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Concerning his son's circumstances in New South Wales and the possibility of a salary for his work as Engineer and Officer of Artillery.

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Reporting on their progress (the ship had arrived at Rio de Janeiro) and on observations made en route. Dawes also mentions that his cabin was partially under water and that his Requisite Tables had been damaged and needed replacing.

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Reporting on observations made at the Island of Enxadas, Rio de Janeiro. The letter includes mention of a visit by two astronomers from Portugal employed to settle the limits between the Spanish and Portuguese settlements in Brazil.

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Written from the new settlement at New South Wales. Dawes reports on his work there, mentioning the lack of resources and the clearing of land for an observatory. He includes a rough sketch of the observatory.

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Reporting on his activities between leaving the Cape of Good Hope and his arrival at Sydney. The letter also includes an account of constructing the observatory in Sydney, and of the practical difficulties involved, particularly in finding suitable materials and craftsmen. He mentions, for example, that the forty marines employed in the work had to be provided with rum, water and new shoes (due to the damage from brushwood). Dawes also seeks further money and provisions.

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Reporting on the status of the observatory (which was nearly complete), on expenses incurred, and on his role there.

Scope and Contents Reporting on his activities at the observatory in Sydney, mentioning that much of his time had been employed 'in matters quite foreign to astronomy', and that while he had estimated the track of the comet, he had yet to see it. Dawes also reports that he intended to stay in New South Wales for a further three years, on the basis that he could not leave until a suitable person was sent out to take over: 'I think it would be a great pity to lose an established observatory in this Hemisphere'...

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Reporting on his work at the observatory in Sydney. Dawes reports that he had seen nothing of the comet and complains that his duties as Engineer and Officer of Artillery were preventing him from attending to the observatory, which had soured his relationship with the Governor. He asks that a suitable person be sent out to take over the Observatory before his six years there had expired. He also reports the naming of Maskelyne Point.

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Reporting on his work at the observatory at Sydney, and describing the main hindrances to his work (including the lack of 'men of business' in the country, the 'unfortunate want of abilities' of the surveyor of lands, and his problems with the Governor). The letter also includes a description of the local topography of Sydney and his opinion of the country - 'a more dreary, dismal, barren, inanimated [sic] country I believe does not exist anywhere in the whole world'.

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

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Concerning a letter from Lord Howe about his appointment to Botany Bay, and his objections to being placed in the marine detachment of HMS Sirius rather than in the land service.

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Concerning a fault in the sextant and requesting a replacement instrument; also concerning his desire to be placed in the land detachment.

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Reporting on the timekeeper [K1], and on his observations during the passage to Tenerife (en route to New South Wales).

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Concerning receipt of a new sextant, trials of new instruments and other preparations.

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Concerning supplies of instruments, the rate of Mr Kendall's first timekeeper [K1], and his preparations.

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Concerning observations made and including revised calculations of latitudes and longitudes by the timekeeper [K1].