Notes

Abstract

WE are glad to be able to state that Her Majesty's Government has been pleased to accede to the request of the British Association with respect to the proposed Eclipse Expedition. We may therefore hope for a most important series of observations along a line extending from the Neilgherry Hills in India to Cape York in Australia. The observation in India will be entrusted to Mr. Pogson, Colonel Tennant, and Captain Herschel. Mr. Lockyer has been requested to observe in Ceylon. The observing stations in Java will be occupied by the Dutch Government, and possibly also by M. Janssen, while a strong expedition has been formed from Sydney and Melbourne. The necessary instruments will be sent out to Australia by the next mail, and those for India will follow shortly. As before, the Government not only help in money but in transport, camping, and the like. The handsome way in which the Government has at once responded to this appeal justifies all we have said regarding its good intentions towards science when the requirements of science are properly represented by responsible bodies. We may add that the Government have also agreed to undertake photographic observations of the approaching Transit of Venus.