Showing 10 results

Collingwood - Business concerning Thomas Maclear's testimonial and a mistake regarding a provision for his retirement. WW is to annex his signature where indicated [see JH to WW, 23 Dec. 1862]. Could WW get Challis's [James Challis] signature also and then return the form to JH.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA did not like the Senate House Examination Papers [see GA to WW, 5 Feb. 1859], 'and I digested and abstracted them. Of the Abstract I sent a copy to Mathison [William C. Mathison]. It so became known, and Challis [James Challis] asked for a copy which I sent him. Subsequently Mr. Ferress (moderator) has asked for a copy which I send'. Would WW like a copy.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA fears that 'this little affair of the letter concerning Challis [James Challis] must have annoyed you much'. WW should show GA's letter again to Challis: 'His dire anger arises entirely from mistake of phrases. There is not a word derogatory to him. There is disapproval of his conduct of the Observatory, but he has known that for twenty years'. JC has on the one hand got 'the Observatory into an improper condition, and on the other hand he still hankers after the idle attempt of doing more than the Observatory can do or is wanted to do'. An application should be made to the Observatory Syndicate for funds to bring up the Observatory reductions.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA will arrive on Saturday at 1.30. He has written to the Vice-Chancellor advising him to send the Sheepshanks Endowment Deed to Trinity Lodge 'a few minutes before 1.30 for my examination' [for background see GA to WW, 30 Sept. 1856]. GA is not sure whether he can obtain information on the question of a Transit-Circle: 'Can you ascertain whether Challis [James] looks to dimensions equal to those of the Greenwich Instrument, or smaller?'

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has written to Lord John Russell about the high amount of duty on telescopes charged by the Spanish: A 'Telescope about 10 inches long, a Tripod stand...is very desirable. The Sun will be about 50 degrees high'. More advice on travelling in Spain and suggestions on the best location to observe the total eclipse [see GA to WW, 17 Jan. 1860]. GA presumes that James Challis and the Syndicate are still pursuing 'their policy of laying up money for an instrument, which I think very good'. GA is willing to pay for the printing of his paper on equations for the Cambridge Philosophical Society [see GA to WW, 4 Oct. 1859].

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA wants the proceedings of the "Managing Body" [of the Sheepshanks Trust] to be audited by the Trustees: 'I think it is quite proper that the "Managing Body" should exhibit to us a Db. & Cr. statement of what has become of the money since it left our hands'. This 'is partly for our own information, partly to prevent mistake, partly for the verification of balances in what must be (in the nature of things) a running account'. James Challis 'leaves the observatory [Cambridge Observatory] in some weariness and in some disgust' - this could have been avoided if he had listened to the judgments of various persons over the last twenty four years.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - The 'grant of £50 to Challis [James Challis] for his computations is evidently right - I wish it had been twice as much'. Presumably 'the "Managing Body" or Observatory Syndicate made the application: that intermediary form is indispensable'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA understands that the Prince and Princess of Wales will be visiting Cambridge on the same day of the Visitation of the Royal Observatory. Presumably this means WW, James Challis, John C. Adams and George Stokes will not be able to attend, making the meeting a 'rather a lame one'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - The clock for the Northumberland telescope is nearly finished. Could WW get [James] Challis to send to [William] Simms or GA 'the breadth of the hole that is left by the side of the south pier of the polar axis for the clock weights to drop into; as that will determine the construction of our weights'. Could WW ask the President of the Council of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, whether they would present to the library of the Royal Observatory a copy of the Transactions of the Society. This will help bind the links between the Observatory and Cambridge.

Collingwood - JH gives his reasons why WW should not, as has been reported, pledge such a strong declaration of support for John C Adams's and the 'discovery' of Neptune over [Urbain J. J.] Le Verrier: If the results of the latter had not 'appeared I think it by no means improbable that Challis might actually never have turned a telescope to the heavens in search of it at all'.