Letter by H C Russell, 26 May 1871
403
Sydney Observatory
26 May 1871
Dear Sir
The Sydney Observatory is in no way responsible for the altitudes of different places given to the Australian Almanac.
Should you consider it necessary?? to assist?? that publication, I have to request that you will at the same time state that the error was in Dr Wilson’s observations, otherwise it?? is an ?? which has come within my?? own?? knowledge.
It may be supposed from your statements that I am responsible for the mistake in the altitude of Braidwood.
Yours truly
H.C. Russell
Govt Astronomer
W. E. L….?? Esqre
Licensed Surveyor
Letter by H C Russell, 25 May 1871
397
Sydney Observatory
25 May 1871
Sir
I have the honor herewith to enclose Vouchers for the payment of £54-15-9 from the Vote for New Instruments 1871 –
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
The Under Secretary for Finance & Trade
Letter by H C Russell, 23 May 1871
395
Govt Observatory
23 May 1871
Sir
I have the honor to request an advance of £6.2.4 from the Vote for Incidental Expenses 1871 for the enclosed vouchers.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
H. C. Russell
Govt Astronomer
The Under Secretary for Finance & Trade
Letter by H C Russell, 20 May 1871
394
Sydney Observatory
20 May 1871
Dear Sir
I have the pleasure herewith to forward copies of printed results of the Sydney Observatory. Few Astronomical Results have been published recently the late Astronomer devoted himself chiefly to the Base Line operations of the Trigonometrical Survey of the Colony and the transit instrument is much inferior to the one at Melbourne so the results are not deemed worth publishing.
I have been devoting all my time to measurements of circumpolar ?? double stars but results are not yet printed.
I shall be glad at all times to co-operate with you in any matters of science and to exchange printed results.
Yours very truly
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
Joseph Henry Esqre
Secretary Smithsonian Institute
P.S. The newspaper report of papers on nebula about γ?? Argus is only form in which it is printed.
Letter by H C Russell, 19 May 1871
392
Sydney Observatory
19 May 1871
Sir
In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 13th Instant, I have the honor to inform that my letter was sent to the Station Master at Muswellbrook and not to the Traffic Manager at Newcastle.
My object was to learn if the missing Box of Instruments were at Muswellbrook. Mr Beeston now informs me, by letter date May 17: that there is no such Box at Muswellbrook Station.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
The Under Secretary for Public Works
Letter by H C Russell, 17 May 1871
387-388
Sydney Observatory
17 May 1871
Dear Sir
I take the opportunity to send you some further notes about γ?? Argus. The enclosed paper contains the only print I have of a paper read before our Royal Society for the purpose of making known here the history of γ ?? and expressing my conviction with reference to it.
The three missing parts there alluded to I have looked for repeatedly and feel sure two at least are gone or at least so faded as not to be distinguishable from the general ground of the nebula; and the third from stars 71 and 72 is scarcely visible at all certainly much fainter than that about ?? γ?? itself
Since February a change appears to have taken place about the point at – 17” – 100” which now seems almost isolated by a sort of channel forming?? (so it would seem) on the preceding?? side of it and extending into the ?? north and south after/often ?? while examining of ?? ?? I have many times wished that your own reflector could again be turned to it, and settle the question of change it ?? for if I see correctly the changes and new stars are without a parallel in the history of astronomy.
I do not like to propose that it should again be used because I do not know whether circumstances would warrant it but if you should think of granting a reflector for ?? such a purpose, I would be only too glad to do everything in my power to assist and induce our Government to bear the expense. Having considerable classical knowledge I think I would erect it, and would be delighted to make the survey if entrusted with it.
Yours faithfully
H. C. Russell
Sir John Herschel
Collingwood
Letter by H C Russell, 3 May 1871
378
Sydney Observatory
3 May 1871
My dear Mr Kraft
Recently in going over old records of the Colony I found the following notice which may interest you.
“John Buff – poisoned by eating toad fish at Parramatta April 20th 1821 – he died in 20 minutes after eating it. (from Australian Almanac)
Yours very truly
H C Russell
Letter by H C Russell, 20 April 1871
364
Sydney Observatory
20 April 1871
Sir
I have the honor to request an advance of £16-10-0 from the Vote for Magnetic Survey 1871 to enable me to pay the enclosed voucher.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
The Under Secretary for Finance & Trade
Letter by H C Russell, 17 April 1871
357
Sydney Observatory
17 April 1871
Sir
In February last I wrote to the Railway Station Master Muswellbrook the letter of which I now enclose a copy and to which I have received no answer. I have therefore to request that he may be called upon to answer that letter and enable me to trace a valuable set of Instruments which have been on the road from Sydney to Inverell many months.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
H C Russell
The Under Secretary for Public Works
Letter by H C Russell, 3 April 1872
598
April 3 [1872]
Sir
The white cloud like object you saw was in all probability a cluster of stars called
Praesepe in the constellation “Cancer”. to the naked eye it looks like a comet and it may have been hidden by one of the faint clouds often found in our atmosphere and which are not directly visible to the eyes.
Yours very truly
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
A Miller Esqre
Gladesville
