508 Anniversary Meeting. [Nov. 30, 



Government is not applied for ; but I need hardly say that even the 

 smallest donation from that quarter would much facilitate raising the neces- 

 sary funds. 



I avail myself of this opportunity to put Your Grace in possession of the 

 Second Annual Report of the Board of Visitors, from which it will be 

 found that a commencement has been made in the erection of the new 

 Observatory, advocated in the Report previously transmitted ; and I am 

 glad to be able further to state that a sum of .4500 has since been voted 

 by the Legislature for the completion of the requisite buildings. 



Should it be possible, therefore, to add an equatorially mounted tele- 

 scope, the Astronomical Branch of the Observatory will be rendered com- 

 plete, and no greater expense than at present will be incurred for the Staff 

 attached to it. I have, c., 



(Signed) HENRY BARKLY. 



His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G., 

 fyc. fyc. fyc. 



Professor Wilson to Sir H. BarJcly. 



(Copy.) 



The University, Melbourne, 



16th July, 1862. 

 SIR, 



I have the honour, by direction of the Board of Visitors to the Obser- 

 vatories, to forward to Your Excellency the accompanying extract from 

 the Minutes of a Meeting held yesterday, and to express a hope that you 

 will comply with the request contained in it. 



Though entertaining no doubt of the importance of the results to be 

 obtained by such a telescope as is recommended, or of the conspicuous 

 and creditable position which Melbourne would consequently occupy in 

 the eyes of all persons in Europe who take an interest in Science, the Board 

 is desirous of obtaining an expression of opinion from scientific men in 

 England, because it is due to those who may be asked to contribute towards 

 its accomplishment that the importance of the object should be attested 

 by higher scientific authority than the Board can lay claim to ; because 

 also it considers that every means should be used to obtain, so far as funds 

 will permit, the best instrument which modern skill and recent inventions 

 render possible ; because, finally, the Board feel that, whether the cost of 

 the instrument be defrayed wholly or partially by private contributions or 

 a grant from the Legislature, public sympathy will be much more strongly 

 enlisted in its favour by a statement of the interest taken in the matter in 

 Europe, and by the approval of the Imperial Government, than by any 

 representation which the Board can make. 



I have, &c., 



(Signed) W. P. WILSON, 



Secretary to the Board of Visitors. 

 His Excellency the Governor. 



