Letter by H C Russell, 27 May 1874
744
Government Observatory
27th May 1874
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 74-271.3?? together with two bills?? of ?? and a letter from the Agent General for New South Wales dated London March 20th 1870 in which the Agent General mentions the shipment of a lens?? and ?? eyepieces and adds, “it is understood” these were “ordered direct by Mr Russell, I have already pointed out the inconvenience of this course??
In explanation of this paragraph I have to remark that these Instruments were ordered by me from Mr Schroeder’s agent in Sydney with the clear understanding that I bought from him; but that the instruments should be made by Mr Schroeder. I have personally obtained small instruments from the same agent under similar conditions and I only?? supposed that in this case Mr Schroeder has ?? his agent.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
H C Russell
Govt Astronomer
The Principal Under Secretary
665
Copy
Sydney Observatory
23 Janry 1873
Sir
I have the honor to request that the agent general for New South Wales may be Instructed by the outgoing mail to order from Mr Hugo Schroeder of the Optical Institute Hamburg an object glass of the finest possible quality 11 inches clear aperture? (in diameter) and 12 feet focal length mounted in a brass cell, together with the Brass work for the eye end of the telescope, and eight eyepieces for negative and four positive.
I have &C
HC Russell
The Principal Under Secretary
42
Observatory
Dec 24 [18]90
Govt Astronomer
Messrs Cleve & Wright
Dear Sir
Will you kindly send me by bearer a price for printing (in Silver print) 100 copies from each negative where there are 16 negatives. Prints to be first class and thoroughly marked.
Please put price at per print.
Yours truly
H C Russell
368
Observatory
Dec 12th [18]89
H C Russell
Manager
Morts Dock
Dear Sir
I have just received your memorandum of price of making telescope tube as specified and shall be glad if you will proceed with the work.
Yours truly
H C Russell
119
Government Observatory
Sydney September 6 1870
Mr Browning
Dear Sir
I have just been appointed Astronomer for New South Wales and am very anxious to possess as soon as I can get it, a good spectroscope suitable for star or comet work. As I have no opportunity here of judging by the performance of different kinds, I have determined to leave it to you to send me what you think will be best only it must be good and one worthy of a public observatory.
My Equatorial was made by Berg?? & Son of Munich has an object glass of 7¼ inches clear aperture?? and a focal length of 10 feet 4 inches. The performance is good and it has a ?? parallel wire micrometer.
I am going to devote myself principally to southern double stars and want the spectroscope to apply to any star comet or other object under observation.
I?? few days since Mr Alherst Le Seur?? who was appointed to work the large reflector at Melbourne was here and he told me that the Equatorial performed better (making allowance for difference in aperture) than the Cambridge 11 in refractor I mention this also that with full aperture it shows two well defined discs with scarcely any radiation when turned on & caucis??: that you may have some idea of its performance to guide you in making the spectroscope.
I cannot send you an adapter for the telescope for I have not one to spare, but we have a good Instrument maker here and I can get that made.
I am prepared to pay £35 or from that to £40 for the spectroscope and hope you will be able to send it to me so as to reach me in January or February next, if before so much the better.
I want you to send me also a glass prism for the same telescope, plane surface 1¼ in unmounted intended for observing the Sun.
I want also to know the prices of your largest glass reflectors equatorially mounted with clock movement from 13 inches upwards.
If you have an agent in Sydney who has written authority to receive money for you please let me know as the government here are very particular about the payment of money.
Yours truly
HC Russell
Govt Astronomer
