1. Message from the President of the United States, Transmitting a Report of William Lambert, on the Subject of the Longitude of the Capitol of the United States. January 9, 1822. Read, and Such Part Thereof as Relates to Compensation, Referred to the Committee of Ways and Means; the Residue to Lie upon the Table (Washington, 1822; Shoemaker 11027).

2. William Lambert (d. 1834) was a native Virginian who early sought work in the federal government and clerked variously in the State Department, War Department, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a passionate astronomer who worked for years to ascertain a prime meridian through Washington and to establish a national observatory (Daily National Intelligencer, 21 and 23 Oct. 1834; John Pendleton to JM, 11 Feb. 1789, PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77, vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91). description ends 11:440 and n. 1; James Monroe to JM, 12 Mar. 1801, PJM-SS description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (9 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986–). description ends 1:13–14, 14 n. 1; Lambert to JM, 5 Dec. 1809, PJM-PS description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (7 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends 2:111 and n. 1).