During the first half of the nineteenth century, the children of Richard Varley of Hackney, England, grew into a remarkable assortment of artists, scientists, and instrument makers. Descendants of Oliver Cromwell, the five children lost their father in 1791 and were raised by their uncle Samuel who delighted in "Philosophical and Chemical progress," gaining hands-on experience in using and making electrical machines, telescopes, oxygen blow pipes and other scientific instruments. As adults, each of the children shared an abiding interest in art, astronomy, and scientific instrumentation. The eldest son, John (1778-1842) became an important watercolorist, art teacher and astrologer, and the youngest son, William Fleetwood Varley (1785-1856) was a gifted artist who began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1804. Cornelius Varley (1781-1873) was no less accomplished as a noted watercolor painter, but gained even wider renown as an instrument maker and inventor, specializing in telescopes and miscroscopes.

The most obscure of the Varley children was Cromwell J. Varley, who evidently shared in the family talents and interests in astronomy and art. At one point he listed himself as an "operative chemist."

The Journal of Astronomical Observations includes brief notes on telescopic observations of comets, stars, and planets conducted by Cromwell J. Varley between 1845 and 1858, accompanied by twenty ink and watercolor sketches. These include:

1. Great June Comet through 3 ft. achromatic telescope, June 8, 1845
2. "Mars as he was once seen this month," same telescope, 1845
3. Views of Jupiter, same telescope, 1845
4. "Field of telescope" (view of stars), 1845-1846
5. Helioscope, "a Gregorian made by Short," 1846
6. Views of Mars, 1847
7. Jupiter and stellar positions, "large telescope contracted to 6 inches and power 200," 1847
8. Transit of Mercury, with telescope 2 and 7, 1848
9. Jupiter, large telescope, 1848
10. Saturn, with new small telescope, 1849
11. Saturn and Mars, with large telescope contracted to 6", 1849
12. Saturn, with large telescope contracted to 6", 1849
13. Saturn, with 8 inch telescope, 1849
14. Occultation of Jupiter by the moon, 1856
15. Saturn through casegrain telescope, 1856
16. Jupiter, its moons, occultation, 1857
17. Comet Donati, Sept. 24, 1858
18. Comet Donati, Sept. 30, 1858
19. Comet, June 8 and 11, 1845
20. Comet, June 8-12, 1845

Physical description

1 vol., 25p.

1 vol., 25p.

Provenance

Acquired, 1969 (accn. no. 1969-1779a ms).

Preferred citation

Cite as: Cromwell J. Varley, Journal of Astronomical Observations, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Recatalogued by rsc, April 2003. Only maps are noted.

Related material

The Thomas Court Scientific Instruments Collection (509.078 M582) includes several items from members of the Varley family, including a letter from Cromwell J. Varley, and an autobiographical manuscript and numerous other items by Cornelius Varley.

Early American History Note

This volume is largely empty. It contains some meteorological observations, other astronomical calculations, and drawings.

• Scientific Data
• Watercolors

• Astronomy -- Observations
• Comets -- Observations.
• Planets -- Observations
• Science and technology
• Stars -- Observations.