5G 



Account of the Trevandrum Observatory. 



[July 



IV. — Description of an Observatory lately established at Trevandrum, 

 by His Highness the Rajah of Travancore. — By John Caldecott, 

 Esq. Astronomer to His Highness. 



His Highness the Rajah of Travancore, already celebrated for the 

 munificence with which he promotes the education and mental im- 

 provement of his subjects, resolved in the latter part of last year on 

 the establishment, at his capital, Trevandrum, of an Observatory of a 

 superior kind ; with the double view of affording his aid to the ad- 

 vancement of astronomical science, and of introducing by its means 

 correct ideas of the principles of this science among the rising gene- 

 ration under his government; and having confided to me the superin- 

 tendence of the institution as Astronomer, I take this early opportu- 

 nity of introducing it to the notice of the public, by a short description 

 (which may be enlarged hereafter) of the three great features of its 

 future usefulness, viz. the building — the instruments — the locality — 

 convinced that the description of a new Observatory so situated, and 

 established with such objects, succinct and somewhat imperfect as at 

 this early stage it must necessarily be, will still be received with lively 

 interest, not only by astronomers in particular, but generally by the 

 many who are now contemplating, with sympathy and admiration, the 

 rapid strides with which intellectual culture is advancing among our 

 native brethren of India. 



1.— The Building. 



When it devolved on me to design a plan by which the liberal inten- 

 tions of His Highness might be carried into the most complete effect, 

 it became with me a matter of serious consideration, how the utmost 

 benefit to science might be derived from the Opportunity afforded by 

 the proposed institution, without making any very great demand on the 

 funds of the state ; and I very soon came to the conclusion that no out- 

 lay, beyond what was absolutely necessary to effectiveness, should be 

 made on the building, but that no expense should be spared in procur- 

 ing instruments of such a size and quality as would ensure to an 

 Observatory, where they were judiciously and actively made use of, a 

 rank second to none in the world. Being supported in this view of the 

 case by Colonel Fraser, the British Resident at Travancore (a gentle- 

 man most pre-eminently qualified to judge on such a matter), the plan 

 now to be explained was sanctioned by His Highness, and the building 

 has since been completely and most satisfactorily erected, by Lieut. 

 Horsley, of the Madras Engineers, through whose kindness I am ena- 

 bled to accompany this, with two perspective views, a plan, section, and 

 elevation, which will render but a short verbal explanation necessary. 



