Edwards Pierrepont to The Earl of Derby, June 8, 1877

Mr. Pierrepont to the Earl of Derby.

My Lord: I am informed that the Department of the Navy of the United States has in view the determination, by telegraph, of the longitudes between Lisbon and the east coast of South America, and such intermediate points as the cable will permit, and that already, through the action of the Department of State, the promise of the cooperation of the Portuguese Government has been received.

I am further informed that, in case the bureau of longitudes of Paris should not be able within the coming year to give the longitude of Lisbon with accuracy, it will be necessary to invite the co-operation of Her Majesty’s Government, and that, in such event, should the terminus of the cable near Land’s End be accurately determined in longitude, permission is desired to set up a small portable observatory at that point to interchange time signals with Lisbon; and should not the terminus at Land’s End be properly determined in longitude, time signals will be interchanged with Greenwich Observatory also, upon the completion of which the observers would proceed to the more southern stations.

In compliance with instructions from the Department of State, I have the honor to invite your lordship’s attention to the subject, in order that, if practicable, permission for the privilege desired may be accorded.

I have &c.,