Hisn'oRr of the sociE-rr. 29 



College by the Magiflrates and Town-Council of Aberdeen. 

 The building confifted of three rooms, two of which, forming 

 the wings, were circular, about 12 feet in diameter, with co- 

 nical roofs. The eaftermoft of thefe was for the quadrant, and 

 had its roof moveable, and furniflied with flits ; the weftern- 

 was the tranfit room ; its roof had flits, but was not moveable ; 

 the room in the middle ferved for the accommodation of the 

 afl:ronomer. 



The inftruments, with which the Obfervatory was furnifli- 

 nlflied, were a tranfit inltrument by Ra^isden ; a moveable 

 afl;ronomical quadrant, of 2 foot radius, by Maculloch ; an 

 equatorial infl;rument by Sisson and Ramsden ; an achroma- 

 tic telefcope and a divided obje(fl glafs micrometer by DoL- 

 LOND ; an aflronomical clock, with a gridiron pendulum, by 

 Mariotte. To thefe were added an afllftant clock by Gadby, 

 Aberdeen ; an alarm clock ; a barometer and thermometer, the 

 two lafl; by Miller, Edinburgh, 



The tranfit inftrument, and the equatorial, were prefents- 

 from the late Earl of Bute, at that time Chancellor of the 

 Univerfity. They are both inftruments of great value ; the 

 tranfit, in particular, is faid to be of Angular excellence, and 

 altogether worthy of the great artift: by whom it was conftru(5l- 

 edi 



The Obfervatory, however, fuch as it is here defcribed, has 

 been but of fliort continuance. About three years ago bar- 

 racks were built on the Caftle Hill, immediately to the north 

 of the Obfervatory ; and as it appeared to be of confequence, 

 that the ground occupied by the latter fhould belong to the bar- 

 racks, it was purchafed by Government, and the Obfervatory 

 demoliflied. It is to be rebuilt, however, on an improved plan^ 

 and in a fituation where it will be lefs incommoded by the vi- 

 cinity of the town than formerly, and where, it is hoped, the 



feries 



