The Archives of Armagh Observatory,
1789-1916

Armagh Observatory was founded in 1789 in the historic Irish city of Armagh on the initiative of Archbishop Richard Robinson, who endowed it and appointed a board of Governors and Guardians , many of whom were (and are) members of the Chapter of Armagh Cathedral. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1791 and therefore permanent in status - unlike other observatories in Ireland such as those of Lord Rosse at Birr Castle and of Colonel Edward Cooper at Markree Castle, observatories that fell into ruin when the estates passed to less enthusiastic descendents.

Armagh Observatory has always enjoyed official esteem, but all too often this has not been translated into the giving of financial support. Today, the Observatory, being neither a university activity nor an institution under the direction of the Science and Engineering Research Council, is supported from public funds through the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. Its history, therefore, has been chequered, its achievements heavily dependent upon the quality of the Director both as observer and as administrator. Nevertheless, as an eighteenth-century foundation it occupies an important place in the history of Irish astronomy.

Our purpose here is to list the surviving archives from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries-more exactly, from the period down to 1916, when J. L. E. Dreyer resigned as Director - in order to make them known to historians of the period. The first Director, the Rev. James Archibald Hamilton, was appointed in 1790. Unfortunately, Archbishop Robinson died in 1794, before the finances of the infant observatory were secure. Nevertheless, his successors could not prevent the delivery in 1795 of the one instrument of quality the observatory was to possess for many years: an equatorial by Troughton of 2 inches aperture and 3 ft focal length.

The observatory clocks, too, were outstanding, two being by the great London maker Thomas Earnshaw. With the equatorial and a locally-made transit instrument, Hamilton and the assistants he employed made a variety of observations, but of these only a few found their way into print. Hamilton died in 1815, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Davenport, whose ineffectual reign ended with his suicide in 1823. He was succeeded by a Director of formidable abilities and energy, the Rev. Thomas Romney Robinson, who, astonishingly, ruled for no less than 59 years. Robinson was fortunate in that at the outset his patron, Lord John George Beresford, was an archbishop of the same mold as Archbishop Robinson. With Beresford's help a transit instrument by Thomas Jones of London was installed in 1827, a mural circle by Jones in 1831, and a 15-inch Grubb reflector in 1835.

Using the transit instrument and the mural circle, Robinson and his assistants compiled the Armagh catalogue under the title Places of 5,345 stars observed from 1828 to 1854, at the Armagh Observatory (Dublin, 1859). From the observations of Robinson's later years came a list of still more accurate positions, On the places of 1000 stars observed at the Armagh Observatory , published in 1879 in Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society. Robinson died in 1882, and was succeeded by a young Danish assistant at Dunsink, John Louis Emil Dreyer. Astronomy was now undergoing transformation, but Dreyer began by publishing the last fruits of Robinson's many years as Director: The Second Armagh catalogue of 3300 stars (Dublin, 1886). Meanwhile he secured contributions in memory of Robinson to help pay for a 10-inch equatorial by Grubb, which was installed in 1885. Dreyer, who had earlier been assistant in charge of Lord Rosse's great telescopes, was an experienced observer of nebulae, and at the invitation of the Royal Astronomical Society he prepared the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (or N.G.C.), published in 1888 and a standard work ever since. Many of the nebulae were re-observed with the Grubb refractor. Two supplements followed, in 1895 and 1910, but Dreyer was being diverted into history of astronomy by his veneration for his fellow-countryman, Tycho Brahe. He published a life of Tycho in 1890, a history of early planetary theory in 1906, and a two-volume edition of the works of William Herschel in 1912; and in 1913 there appeared the first of what were to be fifteen volumes of the Opera Omnia of Tycho. Soon these historical interests took priority over astronomy in Dreyer's mind, and in 1916 he resigned so as to devote himself to history.

We list below the surviving archives of Armagh Observatory in the period down to the resignation of Dreyer. Those wishing for further information on them should write to:

The Librarian,
Armagh Observatory, 
College Hill, 
Armagh, BT61 9DG
Northern Ireland.

The standard account of the history of the Observatory is Church, State and Astronomy in Ireland - 200 Years of Armagh Observatory by J.A. Bennett, and published by The Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University, Belfast and Armagh Observatory. Available in paperback from Armagh Observatory price 7.95 pounds plus postage.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Mr M. Murphy and Mr B. McOscar of Armagh Observatory for their assistance in preparing this manuscript. Michael Hoskin thanks the Royal Society for a travel grant in support of this work.

 
A. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OBSERVATORY


(i) The Government of The Observatory 


M93  Printed Act of Irish Parliament setting up
the Observatory, 1790 with 1938 amendment.

M56 
  .1 Deed by Primate Robinson appointing Dean
     Hamilton to act on his behalf as a Governor of the
     Observatory, 6 April 1790. (2pp)

M149 Minutes of Governors Meetings, 1790, 1825,
1882, 1887, 1915, 1920. (9pp)

M59 Case of the Sovereign and Jury of Armagh with
Dr J. A. Hamilton and the Governors and Guardians
of the Observatory with respect to tax exemption
and the billeting of soldiers at the Observatory,
31 March 1799. (3pp)

M136 Minutes Books, 2 vols, 1820-1958, 1958-74.
Contain accounts of annual visitation by Governors
and Guardians and annual reports of the Directors.
(c. 800pp)

M38 Manuscript copy of Minutes Book by Dreyer
donated by him to the Observatory, Aug 1916.
Covers the period 1820-65. (86pp)

M49   
  .1 Printed report by Dr T. R. Robinson for
     the Board of Governors, 1842. (12pp, 2 copies).
     Lists George III collection and proposed
     observations.
  .2 Printed report by Dreyer,1883-96. (7pp).
  .3 Printed report by Dreyer,1897-1910. 
     (7pp, 2 copies).

M87   Legal documents relating to power of
attorney, commissions from the Primate etc., 1824,
1850, 1873, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1904.

M151  
  .1 Minutes and Report of Financial
     Committee, 1872. (3pp)

M172  "An historical account of the Armagh
Observatory", J. L. E. Dreyer, printed for private
circulation, 1883. (20pp + photograph)


(ii) The Staffing of the Observatory


M56 
  .2 Appointment of J. A. Hamilton to post of
     Astronomer and Keeper of Observatory and Museum by
     the Primate, 31 July 1790. (2pp)
  .3 Bond by J. A.Hamilton to Governors and 
     Guardians, 24 Aug 1790.(2pp)

M86
  .6 Letter from E. Stoppard concerning
     Hamilton's Bond, 1823. 
  .8 Hamilton's Certificate from Maskelyne, 1790.

M55
  .1 Bond for William Gimingham as Assistant
     to J. A. Hamilton, 18 July 1795. (2pp)
  .2 Same for Rev. Robert Hogg, I Feb 1799. (2pp)

M166  Acknowledgement of salaries, 1800-1919.
(418pp)

M57   Appointment of T. R. Robinson by Primate
Beresford, 14 Aug 1823. (lp)

M86
  .1 Draft of T. R. Robinson's appointment,
     1823. 
  .4 Robinson's Bond to the Governors and Guardians
    plus 3 letters, 1823.

M85   Bonds to Observatory for Assistants; Charles
Faris,1868, Neal McNeal Edmondson, 1837, W. R.
Rambaut, 1864.

M86
  .2 Draft of Dreyer's appointment corrected
     by I. T. Ball, 1882.  
  .3 Note from Dean Reeves to Dreyer concerning date
     of appointment and Dreyer's reply.
  .5 Document of appointment of Dreyer as
     Director of the Observatory, 1882.

M72   Certificate of recommendation for Dreyer as
Astronomer at Armagh by Christie Astronomer
Royal for England, 9 May 1882. (lp)

M39   Notebook with inscription "Sallie D.
Procter, Washington DC, July 24 '88" on flyleaf,
widow of R. A. Procter, nee Thompson. Contains
biographical and family notes of Rev. John
Thompson, born Muckamore Abbey near Belfast.
Copied from "A History of St Marks Parish,
Culpepper, Co. Va.", by Rev. Phillip Slaughtor
D.D., Rector of Emmanuel Church, Culpepper, Co.
Va. 1877. (6pp)

M40   Letters and papers concerning R. A. Procter,
astronomer.
  .1 Report copied from The press, 23
     Oct 1880 giving details of the life and work of 
     R.A. Procter. (7pp)
 .2 Printed memorial to Rt Hon. W. H. Smith M.P., 
    First Lord of the Treasury, concerning 
    R. A. Procter B.A. with list of signatures and 
    list of works. (4pp)
 .3 Manuscript copy of article from Knowledge
    concerning transit of Venus, dated 17 Feb 1882.
    (14pp)
 .4 Notes concerning the publication, Knowledge, 
    founded by R. A. Procter (4pp)

M89   Rules, undated. Note on duties of Assistant
Astronomer and payment of Faris (Assistant) 1884.
(lp) List of suggested rules for assistants, 24
Aug 1917. (4pp)

M150  Employment of John Kennedy, gardener, 1882.
(2pp)

See A(iii) M58 and A(vii) M60.


(iii) The Financing of the Observatory


M62
  .2 Indenture, possibly a lease for land at
     Carlingford, 1591.
  .1 Lease for land at Carlingford, 1614, 
     on parchment.

M101  Large volume of vouchers, receipts and
correspondence concerning the Observatory's
estates at Derrynaught, Tullynure and Carlingford,
1790-1910. Deposited with the Public Record
Oflfice, Belfast.

M58   Endowment of an Assistant Astronomer by
Primate Robinson, I Jan 1793.

M53
  .1 Document by Governors empowering J. A.
     Hamilton to treat and compromise with tenants of
     land at Derrynaught, 22 Aug 1795. (2pp)
  .2 List of tenants and rentals for lands at 
     Derrynaught, c. 1800. (lp)
  .3 Copy of Carlingford rental, 1838-39.(6pp)

M82 Collection of 21 leases, tithes and various
legal documents concerning the Observatory's
estates at Derrynaught, Tullynure and Carhngford,
1801-73.

M 118 Volume of Observatory accounts, 1813-86.
(124pp)

M91
  .2 List of Primate Beresford's gifts to the
     Observatory plus income.

M6 Draft letter from the Governors and Guardians
of Armagh Observatory to the Right Honourable
First Lord of the Treasury outlining the pecuniary
state of the Observatory following the
disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and the
fixing of fair rents by the Land Court. Amended by
several of the Governors, c. 1870 (4pp), plus
draft by Robinson, 31 May 1869. (3pp)

M169 Correspondence regarding Observatory's
estates.
 .2 Three letters regarding the School
    House at Derrynaught, 1836, 1836, 1882.
 .1 Example letter from Evans (agent) to
    E. Tipping regarding the civic duty of land-
    owners to pay tithes for the support of the
    Observatory, 1837.
 .3 Contract for land agent, 1873.
 .4 Agreement on tithes, 1873. 
 .5 Three tithe-rent-charge purchase agreements, 1874.

M153 Report by Drs Robinson and Reeves on the
investment of 1246 pounds, 1874. (2pp)

M80 
  .1 Draft memorial to Disraeli, Lord
     Beaconsfield, requesting government support for
     the Observatory, signed by the Governors, 1874,
     plus three appendices containing: an inventory of
     instruments, income and expenditure of the
     Observatory, and a list of Primate Beresford's
     gifts. (7pp) 
  .2 Letter from Robinson to Dean
     accompanying draft memorial outlining future
     requirements of the Observatory, 11 April 1879.
     (3pp) 
  .3 Robinson's draft of 80.1. (3pp)

M81 Twenty-two letters between the Observatory and
the Treasury concerning request for a capital
grant for Armagh Observatory, 1883-87. Plus letter
from Mr Gladstone regarding same, 15 June 1883
(2pp), and from the Lord Lieutenant, Dublin, 12
June 1883. (2pp)

M154 Investment of Government grant, 1884-85.
(13pp)

M76 
  .1 Collection of 16 letters to Dreyer and the
     Archbishop of Armagh concerning the application to
     the Government for support of Armagh Observatory.
     Including letters from Dreyer, Barton, Archbishop
     of Armagh, G. W. Balfour, Schornberg McDonnell
     (Foreign Office), Royal Society, H. R. W. Hanbury
     (Treasury), Christie (RGO), E. J. Stone (Oxford),
     Robert Ball (Cambridge), and Lord Kelvin
     (Glasgow), 1897-98.
  .2 Printed memorial to the Government, 1897.
  .3 Report on income of Observatory, 1897.
  .4 Letter from Dreyer to Dean regarding leases 
     and tithes, 1905.
  .5 Offer of Government grant by Royal Society 
     for purchase of measuring machine, 28 May 1898. 
  .6 Copy of letter
     from R. J. Hamilton on maintenance of Observatory,
     1905.

M155 
  .1 Statements on sale of Observatory
     estates, 1906. (11 pp)
  .2 Letters and reports regarding investments,
     1874-1932. (62pp)
  .3 Notes and copy of letter regarding
     sustentation fund for parish of Kildarton,
     Oct 1915.

(SPP) 
  .4 General account of income and
     expenditure, 1916. (lp)

See A(vi) M83; E M69; F M71.


 (iv) The Instruments of the Observatory 


M92 
  .2 Modern correspondence regarding Short and
     his telescope. Plus an old page of instructions
     for using the 2ft reflecting telescope-undated,
     possibly by Short.

M138 Instructions by Sir W. Herschel for assembly
of the 10ft reflector and care of speculum
mirrors, undated. With footnote by Dreyer (1911),
identifying the above as being written by Caroline
Herschel.

M140   
  .1 Letters concerning the adjustment of
     Troughton's Equatorial. Hamilton and Waugh, 1795,
     1796.
  .2 Paper by Hamilton on "Comparative observations
     made with different kinds of micrometer",
     submitted to R.I.A. with tables, c.1795.

M17
  .2 To adjust Troughton's Equatorial. J. E.
     Troughton, c. 1800. (3pp)
  .3 Collimation and adjustment of Troughton's
     Equatorial, c. 1800.(4pp)
  .4 Adjustments of the Equatorial probably by
     Hamilton. (4pp)

M91
  .1 Inventories of furniture, apparatus,
     instruments and books belonging to Armagh
     Observatory and Museum, c. 1796, c. 1815, c. 1820,
     1825, 1918, 1937, 1974, 1975. .3 List of
     instruments from the Kew Observatory.

M48 Typed copy of extracts from Earnshaw's
"Appeal" relating to his clocks made for Armagh
Observatory. (3pp)

M45 Account for instruments transferred to
Observatory by Representatives of the late Dean
Hamilton, 8 Jan 1817, signed by William Davenport.
(2pp).

M44
  .1 Account from "Thomas Jones" London to
     Primate of Ireland for supply of 5ft transit
     instrument and a 4'8" mural circle 2 April 1827.
     (2pp) 
  .2 Accounts from Thomas Grubb, Dublin, for
     supply of 15" equatorial Cassegrain telescope,
     eyepieces, mirror fittings etc., 1837-44.

M14 Account of the Transit Instrument, Robinson,
undated. (48pp)

M156 Accounts for supply of miscellaneous
instruments including telescopes, mirrors, lenses,
eyepieces, and parts for anemometers, clocks etc.,
1838-1944. (67pp)

Mlll Correspondence and notes concerning the
transfer of instruments from the George Collection
at Kew to Armagh, containing letters from Sir
James South (21), Colonel Rawden (7), Lord
Duncannon (4), Lord Mountneagle (1), T. R.
Robinson (3), Archbishop of Armagh (4), c. 1841.
Includes a 31-page "Narrative of events" in the
"Kew instrument affair" by South plus modern
correspondence and historical notes by E. M.
Lindsay.

M43   List of the instruments of the Observatory,
Robinson, 1853. (7pp)

M92
  .7 Lists and correspondence concerning the
     collection of instruments from Kew, 1851- 1951,
     and other historical instruments at Armagh.

M100
  .2 Rating of Dent Chronometer by RGO, 1858.
  .3 Correspondence regarding the purchase of a
     chronometer, 1891.

M17
  .1 Methods adopted at Armagh Observatory
     for making, recording and reducing observations,
     Robinson, 1868. (24pp)

M171  Wiring diagram for clocks, chronograph etc.
in Transit and Mural Circle Rooms, 1882.

M10   Collection of 27 letters to Dreyer that
accompanied contributions to the Robinson Memorial
Fund.

M88
  .1 Appeal by Dreyer for the T. R. Robinson
     Memorial Fund, 1882-83.
  .2 List of subscribers.
  .3 Reports by G. Johnstone Stoney, R. S. Ball and J.
     L. E. Dreyer regarding the relative merits of a
     refractor or Grubb's own design for Robinson
     Memorial Telescope, 1884.

M109  Contracts between H. Grubb and the Governors
for the erection of the Robinson Memorial Dome and
Telescope with plans, 1884, plus estimates,
invoices and receipts, 1884- 1909.

M157  Letter from Dreyer to Dr Irwin regarding
electrical illumination of telescope, 1890.

M92
  .1 Six letters from W. A. F. Weatherfield
     regarding the purchase of Shelton Bracket Clock
     Graham and Shelton "case piece" and Vulliamy
     mechanism, 1918.

M92
  .11 Correspondence regarding the loan of
     telescopes to Lady Robert's Field Glass Fund,
     1918.

M92 
  .9 Correspondence regarding the historical
     clocks at Armagh Observatory, 1926-68.

See A(vii) M41 for repairs and changes to
instruments; B(i) M 12, B(i) M 129 for description
of Earnshaw clocks and setting up of Troughton
Equatorial, C for meteorology instruments; and
the important Maskelyne, Troughton and Earnshaw
letters in D M51.


 (v) Documents concerning Railways


M 107 Manuscript copy of "Minutes of evidence"
House of Commons Session, 1853, London and North
Western (Tring and Oxford) Railway Bill. Evidence
by Proposer Robinson, Sir Francis Beaufort and
Professor Johnson, 31 May 1853. (30pp)

M61 
  .1 Letter from Newry and Enniskillen
     Railway, 4 Nov 1856, concerning their plans to
     build a line near Armagh. (Ip)
  .2 Draft petition by the Governors and Guardians
     of Armagh Observatory to Parliament against the 
     Railway Bill, 1857. (4pp)
  .3 Draft Act of Parliament regarding Newry and
     Enniskillen Railway, 21 July 1845. (13pp)
  .4 Printed ditto. (4pp)

M77   Papers and letters concerning the
construction of the Newry and Armagh Railway.

  .1 9 Letters from Newry and Armagh Railway,
     April-Aug 1873 + map.
  .2 3 letters from Robinson to the Archbishop
     and Dean respectively concerning
     Newry and Armagh Railway, April-June 1873.
  .3 Legal opinion by J. J. Ball Q.C. on Newry and
     Armagh Railway.
  .4 Petition to Parliament (not as 61.2) against
     a railway extension, signed by Governors undated 
    (2pp) + draft of same by Robinson.
  .5 Letters from the Governors to Newry
     and Armagh Railway giving permission for laying
     lines.
  .6 Draft request for legal opinion on
     proposed railway, by Robinson, undated.
  .7 Receipt for land purchased by Newry and Armagh
     Railway, 5 Sept 1873.
  .8 Draft Parliamentary Bill regarding Newry and 
     Armagh Railway, 1859.
  .9 Letter from Archbishop to Dean regarding
     railways, 2 July 1873.

M75 Copy of letter from Governors and Guardians
giving Newry and Armagh Railway permission to
encroach within 760 yards of the Observatory
provided speed does not exceed 5 mph. Plus 3
coloured maps showing the relative position of the
Observatory and the proposed station and lines,
1874.


 (vi) Miscellaneous Administrative Documents


M163 Library accounts and related documents,
1800-1946. (310pp)

M42  Book of incidental expenses and library
accounts, 1883-1916. (65pp)

M83 Drafts for summary of the history of the
townland of Derrynaught by Dr Reeves, Dean of
Armagh, later Bishop of Down and Connor. (3pp,
plus copy, 4pp, and notes 3pp)

M137
  .1 Letter from Mrs Robinson, n.d., possibly
     to Dean Reeves, apologizing for a remark, undated.
  .2 Letter from Dr Robinson to Dean Reeves
     concerning maps of Observatory estates and
     proceedings at Synod, 1873.
  .3 Robinson to Reeves regarding accounts and
     Leclanche cells, 26 Feb 1879.

M73  Death certificate for William Edward Meade,
Protestant Bishop of Cork, 12 Oct 1912.

M165 Observatory accounts, 1824-1905. (67pp)

M167 Documents concerning taxes, rates and
charitable status, 1904-37. (28pp)


 (vii) Documents concerning Observatory Buildings, Grounds and Services


D10  Plan of Observatory site at Knockamell
Townland, 3 Oct 1789. (framed)

M54
  .1 Surrender of land by Dean Hamilton to the
     Lord Primate. Four acres of land for Observatory,
     23 June 1790. (3pp)
  .2 Surrender of land by Mr McCann and Singleton
     to the Governors and Guardians of the Observatory, 
     23 June 1790. (3pp)
  .3 Surrender of land by Thomas Stringer to Thomas
     McCann. Land for the use of the Lord Primate etc.,
     Sept 1789. (Ip)
  .4 Surrender of land by the Primate to Richard 
     Upton for use by the Observatory with map of
     Observatory grounds, I July 1790.

M60 List of indentures concerning the transfer of
land to the Governors and appointment of J A.
Hamilton as Astronomer with dates, c. 1790. (2pp)

M158
  .1 Insurance policies, 1794, 1807, 1888.(6pp)
  .2 Correspondence and receipts regarding
     insurance, 1804-1945. (116pp)

M160
  .1 Letter from John Stanley farmer, to
     Robinson, 25 Nov 1851, undertaking to replace the
     stones forming the old meridian marker, if
     requested to do so.
  .2 Copies of two letters from the Secretary 
     of the Church Temporalities Commission to 
     John Stanley concerning the purchase of a 
     perpetuity on property in Tullynure, 1872
     (for meridian markers).
  .3 Invoices and receipts
     concerning the meridian markers, 1802-64. (9pp)

M41  "Journal of work and repairs etc.",
1867-1915. Contains details of decoration, repair
and changes to Observatory buildings and equipment
plus an outline of observations made and
publications. Entries by Robinson, Dreyer and
assistants (68pp). With plan of basement on N.E.
side of Observatory, tunnel and sewers.

M68  Written specifications for the erection of a
meteorological house, in 1867, at the expense of
the Meteorological Office, London, 21 Sept 1867
(10pp), with four coloured drawings of same. This
building was erected to house automatic recording
meteorological instruments.

M74
  .1 Ten plans of the Observatory, possibly
     from Dreyer's time, showing the layout of the
     buildings, tunnel, rooms, furniture etc.

D8 Plan of Observatory and grounds, scale 1/500,
showing layout of gardens, grounds etc., 5 Aug
1862 (in colour). 

M161
  .1 Two letters from Charles Faris (Assistant)
     to Dean Reeves concerning the
     maintenance of buildings, 1882, 1887. 

M159 
  .1 Chemical composition of water supply, 
     1889. (Ip)

M162 
  .2 Accounts and correspondence concerning
     repairs to buildings etc., 1800-1919. (602pp) 

M164 Accounts for electricity, 1890-94. (5pp) 

D7 Plan of the Observatory, 1953, showing
modifications to the old meteorological building
and the position of the anemometer box on the
roof.


 B. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO OBSERVATIONS



(i) Series of Systematic Observations of Positions of Stars with the
Mural or Transit Circle, and Reductions

M12    Collection of observation record books,
1782-1840, containing observations of stars,
planets and comets.
  .1 Correction for errors of division of
     the Mural Circle. (79pp)
  .2 Clock corrections, 1830-39. (79pp)
  .3 Reductions of R.A., 1831 Sept 28 to 1832
     May 12. (93pp)
  .4 Reductions of R.A., 1831 April I to Sept 21.
     (97pp)
  .5 Old working list, 1839-lists of
     observations of stars and comets (including
     Halley's). (48pp)
  .6 Supplements ?, 1856. (13pp)
  .7 Reductions of R.A., 1829 Feb 23 to Dec 8.
     (94pp)
  .8 Reductions of R.A., 1829 Dec 15 to 1830
     Sept 28. (94pp)
  .9 Observations with Mural Circle,
     1832, 1833, 1834. (95pp)
  .10 Observations of NPD for various stars,
     1811. (23pp)
  .11 Observations of NPD with Troughton 
     Equatorial, 1809. (17pp)
  .12 Book of computations? (193pp)
  .13 Observations of NPD, 1807, 1808. (5pp)
  .14 Observations of NPD,1800-3. (50pp)
  .15 Observation record book, 1782.(12pp)
  .16 Observations of NPD, 1805. (27pp)
  .17 Equatorial observations, 1813- 15. (36pp)
  .18 Observations of unknown date. (86pp)

M129   Observation record book 1793-96 with
journal of events relating to the setting up and
adjustment of clocks and instruments at Armagh
Observatory. Also contains drawings of Jupiter,
1795. (153pp)

M97    Eight notebooks of observations (mainly
astronomical, occasionally topographical, 
magnetic variation etc.) made by Dr Hamilton
1792-1810. Plus four sheets of observations,
1794-95. (175PP)

M 126  Fifteen Transit Circle record books, 1796-
1882. (c. 5000pp)

Ml9    Record books for observations of stars,
Sun, planets, comets etc.
  .1 1803 NPD Troughton Equatorial (10pp)
  .2 1804 ditto (14pp)
  .3 1799-1800 ditto (21pp)
  .4 1803 ditto (15pp)
  .5 1824 ditto (32pp)
  .6 1797-98 ditto (20pp) contains
     drawings of sunspots
  .7 1797 ditto (20pp)
  .8 1798
     ditto (43pp) contains drawing of Cathedral
     weathercock
  .9 1823-24 ditto (36pp) contains
     comments on observing procedure with Equatorial
     (Troughton)
  .10 1825 NPD Troughton Equatorial
     (89pp)
  .12 Reductions (34pp)
  .13 ditto (36pp)
  .14 Reductions of principal wires, 1851 (18pp)

M96 
  .3 Approximately thirty small bundles of
     notes containing observations, 1830-32.

M96 
  .1 Collection of 49 small notebooks
     containing reductions of observations of stars,
     1832-60.

M131   Eight record books of observations of NPD,
1832-83. (c. 4000pp)

M132   Five RA record books, 1832-70. (c. 2000pp)

M 124 Five "Wire" record books, 1838-78. (c.
1900pp) 

M125   Four Circle observation books,
1832-68. (c. 1750pp) 

M70    Book of reductions of
right ascensions for observations made, 29 Sept
1830 to 31 March 1831. (84pp) 

M 135  Two books ofcorrections for Circle 
observations. (c. 400pp)

M127 Reductions for clock rates, refraction and
constants. (c. 370pp) 

M133   Six books of constants. (c. 1800pp) 

M 128 Four books of "Index
errors of Mural Circle". (c. 600pp) 

M19 
  .11 Reduction for Circle divisions. (39pp) 

M95    Box of tracings from electric chronograph 
for transits of stars observed, 1869-80. 

M96 
  .4 Observations of NPD, 1869-72. 

M96 
  .2 Two black covered notebooks
     containing observations, 1873-77 and 1877-83.
  .5 Miniature tables for reduction of observations.
  .6 Precession tables. 

M134  Book of meanobservations. (c. 750pp) 

M130   Four reduction books. See D M28.


 (ii) Miscellaneous Observations and Related Documents 


M103   A catalogue of 153 of the principal fixed
stars etc. for the year 1760 and the six following
years with a general index. Handwritten catalogue,
of 159 pages, possibly by Hamilton. 
M25 Observations made at Cookstown, 1782 by J. A.
Hamilton (14pp) plus some meteorological
observations. (Ip) 

M22    Catalogue of stars with RA, NPD etc for 
1 Jan 1790 together with catalogue (Herschel's ?) 
of nebulae

The Archives of Armagh Observatory, 1789-1916

Acknowledgements

(i) The Government of The Observatory

(i) Series of Systematic Observations of Positions of Stars with the Mural or Transit Circle, and Reductions

The Archives of Armagh Observatory,
1789-1916