1860-70] ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 
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respectable quality and power was placed in a position where its 
capabilities could be brought out and the utmost obtained from it. 
... It has become more than ever apparent that size is not so 
much the quality to be sought as exquisite definition, excellence in 
which requires admirable workmanship first and an admirably pure, 
tranquil and continuously transparent sky afterwards. 
The programme of observations included the following objects 
as desirable : Physical Observations of planets and satellites, 
especially Mars in 1862, parallax of Mars, observations of nebulæ, 
variable stars, zodiacal light, and double stars. 
The final proposal submitted by the Committee was “ to place 
an equatorially mounted refractor of not less than 9 inches aperture 
and of high optical excellence in the charge of Captain Jacob, at 
a station to be selected from the many accessible points in the 
neighbourhood of Poona, some eighty miles from Bombay. 
There an elevation of some 4000 feet could be obtained ” ; and the 
proximity of arsenal and artificers would naturally be convenient. 
The Council approved of the recommendation, and decided in 
1861 June to make application for the aid of Her Majesty’s Govern 
ment towards the establishment for a limited period, under the 
superintendence of Captain Jacob, of an Observatory in the 
neighbourhood of Bombay, at a considerable altitude above 
the sea. They received the following letter, which deserves to 
be recorded once more as an instance of support promptly given 
by the Government to an astronomical enterprise :— 
Treasury Chambers, 
8 August 1861. 
In reply to your application addressed to Lord Palmerston on 
the 24th June last, for a grant to the Royal Astronomical Society of 
£1000, in aid of the proposed temporary maintenance of an observa 
tory near Poona, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners 
of Her Majesty’s Treasury to acquaint you that the sum of £1000 
having been voted in Parliament for the object described in your 
letter, My Lords will be prepared to issue the amount in such 
manner as you may desire, on the understanding that the Society 
will see to the proper application of the fund thus placed at its 
disposal.—I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient 
servant, (Signed) Geo. A. Hamilton. 
To the President and Treasurer of the 
Royal Astronomical Society, Somerset House. 
A letter was sent to his Lordship expressing the thanks of the 
Council for the promptness with which their application had been 
met. The sum granted was immediately paid to the account of 
the Society, and Captain Jacob, having purchased at his own