Scope and Contents

Thanking him for his assistance regarding his son, William Dawes and assuring him that the books and instruments would be brought back from Sydney on HMS Gorgon, which had just departed from Spithead with supplies. Dawes also discusses the shortage of food and clothing at the settlement, and recounts William's list of rations at the settlement, noting how they were cut after the loss of the Sirius.

Scope and Contents

Written on board HMS Gorgon on Dawes' return passage to England and concerning the safe return of instruments from the observatory at Sydney.

Scope and Contents From the File:

Miscellaneous petitions and memorials making requests of the Board of Longitude.

Scope and Contents From the File:

Papers regarding the loan and return of instruments belonging to the Board of Longitude and concerning persons entitled to receive Board publications.

Scope and Contents Twenty six letters sent by William Dawes to Nevil Maskelyne, covering his initial preparations for departure, his passage via Rio de Janeiro, the establishment of the observatory at Port Jackson, his work there, and his eventual return on HMS Gorgon six years later. The letters include detailed accounts of setting up the observatory in Sydney where he hoped to observe a comet, and of the difficulties encountered there (particularly shortages of supplies and Dawes' own disagreements with...