L30/18/14/4

Copy of letter from Lord Auckland, to George Biddell Airy:

8 Oct 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

Thomas Spring Rice put into Aucklands hand letter (L30/18/14/3). "My anxiety to see you in that situation" (Astronomer Royal), will be regret at his leaving Cambridge, but there can be but one opinion upon the propriety of giving to the Royal Observatory the first rank in the promotion of Astronomical Science, and upon your fitness to uphold it". Whole arrangements must for the present be considered as in a great measure undefined "and dependent upon the general opinion of Government and eventually upon the decision of Parliament". Deals with Airy's queries point by point. 1. Proposed salary should be £600 per annum with additional £100 for attention to the Chronometers "probably no strong objections would be made to the whole being fixed at £800." 2. No pledge given for retiring pension (apart from Pension Act, passed last session). 3. "The suggestions of the Astronomer would have great weight with regard to the Assistants, to the remodelling of the whole Establishment and to the improvement of the buildings within those strict limits of Expense which are absolutely necessary". 4. Rating of Chronometers will continue to be under superintendence of Astronomer Royal. 5. Lay outline arrangement before Parliament. "The Government will be publicly pledged to the appointments". Very little doubt "whole arrangement will be satisfactory to Parliament, for however close the House of Commons may have appeared to be in the outlay of Public Money there has been no disposition with any party to be otherwise than liberal where the interests of science are concerned."

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Auckland, George Eden, 1st Earl of,
Rice, Thomas Spring, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon,
Airy, George Biddell

Astronomer Royal, Greenwich Royal Observatory, astronomy