ASTRONOMICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL WORKERS. 87 



adopted for the safety of the instruments and books pending 

 the construction of a new Observatory. 



3. It is proposed, subject to the approval of His Excellency, 

 to charge to the Engineer Estimate for Convict Services the 

 expense to be incurred in providing the packing cases and in 

 the removal of the instruments and books. 

 We have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servants, 

 J. A. GORDON, 



Lt.-Col. Com. Roy. Eng. 

 RICH. ROGERS, 



Ordnance Storekeeper. 

 The Honorable 



The Colonial Secretary. &c., &c. 



Commissioners infd. 4 Sept, 1847. 



Let the instruments ami books be paclced and removed according' to the recommendations 

 of the Commissioners. I do not exactly understand the nature of Mr, Dunlop's application 

 in the last paragraph of his letter, whether it is for leave of absence or for permission to 

 resign his situation altogether. 



26 Aug. E. D. T. 



The ambiguity will perhaps be exjilained by a reference to the 5th paragraph of the 

 report enclosed, marked (Sec Appendix G.) 2Sth, 



The paragraph referred to reports Jlr, Dunlop's wish to resig:n. Let his resignation be 

 accepted accordingly. 



30 Aug. E, D. T. 



[APPENDIX L.] 



Downing Street, 



14th April, 1S4S. 



Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, 

 No. 141, of the 11th of July last, with its enclosures, communicating the 

 result of an enquiring which you had directed to be made by some of the 

 officers of your Govei'nment, into the state of the instruments and books, 

 &c., belonging to the Observatory at Parramatta in the charge of Mr. J. 

 Dunlop, the Astronomer ; and also reporting upon the state of the building 

 itself. 



In another Despatch, dated 30th August last, No. 176, you announce the 

 resignation of that gentleman of liis appointment, and that you had given 

 the necessary authority for packing and depositing the above-mentioned 

 books and instruments in the Ordnance Stores at Sydney. I approve of 

 your having authorised the charging to the Engineer Branch of the Convict 

 Service the expense which has been incurred in this service, and with 

 further reference to the suggestion contained in Mr. Dunlop's letter which 

 you have forwarded, of the ISth August, 1847, you are authorised to make 

 over the transit instrument to the possession of the Colonial Government, 

 provided they should be willing to make arrangements for the construction 

 and maintenance of a time ball establishment. As regards the other 

 instin;mentSj with the clocks and chronometers, no time should be lost 

 in disposing of them to the best advantage, in the Colony, as they are 

 likely soon to become deteriorated if left in the Ordnance Stores in Sydney. 



I have, &c., 



(Signed) GREY. 

 Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy, &c. , &c. 



[APPENDIX M.] 

 48/11736. 



The Commanding Royal Engineer to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, 

 respecting the sale of instruments belonging to the Parramatta 

 Observatory. 



Royal Engineer's Office, 



Sydney, 31st October, 1848. 

 Under the re- SiR, — Adverting to your letter of the 11th ultimo, con 

 P''^*/* ad-"'* veying to me the orders of His Excellency the Governor to 



