New York, 1877 May 25

Dear Sir,

I hope you received duly my answer to your letter of the 10th. I sent one, at once.

I have today received a letter from Professor Pickering to desire the removal of the Coast Survey pendulum building from the observatory grounds. He assigns as his reason that a broken window makes it a source of danger to the observatory from fire.

I desire to understand more clearly the wishes of the College in the matter.

Wooden shutters, which I would very cheerfully have put up, would meet the particular objection made. Although it may not be advisable for me personally to occupy this pendulum station, yet it has been more or less the intention that some Coast Survey officer should reoccupy it, unless the same object could, on the whole, be better attained by the reoccupation of another station.

If, however, the reason assigned by Professor Pickering is a merely formal one and it is desired that the pendulum station at the observatory should be discontinued,

I think I can promise that that shall be done at as early a date as an officer can be detailed for the purpose.

The question of danger from fire in locating the pendulum station, was of course considered at the time, and it was once moved to its present position at the desire of the Director Professor Winlock. I would not object however to reopening the question if necessary; I only desire that it may be understood clearly what the real intention of the College is.

Yours very respectfully,

C. S. Peirce