an the Service of the Navy. 243 
advantage would arise to the community by the establish- 
ment of an office of this kind, and which, if impartially 
conducted, would in a short time probably defray the ex~ 
‘pense of its establishment. This advantage would be in 
not only affording Government for the service of the navy a 
valuable set of time-keepers, but the benefit might be equally 
extended to the merchant service, and to individuals in ge- 
neral; for, as the number of time-keepers offered for trial 
would, probably, very much exceed what was wanted in 
the service of Government, the remainder might be offered 
for sale to the public, upon condition of their paying the 
price at first affixed by the maker, and a small sum to the 
office for the previous trial. The time-keepers offered for 
ale might have a label containing the ‘price and rate of 
going affixed to each, and placed in a convenient situation 
for the purchaser to see; and when a purchaser had fixed 
upon one which he was desirous to purchase, it might be 
delivered to him upon his paying immediately the price 
affixed upon the label. A set of time-keepers thus tried by 
authority, would be bought with avidity by the public, as 
by these means they would be relieved from those fears 
which are the natural consequence of a purchase from an 
interested individual. 
THE PROPOSED PLAN. 
1. That an office furnished with a transit instrument 
and a good clock be established in a convenient situation, 
for the reception and trial of time-keepers intended for the 
service of the Navy. 
2. That a sufficient number of observations be made 
daily on the sun and stars when the weather will admit, as 
shall be necessary for determining the accurate position of 
the transit instrument, and for the time and rate of going 
of the clock. 
3. That the time-keepers be compared with the clock 
every day immediately after the transit of the sun over the 
meridian, or as soon after as can be conveniently done; and 
a register, containing the time at comparison both by the 
transit clock and time-keeper, be distinctly entered in two 
columns, in a book properly prepared for that purpose : 
another book to be kept for the register of the temperature 
of the atmosphere, which should be noticed at the time of 
comparison of the time-keepers, and likewise at eight 
o’clock in the morning and at three o’clock in the after- 
noon of each day. 
4. That some months previous to the time fixed upon 
O2 for 
