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.

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.