The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-08-12 00:00:00

7'o THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STAND.4RD.

S I R, —ln last Friday's STANDAttn a statement is given of the
probahle expense of the instruments required for the Observa-
tory, which the common council contemplate erecting at this
port. Yours being the only paper in which I have seen the
amount stated, must be my apology for' troubling you 'on the
present occasion. The individual who furnished that statement,
according to the account. given by the Mayor and several other
connnon councilmen, is a very talented individual. This testi-
mony, from such high authorities, it is not fir me to doubt; but
that the expense is considerably below the sum required fora very
ordinary observatory, I will presently prove. Indeed I ant in-
clined to think it must be a typographical error, when £l6B are
stated as being sufficient to furnish instruments for an observa-
tory worthy of such an important seaport as Liverpool. No
estimate is given of the cost of the bailding; nor is any site
named for its erection ; but I will assume that, in order 'to be
accessible to shipmasters, it must be in the neighbourhood of
the docks; and, from the great traffic in their neighbourhood, a
very secure building would be required, to prevent vibration ;
and solid masonry generally requires proportionately solid cash.
Then, even if placed on an elevated situation, as 1 have heard
it hinted, it must be proportionably strong, to prevent the pleasant
northwesters, of which we have recently had a sample, from
'
having any effect upon it.
will now proceed to give my estimate of the 'value of the
instruments' which I consider requisite. In the first place, three
astronomical clocks would be necessary; viz., one lathe-pendu-
lum, one mercurial, and one gridiron, which I value at. from.
£l5O to £200; a transit instrument, at £5O, if it is to be for use
and not for ornament; two pocket .thronometers, from £6O to.
£80; a se x tiCtft-dit a s.-.anu, minut.ol,, divia,--sartzflive seconus,-
£26 ; barometer and various thermometers, £8 ; sympiesometer,
£4; artificial horizon, '£3; a telescope on stand, £st). The
aggregate of these indispensable. items will amount to from E. 35
to £421. I have not included in this estimate either books or
many instruments requisite for the higher brancheS of astrono-
my, such as Azimuth, dipping-needle, variation compasses,
circles, mural or otherwise; and yet I will tell the scientific Mr. -
Lassen, jun , that the abOve is rather under than above the sum
required for an ordinary observatory. I, appeal to any one who
knows the value and use of good instruments, whether my cal-
culations are not on a. very moderate scale. Besides, 1 hive
made no allowance for an assistant to the principal astronomer,
who would be required if the establishment is. to be rendered
• efficient. The only instruments which I have mentioned in the
plural number are, the astronomical clocks and pocket chrono-
meters,' and a gentleman who I find is on the committee,
'Roskell, I am informed has three of the former in his private
• observatory. '
AnOther erroneous idea is, that the expense will he more than
repaid by the chronometers sent tobe rated. Very few respecta-
ble makers would trust their chronemeters into other than their
own 'or their agent's hands; and, if it were the case, no trifling
sum would be required for insurances. Ido not wish it to be
'inferred front these remarks that 1 am adverse to the establish-
ment of an observatory at this port.' This is by no means the
case ; but I certainly should not wish to see a gungling apology
for an observatory to be erected, to the lasting disgrace of my
native town: I wish to see it conducted in a proper manner—
not by a political partizanbut by-a really clever and scientific
person; and when I see it stated that £l6B would be sifficient
fOr the purpose, and know it to be egregiously incorreCt, I con-
sider it only due to my fellow-toWnsmen to disabUse them on
the subject. If the committee wish to have an efficient obser-
vatory, worthy of Liverpool, le; them procure the opinions 9f
experienced men, nut of amateur astronomers; then, instead of
a ton, we shall have a creditable establishment, such as every
lover of science would wish 'to see in active operation..—Cor-
(Holly desiring to see this object accomplished, I am, sir, yours,
&c., A DICKY SAM.