Letter from Carlile P. Patterson to Charles S. Peirce
(Washington, 26.03.1875)




Spanish translation & annotations





U. S. Coast Survey Office
Washington Mar. 26.1875
C. S. Peirce Esq.
Assistant Coast Survey

Sir,

Authority having been given by the Honorable Secretary of the Treasury, you are hereby requested to proceed to Europe at your earliest convenience, for the following service:

1. To make such experiments as may best connect, in relation, the invariable pendulums of the Coast Survey with those that have been used by the several Governments of Europe.

2. To experiment with  the convertible pendulums of the Coast Survey so as to connect them with the German and Swiss Instruments, either by swinging where they have been swung or by direct comparison of the lengths, or by both methods.

3. Please inform yourself also in regard to the methods used in Europe for determining the force of gravity and of local attractions.

The service desired is entrusted

 

 
entirely to your judgment but my wish is  that the work and observations may be exhaustive and in all respects complete.

It is estimated that the requisite observations may be finished in the course of twelve months, but if needful you are authorized to occupy fifteen months in the service in Europe.

You are authorized to employ an aid in Europe at a compensation not exceeding $100 per month, and to pay his actual traveling expenses.

By a decision of the President of the United States, which decision is filed in the Treasury Department for official guidance, your salary while in Europe is to be paid as heretofore in our own National currency, but, subsistence and the expenses will be allowed in account in the currency in which they are incurred under these instructions.

Please present estimates of the monthly expenses in Europe from and after the 1st of July next.

I will expect monthly reports of the progress of your work for general information, and also that special instructions may be sent from time to time, if such may be found expedient.

Yours respectfully,
C. P. Patterson
Supt. U. S. Coast Survey

 

 

 

Transcription by Sara Barrena (2015)
Una de las ventajas de los textos en formato electrónico respecto de los textos impresos es que pueden corregirse con gran facilidad mediante la colaboración activa de los lectores que adviertan erratas, errores o simplemente mejores transcripciones. En este sentido agradeceríamos que se enviaran todas las sugerencias y correcciones a sbarrena@unav.es

Fecha del documento: 19 de enero 2016
Última actualización: 19 de enero 2016
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