186 RECORD OF SCIENCE FOR 1887 AND 1888. 



Mr. n. V. Egbert, formerly of tbe Albany observatory, and Prof. S. J. 

 Brown. The free use of tlie Waslibnrn observatory was tendeied to 

 tbe Navy Department during tbe contemplated removal of tbe naval 

 observatory to its new site. 



West Point. — A new observatory was built in 1883, tbe old site having 

 been rendered worthless as an astronomical station by a railroad tunnel 

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

 torial, mounted in 1884, and an 8-inch Repsold meridian circle, mounted 

 in 1885. Geographical position: Latitude, +41° 23' 22".l; longitude, 

 4^ 55'" 5(KG west of Greenwich. Height above sea level, 480 feet. 



WiUiams College. — On the 28tb of June 1888, the fiftieth anniversary 

 of the dedication of the Hopkins Observatory of Williams College was 

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

 ment of Astronomy in the United States," by Prof T. H. {^afford. The 

 Hoi)kins Observatory seems entitled to the honor of being tbe first 

 permanent American observatory, having been projected about 1831, 

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

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

 cellent instrumental equipment, but in 1838 the building was partially 

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

 the instruments. Professor Saffbrd published in 1888 a catalogue of 

 tbe ri^ht ascensions of some 2i)l circumpolar r,tars, the results of sev- 

 eral years' labor with the Kepsold meridian circle. 



Wilmington^ Belaivare. — Tbe private observatory 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. Tbe instruments 

 are: A good 12-incb reflector by Brasbear, well mounted, with driving- 

 clock, etc.; a 4j^-inch equatorial refractor, objective by Clark and 

 mounting by Brasbear; a small transit by Home & Thoruethwaite, 

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

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

 tbe electric light is also used for instrumental illumination. Tbe 12- 

 inch reflector has been used for astronomical photography. The 

 ai)proximate latitude is +39° 16'. 



Windsor, JSTew iSouth Wales.— Mr. Tebbutt published in pamphlet 

 form in i887 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|inch 

 telescope from 1854 to 1864. To these instruments were added a 3^- 

 inch refractor by Jones in 1861, and a Frodsham chronometer in 1804. 

 At the close of 1863 a small building, comprising transit and prime 

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

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



