432 
WILLIAM CRAWFORD WINLOCK. 
the Group b in the Solar Spectrum.” This paper was pub¬ 
lished in the “ Proceedings of the American Academy,” vol. 
xvi, 1881. 
In July, 1880, the number of observers at the Naval 
Observatory was seriously reduced by the resignation of two 
assistant astronomers, and the unusual pressure of work at 
that time made it very desirable to secure efficient assistance 
without waiting for the usual routine of a competitive exam¬ 
ination. As the work was in my own department, I was 
authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to select the most 
competent men I could find, to be employed on six months’ 
probation. At my request, Mr. Winlock accepted one of 
the positions as an assistant astronomer, and reported for 
duty on August 2, 1880. From the beginning of his work 
at the observatory until the last day of his service there, he 
was an important member of the working force. 
Quiet and unassuming, he was always courteous, obliging, 
and mindful of the rights and feelings of all his associates. 
His cheerful zeal in the prosecution of the duty assigned 
him left nothing to be desired, and in the nine years of hard 
and continuous labor as an observer and computer under 
my direction, I can remember no cause for criticism save a 
not infrequent caution against overtaxing his physical 
strength. He continued as an assistant in the work 
with the transit circle during his entire service at the ob¬ 
servatory, and more than nine thousand observations with 
that instrument constitute a lasting monument to his ability, 
fidelity, and industry as an observer. As a computer he 
was methodical and accurate, finding satisfaction only in 
the best results. 
His most important work at the observatory, outside of 
the continuous routine of meridian work, was a monograph 
on the great comet of 1882. 
This paper of 38 quarto pages, with five plates, appeared 
as Appendix I in the annual volume of the Naval Observa¬ 
tory for 1880. A large majority of the observations of this 
comet with the transit circle were made by Mr. Winlock, 
