A new discovery for finding the longitude — John Shaqi
A new discovery for finding the longitudeHobbs, William
History
A new discovery for finding the longitude
Hobbs, William
Longitude -- Early works to 1800
3. That an Equal time be spent in Winding it up, as near as possible; for
which no time need be allowed, if Equated for 10 or 12 Months; because
the time required will be the same for the same time, and greater for a
greater, _&c._
4. That the said Movement be carefully kept in one and the same
Temperature of Air, as near as possible.
5. That after this Movement is fully proved, if it should not (by reason
of any sudden change of Air) agree to a Minute, yet it ought not in this
respect to be altered or much regarded, because the moistness of one
Month, may compensate the Dryness of another: So that by such time as you
are arrived to the end of your Voyage, the Movement may even Rectifie or
Correct it self.
6. It is to be noted, That if the Sun comes too soon to the Meridian, it
will also come too soon to the Horizon; and therefore, Watch too fast, or
too slow, must be Added or Substracted, as aforesaid.
7. That it be always wound up, as near as may be, at one certain time of
the Day, (_viz._) if at Sea, about Twylight, or Break of Day, as may be
thought expedient. And if it should happen to be omitted, so long as to
stand still; you must not set it going again, but by taking it assunder,
and putting the two Indexes together, and bringing the Movement to the
Meridian Line, as at first directed. Therefore when at Sea be careful of
such Omissions.
8. It is to be noted, That altho’ every Minute of Time, does Answer to
about 15 or 16 Miles _English_, under the _Equinoctial_; yet it is not
above 9 or 10 Miles in our Latitude to one such Minute. And altho’ it
be so many under the Equinoctial, yet _there_ the Sun’s Altitude will
be taken very exact, because 90 degrees of Altitude, is for 6 hours of
Time; whereas in our Latitude, it is but 62 degrees, for 8 hours of Time;
both which Advantages will Facilitate the Practice. I shall at present
conclude with acquanting,
That if a common Minute Watch (by Filing or Loading the Ballance, or
otherwise) be made to go, or does already go, any unknown quantity of
Time, either too Fast, or too Slow; by this Device, we may find the Hour
and Minute of the Day by such a Watch, more exactly than can be done by
the best timed common Watch whatever. And this even without touching it,
other than by Winding up the Spring as usual.
There are other Improvements that may be made of this Discovery, but I
reserve them to some other Opportunity.
_The FORM of the Book to be kept for each Movement, wherein must be
entred the Numbers, &c. (which are to be found at the Returning of the
Ship) for finding the Hour and Minute at ~London~._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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