Scope and Contents Correspondence on comets observed between 1853 and 1855, including Secchi's Comet (1853); the Southern Comet (1853); Klinkerfeus's first and second comets (1853-1854); and the Second Comet of 1854. The correspondents are largely interested amateurs forwarding their own observations with a few theories on comets, but also include O. Struve and J.R. Hind. The volume includes T. Maclear's South African observations, the time of return to perihelion of comets and newspaper articles on recent...

Scope and Contents Correspondence on comets, including the Comet of 1556; Comet of 1811; Bruhn's Comet, Encke's Comet; Brorsen's Comet (1857); Klinkerfeus's Comet (1857); the fifth and sixth comets of 1857; the eight comets of 1858; and Fayé's Periodical Comet. The correspondents are a mixture of international astronomers and amateurs, forwarding observations and making requests. They include J.R. Hind, T. Chevallier, G.S.G. Santini, J. Challis, R. Grant, Y. Villarceau, J.J. von Littrow, J.F. Encke and W.C....

Scope and Contents Correspondence of G.B. Airy and related papers under the heading 'Cape Observatory and Survey 1849 to 1854. Instruments', divided into thirteen sections:Notes on the barometer used by Henderson.Letters from G.B. Airy to W. Dolland regarding an eyepiece and level for the Cape Transit, 1850-1851.Sir J. Herschel's recommendation for the erection of a transit circle at the Cape, 27 December 1851.Correspondence with the Admiralty regarding the transit circle,...

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...

Scope and Contents Correspondence and requests for advice relating primarily to the establishment of observatories in various localities, including in North America. There are also letters concerning University Chairs and correspondence with the Treasury on financial matters. The correspondents include the Duke of Northumberland, M.J. Johnson, S.H. Christie, R. Sheepshanks, Sir T.M. Brisbane, W.S. Stratford, W.H.C. Bartlett, J. Glaisher, J.P. Nichol, J.W. Lubbuck, J.Q. Adams, J.M. Gillis, J.D. Forbes, C.P....

Scope and Contents Correspondence and some related papers regarding different aspects of the work and the instruments at the Cape Observatory, together with the Cape Survey, divided into five sections:N1. Cape Observations, General:Official Instructions to the Cape Astronomer, containing letters of instruction to F. Fallows and T. Maclear.Observations of Mauvais' Comet by Maclear at the Cape of Good Hope, August-October 1844.General correspondence with Maclear, including letters...

Scope and Contents Correspondence entitled 'Cape Observatory and Survey 1845 to 1848. Printing 1839-1848', divided into ten sections:'Fallows's Observations and Henderson's Observations': correspondence between G.B. Airy, T. Maclear and the Admiralty, including a list compiled by C.P. Smyth of Henderson's Cape manuscripts, dated 24 July 1847.Papers relating to assistants at the Cape Observatory, 1846.'Instruments for the Cape Observatory': correspondence, 6 March 1846 - 19 April 1848,...

Scope and Contents Correspondence and related papers concerning the Cape Observatory and Survey, divided into six sections:'Correspondence on the Cape Observatory excepting generally the Cape Survey'. Comprises general correspondence between G.B. Airy, T. Maclear and the Admiralty, 28 February 1849 - 9 December 1854, regarding the Cape Observatory, including the preparation of annual reports, general information on the progress of work, the burning down of the Magnetic Observatory and observations of...

Scope and Contents A set of correspondence entitled 'Cape Observatory and Survey 1855 to 1870 July', divided into eight sections:General correspondence and papers regarding the Cape Observatory and Cape Survey, 9 April 1855 - 20 July 1870, comprised largely of correspondence between T. Maclear and G.B. Airy. There are letters regarding Encke's Comet; general reports on Observatory business; letters on the Cape Survey; a printed copy of 'Observations of Zenith Distances with the Transit Circle, 1855';...

Scope and Contents Correspondence on the establishment of a 'Southern Telescope', including a resolution for establishing a large southern telescope; the foundation of the Southern Telescope Committee; printed correspondence with the Southern Telescope Committee, including drawings, mounting of the telescope and posts for observers; and letters from W. Cubitt, Sir W. Denison, T. Maclear, J. Nasmyth, the Earl of Rosse, E. Sabine, W.H. Smyth, C.P. Smyth (with his report for the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh) and...

Scope and Contents General correspondence on the Standards Commission. The correspondents include M. Biot, E.W. Brayley, A. de Morgan, W. De La Rue, M. Faraday, J.P. Gassiot, T. Maclear, E. Sabine, C.A. Peters and G.G. Stokes. The volume includes a galley proof titled 'Proposals to increase the gross weight of the Sovereign to 125 grains by making a small addition to the alloy, but preserving 113 grains of fine gold contained therein'; a copy of 'A Bill for regulating Weights and Measures'; a paper titled...

Scope and Contents Correspondence and related papers on the time signal and the time ball service. There are various papers on the signalling of time by a falling ball or by cannon fire at Birmingham, Cardiff, Devonport, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Madras, Newcastle, Nice and the Palais Royale, Paris; proposals for time balls at Wellington (New Zealand), Ipswich, and Port Elizabeth; proposals for clocks and bells in Worcester; details of local time signals in 'The Scotsman', 'Daily Review', 'Glasgow Daily Herald',...

Scope and Contents Correspondence relating to the transit of Venus, 1874. The correspondents include J.C. Adams, W. De La Rue (with a photograph), R.L.J. Ellery, B.A. Gould, R. Grant, Sir W. Huggins, Lord Lindsay, Sir D. Gill, Sir J.N. Lockyer, Sir T. Maclear, Dr R. Copeland, R. Main, E.J. Stone, C. Meldrum, N.R. Pogson, R.A. Proctor, H.C. Russel, C. Todd, Major Tennant, Dr Oppolzer, J.C. Houzeau, J.A.C. Oudemans, P.A.E. Laugier, A. d'Abbadie, C.E. Delaunay, U.J.J. Le Verrier, O. Struve, Dr P.J.E. Janssen, G....

Scope and Contents Correspondence regarding Arc of Meridian work, triangulation and geodesy, divided into the following sections:'Correspondence with Surveyor-General's Department Cape Town': letters relating to D. Gill's annual reports and the geodetic survey, 1898-1900.'Completion of African Arc of Meridian': letters of 1898-1899, including D. Gill's application to the Royal Geographical Society for assistance in completing a geodetic survey of South Africa from South to North along the 30th...

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, including visits by Prince Arthur and Louis Phillipe d'Orleans; questionnaires for visitors; and instructions to assistants to receive visitors. The correspondents include J. Washington, G.H. Richards, W.G. Romaine, R. Grant, W. Thomson, J.R. Hind, W....

Scope and Contents Correspondence concerned mainly with the standardisation of weights and measures, including much correspondence with W. Bowler. There are copies of the ordnance signed by the Governor, dated 1848 (No. 13); a bill introduced by Ziervogel; correspondence in a printed booklet concerning the bill; a letter from the Colonial Secretary, 3 August 1859, giving details of the standard weights and measures deposited with the Observatory; and Thomas Maclear's private memorandum, in two parts, for 29...

Scope and Contents Correspondence with various telegraph companies concerned mainly with the failure of time signals, the refurbishment and repairs of wires, the connections with the Royal Observatory, and the trials of overhead wires. There are papers regarding tests on the Dartford Earth current wires; the damage and restoration of telegraph wires due to snowstorms; Airy's details of telegraphic equipment and methods employed at the Royal Observatory, found in 'Description of the galvanic connexions'; a...

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Thomas Maclear's diary, 'The Cape of Good Hope Commercial Diary and Bill-Due Book'.

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Correspondence on the positions of stars, observations of stars mentioned in catalogues, corrections to star positions, and examination and formulation of star tables for catalogues. The correspondents include W.H. Smyth, E.J. Cooper, A. Graham, J.C. Adams, T. Maclear, H.C. Schumacher, J.R. Hind, U.J.J. Le Verrier, R.C. Carrington, G.P. Bond, E. Dunkin, N.R. Pogson, O. Struve, M.J. Johnson, E. Heis and J.C. Miller.

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A printed copy of Thomas Maclear's account of the early history of the establishment of the Cape Observatory, including a description of the instruments and an explanation of the printed observations.

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'Verification and Extension of La Caille's Arc of Meridian at the Cape of Good Hope; by Sir Thomas Maclear' (Saul Solomon & Co).

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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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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.

Scope and Contents Concerning astronomical observations and calculations; Sir John Herschel's pendulum; clocks; triangulation; the exact position of the Cape Observatory; the payment of workmen; Dolland's calculations; the whereabouts of a quadrant sent to England by Mr Lloyd; the usefulness of a general table of constants; Mrs Fallows's remarriage; and the subscription to put up an iron railing to commemorate Fearon Fallows. People mentioned include Sir John Franklin, Sir John Herschel, G. Dollond, the Prince...