Scope and Contents

The principal part of the collection is comprised of Dicken's detailed hand-written memoirs, accompanied by related documents and photographs. The remaining items are a printed volume on the cruise of the Flying Squadron, 1869-1870, in which Dicken participated; a journal from his service on H.M.S. 'Alexandra' in the Mediterranean, 1883-1884; and assorted papers collected for the memoirs.

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning the annual estimate of expenses incurred by the Royal Observatory and the submission to the Admiralty of annual draft estimates of expenditure. The letters are grouped by financial year, with each section listing the items of expense and give details of any extraordinary expenses.(1) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1886-1887, including: 1. Amounts of individual salaries of Royal Observatory staff.2. First instalments of payment...

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning the annual estimate of expenses incurred by the Royal Observatory and the submission to the Admiralty of annual draft estimates of expenditure. The letters are grouped by financial year, with each section listing the items of expense and give details of any extraordinary expenses.(1) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1900-1901, including:1. Comparison of votes and expenditure.2. Estimated cost of Assistants' salaries3....

Scope and Contents

Civil List accounts, including Customs and Excise, Navy and miscellaneous accounts, 27 December 1706 - 10 January 1798. On labels inside the covers of MSS.Add.5219-5223: 'From the Treasury Chambers Whitehall. Removed to the Public Record Office (W.L[ascelles])'.

Scope and Contents Minutes of Board of Longitude meetings regarding, among other matters, the rates of various chronometers; Charles Hutton's tables of products, powers and roots of natural numbers; the voyages of HMS 'Resolution' and HMS 'Discovery' and the examination of their log books; John Arnold's improvements to his watches; a suitable site for the Board of Longitude's instruments after the burning of the cupola of the Greenwich Hospital where they had been kept; improvements to reflecting telescopes;...

Scope and Contents From the Item:

Copies of outgoing correspondence from Astronomer Royal, John Pond, and his assistant, Thomas Taylor, at the Royal Observatory. Some of the letters are addressed to chronometer makers. Note that correspondence to more than one person often appears on the same page.

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding estimates of expenses for the next financial year:Estimates from Airy, 1860-1861, for the year commencing 1 April 1861, with the relevant page from the Naval Estimates.Estimates from Airy, 1861-1862, for the year commencing 1 April 1862, with the relevant pages from the Naval Estimates and the Civil Service Estimates.Note on estimates to M. Laugier, 1862.Estimates from Airy, 1862-1863, for the year commencing 1 April 1863, with the...

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding estimates of expenses for the next financial year:Estimates from Airy for the year commencing 1 April 1870, with the relevant pages from the Naval Estimates and a list by Mr Ellis of the actual expenditure, dated 10 February 1871. The items date from 1869-1871.Estimates from Airy, 1870-1872, for the year commencing 1 April 1871, with the relevant page from the Naval Estimates and a list of the actual expenditure.Correspondence on transferring...

Scope and Contents Correspondence between Airy and W.H. Christie on a great range of business and scientific matters, including computer's salaries, photographic measurements with micrometers, reduction of the 1874 transit of Venus, star position errors, spectral lines, the Time Ball, the Robert Medal, transit instruments, German longitudes, staff leaves of absence, standards, the tides of Malta, Navy telescopes, tradesmen's bills, a holiday forwarding address, chronograph sheets, distribution lists for...

Scope and Contents

Correspondence regarding the supply of Admiralty reports to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, with supply notes from the Royal Navy Scientific Service, Admiralty, forwarding reports (the reports are not included), and a list of surplus publications in the A.C.S.I.L. Library, Admiralty.

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning astrographic equatorials for the Greenwich and Cape observatories:Official and unofficial correspondence with the Admiralty concerning the photographic mapping of the heavens, the transfer of the telegraphic wires to the Post Office, and the extra expense of re-determining the longitude between Paris and Greenwich telegraphically, 1887.Official and unofficial correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy, A. Milner and Sir Howard Grubb concerning...

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning the annual trials of chronometers and watches at the Royal Observatory:Table showing the greatest change in rate, from one week to the next, of various chronometers during the annual trials of 1856-1880, compiled 1885.Correspondence concerning the annual trial of chronometers, 1885, including a rough abstract on the chronometer trial of that year, a letter of withdrawal from the horologist W.G. Schoof, a list of chronometers entered in the trial, a...

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning the trial of chronometers at the Royal Observatory, 1894-1895, including:(i) Notice of the trial to be published by the 'Horological Journal'.(ii) Copies of chronometer rates.(iii) Copies of letters to Usher and Cole, A. Johannsen and Co., F.J. Clerke, Frodsham and Keen, and M.F. Dent requesting that they withdraw their chronometers from the trial due to their poor performance.(iv) Rough abstract on the annual trial of...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy, trade journals and chronometer-manufacturers concerning the annual trials of chronometers and deck watches at the Royal Observatory, including:(i) Notices to trade journals.(ii) Correspondence with F.J. Britten.(iii) Results for chronometers in order of merit.(iv) List of chronometers purchased by the Admiralty.(v) 'Rough Abstract of the Annual Trial Box Chronometers'.(vi) 'Abstract of the...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy and various trade journals concerning the annual trial of box and pocket chronometers and deck watches at the Royal Observatory, including:(i) Results for chronometers in order of merit.(ii) Reports and memoranda.(iii) List of chronometers purchased by the Admiralty.(iv) 'Rough abstract of Annual Trial Box Chronometers'.(v) 'Abstract of Annual Trial Centre Seconds Pocket Chronometers'.(vi)...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with the Admiralty concerning the annual trial of deck watches, 1900.Correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy concerning the shipment of chronometers and instructions on the direction of invoices, 1900-1901.Correspondence concerning damage to chronometers in transit due to bad packing and revised instructions for packing, 1904.Correspondence concerning the alteration in the times of the diurnal trials of chronometers and deck watches,...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with Lady Lockyer concerning the storage of Royal Observatory chronometers at her house in Sidmouth for the duration of the war, 1940.Correspondence with Professor Greaves of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, concerning the transportation of chronometers from Greenwich to Edinburgh for safety during the war, 1940.Correspondence with His Majesty's Chronometer Depot concerning arrangements for the removal of stocks of Admiralty navigational equipment from Bristol...

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerning the purchase and loss of chronometers:Correspondence with E. Dent and Co., J. Poole and Co., T. Hewitt and other watchmakers asking for a quote for making deck watches, 1885.Correspondence concerning the purchase of chronometers from Messrs Williams, Moore, Shephard and Son, J. Poole and Co., and Reid and Sons, 1885.Correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy concerning the purchase of chronometers and deck watches,...

Scope and Contents General correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Navy, 1894-1896, concerning the trial of chronometers, the number of chronometers available for issue to the Navy, the inspection of the book of weekly chronometer rates by the Assistant Hydrographer, and the distribution of 'B' class chronometers.Correspondence between the Hydrographer of the Navy, the Astronomer Royal and members of the Royal Observatory staff concerning the issue of chronometers, 1896-1897, including lists of...

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding the inspection, rating, supply and testing of watches, chronometers and clocks by the Royal Greenwich Observatory Chronometer Section, including the following items:Booklet on 'Balance and Spring' by R.A. Fell.Correspondence concerning quartz crystal chronometers supplied by the Seikosha Watch Company, Tokyo, Japan, 1963.Correspondence regarding the repair of mine clocks, 1962-1963.Correspondence regarding the historical chronometer...

Scope and Contents

Correspondence with the Admiralty, the Hydrographer of the Navy and Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford, regarding damage caused to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, by enemy action.

Scope and Contents (1) Correspondence regarding Navy estimates for the Royal Greenwich Observatory, 1965-1966, including staff numbers, grades and salaries; out turn forecasts; statistics of personnel and grades; sketch estimates; appropriation accounts; and advance orders.(2) Correspondence regarding Science Research Council estimates, 1965-1966, including the division of charges for the National Time Service; charging for the Nautical Almanac Office publications; and the 'mopping up of surplus...

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding estimates of expenditure for the Royal Greenwich Observatory, including papers on the upkeep of the grounds; Navy Estimates; statements of the instrument situation for the years 1952, 1954 and 1955; Appropriation Accounts for 1953-1954 and 1954-1955; R.G.O. Sketch Estimates for 1955-1956 and 1954-1955; Liability Statements; estimated overseas expenditure and receipts; correspondence between H. Spencer Jones and C. Jowsey regarding the contract for the Schmidt...

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding estimates and expenditure, including the following items:Correspondence regarding estimates of expenditure for the Royal Greenwich Observatory for the years 1956-1960, including vote ledger credit and debit cards; the upkeep of the grounds; estimated overseas naval expenditure and receipts; salary and staff estimates; Navy estimates; instruments to be included in the Sketch Estimates; the Sketch Estimates; Appropriation Accounts; liability statements; D.R.E....

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Correspondence with the Chief Surveyor of Lands, Admiralty; Hydrographer of the Navy; Senior Surveyor of Lands and Superintendent of Navy Works, S.E. England Navy Works District, Chatham; and others, with memoranda and other papers, concerning general plans and costs relating to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, including a site plan of the Observatory showing proposed speed limit signs, November 1962.