Mr. G. F. Hutton on Chronometers. 179 



by two excellent artists, and that much pains were bestowed 

 on their construction, the principle adopted for compensating 

 the effect of heat and cold is either imperfect and uncertain, or 

 that their adjustments are not generally understood. 



Without entering, however, into this question at present, it 

 may not be unimportant to suggest a few hints, which may 

 eventually tend to further improvements in these valuable ma- 

 chines. 



In the first place, no chronometer should be accepted for 

 trial, that did not bear the name of the artist by whom it was 

 actually made. By this means encouragement would be held 

 out to the practical artisan, as a spur to his exertions ; and he 

 would, if successful, obtain the reward of merit to which he 

 would be entitled. Whereas, by accepting chronometers from 

 nominal makers, who may employ skilful workmen, they be- 

 come the ostensible makers of a machine, though they are per- 

 haps actually ignorant of die scientific principles on which it is 

 constructed. 



In the second place, no chronometer which has been tried 

 should ever be allowed to be submitted a second time. 



In the third place, and perhaps this is the most important 

 of all, no chronometer should be submitted for trial, but those 

 actually made for that purpose ; and for which a reasonable 

 time should only be allowed : and this recommendation is 

 founded on facts too well known to be called in question. 



Of the chronometers sent to Greenwich, in consequence of 

 the notification of the Board of Admiralty, scarcely half of 

 them bore die name of the respective artists by whom they 

 were actually made ; and consequently the very object of at- 

 taining perfection had a chance of being defeated : for, as the 

 reward was open to all presented, it might happen that a chro- 

 nometer sent to India, if, during die voyage there and back, 

 it had kept its rate satisfactorily, might be sent in even by its 

 owner, and bear away the prize. Whereas, by the proposal 

 now submitted, the object of the Board would be attained, and 

 every artisan be placed on an equal foodng. 



Out of the five chronometers which failed on trial, there is 

 litde doubt that some of them would have kept their rate 

 widiin the prescribed limits, and have performed with consi- 

 derable accuracy, if the winter had been as mild as die last; 

 and conscfjueiitly would have obtained the reward offered by 

 the Board, as due to them, according to the tenor ol the noti- 

 fication in die Gazette: the consequence of which might have 

 been fatal, if diey had been sent to sea bearing the high cha- 

 racter which such a reward, and from so exalted a body, would 

 naturally have given to them. 



Z 2 Had, 



