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mental astronomical observation ; and to take the most practical 

 and utilitarian view of the subject, yet one which transcends almost 

 every other in importance — it is upon an exact means of finding 

 the true time and keeping it when you have got it, that the safety 

 of our ships and the lives of our seamen mainly depend. For 

 these reasons eminent horologists and astronomical instrument 

 makers have always ranked with eminent astronomers, and most 

 justly so ; and what I now wish to impress upon you is this, — that 

 the most eminent horologist England ever produced was a Cum- 

 berland man, and that man was George Graham of Kirklinton. 



When Graham's apprenticeship expired, he at once entered 

 into Mr. Tompion's service, and became his chief assistant and 

 most intimate friend. On the death of Tompion, Graham inherited 

 the business and reputation of his master, both of which he largely 

 extended, and indeed, speedily eclipsed all rivals. His whole time 

 was devoted to the perfecting of the art of horology, and the 

 constructing of instruments for the most delicate astronomical 

 researches. It would be quite out of place at a meeting of this 

 character for me to enter into the minutiae of Graham's mechanical 

 improvements in clocks and watches ; they may be found in 

 Denison's "Hand-book of Clock-making," and in all rudimentary 

 treatises on the subject. His capital improvement in watches was 

 the invention of the horizontal escapement ; but it was in the clock 

 that he mainly distinguished himself 



At the period in question, probably the best clock in existence 

 was no better than an ordinary kitchen clock of the present day : 

 good enough for domestic and business matters, but unfit for any 

 scientific purpose. Graham made two improvements, the import- 

 ance of which can hardly be over-estimated. The one was the 

 "dead beat escapement," and the other the "mercurial com- 

 pensating pendulum." The joint application of these two 

 inventions, combined with the exquisite finish and workmanship 

 which characterised his handicraft, at once converted the clock 

 from a useful domestic machine into a scientific instrument of the 

 highest value ; and, in conjunction with the transit instrument, it 

 has, since Graham's inventions were applied to it, been adopted 



