ASTRONOMICAL AND METROROLOGICAL WORKERS. 8^ 



Being at that time a question of great interest, I took pains to satisfy 

 myself upon the subject, and I found, from the observations of sixteen 

 different observers^ from Captain Cook to the expedition of Sir James Ross 

 to tlie autartic seas, (using 10° 10' 30" as the difference of longitude 

 between Sydney, Fort Macquarie, and Melbourne) that only two place the 

 river Glenelg to the westward of the 141st degree of longitude. 



By the observations of Sir Thomas Brisbane and of Mr. Rumker (now 

 Director of the Observatory at Hamburg), Parramatta, was considered to 

 be in longitude lOh. 4m. 6s.. 25 or 151'-" T 3.3".7 east, from which Mr. Tyers 

 deduces that of the Glenelg to be 141" 1' 34" ; but Mr. E^umker after re- 

 calculating hi.s observations, gives a more easterly position to Parramatta, 

 viz., by 14". 52, so placing the disputed point 1'48".5 within the boundary 

 of Port Phillip. 



But there is good reason to believe that Parramatta is yet more easterly, 

 at least 17" or in 151" 2' 18'' east, and if so, the mouth of the Glenelg will 

 be in 141" 2' 18".3 east. This is yet to be detennined. 



I have taken the liberty of troubling you with this matter to shew the 

 importance of the re-establishment of the Observatory, if it be only to 

 decide a question which, at some future time, may give rise to very dis- 

 agreeable disputes. I could advance much stronger arguments for its 

 re-establishment had it not already been decided that science did not 

 require it, but I think that its usefulness, for the purpose I have described, 

 would be very great. 



The instruments and books are, as I understand, to be sold by public 

 auction ; if so, they will fetch but a mere trifle. The erection of an Obser- 

 vatory may at present not be desirable, for various reasons, but at some 

 future time such an event might be necessary, and then it would be a cause 

 of great regret that such valuable instruments, as some are, should have 

 been lost. 



I have therefore, the honor to request, that you will convey to His 

 Excellency the Governor the following proposition. 



" That His Excellency would delay the sale of the following list of 

 Instruments until it be ascertained whether they may not be kept in store 

 until an Observatory be established, or until they may be more advantage- 

 ously disposed of, viz. : 



One Astronomical Clock, by Hardy. 

 Do. do. do. by Barraud. 



Do. do. do. by Grinialdi. 



Mural Circle, 5g inch Transit. 

 16 inch Repeating Circle. 



Equatorial Stand and 46 inch Telescope by Banks. 

 Mountain Barometer, by Troughton. 

 30 inch portable Transit for Collimator. 

 Among the books there are several of value to an Observatory that would 

 fetch little more than as waste paper if brought to the hammer. 



There are other Instruments in the list of those that belonged to the 

 Observatory, but not desirable to retain, although they would scarcely 

 realize hert the value of their weight in metal. 



I have, etc., 

 (Signed) PHILLIP P. KING, Capt., R.N. 



[APPENDIX 0.] 

 No. 17. 

 [Copy of a Despatch from the Right Honorable Earl Grey to Governor Sir 

 Charles A. Fitzroy.'\ 



DowxixG Street, 



14th December, 1849. 

 Sir, — I have received your Despatch, No. 57, of the 26th April last, 

 relative to the disposal of certain instruments belonging to the late 

 Observatory at Parramatta. 



