64 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



bers of the Columbian Institute, and his remains were attended to 

 the .grave by that society." He built a small observatory at the rear 

 of his residence on North Capitol Street, where his astronomical ob- 

 servations were conducted. 



An important paper " On the erection of a national observatory, 

 on publishing, an astronomical ephemeris, and on the formation of 

 a board for the promotion of nautical astronomy and geography" 

 was read before the Institute by William Elliot on December 31, 

 1825. Two years later Mr. Lambert presented a communication on 

 the establishment of a national observatory at the seat of government 

 of the United States, which resulted in the following report and 

 resolution, submitted to the Institute on December 31, 1827: 



The Columbian Institute for the promotion of arts and sciences, having con- 

 sidered the reports made to the President of the United States, on the 8th 

 November, 1821, and 1st December, 1823, by William Lambert, one of the resi- 

 dent members of this Institute, relative to a determination of the longitude from 

 Greenwich and Paris observatories, of the Capitol in the City of Washington; 

 and entertaining no doubt of the accuracy of the results found according to the 

 data on which the calculations have been made (they having been sufficiently 

 proved by the last mentioned report), cannot but feel a lively interest in the 

 completion of an object which not only regards the advancement of an useful 

 branch of science, but is essentially connected with the independence and sov- 

 ereignty of the United States. The erection of a National Observatory at the 

 seat of the general government and furnishing it with suitable instruments is, 

 in the opinion of the Institute, worthy of the attention of Congress; — at which 

 we might observe and compute for ourselves the right ascensions, declinations, 

 longitudes and latitudes of the moon and such stars or planets as are most suit- 

 able for geographical and nautical pursuits, and enable us to prepare and pub- 

 lish an Astronomical Ephemeris, independent of the aid of European calculations. 

 If a general or universal meridian could be agreed upon, from which all nations 

 might reckon their longitude, there would not be so much advantage in the 

 establishment of a National Observatory in the United States; but the king- 

 doms and states of Europe have not, and, probably, never will consent to resort 

 to any other meridian than that which is situated within the limits of their 

 own territories, respectively. This object is. therefore, such as demands the 

 consideration of all classes of our community ; and the expense attending the 

 institution would, it is confidently believed, be amply repaid by the benefits 

 resulting from it. 



Another object yet undecided upon by the National Legislature also claims 

 the attention of the Columbian Institute, viz., the establishment and regulation 

 of weights and measures. Interesting and learned reports have been made 

 thereon by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams, now President of the United States, 

 while acting in the capacity of Secretary of State; but, until Congress shall 

 agree to fix a standard, we are and must be dependent on a foreign nation for 

 the capacity of its measures, and the specific gravity and denomination of its 

 weights. Under these impressions, the following resolution has been proposed, 

 viz: 



Resolved, that the Columbian Institute regard the establishment of a first 

 meridian and of a national observatory at the seat of the general government, 

 also the fixing an uniform standard of weights and measures for the United 

 States, as objects of importance to the American community ; and that the 



