| RefNo | MS/957/57 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Thomas Brisbane, Government House, Parramatta, to 'Dear Sir' [Henry Kater] |
| Creator | Brisbane; Sir Thomas Makdougall (1773-1860); British colonial governor and astronomer |
| Date | 6 September 1822 |
| Description | He wrote to Kater by ship about a week ago, but sends duplicate observations in case his letter does not reach its destination. The pendulum observations are in the crude state for Kater to make the necessary corrections for temperature, and at 77 feet above mean high water. He explains his own series and more made by Mr [James] Dunlop. He will be glad if the whole could be communicated to the Royal Society and once corrections have been made to communicate to him the absolute length in London and Parramatta. He hopes that the Royal Society or the Board of Longitude would recommend to the King the measurement of a degree of the meridian in Parramatta, as it is well situated, and Brisbane would gladly undertake it. He discusses the details of what might be involved. He writes that it would be useful to get the Moon's passages over the meridian in advance of the eclipse of the Sun on 16 August. He asks that if any valuable scientific work has been published in England, Caddell and Davies should send it to the Colonial Office for him, care of Mr. Barnard, who will forward it. He notes that the climate is delightful for the astronomer and wishes it had been selected instead of the Cape. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| Dimensions | 230x180mm. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7436 | Brisbane; Sir; Thomas Makdougall (1773 - 1860) | 1773 - 1860 |