Memoirs of the life of David Rittenhouse, LLD. F.R.S., late president of the American Philosophical Society, &c. : $b interspersed with various notices of many distinguished men : with an appendix, containing sundry philosophical and other papers, most of which have not hitherto been publishedBarton, William
History
Memoirs of the life of David Rittenhouse, LLD. F.R.S., late president of the American Philosophical Society, &c. : $b interspersed with various notices of many distinguished men : with an appendix, containing sundry philosophical and other papers, most of which have not hitherto been published
In addition to the honourable testimony of the Astronomer-Royal, in
favour of the Pennsylvania Observers of the Transit of Venus, is the
following eulogy of another eminent English astronomer,—as
communicated by Dr. Franklin to Dr. T. Bond, one of the
Vice-Presidents of the Philosophical Society, in a letter from London
dated the 5th of Feb. 1772. The Rev. Mr. Ludlam, the gentleman
referred to, and whom Dr. Franklin styles “a most learned man and
ingenious mechanic”—in a paper published in the Gentleman’s Magazine
(and a copy of which, subscribed by himself, was sent by him to the
Society,) giving an account of the Society’s Transactions, more
especially their Observations of the Transit of Venus,—applauds both
the General Assembly and the late Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, for
the countenance and assistance they gave to the making those
Observations.——“No astronomers,” said Mr. Ludlam, “could better
deserve all possible encouragement; whether we consider their care and
diligence in making the Observations, their fidelity in relating what
was done, or the clearness and accuracy of their reasonings on this
curious and difficult subject.” He then mentions, in very honourable
terms, the papers of Mr. Rittenhouse, Dr. Smith, Dr. Ewing, and Mr.
Biddle, who drew up the several accounts of the Observations made at
Norriton, Philadelphia, and Cape-Henlopen; and adds, that “they have
very honestly given not only the Result of their Observations, but the
_Materials_ also, that others may examine and judge for themselves; an
example worthy of imitation by those European astronomers, who are so
very shy of giving particulars, and vouch for their _Instruments_ and
Observations in general terms.”
The same gentleman, in a letter dated at Leicester (in England,)
January the 25th, 1772, and transmitted to the Philosophical Society
by Dr. Franklin, wrote thus:—“The more I read the Transactions of your
Society, the more I honour and esteem the members of it. _There is not
another Society in the world, that can boast of a member such as_ Mr.
RITTENHOUSE: theorist enough to encounter the problems of determining
(from a few Observations) the Orbit of a Comit; and also mechanic
enough to make, with his own hands, an Equal-Altitude Instrument, a
Transit-Telescope, and a Time-piece. I wish I was near enough to see
his mechanical apparatus. I find he is engaged in making a curious
Orrery. May I ask,” &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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