Scope and Contents Airy's address to the Royal Astronomical Society, including subjects such as Baily's biography of Flamsteed; the position of the ecliptic, 1835; the mass of Jupiter, 1835-1836; Rosenberger's medal; E. Dunkin's Spring Level; the parallax of Alpha Lyrae; the First Cambridge Catalogue; examination of Boguslowski's claims to be an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society; the determination of the orbits of comets from observations; P.A. Hansen's physical astronomy; the regulation of the...

Scope and Contents Comparisons of various standard bars. The volume begins with R. Sheepshanks' notes on antiquarian measures and on the standards. There are his observations, calculations, corrections and comparisons of various standard bars held by Parliament, the Royal Astronomical Society and individuals, and also comparisons of standard bars by F. Baily. Their prime concern is with variations of length at different temperatures. The volume also includes F. Baily's detailed comparisons of various bars and...

Scope and Contents Minutes of Board of Longitude meetings regarding, among other matters, experiments to discover the longitude of Falmouth; instruments required by Fearon Fallows at the Cape of Good Hope; Sir Humphrey Davy's suggestion of publishing a catalogue of double stars by John Herschel and Sir James South; Johann Tiarks's trip to Heligoland to discover the longitude of the island and its relative position to both the coast of Germany and Greenwich; the purchase of a 14-foot reflecting telescope for...

Scope and Contents Correspondence on comets observed between 1832 and 1847, including Halley's Comet (1835); Encke's Comet (1832, 1835, 1838, 1842); Galle's three comets (1839-1840); Brenniker's Comet (1840); Laugier's Comet (1842); the Great Comet of 1843; Mauvais' three comets (1843, 1845, 1847); Fayé's Comet (1843-44); De Vico's six comets (1844-1846); D'Arrest's Comet (1844); Wilmot's Comet (1844); Colla's Comet (1845 and 1847); Biela's Comet (1845); Brorsen's three comets (1846-1847); and Hind's 1846...

Scope and Contents Correspondence and related papers concerning magnetic instruments. The correspondents include G. Forbes, H. Lloyd, F. Beaufort, J.F.W. Herschel, K.F. Gauss, M. Faraday, J.V. Lamont, F. Baily, E. Sabine, C. Brooke and F. Ronalds. The papers include diagrams of the small needles used in the Magnetic Observatory at Munich; a printed 'Account of the Induction Inclinometer and of its Adjustments' by H. Lloyd; a piece of gilt covered paper; a printed paper by W. Snow Harris titled 'New Steering...

Scope and Contents Correspondence on magnetic observations, including papers on the establishment of a Magnetic Observatory in Greenwich Park and the benefits to astronomers of this research; specifications and accounts for the Observatory building; functions of the Magnetic Observatory and the provision of staff and equipment; extracts from Royal Society correspondence and minutes on magnetism and meteorology; a report on a letter by F.W.H.A.V. Humboldt concerning magnetic observations; the report of the...

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Correspondence concerning requests for reduced lunar observations, etc.; computation of the geocentric places of the planets; instructions and computations for planetary reductions; Bradley's reduced observations; and reductions of the minor planets. The correspondents include J.W. Lubbock, J.C. Adams, W.S. Stratford, J.F. Encke, F. Baily, J. Challis and P.A. Hansen.

Scope and Contents Miscellaneous correspondence regarding the Royal Astronomical Society, concerning the medals for 1837, 1842, 1844, 1845 and 1847; Mr Baily's death; a memoir of Mr Baily by Sir John Herschel; the election of a President in 1845; the Anniversary Dinner of 1845; the appointment of assistant secretaries; the grant of the interest of the Lee Fund to Mrs Pond in 1837; a booklet of the Charter and byelaws, 1844; De Vico's maps; Madame Witte's model of the Moon; Bessel's researches on Uranus; and...

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Official and general correspondence on standards, including correspondence on the 'International Commission of the Metre'; a paper describing a 'New subdivided Standard Yard and Comparing Apparatus for the use of Local Inspectors of Weights and Measures'; and a paper by M. Fizeau on the determination of the co-efficient of linear expansion of F. Baily's metal using his expansion measuring apparatus.

Scope and Contents Correspondence on the posthumous publication of the Groombridge Star Catalogue. The letters detail errors in Groombridge's stars, the production of a preface, the printing of the work and its distribution. The correspondents include Sir F. Beaufort, F. Baily, Sir J. Barrow, Sir C. Wood, T.F. Colby, T. Galloway, G. Peacock, Lord Wrottesley and A. de Morgan. The papers include a protracted argument between Sir J. South and Airy regarding the catalogue featured in 'The Times' in November 1838;...

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding admissions to visit the Royal Observatory. The volume is divided broadly into requests from the Admiralty to visit the Royal Observatory, introductions on behalf of visitors, personal requests to visit the Observatory, and instructions to assistants to receive guests. The correspondents include C. Wood, F. Beaufort, J. Barrow, S.H. Herbert, H.T.C. Corry, H.G. Ward, R.S. Dundas, J.G. Children, C.W. Pasley, H.C. Schumacher, J.F. Encke, J.W. Lubbock, T. Henderson, W.R....

Scope and Contents Correspondence with the Nautical Almanac Office, primarily with W.S. Stratford over the 'Nautical Almanac', and including topics such as the minor planets, Jupiter's satellites, Halley's and Encke's Comets, and errors in the 'Nautical Almanac' and Greenwich observations. There is further correspondence with the British Association for the Advancement of Science on the subject of producing a comprehensive star catalogue and reductions. The correspondents include Sir J. Barrow, Sir J. South,...

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Correspondence with the following members of the Standards Commission: F. Baily, C.R.D. Bethune, F. Gilbert, Sir J.F.W. Herschel, Sir J.W. Lubbock, J.G.S. Lefevre, W.H. Miller, the Marquis of Northampton, the Revd G. Peacock, the Revd R. Sheepshanks and Lord Wrottesley. The volume includes copies of printed papers from the Standards Commission and several diagrams of spirit barrels.

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Correspondence with tradesmen, initials N-W, including letters from booksellers; coal merchants; builders; chandlers; instrument makers (particularly Troughton and Simms); stationers; opticians; parcel carriers; engineers; and carpenters. The letters cover requests; accounts; bills; receipts; tenders; invoices; routine repairs; adjustments; improvements; and shutters for observing domes. There are letters from F. Baily, J. Glaisher and J.H.V. Vian.

Scope and Contents Correspondence with tradesmen, initials N-W, including letters from engineers; printers; booksellers; opticians; and bookbinders. The volume includes a classified catalogue produced by B. Quaritch to advertise his skill as a library cataloguer; a pencil drawing titled 'Plan of South East Dome', almost certainly concerning the Royal Observatory's South East Dome; a prospectus of a literary agency from J. Shillinglaw; a catalogue of the astronomical, mathematical and general library of F....

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Correspondence on the positions of stars, with their errors, new discoveries, comparisons of star places (i.e. with the Tabula Regiomontana) and the motion of variable stars. The correspondents include F. Baily, Sir F. Beaufort, J.F.W. Herschel, J. Glaisher, R. Sheepshanks, W.H. Smyth, T. Galloway, W.S. Stratford, J.R. Hind, W.R. Dawes, Sir G. Everest and W. Lassell. The papers also include various parts of star catalogues.

Scope and Contents From the Series: The first part of collection is comprised of papers concerning the internal affairs of the Board of Longitude, including the granting of awards, accounts, minutes, committee papers, petitions and memorials, the loan of instruments, publications and the payment of staff. These are followed by a wide range of papers relating to the Board's work, concerning clocks, chronometers and other instruments; longitude and latitude; magnetic variation; schemes and inventions; tables; pendulum...

Scope and Contents Correspondence and other items from a guardbook regarding the printing of Flamsteed's works, 98 folios. The papers include letters from the 'Referees' and drafts of Flamsteed's replies; an 'Estimate of the Expence of Printing the Historia Coelestis' (19r); 'Articles for Printing' (34r-39r); a draft agreement (43r); and draft petitions to the Queen (49r-50r, 66r). There are also related statements by Flamsteed concerning his personal history, including drafts of his 'Account of the...

Scope and Contents From the Series: The first part of collection is comprised of papers concerning the internal affairs of the Board of Longitude, including the granting of awards, accounts, minutes, committee papers, petitions and memorials, the loan of instruments, publications and the payment of staff. These are followed by a wide range of papers relating to the Board's work, concerning clocks, chronometers and other instruments; longitude and latitude; magnetic variation; schemes and inventions; tables; pendulum...

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On finding longitude by occultations of stars by the moon and by meridian transits of the moon.

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Concerning methods of calculating longitudes and including mention of C. Babbage and T. Young. Annotated in red ink [by Baily].

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Correspondence comprised predominantly of letters from T. Maclear or F. Fallows to F. Baily:

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Lunar tables, compiled c. 1702-1712, with 'Directions how to Calculate the Moones true place' (203v-204v), and a list of eclipse observations for 1675-1712 (202v). There is also a letter from Francis Baily to G.B. Airy concerning the tables, 1836 (170r-171v). The volume is not in Flamsteed's hand, but there are occasional notes by him.

Scope and Contents Miscellaneous papers concerning astronomical matters, including letters from T. Henderson, C.P. Smyth, A. de Morgan, J.R. Hind, J.W. Lubbock, J. Challis, F. Baily and others. The subjects covered include the printing of comet tables; the locations in the 'Philosophical Transactions' of the papers of Flamsteed, Bradley and Maskelyne relating to Greenwich observations; reports on the transit of Mercury, 1832; the occultation of Mercury, 1838; newspaper cuttings of the transit of Mercury in...

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Letters to Thomas Maclear from Timms, Gibbs, F. Baily, Taylor, G. Dolland, the Academy of Science in Paris and G.B. Airy regarding Halley's Comet, the printing of observations, instrument problems and their solution and other subjects.