THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION 61 
NOTED OBSERVATORIES. 
By G. Parry JENKINS. 
Delivered Nov. 14, 1904, 
In the course of a review of his personal visits to some noted 
Observatories, Mr. Jenkins said Greenwich was to an astronomer 
what Mecea was to a Mohammedan. Often as a boy he had 
watched the big ball drop from the pole on the tower at mid-day, 
but the notice on the door of the Observatory ‘‘No admittance 
except on business’’ had barred his entrance until the summer of 
1889, when an opportunity came through the introduction of a 
dear old friend of his, the late Mr. G. H. With, of silver-on-glass 
specula fame, to Mr. William Ellis, F. R. S., then head of the 
Magnetic Department. 
Greenwich Observatory was founded on August 10th, 1673, 
by King Charles II., with the express object of watching the 
Moon’s motions; but the present Astronomer Royal said slight 
errors in the position of our satellite still existed, after two hun- 
dred years of constant observations. The illustrious personages 
who had filled the important office of Astronomer Royal were 
Flamsteed, Halley, Bradley, Bliss, Maskelyne, Airy and Christie. 
Each had been famous and their various discoveries were enumer- 
ated in detail. All the modern equipment at Greenwich Observa- 
tory was practically due to Sir. W. Christie, the present Astronom- 
er Royal. The largest instrument there was the magnificent refrac- . 
tor of 28 inches aperture, made by Sir Howard Grubb. Mr. 
Jenkins said it was with more than ordinary interest that he 
handled this telescope and had a peep through it in Greenwich, be- 
cause two years previously he had the honor of seeing the lens 
made at the Rathmines Astronomical Works in Dublin, and hav- 
