Letter from William Radcliffe Birt, Cambridge House Academy, Bethnal Green to Edward Sabine Mr [Francis] Ronalds has informed Birt of the possibility that the maintenance of the Kew Observatory by the British Association may be discontinued. [Birt has enclosed a letter written by Mr Ronalds addressed to Sabine.] Birt describes the advantages of keeping the observatory at Kew. Birt argues that a lot of work has been made regarding the construction of the instruments, the self-registering apparatus, five years of electrical observations, as well as Kew being the only regular observatory. Birt draws Sabine’s attention to his competency by referring to John [Frederick William] Herschel’s testimonial on the occasion of Birt’s appointment in 1842. Mr Ronald discusses the discontinuance of the Kew Observatory. 24 May 1848