MALBY'S GLOBES. 121 



Indeed, with the 20-foot reflector, out of 629 1 of which his cata- .1844. 

 logue consists, I have succeeded in observing only 207, and of 

 these I have great doubts of the identity of between twenty and 

 thirty. What sort of objects Mr. D. has set down as nebulae in 

 the other 422 cases I have no idea. All I can say is, that out of 

 1,700 more or less observed by myself at the Cape, the above 

 are all of Dunlop's which have not proved coy. You will judge 

 by this whether or not to recommend your globe-undertakers to 

 map down Dunlop's catalogue in its integrity. 



As to double stars, I think Struve's great catalogue will go 

 far to saturate a 36-inch globe. 



Let me know whether you are very much interested in Mr. 

 Malby's undertaking, as in that case I would send you the list 

 of those Nos. of Dunlop's nebulas which I either know certainly 

 to exist in or near his places, or have found nebulae which, by a 

 stretch of good-natured identification, I should be disposed to 

 admit as observed by myself. 



Some large and showy globes had been made in 1823, 

 the trustworthiness of which was not guaranteed by the 

 name of any scientific authority. As Mr. Woollgar, in 

 writing of these, said, c globes are oftener purchased as 

 articles of furniture than as philosophical instruments,' 

 and these large globes fitted the purpose. Mr. Malby's 

 globes could not lie under this reproach, for even as 

 articles Of furniture they were not showy enough to suit 

 the upholsterer, while their accuracy was beyond question. 

 But as a globe can never be even quite up to the amount 

 of astronomical or geographical knowledge at the time of 

 its completion, it must from time to time require additions, 

 if not corrections, and in course of discovery will at length 

 be superseded for practical use, as the globes made in 

 1844 may be at this time. 



From their improved construction, great accuracy, 

 and careful measurements, questions concerning ancient 

 Astronomy, depending for the most part on the preces- 

 sion of the equinoxes, could be determined by these 



1 The figures are slightly blotted in the letter, and I have not 

 Dunlop's Catalogue to ascertain the number. 



