the Rates of Timekeepers. 407 



public observatory, for trying timekeepers and keeping their 

 rates ; to which every maker of them, if he thought proper, 

 might have access at stated hours, and be allowed always to 

 keep there a certain limited number of pieces. Here he 

 could try the effect of improvements, and gain experience 

 thereby ; then alter, and try again, until he succeeded to 

 his mind : an advantage which he could not perhaps en- 

 joy in his own house, for want of instruments of sufficient 

 accuracy, and leisure to make the necessary computations. 



A book containing the rate of each timekeeper belonging 

 to each person might be kept, always ready for the use of 

 the owner, and, if he thought proper, for the inspection of 

 the public at large ; by which, he would be enabled to fix a 

 price on the machine, proportioned to the excellence of its 

 going, and avoid all suspicion of partiality in giving the rate 

 of his piece to the purchaser, 



From this place, captains of ships or others might always 

 be furnished with timekeepers, suitable to the price they 

 could afford, or adapted, with respect to accuracy of going, 

 for the purpose they might be required to execute. 



In short, so many advantages would evidently be derived 

 to the makers, and the public, by an institution of this kind, 

 which could not fail to bring forward deserving merit as a 

 claimant on public favour, that I am surprised the watch- 

 makers have not established one at their own expense, by 

 subscription, as the amount of it when divided between a 

 number of proprietors would not be an object to each indi- 

 vidual. 



There are many situations near London that are well 

 adapted for the purpose ; the instruments necessary for it 

 would not be expensive ; and a steady careful person, capa- 

 ble by his scientific knowledge of conducting it with ability, 

 might no doubt be found, who, considering it as an amuse- 

 ment rather than a labour, would be moderate in his terms 

 for the discharge of a duty, which must evidently be bene- 

 ficial both to the venders and the purchasers of these useful 

 and necessary machines. 



T. 



C c 4 LXXII, Pro- 



