were proeparing, tboir dividends
being paid out of surpluses got togothor in bright#*
limes than the present. Btiould it be definitely de
cided open to close ihe company's doors t small
amount would oover the expen-ss ol the winding apt
I bo oompauy'a business woe almost entirely local and
lis risks were silgbi. It had paid s live per cent divt
denn in every six raonihs until Willi n tbe Inst si*
months, except on one occasion?vis , the Bostoa Ira,
wlieu the company lo<t liesrlly, und mi hsscssiikmiI
was mudu HOI promptly psld by iho stockholders.
To sum up. the winding up is an ouienrat ot the
hard times, but tbo doora will ho ffoaod with bo one
. bhei/tebodfodw,