1William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time since, I addressed a letter to you on the subject of a first meridian for the United States at the permanent seat of their government, to be effected by ascertaining the longitude of the Capitol in this city from Greenwich observatory, in England , being the spot from which many, if not the whole of our mariners are in the habit of reckoning their departure. It is proper that the...