Chapter IV: Part 4

MINOR CANONRIES, LLANDAFF,
_October 4th, 1880_.

MY DEAR SIR,—I send you my cheque, which I do with the greatest pleasure. I am delighted with, the telescope and with its capabilities.

Faithfully yours,
(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

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_From_ WALTER GOODACRE, Esq.

LONDON, N.,
_September 6th, 1880_.

MY DEAR SIR,—The 8-1/2 in. mirror which you supplied me with during the early part of the year, I have recently mounted as a simple equatorial. And although I have had but few opportunities at present of using the same, they have been sufficiently numerous to prove, beyond doubt, the great excellence of the mirror.

On the evening of the 3rd September, I had some beautiful views of Jupiter and Saturn. In the former the deep coppery hue of the equatorial belts, and of the large spot, at present visible on his southern hemisphere, were strikingly conspicuous, as were many minute details of his surface. In the case of Saturn, the gradations of light on the rings, and the delicately tinted belts on the planet itself, also the sharply defined shadow of the planet on the rings were easily seen.

Its definition of the most minute portions of the moon’s surface, leaves nothing to be desired, whilst its performance on double stars is equally satisfactory.

Yours faithfully,
(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

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_From_ G. W. ROYSTON PIGOTT, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., &c.

EASTBOURNE,
_October 4th, 1880_.

DEAR SIR,—Your figuring of the 8-1/2 in. mirror has given me much satisfaction. I see ε^1 ε^2 Lyræ, and such stars, with 600, very sharp and clear.

I have counted six satellites of Saturn, and the equatorial belt is very distinct.

Last week I happened to observe Jupiter, when a black shadow of a satellite was beautifully notching the limb, at the same time a small pearl-like satellite was about to egress from the belts. I saw, also, six spherical cloudlets on the belts.

Yours faithfully,
(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

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_From_ REV. S. MILLS, M.A.

DROYLSDEN,
_September 4th, 1880_.

DEAR Mr. CALVER,—To-night was an exceptional fine night for the stars, the like of which I have not had since I got your 6-1/2 in. I had for a week or so been observing with my home-made 8 in., but to-night again recurred to _yours_, and its _superiority_ was all the more _conspicuous_ and _gratifying_. It quite _delighted me afresh_!

Looking at β Cygni, I picked up two, to me, new stars, which I think fully completes Mr. SADLER’S tests in this field. I mark the newly found ones in red. This only shows that one has only patiently to watch and wait for a suitable observing night to get one out of a certain aperture it is capable of showing.

The vast superiority of your 6-1/2 in. _has quite put my 8 inch out of court_!!

Yours faithfully,
(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

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(_From the same Gentleman._)

DROYLSDEN RECTORY, MANCHESTER,
_July 30th, 1880_.

MY DEAR SIR,—I can scarcely express to you the pleasure I have had in the use of your splendid 6-1/2 in. mirror. Both in light grasping power, and in the separation of close double stars, it has far surpassed my highest expectations, and quite removed the prejudice I entertained against reflectors. Though possessing a first-class 4-1/4 in. refractor, equatorially mounted in my observatory, I now use your mirror in preference, in the more difficult and delicate observations, and with it am able to master the most severe tests given for 6-1/2 in. aperture. I would not be without one of your finely figured mirrors, now that I have tested their merits, for any consideration.

(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

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(_From the same Gentleman._)

THE RECTORY, DROYLSDEN,
_October 4th, 1880_.

MY DEAR SIR,—I have given your 8-1/2 in. mirror one night’s trial, and it has greatly pleased me. Its resolution of the great cluster in Hercules was truly magnificent, and the clearness with which it brought out stars very difficult with 6-1/2 in. was highly gratifying. I hope to turn it to very good account.

Yours faithfully,
(_Signed_.)
Mr. G. CALVER.

[ Illustration: (FIG. 1.) ]

[ Illustration: (FIG. 2.) ]

[ Illustration: (FIG. 3.) ]

Printers: WARREN HALL & LOVITT, 88, Camden Road, London. N.W.

TRANSCRIBER’s NOTE: The constelation Boötis also appears in the original spelt as Bootis and Böotis these have all been corrected to Boötis without being noted below. Also variations in hyphenation remain unchanged.

The following typos are corrected in this e-text and are shown within the text as

Original Replaced by Page 4 Many of the speculas Many of the specula Page 7 on the pitch or the pitch Page 24 and proceed and proceed. Page 28 kept is glass kept in glass Page 31 See p. 27, Fig. 4 See p. 20, Fig. 4 Page 39 (prices for 8-1/2 then 6-1/2) (prices for 6-1/2 then 8-1/2) (appendix) Page 14 Rev. W. P. MATTHEWS REV. W. P. MATTHEWS Page 24 (a 10 in. Alt Azimuth. (a 10 in. Alt Azimuth). Page 32 Rev. E. A. FISHBOURNE, M.A. REV. E. A. FISHBOURNE, M.A.