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George wrote [NavList 10848]:

>Anyone interested in the work of those surveyors should take a look at two
>recent papers by Peter Broughton, who has done much work on the astronomical
>history of Canada.
>
>"The Accuracy and Use of Sextants and Watches in Rupert's Land in the
>1790s", in Annals of Science, vol 66 No 2, April 2009, 209-229
>
>"Astronomical Observations by Peter Fidler and Others in "Canada"
>1790-1820", in JRASC (Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada)
>August 2009, pages 141-152.

List members may also want to look at the webpage "How David Thompson
Navigated" by Jeff Gottfred http://www.northwestjournal.ca/dtnav.html

Gottfred is obviously knowledgeable in mathematical astronomy and had
dedicated himself to the study of Thompson. The result is a detailed
investigation, explanation and assessment of Thompson, his skills and
his methods. As George says, the work of early explorer/surveyors who
broke new ground and mapped new countries is a large subject which
has had little airing here, which is a pity.

Geoffrey Kolbe

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