Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/231

174 freezing, the Watch cannot be depended upon to keep the Longitude within half a degree for more to the aggregate of those commanders, among whom there are deficiencies so great, that at Hull, one of the four great seaports of the kingdom, the Author is well assured there are Masters who do not know how to calculate their Longitude by the chronometer, as simple as it is, but adhere to the exploded practice by the log; with the addition of the alliterative maxim, "lead, latitude and look out." Those people, who after rise from before the mast, if they acquire a character for sobriety and diligence, are seldom troubled with the enquiries of the shipowner, concerning their ability to discuss the Astronomical Ephemeris, much less to know their acquaintance with the ponderous volume of tables (just spoken of.) Even when they are qualified to avail themselves of the Astronomer's vigils in their behalf, they know what the occupant of Flamstead Hill, with invincible pertinacity, affected to conceal from himself,—that a clouded sky, or an unsteady vessel, may serve only to illustrate the precariousness of everything on earth, or in "the great sea-deeps." Waiving this, however, we remember the opinion of an experienced naval Officer; which was that the Tables might be of some use in long voyages, but not in short ones, because the voyage would be finished before the observations would.

In the preface of his reply to Mr. Mudge, the Doctor warmly attacks a certain German, Professor Zach, for what?—for sacrificing Astronomy to Timekeepers!—Thus it is, the learned and the ignorant equally illustrate the observation, how much easier it is to detect the mote in your neighbour's eye than to feel the beam in your own. For what was the main drift of the trial concerted between the Sardonic confederates (Lord Morton and himself) but to sacrifice Timekeepers to Astronomy?—and that too in contravention of the notorious fact, tHat the Astronomers bad been completely beaten at sea. To decide that the Mechanics were entitled to a secondary and