uppermost inscription on the clock dial as the first 

 example: 



FranCIsCVs I sit pLan. DoMInator aeternVs 



The letters which are intended to form the chrono- 

 gram are: 



C I C V I I L D M I V 



1 00 I I oo 



I I =,0 =,00 1000 I 



These figures added together total 1 764. 



The second inscription on the clock dial which forms 

 a chronogram is 



LaVs saCrosanCtae TrlaDI Vnl Deo, et Delparae 

 LV C CI DIVI D DI 



50 5 100 100 1 500 1 5 1 500 500 1 = 1764. 



The third inscription required a little more planning, 

 because of its greater length. Accordingly, Father 

 Borghesi divided it into nine parts, each of which is 

 separated from the other by means of asterisks. Each 

 of the nine parts of the inscription formed a chrono- 

 gram which, in every instance, totals to the date 1 764, 

 the year in which the second clock was completed. 

 The same procedure was followed with the inscrip- 

 tions in the lower left and the lower right corners of 

 the dial as well as with the maker's inscription within 

 the central disk. This inscription is 



BVrghesIo DoCtore, et BertoLLa LIMatore 

 Annan Ienslb Vs 

 V I D C L L L I M I I V 



5 1 500 100 50 50 50 1 1000 1 1 5= 1764. 



The inscriptions within the chapter ring are not 

 utilized for chronograms, however. It is apparent 

 that Father Borghesi was required to make a most 

 careful selection of the texts for his inscriptions in 

 order that none of the phrases included any addi- 

 tional letters which formed Roman numerals than 

 would total to the date he desired to indicate, namely, 

 17dl. Where it was necessary, he employed an 

 asterisk to separate parts of texts so that each would 

 produce the same total. Any letter that did not form 

 a Roman numeral, even if capitalized or used in a 

 larger size, did not interfere with the formation of the 

 chronograms. 



In spite of his ingenuity in designing a text which 

 would include only such of the letters representing 

 the Roman numerals which would provide the 

 1 liiuhu'ji.iins for 1761. lather Borghesi experienced 

 some difficulties, particularly in place names. He 



accordingly changed them in order to avoid the 

 inclusion of letters that would have disturbed his 

 totals. Examples are MEGGL instead of MECHL, 

 which had an extra C, and RVNNO instead of 

 RYMO, which had an extra M. 



PUBLISHED DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND CLOCK 



When the clock had been completed and proved to 

 work successfully, Borghesi once more reduced a 

 description of the clock and its function to published 

 form in a second little volume published by Monauni. 

 This second work was also in Latin, the title of which 

 is translated as The Most Recent Theoretical-Practical 

 Astronomical Clock According to the Equally Most Recent 

 System of the World. As with his first book, Father 

 Borghesi devoted a number of pages to a preface 

 addressed to the reader, which is translated from the 

 Latin: 



This mechanical instrument was far from being ready for 

 public notice. A great deal of time and work remained 

 to produce a machine of this new system from the very 

 foundations; then, by a most accurate calculation to 

 bring the motions of many wheels up-to-date with the 

 most recent astronomical observations; and, finally, to 

 fashion it with the craftsman's file, often enough with a 

 weary hand. All this work I had performed eagerly, 

 so that, while in my room, I might contemplate leisurely, 

 both day and night, the true face of the heavens and the 

 seas unobscured by clouds, even though I had no 

 astronomical equipment. But, then I remembered that, 

 in my book on the first clock, I had promised a descrip- 

 tion of a new (at least, as far as is known to me) clock. 

 Moreover, friends with astronomical interest, who took 

 part in the oft-repeated astronomical experiments 

 concerning this clock, persuaded me that the intellectual 

 world would enjoy having a greater knowledge and a 

 description of this work. However, it was not only the 

 promises nor the desires of many which moved me to 

 write this work, but I also thought it was necessary to 

 set forth, before the description of the clock, an exposition 

 of the astronomical system according to which this clock 

 was constructed, so that the complete work would 

 be evident to all. I was concerned about making this 

 timepiece more acceptable and more understandable 

 to those people who are far distant and unable to see it, 

 so that this present exposition would obtain credulity 

 among all. I could find no better method than to set 

 forth for the reader the theory of the universe which I 

 figured out after many sleepless nights. 



In testing this theory day after day, it not only appeared 

 to be complete, and true, but each day it appeared more 

 conformable to reality; it captured my mind in such 

 a way that I finally adhered to it. I desired, while I 



52 



l.l II I. TIN 240: CONTRIBUTIONS I- ROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



