Isaac Roberts. 359 



reflector plates that made him so sceptical as to much that was called 

 nebulosity on camera plates by other observers." 



The climatic conditions of Maghull did not admit of as many clear 

 nights as an enthusiastic astronomer would desire ; accordingly Roberts, 

 after freedom from the cares of business had rendered a change of 

 residence possible, determined to remove his observatory to some more 

 favoured locality. He took characteristic pains to make his change 

 effectual. He personally investigated many sites. He even went out 

 to the West Indies to see whether he could there obtain the conditions 

 that seemed to him best. Finally he decided to establish his observa- 

 tory on Crowborough Hill, Sussex, and, as the event proved, no choice 

 could have been more judicious. 



To Crowborough the astronomical equipment was transferred in 

 1890, and there, with unremitting diligence, the work was carried on, 

 so that thousands of negatives have been taken and carefully preserved 

 as the result. Starfield, as his house at Crowborough was called, was 

 an ideal home for an astronomer. At an eminence of 800 feet, it 

 commands a superb view over the surrounding country. The observa- 

 tory was in communication with the commodious residence, and 

 situated in a beautiful garden. To this garden Dr. Roberts devoted 

 much care and attention. The visitor to Starfield could not fail to be 

 impressed by the wonderful gallery of astronomical photographs there 

 displayed. The plates of comets, of star clusters, and, above all, of 

 nebulae, judiciously selected from the thousands available, formed a 

 magnificent exhibition on the walls. 



The astronomical work of Dr. Roberts at Crowborough was carried 

 out with systematic thoroughness. The time tables, according to which 

 the day was passed, gave to each hour its allotted task. Some hours 

 of the morning and some of the afternoon were always set apart for 

 astronomical work. In the early years of his career at Maghull he 

 was himself the capable photographer of the heavens. At Crow- 

 borough he was so fortunate as to secure the skilful services of 

 Mr. "W. S. Franks as his practical photographer, and it was by the 

 diligence of Mr. Franks, under the incessant supervision and guidance 

 of Dr. Roberts, that the wonderful collection of Crowborough photo- 

 graphs has been obtained. 



How diligently the work was carried on from year to year will, 

 perhaps, be best seen by looking at the successive Annual Reports of 

 the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society. To these Reports 

 Dr. Roberts contributed each year an account of the work done in his 

 observatory during the preceding year. Of these reports there are 

 twelve. The last but one, dated February, 1903, gives a list of about 

 seventy nebulae which had been photographed during 1902. The 



