he
history of this noble discovery. On July 12, 1842, the late illustrious
astronomer, Bessel,[796] honored me with a visit at my present residence.
On the evening of that day, conversing on the great work of the planetary
reductions undertaken by the Astronomer Royal[797]--then in progress, and
since published,[798]--M. Bessel remarked that the motions of Uranus, as he
had satisfied {385} himself by careful examination of the recorded
observations, could not be accounted for by the perturbations of the known
planets; and that the deviations far exceeded any possible limits of error
of observation. In reply to the question, Whether the deviations in
question might not be due to the action of an unknown planet?--he stated
that he considered it highly probable that such was the case,--being
systematic, and such as might be produced by an exterior planet. I then
inquired whether he had attempted, from the indications afforded by these
perturbations, to discover the position of the unknown body,--in order that
'a hue and cry' might be raised for it. From his reply, the words of which
I do not call to mind, I collected that he had not then gone into that
inquiry; but proposed to do so, having now completed certain works which
had occupied too much of his time. And, accordingly, in a letter which I
received from him after his return to Koenigsberg, dated November 14, 1842,
he says,--'In reference to our conversation at Collingwood, I _announce_ to
you (_melde_ ich Ihnen) that Uranus is not forgotten.' Doubtless,
therefore, among his papers will be found some researches on the subject.

"The remarkable calculations of M. Le Verrier--which have pointed out, as
now appears, nearly the true situation of the new planet, by resolving the
inverse problem of the perturbations--if uncorroborated by repetition of
the numerical calculations by another hand, or by independent investigation
from another quarter, would hardly justify so strong an assurance as that
conveyed by my expressions above alluded to. But it was known to me, at
that time, (I will take the liberty to cite the Astronomer Royal as my
authority) that a similar investigation had been independently entered
into, and a conclusion as to the situation of the new planet very nearly
coincident with M. Le Verrier's arrived at (in entire ignorance of his
conclusions), by a young Cambridge mathematician, Mr. Adams;[799]--who
will, I hope, {386} pardon this mention of his name (the