£ 421 3 



LXXXV. On Celestial Globes. 7?j/ J.W. WooLLGARj^^y. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 



Mp:SSIlS. ADDISON and Co., of Regent-street, have 

 announced " a pair of magnijicent Globes, thirty-six 

 INCHES in diameter, to be executed by first-rate artists." As 

 i-egards globes in general, I fear they ai'e much oftener pur- 

 chased as articles of furniture than as philosophical instru- 

 vients; and the strongest proof of this opinion is furnished by 

 the Prospectus whicli has been issued, wherein the style of ex- 

 ecution is much insisted on, but little is said to intbrm the 

 scientific inquirer. Yet the real merit of a globe is not to be 

 determined by the largeness of its dimensions, the elegance 

 of its engraving, or the beauty of its frame; but by the choice 

 of the materials for the design, and by the care bestowed in 

 their aj^plication. Undoubtedly nothing could tend to ad- 

 vance these new globes in the public estimation so much as 

 the assurance that the drawings were to be executed by per- 

 sons of known talent in geography and astronomy, whose 

 names there would be an impropriety in concealing. 



Of modern English globes, the 21-inch by Gary* and the 

 18-inch by Bardin (the latter being dignified with the ap- 

 ))e!lation of '' The New British Globes") are to be considered 

 the standards. The terrestrial globe of the larger pair re- 

 quires no greater recommendation than that of having been 

 executed imder the j^ublisher's own ins]iection. The draw- 

 ings for the celestial were made by Mr. Giljiiu of the Royal 

 Society, well known as a man of science. The drawings lor 

 Bardin's terrestrial were executed by the celebrated Arrow- 

 smith, and the calculations for the celestial were done by 

 ]\Ir. \\\ .Tones, under the direction (I believe) of the late 

 Astronomer Royal. 



The globes now proposed v.ill present a superficies nearly 

 three times greater than the largest of those before mentioned; 

 therefore ample scope is allowed for very superior correctness 

 and detail. Tiiere can be no doubt of the abundance of ac- 

 curate materials for the terrestrial ; but with respect to the ce- 

 lestial the case is difierent. 



The celestial globes of Gary and Bardin are both founded 



* r'arv's 18- and ITwrich cdcstial globes, of recent date, are mere re- 

 ductions" of tlie l.'1-iiifh alteif 1 to the epoch of lbi.'0. Althonali in the 

 titles reference is made to the aithorities of Hodc, Piazzi, and Zach, I can- 

 not find any tracei of improvtnient to be ascribed to the works of tiiose 

 eiiiiiient observers. 



on 



