11William Lambert to James Madison, 10 March 1829 (Madison Papers)
Several unfavorable circumstances have combined to deprive me of that support which, from an early period of life, I had by employment in the public service. Desirous of establishing a first meridian, and an observatory at the seat of the national government, I pursued that object too far, without success, and by that zeal, have lost every thing else beneficial to me. With habits of industry,...
12William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 28 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
The method of determining the longitude of any place by occultations, and solar eclipses, has been, and perhaps, always will be considered among the best for that purpose. It must be acknowledged, that the process is tedious and laborious; but the accuracy of the results, when due care is taken in the operation, will amply compensate for the trouble of computing the necessary elements. In this...
13William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Having in the last communication I had the honor to make to you, explained the motive which induced me to transmit sundry astronomical calculations for the use of the University of Virginia , the inclosed is offered to their acceptance, thro’ you, for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of a branch of science, which, if properly attended to, may hereafter be beneficial to the American...
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Lambert, 6 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The form of the Earth having been ascertained by various experiments in Europe and South America, to be that of an Oblate Spheroid; and it being now admitted, that the ratio of the equatorial diameter to the polar axis is as 320 to 319, the measure of a degree in any latitude, according to that ratio, claims our attention; and the following calculations connected with this subject, are...
15To Thomas Jefferson from William Lambert, 2 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your communication of the 29 th ult o was received this morning. The Equatorial is an instrument with which I am unacquainted; but if it enables an observer to ascertain the horary angle, or time from noon, with sufficient accuracy; or if it be so Constructed, as to show the true azimuth from the north or south points, and the latitude of the place, together with the Sun’s declination be...
16Enclosure: William Lambert’s Methods of Calculating the Moon’s Parallaxes, 27–28 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
To find the Moon’s parallaxes in longitude and latitude, independent of the altitude and longitude of the nonagesimal . An example will be taken from the report relative to the longitude of the City of Washington , in the case of the immersion of η Pleiadum, (Alcyone) October 20 th 1804 . With the Moon’s true longitude, 56.° 26.′ 12.″ 93, latitude 4.° 30.′ 25.″ 30. dec. N. and the obliquity of...
17Enclosure: William Lambert’s Calculation of the United States Capitol’s Longitude from Greenwich, 11 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Calculation of the longitude of the Capitol, in the city of Washington , from Greenwich observatory , in England , from the beginning of the Solar Eclipse of August 27 th 1821 , Examined and revised. ° ′ ″ dec