Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-31
A FIRST NEWMAN

We have LATELY met with work published in this city,
entitled Abstracts of calculations ascertain the lon
eiude of the capitol in the city Wastin2lon from
greenwich Observatory, ia Engand-by HItfiam Lam
6ert" These calculations appear been comnen-
ced IN 1893, and repeated different periods e. ,.I3
embracing space otweny years, IN Winch the Mi
nc atthOT bias given his private this subject eN-
hOihns perseverance ana iahour which fcG other
Nou'" nave voluntarily incurred, van The little encoUr-
ag'r i he appears nave from that quarter
whence he might reasonably have looked for it, The an
leTaAce OF MI LantTps work reminds as Of the abor-
tive attempts which have Of twice been made 10
obtain the sanction of Congress the necessary caicu-
iatlOns for the establishment first meridian i'm tia
not rom any manifest repHRuauce the er stature TO
acting he subject but from y ant of due mvres-
sion of its importance asut tent Of the mem
beTs To urge u forward amongst tte conflicting claims
Of 1ther subjects always contendg advantages
which MI ianbefps memorials have possessed for
ts attention OF Congress We should rcgIc the fate OF
these propositions the ii did regard It ra-
ther as tue effect of indifference aud OF the aDose
'taed, man OF posfye dsaprroba;ion ofhem III the
national LEGISLATURE and nope yet the propost.
ton successfully revived 10 establish FIRST meridian for
the U. States, under the national authority.
The establishment Of meridian for any important
state or Kingdom IN Europe has considered an a.
tribute % independence and an appcUdage Of IN.
w. France, Spain Germany aud sweden, we know have
as well as England, one o. more obstYaoIits. and are
not dependant Great Britain fur place ot tesrure
or point nom which to reckon 'lCii longitude The
states OF America. The hTst independent power IN the
new world is tie ony nation Of conrrnaeuce thar an
TO be satisfied with this Of dependence and
amongst those objects winch matters Of Pride and
Feeling rather than of absolute necessity there not
l
plshed than an exemption from this OF we nay term
~ nautical dependence England. Since tie princi-
pal labour tn accomplish that object has vouutari-
ypeormed by an individual who viii give ITS fruits To
The public without reward understand, ft they will
accp iheu) have not grounds hope that the object
viii he eaued into effect The calculations before MS
we have reason 10 believe approximate very nearly
The ruth, prOnaby within ore or two seconds. and What
Is nov necesr - Tor the proper authority to author
ne iUfer obserYaoHs 10 test the accuracy OF those al
ready made These oseryaons we have fcasun to pre-
sumo, would, u authorized he made without other re.
ward than The Hcairu Of having performed service
acceptable to tie Gaton and npsftanl fs character
AaOiber circum.ancs connected vtn this subject &C.
cnfs Ia as, but which sc had ncer'y overlooked we
mean tue arrangements which. about year and half
ego Il was reported be erect an ODsery.
aory tis city, 10 tIli the necessary ap-
pHdtus haA hesI procured thai gentleman
ence bad been en-4grd or tbc Hrdcr8kine bat some
obstacle interviewed, ana Is valuable purpose abfu
dosed = feast, ~e presume ID has been abandoned,
snce ve haYe rDt heard any thing oft leafui
That he order lnr commencing an appropriate bu ding
"as revoked. 10 consequence ffe difficulty of ebfaiu
ing lot which cogsiGefed el adapted 10 the OBJ
/ iect. Nat. Iet.