The late Comet. » 14.7 



sideways round die spindle on each side, and the same num- 

 ber on the ends (the same as the perpendicular capstan), which 

 are made to turn round the spindle, or to turn the spindle in 

 case of using the bars. This capstan is also double palled, 

 and friction is destroyed, and is worked with wheels on the 

 heads, the same way as the perpendicular capstans : indeed, 

 the difference in these capstans is only in as much as the pall- 

 bits of the horizontal capstan become the pallhead of perpen- 

 dicular capstan, and offers twelve palls — six above, and the 

 six below in a direction from the deck, which will save the old 

 practice of chocking from the deck for its security or safety, 

 which is the principal object the inventor has in view, and has 

 no doubt, if the late improvements on capstans are considered, 

 they can only give ease, and no additional speed can be ob- 

 tained beyond the step or run of a man with the old palls, and 

 play underneath allow of the same shock by the surge of the 

 ropes as is the case in the old capstan; while the one proposed 

 not only has the advantage of two powers on each capstan, 

 but three different speeds by the which and wheels, which are 

 all external, and can be removed in a very short time to use 

 the bars, is always palled, and is unaffected by the surging of 

 the messenger or ropes, and if used by the bars will turn with 

 the greatest ease, not excepting the late improvement.: — The 

 anchor and capstan are in progress at Messrs. Taylor and 

 Martineau's for the Triumph, Captain Green, and the Ex- 

 mouth, Captain Owen, both of the East India service. 



FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE COMET. 



Gosport Observatory, Feb. 25, 18.24. 

 Wednesday Evening, Jan. 27th,~) its Right Ascension was 200° 10' 



its Declination 71 00 north. 



Friday Evening, Jan. 29th, its Right Ascension was 181 30 



— ! — I 1004 its Declination 73 00 north. 



Saturday Evening, Jan. 30th, j " ' its Right Ascension was 171 00 



its Declination 73 40 north. 

 Tuesday Evening, Feb. 2d, its Right Ascension was 143 Op 

 J its Declination 71 50 north. 



In the evening of the 27th of January, the Comet being 

 nearly at its greatest apparent distance from the sun, as shown 

 by the celestial globe, it had no tail, and appeared very much 

 like the nebula in the constellation Cancer. In the evening 

 of the 2d of February it was about 125° distant from the sun, 

 and was scarcely perceptible by the naked eye ; and at this 

 time its daily motion under the fixed stars was about 2° 50'. 

 Subsequent evenings proved that it had gone too far into 

 space to make further observations on it. 



Wm. Bukney. 



T 2 EI ST 



