| Description | Present: The President: Lord Foley; Mr Conduit; Dr Halley; Martin Folkes Esq.; Mr Brown; Mr Machin; Governor Nicholson; Mr Bradley; Dr Jurin
' Mr Conduit was Sworn of the Council
Dr Beard was put to the ballot and approved for a Candidate.
Martin Folkes Esq reported in the Name of the Committee appointed as Visitors of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich by an Order dated the 12th of this month, That they did in pursuance of the Said Order go down to Greenwich on Monday last, and did there View the State of the Observatory inspecting the Several Works and Instruments erected or purchased by the present Proffessor, and did also examin the Several bills and Vouchers for the Money thereon expended, and have also considered to the best of their Judgment what there yet remains to be done in order to put the Observatory into that Condition which Seems Requisite to answer the Intentions of it. And that having agreed in one report they appointed him to lay the Same before the Council; Which Report was Accordingly read, Setting forth in General -
1. As to the State of the Observatory
That all the Instruments now lodged or Erected in the Royal Observatory and belonging to it, were procured by the present Proffessor, Those which were used by his Predecessor being carried off and Claimed by his Executors.
That there is a Room adjoining to the West end of the House newly Erected, which Serves as an Observatory for taking the Transits of Objects on the Meridian. It being furnished with a Curious Telescopick Instrument of five foot Radius fitted to an Axis and Adjusted with Screws to Revolve in the Plain of the Meridian, And a plain Week Clock Standing by it for Making the Observations.
That the Great Room in the Observatory is furnished with a plain Month clock and three very Good Telescopes one of Nine foot another of Sixteen and the third of twenty four foot in length, and also two very good Micrometers of different forms.
That in the Garden from Off the South East Corner of the House there is Erected another Building, being a Room designed to hold two laorge Mural Quadrants of Eight foot Radius for Observing the Meridional Altitudes of Objects One of which Quadrants is to Command that part of the Meridian which lyes to the South, and the other that part which lyes to the North. And in the Middle of the Said Room is Erected a firm Stone Wall lying North and South, being Eleven foot high, Nine foot lond and two foot thick, Consisting off Nine large Stones Cemented. To the East face of which Wall is Affixed the large Quadrant which is for taking the Observations to the South, being entirely finished and fitted up for use.
That they are informed the Materials for making the other Quadrant are procured, and many of its parts formed, as the Brass Limb, the Iron Bars and the Tube for the Telescope with Some others.
2. Next as to the bills and Vouchers for the Moneys expended in Making these Works and Instruments.
The Said Report Setts forth That they have examined the Several particulars in the Said bills which in the Total amount to the Sum of £435 - 10 - 4 and have had the opinion of Able Judges that the Several particulars are reasonably rated and are fully perswaded that the Several Sums have been truly laid out with great frugallity and good husbandry.
That it appears by the Vouchers produced to them that out of the Sum of £500 which was issued from the Treasury for fitting up his Majesties Observatory at Greenwich, the Sum of £40 was paid for Taxes and fees, So that there remains only the Sum of £29 - 9 - 8 Ballance in the hands of his Majesties Observer.
3. They Offer it as their Opoinion that the Observatory cannot be accounted Sufficiently furnished with Instruments for Serving all the purposes required, unless these be one large and Substantial Instrument which is not Confined to the plane of the Meridian, but fitted for making Observations in any other Vertical, for the want of which the Professor is at present Obliged to make use of one which belongs to this Society.
They further Say that they have formed a Calculation as near as they are able of the expences requisite for finishing the Quadrant already begun, and also of the Charges of an Instrument of Suitable bigness to make Observations out of the Meridian, and in the whole are of opinion that the Expence will Amount to the Sum of £200 more than the Ballance now remaining.
This Report being considered and the matter thereof debated
It was resolved That in pursuance to the directions of her late Majesties Letter dated 12th of December 1710 Application be made to the board of Ordnance to procure an Order for issuing a Sum requisite to furnish the Observatory with proper Instruments.
Ordered that Mr Conduit be appointed to wait upon his Grace the Duke of Argyle Master Generall of his Majesties Ordnance, with the Copy of her late Majesties Letter appointing the President and Such as the Council Shall think fitt to Join with him to be Visitors of the Royal Observatory, as also the Copy of the Secretary of State's Letter to the board of Ordnance directing the Said board to take notice of such representations as shall be made concerning the State of the Instruments in the Said Observatory, And to acquaint his Grace with the heads of the report made by the present Visitors, And in the Name of the President and Council so far as they are Visitors, humbly to desire he would be pleased to give the Necessary directions for issuing from the Board of Ordnance the Sum of £200 which appears by the Said report to be Wanting to furnish the Observatory with Such Instruments as are requisite to carry on the business of the palce, Or that he would be pleased to give other Such directions for compleating the Observatory with Instruments as in by his great prudence Shall Seem meet. ' |