Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27
VieU of the main building on the Naval
Observatory grounds.

of this >on the part of Congress which causes
rejoicing on the Government hilltop above the
new British embassy. And thereby hangs one
of the queerest condolences in history. On the
left as one goes out Massachusetts avenue
stands the old English manor-type home OF
Britain's representative to this country. And
near to it. within almost stone throw, is the
gateway to the Naval Observatory, the germ
of whose establishment lies in hatred OF all
the embassy stands for-the British govern
ment-back at time when this country was
struggling for freedom from her rule.
For the purpose of laying foundation for
the establishment of first meridian for the
United States by which further dependence
on Great Britain or any other foreign nation
for such meridian may be entirely removed,
reads part Of the memorial by Representative
William Lambert of Virginia presented to the
House of Representatives in 1870 looking
toward our independence in this field OF
scientific endeavor from the mother country
as his fellow Virginians had done in the field
of government "a years before. Lambert, i'm
bued with freedom in all things from England,
sowed the seed that led in time to the estab-
lishment of the Naval Observatory. We took
no laws from England and, by all that was free,
we would take no astronomical observations
And now the British embassy jostles Mr.. Lam
bert's feshed idea in the friendliest manner
possible. Neighbors in sweet peace amid green
wood surroundings untouched by the 6and OF
man. even from the day of Mr. Lambert.
Mr.. Lambert was something Of a scientist
hinself--an observer of the heavens and a
calculator of the motions of the stars But
not without delicate hint on the part of the
committee that presented his memorial to Con-
gress that his calculations might not be the
last word that could be said the subject.
For in presenting his memorial to Congress- in
which he "deduces the approximate longitude
of the Capitol to be 76o So 6" 900 west from
Greenwich" basing his calculation by the moon
80 xAaiv, c4orc fl1a
the night of October 20, 1904" the committee
COMMUNICATED MIR. Lambert's astronomical
ability but recommended the authorization of
further observations by different methods to
determine question Of so much nicely and
value"
HOWEVER, nothing came Of the Lambert
memorial save discussion. And there was
plenty OF that for the next few years to come.
It got into the hands OF the Secretary of State
(Aonroe) in 1912 in the form of resolution
making provision by law ito cause the longi-
tude of Washington from the observatory at
Greenwich to be ascertained with the greatest
degree of accuracy and for that purpose to
procure the necessary astronomical instru-
ments" Monroe commented on the resolution
and declared that AN observatory would be
of essential utility" cit is only in such an
institution" said he, ito be founded by the
public that all the necessary implements are
observations be made for any great length
of time and that the public can be made
secure of the results of the labors of scientific
men. In favor of such institution, it is
sufficient to remark that every nation which
has established first meridian has also eStab-
lished an observatory" Here we find for the
first time the suggestion of national observ-
atory.
Monroe's letter and Lambert's memorial now
got into the hands of a second select committee
- T~1&.& ENalN
member And MIR. Calhoun must have written
the report presented to the House by DR.. S. l..
Mitchell, for its language is the language of
one accustomed to dwell in thought among
the pleiades and range the heavens with the
brilliant of Gemini For they. said the
committee, had diligently weighed MIR, Lam
berts memorial and the letter of the Honorable
Secretary Of State" and come to the conclusion
Con TIMED on Sixteenth Pc.