Astronomical Efforts of Sawai Jai Singh
- A Review

Delegation to Europe

In 1727 - 28 Jai Singh dispatched a scientific delegation to Europe after learning that "the business of observatory was being carried on in Europe". The delegation, the very first of its kind, led by Fr. Figuerado, reached Portugal in January of 1729 (Gazeta 2). The Lisbon Gazette of March 10, 1729, reports that the delegation had come to the country to resolve questions regarding the astronomical tanles used in Portugal and India, and to learn about the old and new instruments in astronomy (Gazeta 1).

Although the news of the delegation's arrival in Lisbon was duly published in the Paris Gazette, there is no mention of its arrival in Paris. The London papers are also silent about the delegation visiting their city. Apparently, the delegation never travelled to those places where the most advanced work on the subject was being carried out at that time. Surprisingly, the records of Coimbra University, the only institution of higher learning in Portugal at the time, say nothing about the delegation reaching their campus either.

The delegation returned in 1730 with some instruments, books on mathematics, and astronomical tables - including the one by de La Hire published in 1702. It is interesting to note that the delegation did not bring back the tables of Flamsteed published in England, which were the most accurate ones by then. In retrospect, the delegation produced very little.

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