Observations and experiments made at Port Bowen in the years 1824-25, on the figure of the earth, on magnetism, and atmospherical refraction / [Sir William Edward Parry].

  • Parry, William Edward, Sir, 1790-1855
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations and experiments made at Port Bowen in the years 1824-25, on the figure of the earth, on magnetism, and atmospherical refraction / [Sir William Edward Parry]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    extensive water course, and a low flat beach extending a quarter of a mile, and interrupting the high table land for the whole of that space. The land on the north side of the harbour from the head of the Port to Stoney Island (which lies about i of a mile to the S. E. of the observatory), is similar in character to that already described on the south. From Stoney Island to the north point of entrance, the coast land is not above 200 feet high, but rises to the height of 900 feet at a little distance in the interior. The house was placed with its length at right angles to the meridian, and divided into twro apartments; one was 10 feet square; the other was five feet wide, 10 feet long, and 10 feet high. For conducting the various observations in the winter, the former of these was lined with a thick woollen cloth called fearnought; the floor boarded, and a stove placed in it; the latter, being for the use of the transit instrument, had a slit 18 inches wide cut through the walls and roof, and a large stone placed on the top of a cask filled with sand, formed the pedestal for the instrument. Previous to the commencement of the experiments with the pendulum, it became necessary to remove the boarded floor, and block up the door opening into the room from the outside: the entrance now being through the slit into the transit room ; the door in the middle of the partition between the rooms was protected by screens of canvas and fearnought on each side. The surface of the ground was then cleared away to as great a depth as possible, and large flat stones filled in with sand, formed the foundation for the supports of the pendulum and clock : care was also taken, that each support should stand on separate and unconnected stones ;