Friday April 6, 1894

M^r Sewith from Controller’s Depart^t inspected electric light installation. M^r E.E. Putland from Messrs Johnson & Phillips was present.Received model of proposed 26ⁱⁿ Photo-telescope from Sir H. Grubb.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

RH says..... The Controller's Department was part of the Admiralty, which administered the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. They were evidently required to check all work done on the Admiralty's budget. The firm of Johnson & Phillips, as you will see if you click on the link above, still exists, although now based in Pakistan. The firm supplied and laid cable for Trans-Atlanic communication, as you will see from this site - which also includes biographies of the firm's founding partners.

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The accompanying image shows the completed 26-inch telescope, alongside the 30-inch that Sir Henry Thompson also donated. They were mounted together in the dome of the New Physical Observatory in 1897.

Thursday February 8, 1894

Meeting of International Catalogue Com^ee at R.S. Laying of Brooke’s electric main completed. Wrote to Adm^y about M^r Finley’s candidature for Chief Assis^t.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

This was the very first meeting of the International Catalogue Committee, a committee of the Royal Society that was formed to discuss the preparation of an international catalogue of scientific literature.

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The Mr Finley mentioned here may in fact be a J. Findlay, mentioned in the catalogue of the RGO archives here, as having applied for the position of Chief Assistant. Christie was, at this time, hoping to persuade the Admiralty to let him appoint a second Chief Assistant at Greenwich, as part of his staff reform scheme. A second Chief Assistant for the ROG only arrived in 1896, in the form of Philip Herbert Cowell (1870–1949), who - as was typical of 19th-century Chief Assistants at Greenwich - was a recent graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Monday January 29, 1894

The laying of Brookes’ electric main was commenced. M^r Henry H. Vincent (stage manager) & M^r H.P. Hall (artist) of the St James’ theatre called with reference to an Observatory scene in a new play. Showed Great Equatorial, Lassell & Astrographic Equatorial. The last seemed the most suitable.

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William Christie, Astronomer Royal8

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Rebekah Higgitt says.....

Here we find another use for large telescopes - inspiration for theatre design! A review of the "Brilliant First Night" of Henry Arthur Jones's "The Masequeraders" at St James's Theatre in Picadilly in April 1894 can be found online, a performance that was only marred by a "short and weak last act". Presumably it is only coincidence that it was this act that featured the telescope: "The last scene is laid in the observatory on Mont Saint Garidelli, in the Maritime Alps, near Nice. The room is dark, save for a shaft of moonlight which illuminates the large equatorial telescope in the inner room".

Friday 19 January, 1894

Col. Wheatley (Bailiff of Parks) came & sanctioned digging of trench for gas & electric mains in side avenue.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Thursday 11 January, 1894

M^r Russell (from Messrs Johnson & Phillips) called about the laying of the electric main. M^r Jordan Superint^t of the park came with reference to proposed laying of gas & electric mains inside avenue. He arranged to have trial openings made to see whether roots of trees would there would be interference with the roots of trees. He called again on Saturday & arranged that Col. Wheatley should come down to settle the question in two or three days’ time.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal