Sydney Observatory
10 June 1873

I have the honor to request that the Agent General may be requested to order from Mr J H Dallmeyer of 19 Bloomsbury Street London, a Photoheliograph (optical ?? similar to those made by him for the Greenwich Observatory. The Instrument to be completed by the end of the present year (1873).

I enclose a letter from Mr Dallmeyer from which it appears doubtful if he will undertake the works. Should he decline to do it in the specified time, I have to request that the order be sent to Mr Hugo Schroeder of Hamburg with the specifications herewith.

From what I know of Mr Schroeder’s prices I expect he will make the Instrument for about one hundred and thirty ?? pounds, but should he ask more for the very best article he can make the limit of price might be set at one hundred and forty?? pounds.

In order to provide funds for this additional telescope required for the Transit of Venus, I have to request that a further sum of (£150) one hundred and fifty pounds may be sent to them??.

[First few lines very difficult to read] …. telescope …. last …. with a stand. The object glass to be 5 inches (125 mille) clear aperture, with a focal length of about 6 feet (1850 mille). The instrument to be provided with three first ?? negative eyepieces. magnifying 100-150 and 200 times, also a combination of lenses, and plate holder for taking photographs of the Sun during the Transit of Venus. Diameter of ?? to be 4 inches (110 mille) ?? possible care must be taken if ?? the photographic part and ?? of it as perfect as possible.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
HC Russell
Govt Astronomer

The Principal
Under Secretary