i 
226 Translation from the Astronomical Jour. of Hamburgh. 
self, than imitate others, and whose arrangements therefore, 
always bear an independent character. 
It is to be lamented that circumstances should have oc- 
curred, which hmdered the complete execution of the work. 
To judge from the contents of the publication, not only com- 
plete success, in reaching the intended object would have 
been obtained, but also many other useful results.* 
According to Mr. H’s plan, two observatories were to be 
established, one in Washington, and one in New Orleans,} 
ee 
most modern observatories ; in its special arrangements this 
observatory often agrees with the most modern one in Ger- 
many, that of Altona.t The instruments are, a transit, of 
five feet of Troughton ; a clock of Hardy, an eighteen inch 
repeating circle ; there were also to be placed in it finally a 
zenith sector and a meridian (mural) circle, &c. I cannot 
describe the building in detail, but I will remark that it was 
to be surrounded by a ditch in order the better to avoid the 
oscillations of the ground, by the passage of waggons, &c. 
The pillars of the instruments were to be placed upon solid 
bases six feet thick, standing in a cellar of five feet depth, 
and to pass through the floor of the observatory, which was 
* The opinion thus expressed by Mr. Bessel, is praise of the highest deserip- 
tion, for no man has ever stood higher as an astronomer, than that distinguis 
ed professor. ; 
{ According to Mr. Hassler’s original , one of 
have been established in the State of Maine, near the north eastern frontier. 
the other in Louisiana near the south western boundary of the United States. 
the 
Circumstances led to hoice of Washington for one, the exact place of 
ai although it must have been near New Orleans was not decided 
e m 2 5 L + 41 af 4 t.. LT. 
pian prop y Mr. Hassle 
servatory at Washington, and that erected under the superintendence of Schuh- 
macher at Altona is very remarkable. This last is unquestionably the best in 
Europe, as well as the most modern to 
ilitude, each without any knowledge Pe the other’s 
project is prior in point of date by several years 
