RefNo | NLB/6/737 |
AltRefNo | NLB/6 p309-314 |
Level | Item |
Title | Copy letter from Michael Foster, to the Secretary, Admiralty |
Date | 6 July 1892 |
Description | Foster is directed by the President and Council to ask for the assistance of the Lord of Admiralty.
A total eclipse of the sun for longer duration than has been observed during the present century, will take place on 16 April 1893 and can be observed with a high sun in Brazil and Senegambia. The French and American Governments are preparing expeditions to observe this Eclipse. In England the Royal Society, Royal Astronomical Society, and Solar Physics Committee of the Science and Art Department have formed a Committee to arrange an expedition of observation. The expense will be met by a grant from the fund annually voted by Parliament in aid of Scientific Research and administered through the Royal Society, but the President and Council venture to ask for special assistance from the Lords regarding transport.
Due to weather conditions the Committee has decided to send four to six observers to Senegambia; and only two to Brazil. The station in Brazil can be readily reached but there is much difficulty attending the journey of observers to the river Salum, the observation station in Senegambia. The nearest port to which steamers run is Bathurst. The President and Council wish Foster to represent to the Lord of Admiralty in the most emphatic manner how valuable it would be if they would consent to direct a ship of war to take the observes and convey them to Bathurst and back. Even if the Bathurst steamers can be used it would be very useful if a gun-boat and steam launch could be used to convey the party between Bathurst and the actual observing station. The observers would need to be on the spot on or before 2 April and would probably be ready to return on 18 April.
The station being in French territory the President and Council have communicated with the Foreign Office. |
Extent | 5p |
Format | Carbon |
AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
Code | PersonName | Dates |
NA8220 | Foster; Sir; Michael (1836 - 1907); physiologist | 1836 - 1907 |