186 RECORD OF SCIENCE FOR 1887 AND 1888. 



Mr. FT. V. Egbert, formerly of the Albany observatory, and Prof. S. J. 

 Brown. The fre.e use of the Washburn observatory was tendered to 

 the Navy Department during the contemplated removal of the naval 

 observatory to its new site. 



WeM Point. — A new observatory was built in 1883, the old site having 

 been rendered worthless as an astronomical station by a mil road tunnel 

 cut immediately beneath it. The instruments are a 12-inch Olark equa- 

 torial, monnt(Hl in 1884, and an 8-inch Kei»sold meridian circle, mounted 

 in 1885. Geographical position: Latitude, 4-41° 23' 22". 1; longitude, 

 4^ 55"' 50^6 west of Greenwich. Height above sea level, 480 feet. 



Williama CoUege.—On the 28th of June 1888, the fiftieth anniversary 

 of the dedication of the Hopkins Observatory of Williams College Avas 

 celebrated with suitable ceremony and a discourse upon '' The Develop- 

 ment of Astronomy in the United States," by Prof T. H. ISaffbrd. The 

 Hopkins Observatory seems entitled to the honor of being the first 

 permanent American observatory, having -been i)rojected about 1831, 

 chiefly built in 1837, and dedicated June 12, 1838. The University of 

 North Carolina had built an observatory in 1831 and provided an ex- 

 cellent instrumental equipment, but in 1838 the building was p.artially 

 destroyed by fire, and little or no astronomical work was ever done with 

 the instruments. Professor Saffbrd jjublished in 1 888 a catalogue of 

 the ri;;ht ascensions of some 201 circumpolar .stars, the results of sev- 

 eral years' labor with the K epsold meridian circle. 



Wilmingf()7i, Delanarc. — The private observator}' of Francis G. du 

 Pont is at his residence about 4 miles to the north of Wilmington, 

 Del! It was designed by the owner, and consists of two polygonal 

 buildings, covered by domes of peculiar construction, and connected 

 by a third building, which forms the transit room. The instruments 

 are: A good 12-inch reflector by Brashear, well mounted, with driving- 

 clock, etc.; a 4i-inch equatorial refractor, objective by Olark and 

 mounting by Brashear; a small transit by Home & Thornethwaite, 

 Loudon; sidereal and mean time clocks, and Morse register for record- 

 ing transits. The whole building is lighted by the electric light, and 

 the electric light is also used for instrumental illumination. The 12- 

 inch reflector has been used for astronomical photography. The 

 ai)proximate latitude is +39° IG'. 



Windsor, Ketc ISouth M^ales. — Mr. Tebbutt published in pamphlet 

 form in 1887 an interesting history and description of his observatory. 

 It is situated, with the owner's residence, at the eastern extremity of the 

 town of Windsor, upon a hill 50 feet above mean tide. Occasional 

 astronomical observations were made here with a sextant and l^vinch 

 telescope from 1854 to 18G4. To these instruments were added a 3^- 

 inch refractor by Jones in 18G1, and a Frodsham chronometer in 1864. 

 At the close of 18G3 a small building, comprising transit and prime 

 vertical rooms ami a dome, was erected on the west of the dwelling, 

 and a small transit and the Scinch refractor already referred to were 



