On the Nautical Almanac. 187 



point on the sun's disc where the moon makes its first impression : 

 an assertion which evidently shows he has not been in the habit 

 of observing such phaenomena. 



With respect to the errors in the configurations of Jupiter's sa- 

 telHtes, Manchestriensis might easily have satisfied himself on 

 that point, had he taken the trouble (no very arduous task) of 

 computing their positions. 



But, sir, I have now done with this subject, I hope for ever. 

 The frequent and glaring errors in the Nautical Almanac have at- 

 length attracted the notice of government; and his majesty's mi- 

 nisters have consequently brought in a bill to amend and reform 

 that work. Mr. Croker, in his speech upon this occasion (on 

 the 6th instant) pays a handsome and deserved compliment to 

 the late Astronomer Royal, Dr. Maskelyne, by observing that 

 " he had looked into the whole of the almanacs from the earliest 

 period, and found only two or three errata in any one volume.** 

 At the same time he added, " The later numbers however are very 

 incorrect, and he was very sorry to be obliged to say that the 

 numbers for the present year did not contain less than eighteen 

 gross errors; and the publication for the next year not less than 

 forty ; in fact, the Nautical Almanac was a bye-word among 

 the literati of Europe." 



Before I close this letter, permit me to suggest, through the 

 means of your valuable miscellany, some hints for the improve- 

 ment of such almanacs as may be in future published by the new 

 commissioners of the board of longitude. In the first place, it 

 ought to be expressly stated in the preface, what tallies are made 

 use of in the computations, in order that any person may satisfy 

 himself that the calculations are true. The name of the person 

 likewise who makes the computations ought always to be stated 

 in the preface: this would not only tend to make the computer 

 more anxious to preserve his scientific character, but would like- 

 wise show where the blame (if any) ought to attach. This me- 

 thod is adopted in the Coiutoissance des Terns: but in the ephe- 

 merides published at Berlin, Vienna, Coimbra, &c. it is unneces- 

 sary, as tiiey are under the known direction of the several autiiors. 



In computing the moon's place from the Nautical Almanac, 

 for any intermediate time, a constant reference is made to Mr. 

 Taylor's sexagesimal tables, a quarto book consisting of upwards 

 of 300 pages : but the onbj part which is wanted for that pur- 

 pose is contained mfmtr pages of that work. Why cannot that 

 portion of the work be reprinted in three or four octavo page* 

 and added as an appendix to the Nautical Almanac ? This me- 

 thod is adopted (though in too abridged a form) in the Connais- 

 sance des Terns for 1820, p. 164. The mode however adopted 

 by M. Bode in his ephemeris would be more convenient for prac- 

 tice, although it might give the computer more trouble; which 



