No. 127.
Mr. Pierrepont to Mr. Evarts
Legation of
the United States,
London, August 9, 1877.
(Received August 20.)
No. 216.]
Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 151 of the
21st of May last, I [Page 265] have the honor
to inclose a copy of my note to Lord Derby requesting facilities for
operations by the Navy Department to determine the longitudes between Lisbon
and the east coast of South America, and also a copy of his lordship’s
reply, which I have just received.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 216.]
Mr. Pierrepont to
the Earl of Derby.
Legation of the United States,
London, June 8,
1877.
My Lord: I am informed that the Department of
the Navy of the United States has in view the determination, by
telegraph, of the longitudes between Lisbon and the east coast of South
America, and such intermediate points as the cable will permit, and that
already, through the action of the Department of State, the promise of
the cooperation of the Portuguese Government has been received.
I am further informed that, in case the bureau of longitudes of Paris
should not be able within the coming year to give the longitude of
Lisbon with accuracy, it will be necessary to invite the co-operation of
Her Majesty’s Government, and that, in such event, should the terminus
of the cable near Land’s End be accurately determined in longitude,
permission is desired to set up a small portable observatory at that
point to interchange time signals with Lisbon; and should not the
terminus at Land’s End be properly determined in longitude, time signals
will be interchanged with Greenwich Observatory also, upon the
completion of which the observers would proceed to the more southern
stations.
In compliance with instructions from the Department of State, I have the
honor to invite your lordship’s attention to the subject, in order that,
if practicable, permission for the privilege desired may be
accorded.
I have &c.,
The Earl of Derby,
&c., &c., &c.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 216.]
Lord Derby to Mr.
Pierrepont.
Foreign
Office, August 7,
1877.
Sir: I referred to the proper department of Her
Majesty’s Government your letter of the 8th of June, and I have now the
honor to inform you that every facility will be granted to the United
States authorities to enable them to accomplish the object which they
have in view of determining the longitude between Lisbon and the east
coast of South America.
For this purpose, both the royal observatory at Greenwich and the
government postal telegraph will be placed at their disposal, and,
assuming that the experiments will be carried out at night, so as not to
interfere with the public traffic, a post-office wire will be set apart
for the purpose between Greenwich and Falmouth. Between the latter place
and Porth Curno there is no post-office wire, but there is one belonging
to the Eastern Telegraph Company, of which it has been ascertained that
the use will be allowed, by which direct communication will be
established between the desired points.
T have to state, in conclusion, that Her Majesty’s Government will
readily sanction, the erection of an observatory at Porth Curno, as
requested in your letter.
I have, &c.,
The Hon. Edwards Pierrepont.
