Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part I. For the year 1757.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.Various
History
Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part I. For the year 1757.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.
Various
Science -- Periodicals
ON the 20th of March 1755, we presented an address to this illustrious
Body, intituled, “An Attempt to point out, in a concise manner,
the Advantages which would accrue from a periodic Review of the
Variation of the Magnetic Needle, throughout the known World;
requesting contributions thereto, by communicating such observations
concerning it, as had then been lately made, or could be procured from
correspondents in foreign parts.”
This address was read at the same time, and afterwards honoured with
a place in the Transactions, vol. xlviii. part ii. for 1754: which
favour we now acknowledge in the most grateful manner; and, pursuant
to our engagements, beg leave to lay before you some account of the
communications received, with a specimen of the uses and applications
which we have been enabled to make of those, and other assistances with
which we have been indulged.
On application to the Honourable the Commissioners of the Navy, we were
obliged with an order of free access to all their masters log-books and
journals.
The Directors of the Honourable East India Company granted the like
privilege.
The Honourable Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company obliged us with
sundry observations, made, and tabulated, by their own Captains.
James Bradley, D. D. Regius Professor of Astronomy, and F.R.S.
favoured us with several observations made at the Royal Observatory at
Greenwich.
John Hyde, Esq; F.R.S. communicated a sett of useful observations,
extracted from two journals kept on board the Triton and Britannia East
Indiamen.
A correct journal kept on board the Delawar East Indiaman was handed to
us by a gentleman unknown.
Capt. George Snow furnished a considerable number of observations, made
with care and accuracy by himself, in several successive voyages to,
and from Barbadoes and Virginia; together with several remarks upon
the subject: _One_, which we apprehend to be material, we beg leave
to insert, as it meets with some confirmation by the tables annexed;
_viz._ “At Barbadoes the variation seems at a stand very near; for in
the road, 1752, I observed 5 degrees east; and by Mr. Halley’s draught,
in the year 1701, 5½ degrees: in 1747, at Port Royal keys, Jamaica, I
observed the variation 7° 20’ E.; and on the coast of Carthagena the
same week, off the high land of Sancta Martha, 7° 45’ E. nearly south
of Port Royal: Therefore these curves are not much altered; and the
curve at Jamaica is nearly at a stand, as tho’ tied; and the south part
of them, with the rest, dropping to the westward.”
Mr. Mungo Murray, author of a treatise on ship-building, presented
us with several observations taken on board the Prince Edward and
Chesterfield East Indiamen, and his Majesty’s ship the Neptune.
For all these favours we return our sincere thanks.
No observations made upon land have been received, except Dr. Bradley’s
aforesaid; which has frustrated our intentions of continuing the curves
from sea to sea.
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