ared a few minutes from the somewhat mechanical
work at the micrometer to take a view of the transit in the more
picturesque form which the large field of the finder presented. The sun
was already beginning to put on the ruddy hues of sunset, and there, far
in on its face, was the sharp, round, black disc of Venus. It was then
easy to sympathise with the supreme joy of Horrocks, when, in 1639, he
for the first time witnessed this spectacle. The intrinsic interest of
the phenomenon, its rarity, the fulfilment of the prediction, the noble
problem which the transit of Venus helps us to solve, are all present to
our thoughts when we look at this pleasing picture, a repetition of
which will not occur again until the flowers are blooming in the June of
A.D. 2004.

The occasion of a transit of Venus also affords an opportunity of
studying the physical nature of the planet, and we may here briefly
indicate the results that have been obtained. In the first place, a
transit will throw some light on the question as to whether Venus is
accompanied by a satellite. If Venus were attended by a small body in
close proximity, it would be conceivable that in ordinary circumstances
the brilliancy of the planet would obliterate the feeble beam of rays
from the minute companion, and thus the satellite would remain
undiscovered. It was therefore a matter of great interest to scrutinise
the vicinity of the planet while in the act of transit. If a satellite
existed--and the existence of one or more of such bodies has often been
suspected--then it would be capable of detection against the brilliant
background of the sun. Special attention was directed to this point
during the recent transits, but no satellite of Venus was to be found.
It seems, therefore, to be very unlikely that Venus can be attended by
any companion globe of appreciable dimensions.

The observations directed to the investigation of the atmosphere
surrounding Venus have been more successful. If the planet were devoid
of an atmosphere, then it would be totally invisible just before
commencing to enter on the sun, and would relapse into total
invisibility as soon as it had left the sun. The observations made
during the transits are not in conformity with such suppositions.
Special attention has been directed to this point during the recent
transits. The result has been very remarkable, and has proved in the
most conclusive manner the existence of an atmosphere around Venus. As