John Caldecott

“ The hill on which the observatory is erected is a solid mass of laterite, in which granite is largely disseminated, and is so hard as to be penetrated with great difficulty; but little depth was therefore required for the foundations, which are accordingly only sunk one foot below the surface, on which the granite bases for the instruments are erected—this surface is by excavation three feet below the general level of the soil outside, and three and a half feet below the floor of the observing rooms. ”

“ When it devolved on me to design a plan by which the liberal intentions of His Highness might be carried into the most complete effect, it became with me a matter of serious consideration, how the utmost benefit to science might be derived from the opportunity afforded by the proposed institution, without making any very great demand on the funds of the state ”

“ The roof is flat, and on the centre of it is erected a wooden circular building, of nine feet diameter, with a revolving dome which covers a solid pillar of granite, coming up through the centre room without contact with floor, roof, or any part of the building, and terminating about three feet above the flat roof. ”