DEATH OF FATHER PIETRO ANGELO SECCHI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 260, 26 April 1878, Page 9

DEATH OF FATHER PIETRO ANGELO SECCHI.

Tins distinguished Italian priest of the Society of Jesus, whose fame as an astronomer, mathematician and physicist is worldwide, died at Rome on Tuesday, February 20th, after a lingering illness. Father Secchi was born in Regio, Emilia, on the 20th July, 1818, and became a .icsiiit on November 3. 1833. and -went through his studies in mathematics under Father de Vico. From 1841 to 1843 Father Secchi taught physics in the College of Loreto, and in 1544 commenced his course of theology in the Roman College, now the Lyceo Vitorio Kmnnnole, completing it at Georgetown College, Washington. D.C.. in IS 18-1). There also he taught physics and Mathematics" until the autumn of 1850, when he was recalled to Rome. On his return to I the Eternal City, Father Secchi was appointed Directory to the Ob- i hcrvatory of the Roman College, and became a corresponding member of the lustitut de France He reconstructed his department on anew plan and site, and invented a very complete system of meteorological observation, the results of which ho published in a monthly bulletin which was continued until 1573. The meterograph which he constructed was much admired at the Paris Exposition in 18(57. His mathematical skill was universally acknowledged, and Pope Pius IX. commissioned him to complete the trigonometrical survey of the Papal States which had been commenced by Boscovich in 17/51. Under this commission he was also directed to rectify the measurements made of an nrc of the meridian. His engineering ability was of n. high order, and under another commission he was successful in bringing a snpply of water to Rome from Frosinone, a distance of forty-eight miles. The scientific periodicals of all the European nations have chronicled the results of his labours in astronomical research, which he undertook abou.t IS.HO. His greatest successes were attained in spetroscopic analysis and in solar find stellar physics. He ih classed among the chief authorities on the subject of meteors and has succeeded in preparing marvellous photographic maps of the sur-face'-of some of -the larger planets. In tho investigation of solar eclipses he took equal rank, and has added largely to "the knowledge recently obtained as to the physical constitution of the sun, the coloured protuberances observed on its disk and the corona which surrounds it. Father Sccchi's observations of solar spots have also attracted considerable notice on account of tlie clear and instructive papers which have from time to time accompanied them. He found from a continued series of observations on the diameters of the sun that there are variations of three, four and even five seconds, and that tho periods of greatest diameter correspond to the epochs of the smallest number of protuberances and spots. In this view, however, Father Secchi was opposed by Wagner, of the Poulkova Observatory. The doctrine of a magnetic sun was originated by P. Ivircher in l(>40, when he was professor in the Roman College. Father Secchi revived and sustained the same idea, and connected the appearance of Polar ain-cras with that of great solar proturbei-anccs or irruptions of hydrogen. His greatest work is t% IjO Soleil : expose des principalcs tlticouvcrtes modernes sur la structure de cot astre, son influence et ses reIntions avee les autres corps celestes. Paris, 1870." In it the great astronomer has embodied tho observations oE a lifetime, besides the latest researches of modern astronomy. . The book is a complete description of the structure of the sun ? sun spots, the solar atmosphere the theory of eclipses and -the solar protuberances. '

He had one of the finest collections of astronomical instruments in the world and was very accurate in his observations. Ho was never satisfied with the observations of others, but always repeated them over himself. The charge was laid to him on this account that he was trying to arrogate to himself the discovei'ies of others, bnt he' replies, in tho preface of his work on the sun, that he repeated the observations of others merely to understand them better himself, not to claim them as his own. Padre Secchi was a man. of middling stature, broad and stout, somewhat Napoleonic in appearance. He had keen black eyes, through which the fire of genius always shone. His finely formed mouth and prominent nose bore the impress of genius and made up a face which it was not easy to forget. His carriage was very erect, and he used to take long, elastic steps in walking. In his habits liewas very methodical, having certain hours for reading, writing, eating, sleeping and exercise. At his meals ho would eat a certain definite quantity and no more. Every afternoon he would take a walk lasting just one hour and a half. In the revolution of IS4B he was driven from Rome and took refuge in England. He returned when order was restored, and has since that time devoted himself chiefly to his favourite science. While in England he learned to speak the language fluently. A young student lately returned from Rome relates that he, in company with several other Americans, called on Father Secchi to see his instruments, and endeavoured to get him to converse with them in. English. " No," replied the Father ; " when I was in England they made me talk English ; now you are here you must speak Italian." When Rome was taken Tby Victor Emmanuel's troops, the Jesuits were driven out, but an exception was' made in favour of the distinguished astronomer. He was allowed to remain and teach as usual. But the Italian Government was very jealous of its protectorate over him. In 1870 a congress of astronomers was called to sit at Paris, and the French Government invited Father Secchi to "attend, without having first consulted the Italian authorities. Father Secchi desired to go, but the government refused to allow him. He was looked upon by the Italian people as a monument of greatness. Formerly the religious Orders used to receive Government aid, but under the new rry'um this was limited to the members composing the different Orders, so that as they die off the pension list decreases, until it will be finally wiped out. But with regard to the Order of Jesuits the pension was taken from them all at once. An exception was again made in favour of Father Secchi, who was granted an annuity of 15,000 francs (3000 dols.) a year, with rooms, food, clothing, and a retinue of servants gratis. In 1875 he was sent to Sicily by the Italian Government on a scientific expedition. — JV. Y. Freeman;* Journal.