56 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION A. 



probable that it was lost while the things were in the ordnance 

 store ; the only thing connected with it is a mahogany box with 

 tube for suspension filaments, glass window for observing magnet, 

 etc., with a small copper tube telescope, evidently intended to 

 carry a magnet, but the Dolland's Magnetic Transit with telescope 

 for observing sun, and microscope for reading circle (Phil. Trans., 

 1829, Part III., pp. 1 and 2), I have never seen. 



In the Introduction to the Parramatta Catalogue (p. 5) it is 

 stated that " the Observatory was built and furnished with books 

 and instruments,, and conducted during Sir Thomas Brisbane's 

 governmeut solely at his expense. On his departure from the 

 colony in the end of 1825, he transferred the whole to the 

 Colonial Government, who repaid the original cost of the instru- 

 ments,* and in 1826 appointed Mr. Rumker, Astronomer, at a 

 salary of .£300 per annum. He retired in 1829 and returned to 

 Europe. Mr. Rumker's letter of appointment is dated 16 July, 

 1829, about three years after he actually began the work. 



Sir G. B. Airy, (Second Report Brit. Assoc. Adv. Science, 

 1832, p. 130) says on Observatories: — Sir Thomas Brisbane on 

 leaving Parramatta "presented the instruments, etc., to the 

 British Government, on condition that the Observatory should 

 be maintained in an efiicient state. The condition was accepted 

 and an observer (Mr. Dunlop) is noio, 1832, maintained by the 

 British Government at this distant station." 



It is evident from Governor Darling's letter, (Appendix B) 

 that Sir George Airy was not fully informed ; the Govern- 

 ment accepted the instruments, but paid a long price for them, 

 and from the fact that they appointed Rumker, and requested 

 him to undertake the measurement of an arc of the meridian it is 

 evident that they meant to turn the Observatory to some good 

 use, an intention which seems to have been abandoned when Dr. 

 Rumker resigned. 



Another very important work carried out by Sir Thomas 

 Brisbane, was the formation of the Philosophical Society of 

 Australia. The only full account of it which I have met with is 

 by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, (Trans. R. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1867.) 

 " In the year 1821 a Company of gentlemen, consisting of 



Alexander Berry, Esq., 



Henry Grattan Douglas, Esq., M.D., 



Barron Field, Esq., Judge of the Supreme Court, 



Major Goulbui'n, Colonial ^'ecretary, 



Patrick Hill, Esq., Colonial Surgeon, 



Captain Irwin, XI Bengal N.I , 



Captain P. P. King, R.N., 



John Oxley, Esq., Surveyor-General. 



Charles Stargard Rumker, Esq., Astronomer; and 



Edward Wolstonecraft. Esq., 

 formed themselves into the Philosophical Society of Australasia, under the 

 presidency of His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane, K.C.B., F.R.S.L. & E. 

 ***** This early union appears to have 



* See Appendix A. The price paid was £1614 13s. 



