Letter to Governor Pownall from Dr. Thornton. 9:2\ 



his labours in the observatory with great zeal. The presi- 

 dent expects to draw to Petersburgh an astronomer of repu- 

 tation. 



Hitherto we liave seen no native of Russia distinguish 

 himself in that country by astronomy. But I experienced 

 an agreeable surprise, and entertain consoling hopes, whcu 

 I see young Alexander OulibishefF, at the age of ten, con- 

 verse with me on astronomy in a manner I never before 

 witnessed, even in France, from persons of twenty years of 

 age. He was born at Aloscow on the 27th of November 

 1793. 



The emperor of Russia, in the new statutes of the imperial 

 university of \^ilna, issued on the 8th of May, ordered that 

 there shall be an observer and professor of astronomy. 

 M. Poczobut, who has long resided there, is a pledge that 

 our science will not be neglected. 



M. Sniadecki, a Polish astronomer, formerly of Cracow, 

 not havino- been able to obtain from the Austrian govern- 

 ment the necessary assistance for that observatory, has pre- 

 ferred the observatory of Vdna, where he will assist M. Poc- 

 zobut. 



JM. Honore Ponz, an ingenious clockmaker, whose ex- 

 cellent clocks I have announced, has this year made an im- 

 portant improvement by adding free escapements, which 

 are ingenious, and which bv means of remontolrs leave no 

 room for the inequalities of rouage to affect' the motion of 

 the pendulum, lie presented a description of it to the In- 

 stitute on the 12th of December. 



[To be continued.] 



XXXVIII. A Letter to Goi-cnior Pownall from Dr. 



TUOIIKTON, 



April 1 6. 1804., 

 No. I, Hliitle-street; 

 SiK, Manchester-square. 



1 WAS pleased to find a gentleman of your sound judg- 

 ment, matured by the enjoyment of long life, chielly con- 

 secrated to science, observing the changes of men and 

 things, recalling the philosophic world to the sentiments 

 entertained by our forefathers. Vvlien Dr. Priestley made 

 his discoveries in chemistry, like John Hunter he disclaimed 

 all the advantages of reading; and the French chemists, 

 catching at the seemingly new lights he threw out, formed 

 a brilliant system which went ty acknowledge no authori- 

 ties 



