On the last glimpse of day-light vanishing, the crowd never fail to give expression to their feelings with a noise that is unlike anything else that I have ever heard. It is not like the noise that a crowd makes on seeing a lovely rocket burst, or that which they make on seeing some acrobat perform a wonderful feat. No; there is an expression of terror in it. It is not a shout; it is a moan.
Before giving a description of the photograms of the Total Eclipse, it will be necessary to refute some opinions that have gratuitously been given respecting them. After I had carefully examined the negatives, and made drawings, I had the drawings and the negatives compared by Mr. Langton, who expressed his opinion that they were faithful copies; and when I found that it would be many months before I could get funds to print my Report, it was agreed upon, after consulting some friends, that the negatives of totality should be sent to England. Unfortunately, I selected Mr. De la Rue as the fittest person to examine them. He never acknowledged the receipt of them, and, after many months, Mr. Falconer, who had returned to England, sent me a copy of a letter to him, from Mr. De la Rue:
“The Observatory, Cranford, Middlesex,
“Dec. 27th, 1869.
“My Dear Sir,—I am very sorry to have caused any uneasiness to Commander Ashe; but one circumstance and another have delayed my writing to him. I have received his papers, which I sent to the Astronomical, and later on, the original negatives, which arrived safely, although Commander Ashe had neglected the precaution of protecting them with a covering of glass. There is evidence in these negatives of the telescope having moved, or, perhaps, followed irregularly, during the exposure of the plates, and this renders the dealing with the negatives very difficult; moreover, it contradicts the theory set forth by Commander Ashe in respect to a certain terrace-like formation in the prominences, and also the rapid shooting out of a certain prominence. The American photographs are very much more perfect than those sent by Commander Ashe; in fact, they leave nothing to be desired. To correct the defects of duplication in Commander Ashe’s photographs, would entail some expense, [I understand that Mr. De la Rue has spent 300 pounds, in patching up Major Tennant’s photograms.] and much trouble; and it would be necessary for hint to re-write his paper.
“I have only returned to my house (after an absence of a year) a few months ago, and have had Major Tennant’s paper to see through the press; so that my correspondence has fallen greatly into arrears. Wishing you the compliments of the season, I am, with best regards,
“Yours sincerely,
“WARREN DE LA RUE.
“Alexander Pytts Falconer, Esq.,
“Bath.”
Here is a very serious charge. I am accused of foisting on the public a marvellous account of the eclipse, which my own negatives contradict; but I shall have no difficulty in shewing conclusively that Mr. De la Rue has made a blunder, when he says that “there is evidence of the telescope having moved, or, perhaps, followed irregularly.” It would have been better had Mr. De la Rue produced his evidence before he takes upon himself to assert that the negatives contradict my statements.