I am well assured that neither Continental nor American astronomers will accept the new estimate of the sun's distance, unless--which I venture to predict will not be the case--the entire series of transit observations should seem to point to the same value as the most probable mean. Even then most astronomers will, I believe, think rather that transits of Venus do not afford such satisfactory means of determining the sun's distance as had been supposed. This opinion, it is well known, was held by Leverrier, insomuch that he declined to support with the weight of his influence the proposals for heavy expenditure by France upon expeditions for observing the recent transit and the approaching transit of the year 1882. I doubt whether many, even among British astronomers, will accept the new value. Already the Superintendent of the _Nautical Almanac_ has given his opinion upon it in terms which cannot be regarded as favourable. 'It is well known,' he says (I quote at least from an article which has been attributed to him without contradiction on his part), 'that some astronomers have not expected our knowledge of the sun's distance to be greatly improved from the observations of the transit of Venus. Many, we can imagine, will regard with some suspicion' so great a value as 93,300,000 miles (I substitute these words for technical expressions identical in real meaning). 'Nevertheless, whatever degree of doubt might be entertained by competent authorities, it appears to have been felt by those immediately responsible for action, in different civilised nations where science is encouraged, that so rare a phenomenon as a transit of Venus could not be allowed to pass without every exertion being made to utilise it.' Sir George Airy, very naturally, attaches more value to the result of the British expeditions, or at least of that part of the operations for which he was responsible, than others are disposed to do. In an address to the Astronomical Society, he expressed the opinion that 'the results now presented are well worthy of very great confidence.... Considering that the number of observers was eighteen, and that they made fifty-four observations, and considering also the degree of training they had, and their zeal, and the extreme care that was taken in the choice of stations, I think,' he said, 'that there will not be anything to compete with the value which has been deduced.' This is, as I have said, very naturally his opinion; and although ordinarily it is rather for the employers than for the employed to estimate the value of the results sent in, yet at least we cannot object to his just and generous praise of those who have worked under his orders.