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The observations begin with a note on setting up his instruments on shore. Included are daily astronomical observations, observations for determining the variation of the magnetic needle, and observations of the rate of Clocks B and C, and of Watch No. 1.

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Twenty-six letters, chiefly sent by Fallows at Cape Town, reporting on the establishment of the Cape Observatory and on his activities there. The series also includes a catalogue of fixed stars, an auxiliary table, and two copies of observations for the summer solstice of 1823.

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Sent to John Wilson Croker from Robert Seppings, G. Legge and R.G. Middleton of the Navy Office.

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Forwarding a letter from Fearon Fallows at Cape Town to the Board of Longitude.

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Concerning his first catalogue of the principle fixed stars and remarks upon it.

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Twenty-seven letters, a note and a petition, mainly sent from John Barrow to Dr Thomas Young. The letters concern the initial establishment of the Cape Observatory, the appointment of an astronomer, assistant and labourer there, the provision and transport of instruments to the Cape, and payments of bills for these.

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Six letters and a copy of an account for instruments supplied.

Scope and Contents From the Item:

Twenty-six letters, chiefly sent by Fallows at Cape Town, reporting on the establishment of the Cape Observatory and on his activities there. The series also includes a catalogue of fixed stars, an auxiliary table, and two copies of observations for the summer solstice of 1823.

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Five letters concerning a zenith instrument for the Cape Observatory and the appointment of Troughton's young relative, James Fayrer, as assistant there.

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Tabulated data in three sections: ‘Astrographic’, ’24 Inch’, and ‘Combined’.

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Daily log entries resume on 17 April when the ship left Cape Town, bound for England. These are preceded by a note dated 15 April on Watch No. 1 which was found to be too slow for meantime. Bayly includes sightings of seals and bottlenose dolphins, along with notes of the ship’s estimated speed. His observations include measurements of the distance of the moon from Spica Virginis and from Pollux.

Scope and Contents Daily entries until 19 March when the ship anchored at Cape Town. On 17 March, Bayly reports that the sea that evening ‘had the appearance of fire when put in motion’. On the same day they sighted ‘the Table’ [Table Mountain] and the ‘Sugar Loaf’ [Lion’s Head]. In the entry for 19 March, Bayly records that they met and saluted several ships upon arrival in Table Bay, including the HMS Salisbury (commanded by Edward Hughes) and the HMS Seahorse; they also saluted the fort with thirteen guns...

Scope and Contents Entries for this month begin with a note on 22 November on the performance of Watch No. 1 which was losing time. Bayly had spent much of his time at Cape Town taking observations and making comparisons with the Astronomical Clock there. Daily log entries continue from 23 November as the ship resumed its voyage, and Bayly records that over the next few days the ship outran its log by more than 20 miles, perhaps due to a current. The entry for 30 November records strong gales and ‘a very great...

Scope and Contents Daily entries for October, travelling towards the Cape of Good Hope. A number of entries include measurements of lunar distances from the sun, Aquila and Aldebaran, along with resulting calculations of longitude. An entry for 5 October records that Arnold’s Watch No. 2 was losing considerable time and that the second hand was pausing for intervals of a few seconds [RGO 14/56: 22v]; estimations of longitude by timekeeper were thereafter recorded by Bayly in the log book based on Watch No. 1...

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Concerning his request for instruments and his meteorological journal, and providing measurements of the height of Table Mountain.

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Concerning estimates received from Troughton, Dollond and Jones for instruments for the Cape Observatory.

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Two letters from Fallows to John Barrow, and two related notes from Barrow to Dr Young.

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Requesting stationary, copy books and copies of papers by Professor Woodhouse on Dollond's transit instrument.

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Concerning the establishment of the Cape Observatory and the appointment of an astronomer, an assistant and a labourer there.

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Concerning estimates for a zenith micrometer for the Cape Observatory, parts of which were also being made by Dollond and Donkin.

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Letter from Erasmus Darwin (1881-1915) to Lady (Emma) Nora Barlow née Darwin; written at Cape Town envelope addressed to Bex, returned

(Letter)

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Two letters from Fallows to John Barrow, and two related notes from Barrow to Dr Young.

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Informing Croker that the Governor of the Cape had been instructed to allot a suitable piece of land for the purpose of erecting the Cape Observatory.

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Concerning the establishment of the Cape Observatory.

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Stating that the Admiralty approved of the proposed Cape Observatory and requesting that a plan of it be prepared.