Scope and Contents

Concerning the publication of Cape observations by Fallows and Maclear; the accuracy of the transit clock; the expansion of the Cape Observatory; observations of Halley's Comet, 1-24 September 1835; C. Piazzi Smyth's suitability as an assistant; and Brisbane’s Cape Catalogue. The people mentioned include G.B. Airy, R. Sheepshanks, Captain Beaufort, W.G. Grey, F. Fallows, Sir John Herschel and C. Piazzi Smyth.

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Concerning Baily's 'Life of Flamsteed'; the arrangement of constellations in the southern hemisphere; the measurement of stellar magnitudes; the calculation of right ascension and declination without errors; and observations of Halley's Comet from 24 January 1836 onwards. The people mentioned include Sir John Herschel, T. Henderson and Captain Beaufort.

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Concerning his visit to the Cape Observatory (where C.P. Smyth instructed him on photography), his return journey to Weymouth and observations of a comet [the Great Comet of 1843?], the reform of the Oxford Observatory, the introduction of the railway, and the Indian Survey. People mentioned include Captain Smyth, Dr Lee, Lieutenant Waugh and Mrs Smyth.

Scope and Contents Letters from various observatories on filling vacancies, requests for information and for advice on instruments, and the formation of new observatories. The correspondents include J.R. Hind, C. Pasley, T. Maclear (a testimonial), J. Challis, W.S. Jacob, R. Sheepshanks, C.P. Smyth, G. Fisher, C. Pritchard, O.M. Mitchel, Captain P.P. King, Sir J.F.W. Herschel, W.R. Dawes and J.P. Nichol. There are communications with J.D. Forbes on the possibility of time balls at Edinburgh; reports by the...

Scope and Contents Letters from various British and international observatories on filling vacancies at Sydney; requests for new instruments from Madras and other places; and the possible establishment of new observatories at Bristol and other locations. The correspondents include C.P. Smyth, J.C. Adams, R. Grant, N.R. Pogson, R.L.J. Ellery, O. Struve, W. De La Rue, F.A.T. Winnecke, Sir F. Galton, R.C. Carrington, A. de Morgan, J.C. Maxwell and T. Maclear. There is also a photograph of Fletcher's Observatory;...

Scope and Contents Letters from the Naval Yard at Simon's Town, addressed mainly to Thomas Maclear, dealing with orders for various items of equipment for the Cape Observatory and related business:Letters from John Breaks, Naval Yard, 21 January 1850 - 22 April 1852.Letters from A. Drew, 5 May 1851 - 10 August 1852, regarding the expenses of the Cape Observatory and other financial matters.Letters from Jopseh Dayman, 15 December 1852 - 1857, regarding observations he has been asked to...

Scope and Contents Letters to Thomas Maclear from the Admiralty and the Hydrographer's Department regarding administrative and financial matters. The subjects include: The appointment of Mr Mann as assistant at the Cape Observatory, 14 September 1853.The discovery of the minor planet Euterpe by J.R. Hind, with observational places, 8 November 1853.Financial estimates for the year 1861-1862.Sanction for the payment of the Simon's Town time ball, 6 May 1861.Inventory of...

Scope and Contents Letters to Thomas Maclear from the Colonial Office regarding work to be carried out at the Cape Observatory, time balls, surveys, lighthouse and financial matters. The letters include the following items:News of Dr Livingstone, 3 April 1861.A list of instruments used for the Cape Coast Survey, 31 January 1862.A report on Captain Bailey's completion of general triangulation work, 18 February 1863.Comments on the proposed changes in the Table Bay Lights, 17...

Scope and Contents Letters to Thomas Maclear from various individuals regarding the fire at the Magnetic Observatory and its subsequent reconstruction. There are also letters from Mr Mann regarding instructions from the Admiralty to Maclear on the purchase of a new telescope and concerning other matters at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich; requests from individuals for observations and the loan of various items of equipment; correspondence regarding lighthouse positions, 26 February 1833; and a letter from...

Scope and Contents Letters to Thomas Maclear on a range of matters, including problems with the Port Elizabeth Time Ball, with some related papers. There is a letter from H. Read on irregularities in the time of dropping of the time ball, 9 February 1866, and regular reports from that date; information on Bailey's survey; observations of Earth currents on telegraph lines between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and Simon's Bay, 4 April 1867; various reports of sightings of a meteoric shower, 1867; an estimate from...

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Letters to Thomas Maclear concerned mainly with the telegraph and related apparatus, including batteries. Parts of some of the letters are damaged, rendering the text unreadable.

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

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Letters to Thomas Maclear from W.S. Jacob and C.P. Smyth, mainly of a personal nature. The letters include a set sent by Smyth to Maclear while he was absent from the Cape Observatory performing observations for the Arc of the Meridian and Cape Survey. These include carbon copies of Maclear's instructions for further work to be done. There are also printed publications of the 1849 meeting of the 'Entomological Society of London' and on the 'Akbar Frigate'.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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Measurements by Thomas Maclear of the angle of triangulation of a chain of points along the arc of a meridian, with an index at the beginning containing the names of the stations at which the observations were made.

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The private meteorological register of Thomas Maclear.

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An undated microfilm made by the Public Record Office of correspondence of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope: RGO 15/27, correspondence of Fearon Fallows and Thomas Henderson, 1820-1833, and RGO 15/30, correspondence of Henderson, G.B. Airy and Thomas Maclear, 1832-1842.

Scope and Contents Airy's miscellaneous correspondence, letters L-W. The correspondents include, among others, J. Lee, U.J.J. Le Verrier, T. Maclear, F. Maxwell, C. May, W.H. Miller, O.M. Mitchel, J.P. Nichol, G. Peacock, C.H.F. Peters, F. Petit, Mr Plarr, C. Pritchard, L.A. Quetelet, W. De La Rue, E. Sabine, G.S.G. Santini, P.A. Secchi, Miss Sheepshanks, W.H. Smyth, C.P. Smyth, F.G.W. Struve, J. Tyndall and W. Whewell. The papers include a printed circular on Madame Quetelet's death; circulars advertising...

Scope and Contents (1) Letters regarding the existence of Neptune, 1846-1878Duplicate copies of collected correspondence on the investigations of J.C. Adams and U.J.J. Le Verrier into the existence of Neptune and in particular of the ensuing controversy over the name of the planet. There are also other letters concerning the minor planets and mathematical formula for their orbits, the Moon's equation and lunar acceleration. The correspondents include J.C. Adams, Sir George Airy, F.N.M. Arago, J....

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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.

Scope and Contents Letters to Thomas Maclear on a variety of subjects, including requests for chronometers; requests for sets of observations and publications; instructions for work to be carried out; observations made at Williamstown, Victoria, 16 November 1859; work on the weights and measures bill; and accounting matters. There are also letters from the Admiralty referring to the renewal of the transit clock, 9 April 1857, and a printed notice on the 'Revolving Light on the Cape of Good Hope', 2 April...