Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/175

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118

APPENDIX.

NO. 1.

sioners appointed three Gentlemen for that purpose, and on receiving their report were pleased to declare that the Watch had not kept its Longitude within the above-mentioned limits.^[1] Thoroughly con-

thence could not judge of their fitness for the office they accepted, and he had no confidence in the judgment of the Astronomer Royal, whose personal friends they were: but we presume not disinterestedly in this affair: for though their remuneration does not appear on the minutes, yet that they had much may be inferred from a particular of a subsequent date, Dr. Bevis and Mr. Witchell, (Master of the Academy at Portsmouth) two of the Computers employed after the trial to Barbadoes, having received £50 each for their trouble.

↑ A note appended says: 'It may not be amiss to take notice here of an objection that was raised by two of the Commissioners, both famous for their knowledge in Astronomy; viz: that the observations of equal altitudes made at Portsmouth, could not be depended on, because the equal altitude instrument had been removed from the place of observation in the morning, to another place to make the afternoon observations; from which it is plain that these great Astronomers did not understand either the principles or use of one of the most simple instruments in astronomy.' These Commissioners were not remarkable for their scientific knowledge, though our Mechanic diverts himself with their supposed fame. They were Nathaniel Blisse, Master of Arts, Astronomer Royal, who had been Professor of Astronomy, likewise of Geometry, at Oxford; and the Rev. ——Shepherd, Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at Cambridge. The adjusting of the instrument, wherever it was set, depended on a level, attached to it: and finding their objections by no means tenable, they professed themselves satisfied. But the incident argues practical astronomy to have been at a very low ebb in both our Universities in that day.

[p_118-1] A note appended says: 'It may not be amiss to take notice here of an objection that was raised by two of the Commissioners, both famous for their knowledge in Astronomy; viz: that the observations of equal altitudes made at Portsmouth, could not be depended on, because the equal altitude instrument had been removed from the place of observation in the morning, to another place to make the afternoon observations; from which it is plain that these great Astronomers did not understand either the principles or use of one of the most simple instruments in astronomy.' These Commissioners were not remarkable for their scientific knowledge, though our Mechanic diverts himself with their supposed fame. They were Nathaniel Blisse, Master of Arts, Astronomer Royal, who had been Professor of Astronomy, likewise of Geometry, at Oxford; and the Rev. ——Shepherd, Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at Cambridge. The adjusting of the instrument, wherever it was set, depended on a level, attached to it: and finding their objections by no means tenable, they professed themselves satisfied. But the incident argues practical astronomy to have been at a very low ebb in both our Universities in that day.

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