an autobiography-第90章
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h I had got printed one million spots。 ＇footnote。。。 At a recent meeting of the Metropolitan Railway Company I exhibited one million of letters； in order to show the number of passengers （thirty…seven millions） that had been conveyed during the previous twelve months。 This number was so vast that my method only helped the meeting to understand what had been done in the way of conveyance。 Mr。 Macdonald of the Times； supplied me with one million type impressions； contained in sixty average columns of the Times newspaper。 。。。＇
This was for the purpose of exhibiting one million in visible form。 In astronomical subjects a million is a sort of unit； and it occurred to me to show what a million really is。 Sir John was delighted and astonished at the sight。 He went carefully over the outstretched piece with his rule； measured its length and breath； and verified its correctness。
I also exhibited to him a diagram； which I had distributed amongst the geologists at the meeting of the British Association at Ipswich in 1851； showing a portion of the earth's curve； to the scale of one…tenth of an inch to a mile。 I set out the height of Mont Blanc； Etna； and also the depth of the deepest mine； as showing the almost incredible minimum of knowledge we possess about even the merest surface of the globe。 This diagram was hailed by many as of much value； as conveying a correct idea of the relative magnitude of geological phenomena in comparison with that of the earth itself：
On this subject Sir Thomas Mitchell； Surveyor…General of Australia； wrote to me at the time： 〃I will not obtrude upon you my crude notions of my own； but merely say that you could not have sent the 'Geological Standard Scale' to one who better deserved it； if the claim in such favour is； as I suppose； to be estimated by the amount of the time of one whole life； applied to the survey of great mountain ranges； and coasts； rivers； etc。 By this long practice of mine； you may know how appreciable this satisfactory standard scale is to your humble servant。
In the winter of 1865 I visited Italy。 While at Rome； in April； I had the pleasure of meeting Otto W。 von Struve； the celebrated Russian astronomer。 He invited me to accompany him on a visit to Father Secchi at his fine observatory of the Collegio Romano。 I accepted the invitation with pleasure。 We duly reached the Observatory when Struve introduced me to the Father。 Secchi gave me a most cordial and unlooked…for welcome。 〃This；〃 he said； 〃is a most extraordinary interview； as I am at this moment making a representation of your willow…leaf…shaped constituents of the Solar surface！〃 He then pointed to a large black board； which he had daubed over with glue and was sprinkling over （ when we came in） with rice grains 〃That；〃 said he； 〃is what I feel to be a most excellent representation of your discovery as I see it； verified by the aid of my telescope。〃 It appeared to Father Secchi so singular a circumstance that I should come upon him in this sudden manner； while he was for the first time engaged in representing what I had （on the spur of the moment when first seeing them） described as willow…leaf…shaped objects。 I thought that his representation of them； by scattering rice grains over his glue…covered black board； was apt and admirable； and so did Otto Struve。 This chance meeting with these two admirable astronomers was one of the little bits of romance in my life。
I returned to England shortly after。 Among our visitors at Hammerfield was Lord Lyndhurst。 He was in his ninetieth year when he paid a visit to Tunbridge Wells。 Charles Greville； Secretary to the Privy Council； wrote to me； saying that his Lordship complained much of the want of society； and asked me to call upon him。 I did so； and found him cheerful and happy。
I afterwards sent him a present of some of my drawings。 He answered： 〃A thousand thanks for the charming etchings。 I am especially interested in Robinson Crusoe。 He looks very comfortable； but I can't see his bed； which troubles me。 The election （'Everybody for ever！'） is wonderful。 I should not like to be there。 I hope we shall go to you again one of these days； and have another peep into that wonderful telescope。〃
To return to Sir John Herschel； We returned his visit at his house at Collingwood； near Hawkhurst。 I found him in the garden； down upon his knees； collecting crocus bulbs for next year's planting。 Like myself； he loved gardening； and was never tired of it。 I mention this as an instance of his simple zeal in entering practically into all that interested him。 At home he was the happy father and lover of his family。 One of his favourite pastimes； when surrounded by his children in the evening； was telling them stories。 He was most happy and entertaining in this tranquil occupation。 His masterly intellect could grasp the world and all its visible contents； and yet descend to entertain his children with extemporised tales。 He possessed information of the most varied kind； which he communicated with perfect simplicity and artlessness！ His profound astronomical knowledge was combined with a rich store of mechanical and manipulative faculty； which enabled him to take a keen interest in all the technical arts which so materially aid in the progress of science。 I shall never forget the happy days that he spent with me in my workshop。 His visits have left in my mind the most cherished recollections。 Our friendly intercourse continued unbroken to the day of his death。 The following is the last letter I received from him：
COLLINGWOOD； March 10； 1871。 〃MY DEAR SIRA great many thanks for the opportunity of seeing your most exquisite photographs from models of lunar mountains。 I hope you will publish them。 They will create quite an electric sensation。 Would not one or two specimens of the apparently nonvolcanic mountain ranges； bordering on the great plains； add to the interest？ Excuse my writing more； as I pen this lying on my back in bed； to which a fierce attack of bronchitis condemns me。 With best regards to Mrs。 Nasmyth； believe me yours very truly；
〃 J。 F。 W。 HERSCHEL。〃
Scientific knowledge seems to travel slowly； It was not until the year 1875； more than fourteen years after my discovery of the willow…leaved bridges over the Sun's spots that I understood they had been accepted in America。 I learned this from my dear friend William Lassell。 His letter was as follows： 〃I see the Americans are appreciating your solar observations。 A communication I have lately received from the Alleghany Observatory remarks 'that he （Mr。 Nasmyth） appears to have been the first to distinctly call attention to the singular individuality of the minute components of the photosphere； and this seems in fairness to entitle him to the credit of an important discovery； with which his name should remain associated。'〃
I proceeded to do that which Sir John Herschel had so earnestly recommended； that is； to write out my observations on the Moon。 It was a very serious matter； for I had never written a book before。 It occupied me many years； though I had the kind assistance of my friend James Carpenter； then of the Royal Observatory； Greenwich。 The volcanoes and craters； and general landscape scenery of the Moon； had to be photographed and engraved； and this caused great labour。
At length the book； entitled The Moon； considered as a Planet； a World； and a Satellite； appeared in November 1874。 It was received with much favour and passed into a second edition。 A courteous and kind review of the book appeared in the Edinburgh； and the notices in other periodicals were equally favourable。 I dedicated the volume to the Duke of Argyll； because I had been so long associated with him in geological affairs； and also because of the deep friendship which I entertained for his Grace。 I presented the volume to him as well as to many other of my astronomical friends。 I might quote their answers at great length； from the Astronomer…Royal downwards。 But I will quote twoone from a Royal Academician and another from a Cardinal。 The first was from Philip H。 Calderon。 He said：
〃Let me thank you many times for your kind letter； and for your glorious book。 It arrived at twelve to
