384 DOEPAT AND POULKOVA. 



an institution that differs in many details from others now existing, and con- 

 tributes not a little to the consistency of the steady progress that experience 

 secures. On the other hand, the fact is never lost sight of that very often profit- 

 able suggestions and the infnsion of new life are to be expected from the intro- 

 duction of an entire stranger into the observatory corps; thus the whole institution 

 preserves its cosmopolitan character and is kept from becoming antiquated. 



To the nine members of the permanent scientific corps are to be added the 

 younger persons, not military officers, who seek a residence at Poulkova, as 

 allowed by §§ 27, 28, 29, 30, for their own advantage; generally these inevita- 

 bly contribute something to the furtherance of the scientific work of the observ- 

 atory, whilst receiving from it the treatment of guests. The new statutes allow 

 the director to give these young men a position and rank as civilians serving tlie 

 observatory, but not in the service of the state ; thus they may be properly 

 considered as supernumerary astronomers, who, however, enjoy some of the priv- 

 ileges of such as are pennanently in the state service, wdiich is no mean advan- 

 tage in the autocratic Russian empire. Although these are at liberty to devote 

 their whole time to their own studies, they yet generally choose to contribute 

 several hours daily to the regular work of the observatory, .receiving a small 

 compensation therefor. As there are often four such supernumerary astronomers, 

 we may consider the eflfective scientific force to number thirteen persons. 



The young officers of the military and naval schools who receive their instruc- 

 tion from Mr. Dullen, as they do not dwell on the observatory grounds and 

 only rarely take part in its geographical work until after their graduation, are 

 not to be considered as attached to the observatory. 



To the preceding general outline of the officers of the institution let us add 

 the names of those who were, in 1866, attached to the observatory : 



His Excellency Otto Struvc, director ; A.Wagner, senior astronomer and vice- 

 director ; W. Dullen, senior astronomer ; II. Gylden, senior astronomer ; P. 

 Smyssloff, adjunct astronomer; A. Kortazzi, adjunct astronomer; C. Linnsser, 

 computer ; H. Fritsche, computer ; Messrs. V, Fuss, A. Gromadski, G. Berg, and 

 0. Abbe, supernumerary astronomers. 



At present^ however, several changes are noticed since Colonel Smyssloff 

 has accepted the directorship of the Wilna observatory, and Mr. Berg is his 

 assistant. Mr. Fuss has been made adjunct aste-onomer. Mr. Fritsche has 

 become the diret tor of the magnetic observatory at Pekin, Mr. Knorre, of Berlin, 

 fills his place. 



To the preceding officers should be added the secretary, the mechanician, the 

 intendent, and the physician ; all of whom, with their families and the soldiers 

 assigned to duty at the observatory, constitute a colony of an hundred an(J twenty 

 souls or more. 



The members of the scientific coii^s have been spoken of as the colleagues 

 of the director, and the genial spirit infused by Struve will always retain to 

 them that pleasant relationship ; but a great power must needs be vested in the 

 Lands of the superior, not only in order to perserve harmony of action, but 

 also because of the responsibilities imposed on the director. The tenth article of 

 the statutes defines the duties of the director as follows : 



Sec. 10. The principal aim of the director is to direct all the forces and means of the 

 observatory to the successful accomplishments of the objects of this iustitutiou, detailed in 

 section two. He must, therefore, see that astronomical observations of the highest perfec- 

 tion be conducted luiinterruptedly, and that the instruments used to this end always corre- 

 spond to the actual demands of science. As immediate chief of the observatory and of the 

 persons stationed there, he conducts the works that are to be executed, allots them, and 

 himself takes part in them. 



As it was thus the pleasm-e of the elder Struve, so is it still the privilege of 

 his successor, to realize that " the activity of the entire institution concentrates 

 in him;" whilst as its head he skilfully controls the moulding of the independent 

 ■works of his colleaijues into one united eflbrt for the advancement of then- science. 



