Urbain LE VERRIER (1811-1877) astronomer. 2 L.A.S., January 16, 1866 and n.d., [to Admiral de La Roncière Le Nourry]; 4 1/2 in-8 pages on Imperial Observatory letterhead. He asks him to do "astronomy" a favor during a "total eclipse of the sun visible at Trinité, Gorée and on the coast of Africa 20 leagues west of Tripoli", by having the navy transport the astronomer Chacornac "who is burning with the desire to be a martyr to Science by going to die of fever in Gorée or of a bullet in Tripoli"...