306 Royal Astronomical Society. 



mers beat upon the plates or tables at one end, and at the other the 

 lifting action takes place, assisted by the passing spring. The strokes 

 upon these brass tables have a peculiar sharpness of tone, which 

 can be accounted for in some measure, when it is considered that 

 they are very different from the sounds produced by the teeth of the 

 wheel itself ; in the dead-beat escapement the teeth have a sliding 

 motion in the moment of drop, but not impulse, for it is well known 

 that that is subsequent to the sound. The exertions to obtain sound 

 have for some years been considerable ; but the result has been a 

 poor recompense, and unimportant after all. Thus then, and by 

 such application, simple and easy to be understood, is it proposed 

 to obtain sound, so loud as to be distinct in the stormiest night; but 

 as the constant connexion of such apparatus would neither be de- 

 sirable as concerns the action of the clock, nor pleasant to the ear 

 as a companion, a mode has been introduced of readily detaching it 

 altogether. By a certain method, which shall be explained, the 

 hammers are raised from the tables at one end, and the arms at the 

 other entirely disengaged from the anchor of the pallet, without the 

 least inconvenience or disturbing action to the clock itself. This is 

 very pleasing, and greatly to be desired, and perhaps may be consi- 

 dered of nearly equal importance with the invention itself by which 

 a loud beat is obtained. The apparatus within is immediately, and 

 at pleasure, acted upon through the agency of a bolt, which is placed 

 vertically, immediately over the 60 minutes, or about two inches back, 

 sufficiently long to reach a spring of hard brass, which is about half 

 an inch wide, and which passes transversely over the frame-work of 

 the clock, and is fixed securely to the back board of the clock-case. 

 Now the mode in which the spring unites its action with the rest 

 of the apparatus is by slight cross-bars, which extend to the ex- 

 tremities of the sides of the frame, so that the ends are immediately 

 over the hammers, with which they are connected by silk threads. 

 Therefore, by pressing down the bolt before named, the hammers 

 are allowed to fall into action, and do their duty simultaneously with 

 the teeth of the wheel upon the pallets. While the little hammers 

 are in action, the teeth of the wheel are no longer heard, and the 

 motion and view of the seconds' hand, as well as the ear of the in- 

 quirer, will satisfy him as to the usefulness of the invention. 



In conclusion, and to endeavour to dispel any doubts that may 

 arise as to the probable advantages to be obtained by such assistance 

 to the observatory, the opinion and satisfaction expressed by word 

 and by letter, on those advantages, by the distinguished individual who 

 is at the head of our national observatory, will, it cannot be doubted, 

 be interesting to this learned Society. The Astronomer Royal de- 

 clares by letter, that he has examined the plan, and is enabled to 

 say that it answers completely for its proposed purpose ; and that it 

 appears likely to be very useful ; moreover, that the rate of the 

 clock will not necessarily be disturbed during the time of its con- 

 nexion — though that will greatly depend on certain conditions. 

 May 10. — The following communications were read : — 

 I. The Right Ascensions of the Principal Fixed Stars, deduced 

 from Observations made at the Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, 



