Tuesday January 16, 1894

Arranged that Mess^rs Furner, Martin, Davidson, Edney & Claxton should work for an hour a day from 2.5 to 3.5 at the subjects of examination for junior assistants.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

Although, as Turner had stated, Christie's new scheme for the Observatory's staff had not yet been approved by the Admiralty, these five Computers were allowed an hour of study in the hope of gaining promotion. None of these individuals, in fact, were promoted until 1911, after Christie had retired.

Monday Janurary 15, 1894

Took to pieces the level for portable transits which had been damaged by a fall at Cairo; & examined the lever applied by M^r Simms to the micrometer screw.The Astronomer Royal gave notice to 5 computers that they might work from 2-3 every day at the subjects proposed for the examination for 3^rd Class Assistants; but that the proposal for such appointments had not yet been sanctioned by the Treasury.

H.H. Turner, Chief Assistant

Rebekah Higgitt says.....

Care and repair of the Observatory's instruments was an important part of the Chief Assistant's work. Here, Turner is referring to instruments used for the 1874 expedition to observe the transit (crossing) of Venus across the face of the sun. This rare event allows astronomers to make measurement to determine accurately the distance of the sun from the earth. The last transit was in 2004 and the next will be in 2012. After that we will have to wait until 2117. This instrument was one of five identical portable transit telescopes used at five observing stations in 1874, which are now at the National Maritime Museum. The record for another of these five instruments is online here.

Turner also refers to matters of staff education and promotion through an examination similar to those available to other Civil Servants. Further information about Christie's plans for staff reform can be seen here.

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.

Friday 5 January, 1894

The cold was very severe last night & throughout this day, much snow falling
Very little can be done by M^r Plummer or M^r Dyson.

H.H. Turner, Chief Assistant

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

Frank Dyson was soon to be Turner's succesor as Chief Assistant. He was already at Greenwich adding the skills of the practical astronomer to his mathematical knowledge gained at Cambridge.

5 January 2009 has also seen low temperatures at the ROG and some snow. However, work for curators, if not astronomers, continues despite the cold and cloudy skies.....

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.

Wednesday January 3, 1894

M^r Ellis came up & handed over his keys

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

William Ellis's retirement is formalised with a hand-over of the precious keys that gave Royal Observatory staff access to the buildings and through the gates of Greenwich Park.

Tuesday January 2, 1894

Went to M^r Turner’s dinner to M^r & M^rs Ellis

William Chrisite, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

The Astronomer Royal attended a dinner hosted by his Chief Assistant, Herbert Turner, for the recently-retired William Ellis. Ellis (1828–1916), had first come to the Observatory as a computer aged 13 and, with the exception of a period in 1852-53 stayed there his entire working life. Turner was also about to leave Greenwich.