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II. Life of M. LeRoy. 



To Mr, Tilloch. 



SIR, 



J. HE following account of Julien Le Roy, the celebrated 

 watch-maker*, is an abridgment of that given by his son, 

 in a work of his entitled Etrennes Chronomciriqi/es ; and if 

 you think it will prove interesting to any of your numerous 

 readers, it is very much at your service. 



. I remain, sir, yours, &c. he. 



T. S. Evans. 



Royal Military Academy, 

 Woolwich. 



JuLTFN Le Roy was born at Tour^ in 16S6, and died at 

 Paris in 1739. He had hardly attained his twelfth yeap 

 when his taste for clock- and watch-work first showed itself. 

 His hours of recreation were constantly employed in finish- 

 ing some pieces of mechanism, and in reading with avidity 

 all books relating to that subject and natural philosophy. 

 About the age of thirteen, he constructed some small pieces 

 of clock-work; and finding the day not sufficiently long fo|;' 

 him, he sat up during the night, to study how he might im- 

 prove their motions. 



With so remarkable a desire to increase his knowledge in 

 this art, which his parents lost no opportunity of improving 

 and applying to the best advantage, it was impossible for him 

 not to make a very rapid progress. At the age of 17, he 

 went to Paris, and was admitted in 1713 into the company 

 of watch-makers of that city. 



His merit having introduced him to the acquaintance and 

 esteem of the most distinguished inen of his time, he very 

 shortly became celebrated for the excellence of his work- 

 manship ; and for a quickness of execution th^t appeared 



* Father of Pierre Le Roy, who wrote the Memoir on the best method of 

 measuring time at sea, which you have honoured with a place in your Maga- 

 zine, (vol. xxvi. p. 40,) and the inventor of the compensation balance, wiiich 

 Hm sipce been improved and applied with such success by our English artists. 



almost 



