Set of documents relating to the Royal Observatory, wrapped in paper marked 'King's warrant of appointment to the Royal Observatory, appointment of visitors and sundry other papers relative to the Royal Observatory'.

The letter is concerned with timekeepers and also contains notes and calculations in Maskelyne's hand.

Concerning his proposed method of finding longitude by observing the pointers of the Great Bear. An annotation on the final page reads 'Ordered by the Board that no notice be taken of this letter'. Sent from Millton by Dumbarton.

The letter concerns observations of the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites which were taken to establish the exact location of several rivers to determine the boundary between New Brunswick and the District of Maine (then part of Massachusetts).

Sent to Nevil Maskelyne.

The letter was marked as unworthy of the Board's attention by Nevil Maskelyne.

The letter contains observations of an eclipse of the Sun at Port Jackson, Sydney on 9 December 1806. A duplicate of the letter is at [RGO 4/187: 40b].

The letter contains an astronomical account of a comet observed on 27 September 1807 at Port Jackson, Sydney.

Concerning astronomical observations.

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.

Reporting on his work at the observatory in Sydney. He refers to the loss of HMS Sirius and states that the timekeeper [K1] was moved to HMS Supply undamaged. The letter also includes a description of his observatory.

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'.

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

Concerning the rate of the Board of Longitude's watch and the provision of books and instruments.

Concerning the rate of the Board of Longitude's watch; the provision of books; the testing of instruments intended for the observatory; the discovery of damage to a sextant; and his request for an advance of a year's subsistence.

Requesting the advance of a year's subsistence and his request to be appointed to the land service at Botany Bay; also enclosing a copy of a letter from Lord Howe about his appointment.

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.

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

Concerning repairs to a sextant by Mr Ramsden and supplies for the observatory.

Concerning a replacement sextant and black index glass from Ramsden.

Concerning supplies of instruments and other preparations.

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

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

Sent from HMS Sirius, concerning a timekeeper [K1] received from William Bayly.

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