COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 6 August 1869)

§ MR. CHILDERS

said, that in the year 1874 the transit of Venus would give the opportunity of carrying out one of the most remarkable investigations that could be made in connection with astronomy. The only method of ascertaining the distance between the sun and the earth, or, more correctly speaking, the horizontal parallax, was to observe the transit of Venus over the sun's disc, which would occur in 1874, for the first time 1395 after the transit observed by Captain Cook during the last century. The Admiralty had taken pains to ascertain the expense of observing this transit of Venus wherever it might be visible in various parts of the world, and they had come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to ask for a sum of £10,500, and to spread it over the next five years. The object of this Resolution was that the Admiralty might begin at once to take the necessary steps, and as this was a matter of prospective expenditure, the Government thought it desirable to obtain the leave of the House before undertaking outlay which would be spread over a considerable time. The amount was small, while the object was of great scientific value. He moved that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She will be graciously pleased to give directions for the carrying out of the arrangements necessary for observing the Transit of Venus which will take place in the year 1874; and to assure Her Majesty that this House will make good any expense that may be incurred thereby.