Correspondence concerning the annual estimate of expenses incurred by the Royal Observatory and the submission to the Admiralty of annual draft estimates of expenditure. The letters are grouped by financial year, with each section listing the items of expense and give details of any extraordinary expenses.

(1) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1886-1887, including:

1. Amounts of individual salaries of Royal Observatory staff.

2. First instalments of payment for the 28" telescope.

3. Estimate of the cost of the computation of the Ten-Year Catalogue.

4. Printed page of estimates.

5. Rough notes for the preparation of draft estimates.

6. Abstract of expenses, including assistant's salaries, 1886-1887.

7. Copies of explanations of excesses of expenditure sent to the Accountant General of the Navy and the Hydrographer of the Navy.

(2) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1887-1888, including:

1. Estimates for furniture required by the Royal Observatory.

2. Queries about salaries under consideration of the Admiralty.

3. Salaries of second class clerks.

4. Workmen's wages.

5. Revote of £1300 for the 28" telescope.

6. Estimate of the cost of the computation of the Ten-Year Catalogue.

7. Estimated cost of the enlargement of the Computing rooms and the estimated cost of the completion of the 'Greenwich Meteorological Reductions'.

8. Rough notes for the preparation of draft estimates.

9. Printed page of estimates titled 'Navy Estimates - Vote 6 - Scientific Services'.

10. Abstract of expenses during the financial year 1887-1888 and for each quarter.

(3) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1888-1889, including:

1. Form giving instructions for the preparation of estimates.

2. Queries about salaries under consideration of the Admiralty.

3. Note to the effect that the Post Office is assuming the responsibility for the galvanic wires and funds for their maintenance will no longer be required.

4. Revote for the 28" telescope.

5. Estimated cost of the computation of the Ten-Year Catalogue.

6. Cost of completion of the meteorological reductions.

7. Estimated cost of determined the longitude of Paris-Greenwich.

8. Cost of a duplicate series of magnetic registers.

9. Printed page of estimates.

10. Statement of expenditure, 1889.

11. Comparison of estimated and actual expenditure, 1888-1889.

(4) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1889-1890, including:

1. Admiralty form giving instructions for the preparation of estimates.

2. Draft estimates.

3. Possible costs arising from revision of the establishment.

4. Increase of vote for computers.

5. Revote for the 28" telescope.

6. Cost of determining the longitude of Dunkirk.

7. Estimated cost of maintaining the astrographic equatorial telescope.

(5) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1890-1891, including:

1. Estimates for new buildings and repairs to existing buildings.

2. Possible costs arising from an increase of staff numbers.

3. Expenses incurred by the Board of Visitors Annual Visitation.

4. Estimated cost of compiling the astrographic chart.

5. Explanation of the difference between estimated costs and expenditure, requested by the Accountant General of the Navy.

(6) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1891-1892, including:

1. Estimate of the cost of the maintenance and repair of buildings.

2. Expenses arising from the addition of two Second Class Assistants to the Royal Observatory staff.

3. Expenses incurred by the Board of Visitors Annual Visitation.

4. Cost of determining the longitude of Montreal.

5. Estimated cost of maintaining the astrographic telescope.

6. Expenses connected with the astrographic chart.

(7) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1892-1893, including:

1. Request from the Admiralty for a draft estimate of expenses.

2. Sketch estimate of votes.

3. Expenses incurred by the Annual Visitation of the Board of Visitors.

4. Revotes for the porter's uniform, payments of the 28" telescope, repairs to the South East Dome, the determination of the longitude of Montreal, and the determination of the longitude of Greenwich-Paris.

5. Estimated cost of the installation of electric lighting.

6. Estimated cost of maintaining the astrographic telescope.

7. Draft estimates approved for 1892.

(8) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1893-1894, including:

1. Estimated cost of new buildings, in particular the proposed extension to the Physical Observatory.

2. Sketch estimates sent to the Hydrographer, 1892.

3. Draft estimates sent to the Admiralty, 1892.

4. Revote for the determination of the longitude of Montreal.

5. Estimated cost of electric light installation.

(9) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1894-1895, including:

1. Estimated cost of wages, salaries and allowances.

2. Estimate for expenses in connection with the 'Photographic Mapping of the Heavens'.

3. Details of expenditure for 1893-1894.

4. Details of extraordinary expenses, 1893-1894.

5. Rough notes for the preparation of a draft estimate.

6. Correspondence with the Admiralty and the Hydrographer of the Navy on various alterations to be made to votes and subheads for the financial year 1894-1895.

(10) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1895-1896, including:

1. Request from the Hydrographer of the Navy for a draft estimate of the expenses of the Royal Observatory for the year 1895-1896.

2. Draft estimate of expenses.

3. Rough notes for the preparation of a draft estimate.

4. Printed sheet titled 'Navy Estimates - Vote 6 - Scientific Services'.

(11) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1896-1897, including:

1. Request from the Hydrographer of the Navy for a draft estimate of the expenses of the Royal Observatory for the year 1896-1897.

2. Rough notes for the preparation of a draft estimate.

3. Draft estimate of expenses.

4. Printed sheet titled 'Navy Estimates - Vote 6 - Scientific Services'.

(12) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1897-1898, including:

1. Rough estimate giving expenditure of the Royal Observatory for the half year ending 30 September 1896

2. The estimate cost of assistants' salaries.

3. Cost of electric light installation, materials, fittings and supervision.

4. Draft estimate of expenses.

5. Printed sheet titled 'Navy Estimates - Vote 6 - Scientific Services'.

(13) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1898-1899, including:

1. List of furniture required and the estimated cost.

2. Expenses of determining the longitude of Paris, 1892.

3. Estimated cost of assistants' salaries.

4. Draft estimate of expenses.

(14) Estimated expenditure for the financial year 1899-1900, including:

1. Comparison of votes and expenditure for the year 1898-1899.

2. Draft estimates of expenses.

3. Printed sheet titled 'Navy Estimates - Vote 6 - Scientific Services'.