Scope and Contents A narrative account by James Inman of a voyage on board the ship Rolla, commanded by John Cumming, in 1803. The account provides details of the situation of places encountered, and of ‘every circumstance’ of the voyage relevant to navigation. It includes detailed descriptions of many of the places visited and of encounters with indigenous peoples. It also describes the loss of HMS Porpoise and the merchantman Cato, and the role of the Rolla, the Cumberland (commanded by Captain Flinders),...

Scope and Contents

Containing tables of comparison relating to timekeepers A82, A176, A1736, E520 and E543.

Scope and Contents Letter and observations from Captain W.J. Wharton regarding the results of his experiment to find the longitude of Malta from Gibraltar, 1873.Printed paper on the galvanic determination of the difference in longitude between Bombay and Malta, 1874.Newspaper cutting from the 'South Australian Advertiser', 19 February 1889, regarding Australian longitudes.Correspondence on marking Major Darwin's longitude station at Singapore, 1891-1892.Miscellaneous...

Scope and Contents

Correspondence relating to the observatory at Sydney, including orders and requests for new instruments, the transport of new instruments and their insurance, the filling of vacancies, and financial transactions with the Oriental Bank Corporation. The correspondents include Sir W. Denison, W. Hopkins, W.H. Miller, E. Sabine and B. Stewart, as well as government departments and various instrument makers.

Scope and Contents

Concerning whether his son Lieutenant William Dawes should return to England with the marine corps or remain at Sydney to continue his work at the observatory.

Scope and Contents

Concerning his son's circumstances in New South Wales and the possibility of a salary for his work as Engineer and Officer of Artillery.

Scope and Contents

Concerning a petition to compensate his son William Dawes for the work he had done as Engineer and Officer of Artillery in New South Wales, and a petition for leave of absence for him.

Scope and Contents

Concerning his petitions on behalf of his son, William Dawes, in New South Wales.

Scope and Contents

Thanking him for his assistance regarding his son, William Dawes and assuring him that the books and instruments would be brought back from Sydney on HMS Gorgon, which had just departed from Spithead with supplies. Dawes also discusses the shortage of food and clothing at the settlement, and recounts William's list of rations at the settlement, noting how they were cut after the loss of the Sirius.

Scope and Contents

Concerning observations taken at Garden Island, Sydney, New South Wales, and his equipment and instruments. A postscript concerns a gift of a pet for Miss Maskelyne, with mention of the different animals of the country.

Scope and Contents

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

Concerning a replacement sextant and black index glass from Ramsden.

Scope and Contents

Concerning supplies of instruments and other preparations.

Scope and Contents

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

Scope and Contents

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

Scope and Contents

Written from the new settlement at New South Wales. Dawes reports on his work there, mentioning the lack of resources and the clearing of land for an observatory. He includes a rough sketch of the observatory.

Scope and Contents

Reporting on his activities between leaving the Cape of Good Hope and his arrival at Sydney. The letter also includes an account of constructing the observatory in Sydney, and of the practical difficulties involved, particularly in finding suitable materials and craftsmen. He mentions, for example, that the forty marines employed in the work had to be provided with rum, water and new shoes (due to the damage from brushwood). Dawes also seeks further money and provisions.

Scope and Contents

Reporting on the status of the observatory (which was nearly complete), on expenses incurred, and on his role there.

Scope and Contents Reporting on his activities at the observatory in Sydney, mentioning that much of his time had been employed 'in matters quite foreign to astronomy', and that while he had estimated the track of the comet, he had yet to see it. Dawes also reports that he intended to stay in New South Wales for a further three years, on the basis that he could not leave until a suitable person was sent out to take over: 'I think it would be a great pity to lose an established observatory in this Hemisphere'...

Scope and Contents

Informing Maskelyne that he had a sent a letter via the Fishburn under Captain [Robert] Brown.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.