TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, 1839-41. 233 



report, but it is rather upon such matters as the state of the buildings and 

 instruments, the conduct of the assistants, &c., than upon the nature of the 

 astronomical observations. 



I have myself introduced the rule of reading a report to the board of 

 visitors at their annual meeting at the observatory, applying as well to the 

 astronomical labors as to the general occurrences at the observatorj' ; and 

 this report they have, each year, ordered to be printed. (Copies accompany 

 this paper.) If this custom be continued, there will, probably, be found a 

 more complete series of annals of the observatory than has hitherto ex- 

 isted. 



6. Besides the astronomer royal, there are six assistants, and a laborer, 

 and a watchman ; also a gate porter, (some old sailor from Greenwich hos- 

 pital.) The duties of the assistants are, to observe, and compute, entirely 

 under the direction of the astronomer royal. None of these persons reside 

 within the precincts of the observatory, or even within the park. They 

 find houses for themselves, from the salaries mentioned below, (part of the 

 salary being considered as compensation for want of dwelling-house.) 



The salaries are : first assistant, £350 ; second assistant, £220, (in future 

 instances this is to be £190 ;) third assistant, £190 ; fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 assistants, £130 each ; laborer, £43 ; gate porter, £15 12s.; watchman, 

 £32 10s. 



7. The instruments in use at this time are : a transit instrument, ten feet 

 long, constructed by Troughton, bought by the Government ; price, I think, 

 £300. 



Mural circle, six feet diameter, constructed by Troughton, bought by the 

 Government; price, I believe, £600.* 



Zenith tube, or zenith sector, of small range, for the observation of Dra- 

 conis only, which passes very near to the zenith of Greenwich ; purchased 

 by the Government. I know not the price. 



The eastern equatorial, or Shuckburg's equatorial, constructed by Eams- 

 den ; presented by Lord Liverpool. 



The western equatorial ; a verj* worthless instrument. 



The southern equatorial, or Sheepshank's equatorial. The object-glass 

 made by a Parisian artist, (I think by Cauchoix;) presented by the Rev. 

 K. Sheepshanks ; the mounting by Mr. T. Grubb, of Dublin, at the expense 

 of the Government ; its cost £205. 



Several telescopes ; prices unknown — some probably exceeding £100. 



Several clocks ; the most expensive cost, I believe, £200. 



I ought not to omit that there is machinery for raising a large ball, (five 

 feet in diameter,) on the top of the house, and dropping it precisely at 1 

 o'clock every day as a signal by which the chronometers on board the ships 

 in the river Thames may be rated. It was erected at the expense of the 

 Government ; I know not the cost. 



Besides these, there is the magnetic apparatus, yet imperfect ; the expense 

 hitherto incurred has been £30 or £40. 



8. There is a library, covering the walls of a room twenty feet square. 

 It consists principally of the transactions of societies, of mathematical and 

 astronomical works, works on the literature of astronomy, nautical astron- 

 omy, voyages, &c. In these respects it is a very good library. It has been 

 collected, partly at the expense of Government, and partly from the pres- 

 ents of private persons and official bodies. 



9. The best instrument-makers in London, at the present time, are 

 William Simms, (successor of Troughton, formerly his partner,) 136 Fleet 

 street; Thomas Jones, 62 Charing Cross; George DoUand, 59 St. Paul's 

 churchyard. Dolland is principally known for his telescopes and optical 

 instruments ; he has had little experience in the construction of large grad- 



* Another mural circle, of the same size, constructed by Jones, has lately been 

 Bent from the royal observatory to the Cape of Good Hope. 



