A SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY. 119 
The royal observatories at Greenwich and the Cape of Good Hope 
form together an astronomical establishment such as no other nation 
besides our own can boast of possessing. It fitly represents the world: 
wide dominion of which it is the corollary. British empire on the seas 
led directly to British empire over the skies, the one gaining complete- 
ness as the inevitable consequence of the expansion of the other. South- 
ern astronomy seems the proper appanage of the Anglo-Saxon race. 
Originating with Halley’s expedition to St. Helena in 1677, Lacaille’s 
work at the Cape formed the only exception worth mentioning to the 
rule of its prosecution by our fellow-countrymen on either side of the 
Atlantic. So far, indeed, as geometrical astronomy is concerned, it 
would survive, without vital injury, the destruction of all results except 
those obtained at Greenwich and the Cape. Geometrical astronomy is 
now however only one, though the most important, branch of the 
science. 
Sir Thomas Maclear proved an indefatigable and skillful observer. 
He co-operated energetically with Sir John Herschel, whose memorable 
stay at Feldhausen, 3 miles from the Royal Oeservatory, coincided with 
the first four years of his tenure of office. He re-measured and ex- 
tended Laeaille’s are, thereby not only removing all doubt as to the 
conformity to scientific prediction of the earth’s figure, but providing 
an invaluable groundwork for the survey of the entire colony, now in 
active course of prosecution by Maj. Morris, R. E. The long list of 
comets observed by Maclear includes Halley’s, Donati’s, Biela’s, Encke’s 
at four returns, and the great “ southern” one of 1843. He accumu- 
lated matvrials for three star catalogues, prepared for the press and 
published by his suecessors, Mr. Stone, the present Radcliffe observer, 
and Dr. Gill. And so completely had his interests become identified 
with those of his adopted home that he continued, after retiring from 
the observatory in 1870, to reside in its vicinity; and on his death, 
July 14, 1879, was laid to rest within its grounds. His son, Mr. George 
Maclear, retains charge of the transit circle procured by his father in 
1855. Itis anexact copy of that erected by Sir George Airy at Green- 
wich. 
Mr. Stone was chief assistant at Greenwich when induced to accept 
the appointment to the Cape by the opportunity it offered for the prep- 
aration of an extensive star catalogue, by the comparison of which 
with the earlier Madras and Brisbane catalogues something might be 
learned about the movements of southern stars. This object was most 
satisfactorily attained by the publication of the ‘‘ Cape Catalogue for 
1880,” containing nearly 12,500 accurately determined star-places. By 
a pure coincidence, Dr. Gould’s simultaneous work at Cordoba had the 
same scope. Its brilliant results are familiar to all astronomers. 
Mr. Stone surrendered the direction of the observatory, in June, 1879, 
to the present royal astronomer. Dr. Gill is one of a long line of dis- 
tinguished Aberdonians. An astronomer by “ irresistible impulse,” he, 
