A new discovery for finding the longitudeHobbs, William
History
A new discovery for finding the longitude
Hobbs, William
Longitude -- Early works to 1800
Now that this Movement, or Discovery, does not only differ from, but
also far exceed, any that has hitherto been proposed; is evident in this
(_viz._) That if any former Movement whatsoever be Timed here, as usual,
~Before~ it is carried to Sea, (tho’ never so exactly) yet the change of
Climate, _&c._ will so affect it, as to make it go False: And if you fit
it there, then ’twill be also False when brought hither: But if by this
Movement, and the foregoing Rules, the said Numbers be found ~After~ it
is returned from such a Voyage; all the said Defects or Contingencies
will be Æquated by the said Numbers only. So that it will be the same in
use, as if no such Accidents did attend it at all. And this Assertion
must, and will be granted, by every one that does fully comprehend the
Nature and Use thereof. For altho’ this _Horologe_ has no certain _Hours_
or _Time_ pre-assigned to it; yet it hath nevertheless, greater or
lesser Numbers Æquated to the Variableness of Motion or Time, (_viz._)
If fitted to be used here in _England_, then it hath (or may have) one
sort of Numbers (or Time) for finding the Hour and Minute, in the Summer
Season; another for Winter; and a third for the Spring and Fall; one when
it lyeth undisturbed in one and the same place; another (if you please)
when carry’d always in a Rattling Coach. And on the other hand, if you
carry it to Sea, then it has one for the _Torrid_, one for the _Frigid_,
and a third for the _Temperate Zones_, &c. And yet still but one and the
same _Horologe_, and but one and the same _Indexes_. So that all manner
of Natural Vicissitudes or Contingencies whatsoever, may be Regulated
or Æquated in and by the said Numbers; and consequently, the true Hour
and Minute of the Day, where it is first set going, may be hereby as
effectually found, as if no such Impediments did at any time or place
attend it, as aforesaid.
And as for what may be suggested in relation to the Inequality between
the Spring and Fusie, if any should be, it will be compensated, in that
there are five or six Windings up of them, to one Revolution in the
_Horologe_. So that there is nothing wanting to compleat this Discovery,
but to put it into Practice: And seeing the Charge and Trouble is very
Inconsiderable; and the Legislature by _Act of Parliament_, hath been
graciously pleased to Incourage hereunto, it is thought expedient to make
this publick Proposal, _viz._
That if any one Person is willing to Engage in this so Noble an
Enterprize, he will be readily received as a Partner, on such Conditions
as may be Reasonably Concerted therein.
_You may hear of the Author at Mr. ~Burleigh~’s in
~Amen-Corner, London~._
MEMORANDUM.
1. All Departures must be reckon’d from _London_, if the Movement was
there Set going.
2. That wheresoever they are Set going, there must be a large and exact
Meridian Line prepared by a Perpendicular, set up in an Horizontal
Circle, as is Mathematically taught, _&c._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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