Thursday January 25, 1894

The laying of the new gas main was commenced and completed on Monday morning Jan 29.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Tuesday January 23, 1894

Reversed crown lens of 28ⁱⁿ telescope for photography. M^r Simms called to arrange about the new slow motion screws & decⁿ clamp of Great Equatorial. Saw M^r Crisp at Adm^y about the new buildings and went with him to several shops to try to get suitable gas & electric light pendants.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

The lens of the new 28-inch telescope had been specially designed so that, by reversing it, the telescope could be used for photography as well as for visual observation. This experimental optical work on the use of lenses for astronomical photography and spectroscopy was of great interest to Christie. However, he seems to have been quite easily distracted by the prospect of more shopping for his new building.

Monday Janurary 15, 1894

Went with M^r Crisp in afternoon to select mantelpiece & grate for new Building (Principal Room)

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

The Astronomer Royal was still busy shopping for his new building, this time considering the focal point of his new office.

Friday 12 January, 1894

Saw M^r Awdry at the Adm^y.

R.A.S. Eclipse Com^ee & Council. Went with M^r Crisp to see mantelpieces at Steel & Garland’s (Cork S^t.) & Cooper’s in interval between meetings in afternoon.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....
Christie attended the same Royal Astronomical Society Council and Committee meetings as his Chief Assistant Turner (see previous post). The 'Eclipse Committee' was the Joint Permanent Eclipse Committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, which was then planning an expedition to view the solar eclipse of 9 August 1896 in Japan. Christie and Turner were heavily involved with the planning and execution of this an several other eclipse expeditions.

Wednesday January 10, 1894

Went with M^r Crisp to Musgrave (New Bond S^t) Hollyer (Newcastle S^t), Wright (Queen Victoria S^t) Burmantoft & Steel & Garland’s (Charterhouse S^t.) to select stoves, grates, mantelpiece & W.C.’s for new Building.

M^r Bartom from Stationery Office called (just after I had left) about 1 with reference to supply of ink. M^r Criswick pointed out to him the defects of the black ink supplied in lieu of the blue black.
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William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says....

The minutae of Observatory life: WCs and ink! This entry also provides a nice insight into shopping in late 19th-century London.

Thursday 4 January, 1894

Simmons reported that some one had broken open the Lower Museum Door & the door of the Contractors’ Office in S. Ground & to the had stolen some articles belonging to the Contractors’ foreman, but no R.O. property. Saw M^r Awdry at the Adm^y about this & other matters concerning the staff. Met Sir H. Thompson at the Athenaeum and had a talk with him regarding his offer of £5000 to the Observatory for a new instrument.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

Christie was enaged with frequent discussions with the Admiralty about the Observatory's staff at this date. He aimed to increase numbers, particuarly of higher-grade staff, and to ensure longer service among the human computers by making the better permanent members of staff.

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This day also saw a meeting with Sir Henry Thompson at the Athenaeum Club on London's Pall Mall. His offer was to pay for a large, expensive new telescope. Thompson, a wealthy and distinguished surgeon and amateur astronomer, had already donated a 9-inch photoheliograph telescope to the Observatory in 1891.

Wednesday January 3, 1894

It was found that the foreman’s Coat & Waistcoat had been taken from the New Buildings during the night. The police investigated the matter & were inclined not to think the act one of burglary.

H.H. Turner, Chief Assistant

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....
Buildings, and the presence of contractors, was a near-constant feature of life at the Observatory in the 1890s.