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LVIII. Reply to Mr. Edward Riddle's Remarks on Mr. 

 Meikj.e's Paper " Onjiriding the Longitude hy Lunar 01- 

 servations." By Mr. JNIeikle. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, — In' your last Number, Mr. Riddle complains grievously 

 of a paper of mine containing miscellaneous remarks on the lunar 

 observations, which yon were kind enough to insert in your Num- 

 ber for July. He with no small labour pretends to give an entire 

 refutation of it; but in no instance has he succeeded in treading 

 down any material point, by his very unfair and disingenuous ex- 

 amination of the whole. 



One thing in particular which seems to have alarmed his jea- 

 lousy, is the apparent levity of the style in which I delivered my- 

 self : but every person is not blessed with a style possessing all 

 the gravity and worth of Mr. Riddle's. Another defect is my 

 want of candour and moderation; but apparent candour and mo- 

 deration are often veils to loathsome flattery, while truth and ho- 

 nesty are wanting. And it even sometimes happens in our golden 

 age, that persons are loud in their praises of" candour and mode- 

 ration," when they are about to commit an outrage against both. 



I have of late, it is true, given my opinion on various subjects 

 in the public journals, without attending to Mr. Riddle's. precau- 

 tion of presenting a peace-offering at the commencement. No, I 

 deem it more honest and honourable, nay, even more respectful, 

 just to make known my real intention at once without dissimula- 

 tion. I rejoice at all times to see errors, even mine own, corrected; 

 nay, in that very paper itself, so unjustly censured, I have readily 

 acknowledged my liability to err, but have not yet found that it 

 contains any thing amiss. 



Mr. R. further observes, " that a perusal of that letter will 

 show those unacquainted with the subject, the spirit in which it 

 is written." Now this is just the thing. It is only such as are 

 unacquainted with the subject who will take offence. Others have 

 no reason to be alarmed — they are not accused. I mentioned no 

 names, but left the guilty to apply it to themselves. 



But that the reader may see that 1 am not alone, nor yet the 

 first, to make free remarks on writers of navigation as well as on 

 the deplorable state of mathematical knowledge in general; I beg 

 leave to refer him to Dr. Mackay's preface to his " Navigation," 

 where many of these worthies are made black enough. — See also 

 Dr.Gregory's preface to his " Mechanics." In short, there are few 

 scientific authors who do not make similar complaints; and gene- 

 rally they will be found to make use of much severer censure than 

 I have ever done. It is the sad reproach of our nation, as well as 

 of neighbouring states, that my animadTersionsare too true. The 

 'Y 4 order 



