194 Remarks on the Dudley Observatory 



vented all operations during that interval except the me- 

 teorological observations by Mr. Johnson. 



It had been my intention to observe during transit, 

 differences of the sun's and planet's right-ascension and 

 declination near the time when the latter quantity passed 

 through zero, by an application of the method of inclined 

 wires ; and for this purpose, which required precise know- 

 ledge of its astronomical position, the instrument was 

 mounted on its own heavily framed stand, which rested on 

 the foundation constructed for the coast survey instru- 

 ment. The night of May 5th being clear, permitting work 

 in general to be resumed, the telescope was equatoriully 

 located and the final coordinates of the pole of the in- 

 strument as referred to the celestial pole determined by 

 observations of the declination of fundamental stars on 

 the meridian and six-hour circle. The details and results 

 of this w^ork are omitted, since the observations which 

 would have depended on it, were prevented by clouds. 



The Dollaud telescope was mounted at ingress on a tem- 

 porarily constructed stand placed about twelve feet east 

 of the observing tent. The lack of perfect solidity in the 

 mounting, rendered troublesome by the wind which was 

 blowing briskly at the time of ingress, induced Mr. Wilson 

 to discard the stand at egress and to place the instrument 

 on the ground, observing in a reclining position, which 

 alteration gave more satisfactory results. 



To insure certainty in obtaining the time within the de- 

 gree of precision required, three independent methods for 

 its determination were adopted : 



[^.] A system of flash signals was arranged to be given 

 at preconcerted times by Messrs. O'Hara and Cooking- 

 ham at the State Survey Station " Ferris," which is 

 visible from both Dudley Observatory and Helder- 



