372 DOEPAT AND POULKOVA. 



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

 orative memoir upon the geographical pos^ition of Uorpat, Struve ceased to be 

 ranked among the students, and received in the following month an appointment 

 as professor extraordinary and astronomical ol)server. This was accomplished 

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

 many thanks. 



The observatory had been built under Pfaff's directorship, and furnished with 

 some instruments j but these might have long remained useless and unknown 

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

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



It W'as not in Struve's power to remove the many defects in tlie observatory 

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

 disposition to make the best possible use of whatever means w'ere 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 me, I cousilered 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 in 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 observatory contained fine specimens of the work of the best English 

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

 days. 



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

 hands, and from the commencement of 1814 dates the scientific activity of the 

 observatory, wdiose history for twenty-five years continues to be identified with that 

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

 of the illustrious IMacdler ,• at present Professor Clausen with cordial hospitality 

 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 attentiini to the 

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



In June, 1812, whilst conducting some experimental trigonotnetrical surveys 

 in Livonia, Strnve foresaw the grandeur of the geodesical operations that might 

 grow from the beginning there made. His first scientific jcmniey in 1814, and 

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

 astronomical observer of Dorpat, to many of the prominent Gemian astronomers, 

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

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

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

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

 to whom Professor Minding nsiw succeeds) left Struve full liberty to push for- 

 ^\■ard in his chosen field of activity. 



The geodesic work fur the map of the pro\ance of Livonia, ordered by the 

 l^iefflaud Econtmiic Society, occupied the summers of the years 1816-1819, and 

 brought the geodesist in contact with General Tenner, of the Russian military engi- 

 neers, who was pursuing a similar work in the neighboring lu'ovinces. No sooner 

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

 measmement of small vertical angles were the principal iustnnnents used) than 

 he laid his definitive plans for the measurement of an arc of 3'' 35' before the 

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

 sary appropriation was granted by the Emperor Alexander, who directed that 

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

 and who further showed his appreciation of the astronomer's past labors by a 

 munificent appropriation for the purchase of better instruments for the university 

 observatory. 



In the summer of 1820 Struve made his third journey, visiting southern as 



