72 
public sentiment which, combined with other influences, 
at last brought about the establishment of the Naval 
Observatory. 
In 1841, after three years of zealous observations, Gilliss 
obtained authority to import a meridian-circle. This could 
not be erected in the little hut where he was then observing, 
and he availed himself of the opportunity to urge both upon 
the Navy Department and upon members of Congress the 
establishment of a permanent Observatory for the Navy, to 
be attached to the Depot of Charts and Instruments. Let 
me quote his own words from his official report after the suc- 
cessful accomplishment of this design. 
“As the observations progressed, the unsuitableness of 
the building, the defects of the transit-instrument, the want 
of space to erect a permanent circle, and the absolute ne- 
cessity of rebuilding the observatory in use, became each day 
more urgent, and, at my earnest solicitation, the Commis- 
sioners of the Navy recommended an appropriation for a 
permanent establishment in December, 1841. Even this, 
however, was not accomplished without difficulty. But the 
efforts of the honorable Secretary to advance science, and 
more especially those branches of it in which the Navy is 
interested, are well known to the country ; and immediately 
appreciating its importance, he brought this subject before 
Congress in his report to the President of December, 1841- 
. “Much delay occurred with the Naval Committees in Con- 
gress. The Hon. Francis Mallory, to whom it was referred 
by the House Committee, espoused the cause warmly, but 
the majority kept aloof from the depot (although so near) 
__- until the entire winter passed away. Finally, on the 15th 
ot — 1842, I succeeded in persuading the only member of 
_ the committee who was skeptical to visit the observatory> 
au i on that very day a unanimous report and bill were 
