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Broadsheet on Longitude: 1714
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2009 Jun 8, 22:16 -0700
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2009 Jun 8, 22:16 -0700
The broadsheet published by Whiston and Ditton and circulated in London encouraging a "Reward for the Discovery of the Longitude" has come up in discussions a few times in the past few years. I'm copying in the text of it below. --------------------------------------------- June 10th, 1714 Reasons for a Bill, Proposing a Reward for the Discovery of the Longitude I. This Bill is unexceptionable, because it is general, and not confin'd to any one Project, Person, or Method; but gives equal Hopes to all Judicious Proposers whatsoever. II. Because in this Bill no Money is insisted on before any Method for the Discovery of the Longitude is, upon Trial, actually found Practicable and Useful. III. Because Sir Isaac Newton's own Paper, delivered into the Committe, gives hopes, that the Known Method by the Theory of the Moon, which is hitherto not exact enough, may, upon due Encouragement, in time be brought to Perfection. IV. Because the Method now propos'd is own'd by all, to whom it has been communicated, to be certainly true in Theory. It cannot therefore be fit to have it conceal'd, even tho' it were not yet known to be practicable; because in that Case, future Improvements might still make it so. V. Because its great Use at Land and in Geography is indisputable, and was distinctly observ'd by Sir Isaac Newton and Dr. Halley, upon the first Proposal of this Method to them. And we beg leave to say, that this Use alone is so great and extensive, that if there were no other, it would highly deserve the Encouragement of the Publick. VI. Because another great Use is also undoubted, viz, for all Places in the Narrow Seas, and within about 100 Miles of all Shores and Islands; that is, for all Places where Ships are in the greatest Danger; as Sir Isaac Newton own'd to the Committee; so that if this Method extended no farther, yet it would highly deserve the publick Encouragement. VII. Because there is little or no Reason to doubt of its Use at any Place at Sea, even where Ships are allowed to be in the least Danger; since in the most doubtful Case of All Sir Isaac Newton has, in his Paper delivered to the Committee, proposed a most effectual Remedy for the same; as will be clearly understood when the Method itself is known to the World. VIII. Because this Method will save the Nation great Sums of Money, which the Want of it does now occasion; as will appear upon Trial. IX. Because the Charges of it will be inconsiderable, in Comparison of the Advantage; as will also fully appear upon Trial. X. Because it will prevent the Loss of abundance of Ships and Lives of Men; as it would certainly have sav'd all Sir Cloudesley Shovel's Fleet, had it been then put in Practice. XI. Because it is easy to be understood and practis'd by Ordinary Seamen, without the Necessity of any puzzling Calculations in Astronomy. And we take leave to Recommend the Learned Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford, Dr. Halley, as the fittest Person in the World for the Tryal, and Practice, and Improvement of this Method; and do hereby Declare, that we are willing that he go equal Shares with us in the Reward, if he pleases to undertake so Useful a Work, and the Publick please to make that Reward equivalent to the great Dignity and Importance of the Discovery. Will Whiston Humphrey Ditton --------------------------------------------- -FER --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc To post, email NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---