NEW FRONTIERS 301
manuscript. The fragment was entitled "The moving element
(Urstoff) in its cosmo-electro-magnetic effects—a picture of the
Universe respectfully submitted to the academies of science for
examination, by Wilhelm Weitling"—and he enclosed copies of
the publication with many of the letters which he later addressed
to the scientists.
In the old account book which was no longer needed for the
Arbeiterbund or Communia, one finds pages and pages of incom
prehensible figures, angles like the demonstrations used to prove
geometrical theorems, computations about the orbit of the sun
and the moon and the passing of the seasons, and angles of inclina
tion for the earth, and figures about its volume and circumference.
It is clear from the material that has been preserved that the cal
culator had examined a number of texts on physics and astronomy,
and he specifically referred to some of the experiments described
therein dealing with light waves and the spectrum. The calcula
tions run into fifteen digits and more. The account book also
reveals that it cost $23 to have the fragment of his book on astron
omy published, and itemizes the expenditures on postage for the
many letters addressed to the learned in America and Europe.
Weitling's most extensive correspondence was with Joseph
Henry, director of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
The latter revealed unusual patience and tact in dealing with this
ardent and irrepressible novice in the field of astronomy. In March,
1856, Henry acknowledged the receipt of a letter and a pamphlet,
"relative to the motion of the heavenly bodies," and commented
that it "evinces much originality of thought and fertility of in
vention," but also pointed out that it was still in such an "unveri
fied condition" and so loosely constructed "in regard to established
facts" that he would not be warranted in recommending it to the
special attention of the Institution. Eighteen months later, Henry
acknowledged receipt of another communication on "zodiacal
light" and agreed to forward it to the academy in Vienna at Weitling's risk. In 1859, the latter wrote again to Henry, taking excep
tion to the report of an expert referee to whom Weitling's claims