THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND THE STATE 



Observatory owes, in no small degree, its early efficiency 

 and the high position it soon reached, to the advice and 

 the energetic action on its behalf of the Royal Society. 

 The Observatory, at the time it was placed, in 1710, by 

 Queen Anne in the sole charge of the Society, was without 

 instruments, except such as Flamsteed had himself supplied. 

 Immediately on taking charge, the Society appointed a 

 Committee which visited Greenwich, and as a result sent 

 in an application to the Ordnance Office, but at the time 

 unsuccessfully, for the new instruments which were 

 absolutely essential for properly carrying on the work of 

 an observatory. The little interest taken by the Govern- 

 ment of that day in science is manifest from the answer 

 received from the Ordnance Office, " that they had never 

 been at any charge for instruments, but only for repairing 

 the house and paying Mr. Flamsteed's salary." The 

 Society persevered, and when in 1720 Halley succeeded 

 Flamsteed, was successful in persuading the Government 

 to provide a few of the more necessary instruments. At 

 a little later date the Society induced the Government 

 to expend 1000 on instruments, to be constructed by 

 Graham and Bird. When George in. came to the throne, 

 he re-appointed the Society as sole Visitors, and ordered 

 the Astronomer Royal to obey the regulations drawn up 

 by the Council, and commanded the Master General of 

 Ordnance to furnish such instruments as the Council 

 should think necessary for the Observatory. In the list 

 of these instruments is mentioned a ten-foot telescope of 



