68 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION A. 



thousand star observations, in 1833 about the same, and this 

 book ends May 26, up to which time the observations were 

 carried on at the same rate. The next book takes the record on 

 to July 1835, and it is recorded that on April 28, 1835, he began 

 to use the then new Transit Circle ; observing the same star with 

 it and with the Mural Circle ; with a view of finding the errors 

 of the Mural Circle After July, 1835, there is a gap, perhaps a 

 book missing (Dunlop, Appendix J. says there were five), until 

 March 1838, when the record again runs on up to January 1839, 

 which is the latest Astronomical observation. Another volume 

 contains a few Comet observations, some hourly meteorological 

 observations taken out of the ordinary course, &c. 



There are also four smaller books containing astronomical 

 observations with the Transit Instrument from August 1832 to 

 April 1838, with some gaps. There are frequent references to 

 the weather, but no regular meteorological observations. (See 

 Appendix J, where the books are mentioned.) 



None of the observations have been reduced. It is evident 

 that from the end of 1831 onwards for some years, a record of 

 the rainfall and probably barometer and thermometer was kept, 

 because searching for other information recently, Mr. W. D. 

 Campbell, C.E., found in "Votes and Proceedings, N.S. Wales" 

 1837, a report on the water supply of Sydney, by Busby's Boi'e, 

 and with it a return of the rainfall at Parramatta, from January 

 1st, 1832, up to September, 1837. From the Astronomical books 

 I have completed this record to the end of 1838, with only a 

 few breaks. (See Rain and River Report for 1887.) 



Several notes were made in the observing books, that the 

 observer (i.e., Mr. Dunlop waylaid up with " protracted sick- 

 ness "), and it is evident that his health was gradually failing, 

 and in a despatch by Sir Charles A. Fitzroy, dated 11th July, 

 1847, he says, " Mr. Dunlop is anxious to resign his appointment 

 on account of the state of his health, which renders him incapable 

 of attending to his duties." (See also Appendix J.) 



When Sir J. C. Ross was in Sydney on his exploring voyage in 

 July, 1841, he took his chronometer to the Parramatta Observatory 

 in oi'der to correct his time, the Observatoiy being a well 

 determined point of longitude and supposed to have accurate 

 time. I cannot find any record of the interview, but I was told 

 by one who was in Parramatta at the time that Mr. Dunlop, 

 being out of health, replied to Sir James C. Ross' request to be 

 supplied with the correct time in such a way that Sir James was 

 deeply offended, and owing to this, and what he saw of the 

 unsatisfactory state of the Observatory, he felt it to be his duty 

 to report the state of matters to the Admiralty, who thereupon 

 appointed a Commission of Enquiry into the state of the 

 Parramatta Observatory. The members were Captain P. P. King, 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, Commanding Engineer, and the 



