LALANDE Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de (1732-1807)... Lot n° 123

L.A.S. "De la Lande", August 14, 1790, to an astronomer; half page in-4 filled with his small handwriting. Interesting letter on astronomy and on the reform of weights and measures. He has received the "mémoire sur la Lunodromie as well as your reflections on the measures; I find your ideas very natural, and I was not of the opinion to choose the pendulum with seconds, I will make share of your reflections with the academy when one will treat this question, but the divisions with England delayed the negotiation which must precede the work of the academy. I would personally like to see the French measure, already so famous and well known, preserved and only made universal in France, the only thing that is important to us and that can probably be carried out. I am delighted that the building of your observatory is progressing; please tell me in what part of the city and where it is being built. The one I obtained at the military school is in full activity, and I have already determined nearly 7000 boron stars. Mr. DELAMBRE is busy with the tables of the Satellites of Jupiter for which he is doing an immense work [...] my astronomy is at the 21st book "... At the bottom of the letter, Lalande's correspondent has written astronomical calculations. Attached is a L.A.S. from FONTENELLE, Paris November 21, to Captain d'Ablancourt in Saint-Dizier, about language questions (1 p. in- 8, address, wetness); and a L.A.S. from Louis GODIN, August 28, 1733, about the position of Chevalier de Louville that he is applying for (1 p. in-4)