1William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from M r John Garnett , Editor of the American impression of the Nautical Almanac, at N. Brunswick , in New-Jersey , it is stated, that an error has been discovered (probably at Greenwich ) in M r M. de la Place’s computations relating to the true form of the Earth, which being corrected, the ratio of 320 to 319, of the equatorial diameter to the polar axis of the Earth, seems now...
2William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit an abstract of the calculation of the longitude of Monticello west of Greenwich, founded on the apparent times of the internal contacts of Sun and Moon on the 17 th of September last, as contained in your letter of the 29 th of December ; and having ascertained the elements with scrupulous exactness, tested by various rules, the accuracy of the result, according to...
3William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 9 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed abstract of calculation relative to the longitude of Monticello from Greenwich by the apparent times of internal contacts of Sun and Moon on the 17 th of September last, will, it is hoped, be accepted by you as an accurate result, admitting the data to be correctly stated. Having in a former communication, given rules for ascertaining the altitude and longitude of the nonagesimal,...
4William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State having early in the present month, reported to Congress on the subject of a first meridian for the United States , in which he has recommended the establishment of an Observatory as of essential utility to ascertain the position of the Capitol in this City with due precision, permit me to send some rules by which the parallaxes in longitude and latitude may be found with...
5To James Madison from William Lambert, 20 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
A resolution, founded on the report of a select committee, lately passed the House of Representatives, “requesting the President of the United States to cause the longitude of the Capitol in this City to be ascertained with the greatest practicable degree of exactness; and that the data, with abstracts of the calculations, and the results founded thereon, be laid before Congress, at their next...
6William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of William and Mary college having lately sent me the result of your observations of the solar eclipse of Sept r 17 th at Monticello , I have calculated the longitude from Greenwich , using the first and last contacts, which will always give a near approximation to the truth, if the apparent times and latitude of the place have been correctly ascertained. I have taken great pains...
7William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 16 th instant , had been probably in the post-office in this city a few days before I received it; and as I consider it as an evidence of respectful attention due to those persons whose character in public and private life, and intrinsic merit, deserve my esteem, I am generally prompt in the answers I return to the communications with which I may be favored by them. I am...
8William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose two copies of the report of a select commit tee of Congress , and of several papers relating to the establishment of a first meridian for the United States , one for your own use, the other for the American philosophical Society at Philadelphia , of which you a re President. Several errors and omissions have been corrected with the pen, which may be avoided, should another edition be...
9William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you some time ago , and transmitted a printed copy of the report of a select committee of Congress on my papers relating to the establishment of a first meridian for the United States , intended for your own use. The late period of the Session at which this report was made, was the cause (perhaps the only one) of postponing a decision until the next meeting of the national...
10To James Madison from William Lambert, 29 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to submit the inclosed to your perusal, as the copy of a communication to several members of Congress, on their arrival in this city; and at the same to assure you, that while this mark of confidence and respect is offered, it is not expected or wished, that you should take any step in my favor incompatible with the strictest propriety. I have the honor to be, with great respect,...
11Enclosure: William Lambert’s Table for Computing the Moon’s Motion, with Examples [ca. 19 September 1809] (Jefferson Papers)
Table for computing the Moon’s motion for 12 hours at any intermediate time. h. m. ( x .) 1 st diff. ( y .) 1 st diff. (z.) 1 st diff. 0.
12To James Madison from William Lambert, 19 February 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose for your perusal, the last letter I have received from bishop Madison, by which you will perceive the strong interest that truly valuable man takes in the object and completion of my undertaking to fix a first meridian for the U. S. Other communications having a similar tendency, are now before the Select Committee of Congress to whom my papers have been referred....
13William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 22 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The observations relating to the solar eclipse of the 17 th September last , were made in this city opposite Rhodes’s hotel , North 71.º West, 1. ⅜ . m American measure, from the Capitol . The apparent times of the principal appearances, to the nearest second, are as follow:— h. m. s. Beginning of the Eclipse, 0. 22. 9.
14William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for your acceptance, a printed copy of my answer to the Critical Reviewers of Boston , in Massachusetts , who have, in their review for the month of October last, published a number of remarks against my papers submitted to Congress at their last session, relative to the establishment of a first meridian for the United States . Altho’ I dislike much to appear before the public in the...
15To James Madison from William Lambert, 25 May 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose for your acceptance, a printed copy of an ode which I have composed for the fourth of July, in the present year, to which some alterations and additions have been made since the last anniversary of American independence. That part which relates particularly to yourself, you will be pleased to receive as a testimonial of sincere respect, without a tincture of...
16Enclosure: William Lambert’s Calculation of Monticello’s Longitude from Greenwich, 14 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Calculation of the longitude from Greenwich , of Monticello , in Virginia , from the solar eclipse of the 17 th of September, 1811 . Latitude 38.° 8′ Estimated Longitude, 5. h. 14. m. 0. sec = 78.° 30.′ 0.″ West. Ratio of the equatorial diameter to the polar axis of the earth, 320 to 319. Constant Log. to reduce the latitude (320 to 319) 9.9972814. Lat. of the place 38.° 8.′ 0″ log. tangent...
17William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last communication to you, I stated my intention of entering into astronomical calculations for the purpose of fixing a first meridian for the United States at the permanent seat of their government. It is, perhaps, to be regretted, that a dependence on Great Britain , for a spot of ground from which American navigators and geographers have been hitherto in the habit of estimating their...
18William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
As you are now retired from the important and dignified station of Chief magistrate of the United States of America , the duties of which you have fulfilled with the deserved approbation of all well disposed and discerning citizens, permit me to congratulate you on the magninimity you have evinced, in thus voluntarily relinquishing the highest and most responsible office in the power of the...
19William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 13 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your friendly letter of the 28 th ult o in answer to a communication of mine, dated the 14 th of March ;—and with great pleasure accept the apology you have been pleased to make for a delay in its’ acknowledgment;—for as well as I now recollect its’ contents, (having kept no copy) it might have remained in the hands of one of our self important would-be great men , an age,...
20To James Madison from William Lambert, 5 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the inclosed letter to bishop Madison, contains the principles of an useful method, not generally practised, to promote the geography of the United States, permit me to request that you will be pleased to read it with some attention, before you transmit it to him under your frank. I take this opportunity of acknowledging with gratitude and respect, the favors I have already received from...
21To James Madison from William Lambert, 18 February 1812 (Madison Papers)
In a late conversation with the Secretary of State, he assured me that, in his opinion, the President of the United States was favorably disposed towards me. I am glad to hear that the mean persecution I have met with from others, has not a tendency to lessen me in his estimation. Permit me to state, that I have not only now, but ever had a high respect for your talents and character; and if a...
22To James Madison from William Lambert, 10 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledge with gratitude and respect, an offer made to me by the Secretary of State yesterday morning, of an appointment of Commissary of prisoners at the British island of Barbadoes. To your friendship, as well as his , I must be indebted for an unequivocal proof of confidence, and regard to my interest. I wrote yesterday to Mr. Monroe, assigning certain reasons, which however futile and...
23To James Madison from William Lambert, 8 July 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 July 1811, Washington. “A letter lately received from bishop Madison, inclosing a statement to him from Mr. Blackburn, professor of mathematics at William and Mary College, relative to a supposed error in the calculation of the longitude of that college, transmitted by you some weeks ago, has made it necessary for me to explain the objectionable part of the computation, by demonstrating to...
24William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 5 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledge with sincere gratitude and respect, the receipt of your obliging note , inclosing a vote of thanks from the American Philosophical Society for a table of the Moon’s motion, transmitted to you, some time since, as their President. Truly sensible of the instances of friendship with which you have been pleased to favor me, I shall endeavor to reciprocate, so far as I may have it in...
25William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 23 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to the American philosophical Society , an abstract of such calculations as I have hitherto made to determine the longitude of the Capitol in this city from Greenwich observatory, in England . The variation in the results will be found, on examination, to arise more from probable errors in the data, or in the lunar tables from which the positions in the Nautical Almanac have been...
26William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 8 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith, two astronomical tables; one for computing the Moon’s longitude, latitude, Etc. for every hour, and the other to find the Moon’s hourly velocity at any intermediate time between 0 and 12 hours, by which the motion for a given number of minutes and seconds between the hours, may be accurately obtained. The table which I formerly presented to you, was...
27Enclosure: William Lambert’s Ode for the Fourth of July, 1810 [ca. 19 May 1810] (Jefferson Papers)
Ode for the fourth of July, 1810. Tune “Rule Brittannia.” 1. For ever hail! auspicious day That broke a mighty nation’s chain, And bid defiance to their sway, Which art or force cannot regain. Hail Columbia, great and free, United, firm and happy be. 2. Seven years and more, the haughty foe “With hireling hosts,” a warlike band, Aim’d at our breasts the deadly blow, And spread destruction...
28William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 19 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a table which has been constructed with great care to every 3 minutes of intermediate time between 0 and 12 hours, for computing the Moon’s motion for 12 hours in longitude, latitude, &c. from which the true place may be easily obtained: it was intended to be as fair , as it is accurate , but some parts of it have been stained by accident, before it was finished. The second series...
29William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your esteemed favor of the 10 th inst t in answer to former letters of mine, and am much gratified by the approbation you have shewn of my undertaking to ascertain the difference of longitude of the Capitol in this city from Greenwich Observatory , with due precision, for on that circumstance will depend the establishment of a first meridian of our own, and also, the adapting...
30William 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...
31To James Madison from William Lambert, 10 June 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 June 1811, Washington. Encloses for JM’s “inspection and transmission, a communication to bishop Madison, relating to the longitude of William and Mary College from Greenwich, by computation from the end of the Solar eclipse of June 16th. 1806.” RC ( DLC ). 2 pp. Enclosure not found.
32William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 24 June 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The reformation of the Julian calendar by pope Gregory XIII , in the year 1582, is so near the truth, that it will not want correction until 3600 years after the change of stile took place. It has been found by a series of observations noticed in Vince’s astronomy, that the tropical year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 48 seconds; if this be multiplied by 3600 years, the product will be...
33William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 25 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The last paragraph of your letter of the 10 th instant , respecting the conduct of a certain European nation to us, as well as to others with whom it has any commercial intercourse, plainly evinces Your strong, unbiassed attachment to the true interests of the country which gave you birth. It is much to be regretted, that too many natives of this favored land are pusillanimous and unprincipled...