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The following interesting posting has recently appeared on the HASTRO
History of Astronomy discussion group. I am relaying it to the Navigation-L
list in case any member has information or comments to offer. If so, please
communicate directly  with Trefor.Thomas@BTINTERNET.COM as I doubt whether
he is a member of this list.

All I can offer is that there is no such work listed in the extensive
bibliography (300-odd items) in Cotter's "History of Nautical Astronomy".
Nor is there any work with that title or any work on spherics by J.Jackson
in the Bobleian Library catalogue. As it is a requirement that to obtain
copyright a copy of any published work had to be sent to the Bodleian and
certain other libraries, one can assume with some confidence that the book
did not get as far as publication. One of many lost masterpieces,
perhaps...

George Huxtable

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From-         Trefor Thomas 
Subject:      Astronomy/Navigation
To:           HASTRO-L@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU

Hi! I have a query relating to a manuscript which I have in my possession.
It is 528 pp, bound in fine leather, entitled "Spherics, Astronomy and
Lunars". It is signed on the title page J.Jackson.  No date, but internal
evidence suggests that it is around 1827 (English). All the examples in the
many calculations, etc, come from that period, and it refers in a friendly
manner to the late Dr. Maskelyne (d 1811). It is in fine copperplate script
throughout, with over 150 text diagrams.  There is a long section on
spherics, at what seems to be a high level of mathematical competence (I am
a Historian but not a scientist!), another on astronomy, and a final
section on astronomical problems, and in particular the application of
various methods of obtaining position at sea.  It is not a practical
handbook for seamen, but a theoretical analysis of methods.  I have been
unable to trace any reference to the author,  but is is difficult to
believe that anyone who could produce this is unknown to history. It reads
like a fair copy of material for a book, but no such title can be found by
me anyway. It is not pure astronomy, but astronomy applied to problems.
Includes for example "A New and Simple Projection for Clearing the Lunar
Distances from Parallax and Refraction".  I have produced an outline of
headings which I could send to anyone interested.
Any help in tracing the author - him or her - will be received with immense
gratitude!
Trefor Thomas

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george@huxtable.u-net.com
George Huxtable, 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
Tel. 01865 820222 or (int.) +44 1865 820222.
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