372 DORPAT AND POULKOVA. 



With tlie reception of liis doctor's degree, in October 1813, and the commem- 

 orative memoir npon the geographical position of Dorpat, Struve ceased to be 

 r.'inked among the students, and received in the following mouth an appointment 

 as professor oxtraordinarj^ and astronomical observer. This was accomplished 

 through the influence of Professor Parrot, to whom Dorpat and science thus owe 

 many thanks. 



The ol)servatory had been built under Pfaff's directorship, and furnished with 

 some instruments ; but these might have long remained useless and iniknown 

 had not an indetatigable observer been sent in the person of the young student 

 who now succeeded to Paucker as the ''observer" under Huth's directorship. 



It was not in Stmve's power to remove the many defects in the observatory 

 building and instruments; but then, as ever afterward, he showed his ability and 

 disposition to make the best possible use of whatever means were at his disposal, 

 as he himself explains in the introduction to the first volume of the Dorpat 

 Observations : 



When, three years ago, the position of observer in this astronomical observatory was 

 given to nie, I cousi Jered long and seriously whether I might not, in the then state of tlie 

 observatory, carry on such a class of observations as that something of use iu increasing our 

 knowledge of the starry heavens might possibly be deduced therefrom. 



England had long been celebrated for instruments, and the massive walls of 

 Dorpat ol)servatory contained fine specimens of the work of the best English 

 mechanicians. One may still see these preserved there as mementos of bygone 

 days. 



The control of the instruments was now left by Huth entirely in Struve's 

 hands, and from the commencement of 1814 dates the scientific a<;tivity of die 

 observatory, whose history for twenty-five years continues to be identified witii that 

 of Struve; for the succeeding quarter century it has been honored by the presence 

 of the illustrious Maedler; at present Professor Clausen with cordial hos})itality 

 presides within its honored walls. It is not our design to trace minutely the 

 history of the observatory and its director, but rather to call attention to the 

 steps by which were realized the hopes and plans of Struve's early youth. 



In June, 1812, whilst conducting some esi)erimental trigonometrical surveys 

 in Livonia, Struve foresaw the grandeiu' of tlie geodesical operations that might 

 grow from the beginning there n)ade. His first scientific jounny in 1814, and 

 his second iu 1815, (which was also his wedding tour,) introduced him, as the 

 astronomical observer of Dorpat, to man}- of the prominent German astronomers, 

 and opened a personal acquaintance that was afterwards of eminent service to 

 him. His succession in 1815" to the vacancy caused by the death of Professor 

 Huth placed him in a position uf authority; and the separation in 1822 of the 

 chairs of astronomy and mathematics (this latter being given to Professor Baitels, 

 to A\hom Professor Minding now succeeds) left Struve full liberty to push for- 

 ward in his chosen field of activity. 



The geodesic work for tlie map of the province of Livonia, ordered by the 

 Lieflland Economic Society, occttpied the summers of the years 1816-1819, and 

 brought the gXMulesist in contact with General Tenner, of the llussian military engi- 

 neers, who was pm'suing a similar work in the neighboring provinces. No sooner 

 was Struve^s wcu'k finished (in its prosecution a 10-inch sextant and an arc for the 

 measurement of small vertical angles were the principal instruments used) than 

 he laid his delinitive plans for the measurement of an arc of 3'' 35' l)efore the 

 council of the univer.sity, by whom the undertaking was sanctioned. The neces- 

 sary approjniation was granted by the Emperor Alexander, wli(» directed that 

 Struve should order the needed instruments in person, from the best makers; 

 and who further showed his api)reciation of the astronomer's past labors by a 

 munificent appropriation for the purchase of better instruments for the university 

 oliservatory. 



In the summer of iS20 Struve made his third journey, visiting southern as 



