ASTRONOMICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL WORKERS. 77 



In passing thus briefly o\er the work done by so many pioneers 

 in Astronomy and Meteorology in this colony, I have endeavoured 

 to shew what has been done and where it is to be found. It will 

 be evident to you there is more to be written yet, but many of 

 the facts have been difficult to get and others have so far eluded 

 my efforts to find them. 



It is quite evident that Sir Thomas Brisbane, when he came to 

 the Colony, contemplated the measurement of an arc of the 

 meridian as part of his scheme, and that he brought with him 

 suitable astronomical instruments and the special apparatus for 

 determining the length of the seconds pendulum, and the 

 following letter shows that he was using his influence to induce 

 the Government to undertake the work, or I'ather, provide the 

 money. 



In Labilliere's History of Victoria, (Vol. I., pp. 1-185), is a 

 letter from Sir Robert Peel, 20th October, 182.3, in which he 

 says : — 



Sir H. Davy and his colleagues at the Board of Longitude have entire 

 confidence in the scientific persons whom Sir T. Brisbane has ou the spot, 

 particularly Mr. Rumker. and gives the following letter : — 



My Lord— The Right Honorable His Majesty's Secretary of State for the 

 Home Department having done me the Fionor to inform me that your 

 Lordsliip was favorably disposed to an undertaking which the Council of 

 the Royal Society consider as important in the interests of Science, viz., 

 the measurement of an arc of the Meridian in New South Wales, I take 

 the liberty, at their request, of transmitting this to your Lordship. Several 

 arcs have been measured in the Northern Hemisphere, but only one, and 

 that at a time when instruments were very imperfect, in the Southern. 

 The present moment appears peculiarly favorable for such a work to the 

 Council, as there are persons at Parramatta who are able Astronomers, and 

 who are in possession of the necessary instruments, with the exception of a 

 Zenith Sector. The measurement of an arc in New South Wales would 

 not only be of importance to Astronomy in affording data for determining 

 correctly the figure of the earth — a matter of great interest to navigation — 

 but would likewise be useful in laying the foundation for a correct survej'' 

 of our Colonies in that great and unexplored country. Your Lordship's 

 liberal and enlightened mind will. I am sure, require no apology for this 

 communication which, as President of the Royal Society, the interests of 

 Science call upon me to make. 



I have the honor to be, my Lord, 



With the greatest respect. 

 Your Lordship's obedient humble servant, 

 HUMPHREY DAVY, 



President of the Royal Society. 



The unfortunate interruption of Sir Thomas' design by the 

 action of Mr. Rumker made this impossible, and when Rumker 

 was appointed by the Government it was evidently understood, 

 although not conveyed to him in his letter of appointment, that 

 he should measure an arc of the meridian. Mr. W. D. Campbell 

 in searching for other things connected with the surveys of the 

 Colony, found amongst the MS. Correspondence, Surveyor-General 

 to Colonial Secretary, (Vol. I., p. 507, 8th January, 1828) — "The 

 requisition for the rods and cylinders for the Trigonometrical 



