Hints respecting the Nautical Almanack. 313 



—may act constantly on a liquid, and transform it into new pro- 

 ducts. This way of viewing the subject agrees with some ideas 

 lately suggested, and which, in some measure, become obvious 

 from the experiments just recited. 



LIV. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 

 To Mr. Tilloch. 



. October 11, 1819. 



Sir, — As the Nautical Almanack is of the first importance to 

 the safety of navigation and commerce, I trust you will be able 

 to afford the following remarks a place in the Philosophical Ma- 

 gazine, as they are written purposely to call the attention of the 

 Commissioners of Longitude, if possible, to adopt a more certain 

 method of supplying the demand for that invaluable work, than 

 hitherto experienced. 



It is notorious that the Nautical Almanack has been frequently 

 out of print for ten, fourteen, or twenty days, when a single copy 

 could not be obtained for any price, nor until a new edition issued 

 from the press : — commanders of ships, proceeding on distant 

 voyages at such times, have been known to offer ten and even 

 twenty guineas for a Nautical Almanack, without effect. 



To prevent a similar recurrence of such serious importance to 

 com.merce and navigation, a letter was sent in ISl 1 to one of the 

 Commissioners of Longitude, pointing out the great danger that 

 would probably ensue to British maritime commerce by a limited 

 supply of the Nautical Almanack; and recomme-iding that the 

 Secretary of the Board of Longitude, or some other competent 

 person, ought to superintend the disposal of that work, by waiting 

 on the publisher monthly, and examining the quantity sold, and 

 stock on hand ; which would enable such person to provide re- 

 gularly for the demand, by comparing the monthly or quarterly 

 sales of each year, and regulating the press accordingly ; which 

 ought either to be kept open, or larger editions thrown off than 

 hitherto. 



Since the above-mentioned letter was written, the Nautical Al- 

 manack has been several times out of print, and very recently the 

 edition for 1820 vvas destroyed by fire at .Mr. Bensley's,the printer 

 to the Commissioners of Longitude; by which misfortune, an in- 

 terval occurred, when sliips departing on distant voyages could 

 not procure a Nautical Almanack for that year. But fortunately a 

 new edition appeared before the departure of Sir Thomas Hardy's 

 squadron for the South Sea, or that valuable expedition might 

 have been obliged to navigate nearly round the world, destitute 

 of one of the first requisites of safety, a Nautical Almanack for the 

 ensuing year. 



A work 



