On the System of Prize Chronometers at Green'wich. 427 



would be the issue aj, the end of the year, and as the test of 

 my scheme. Now then for the result : 



■"Greatest mean monthly rate 6*70 



Least ditto 5-26 



Difference = 1 •44? 



2 

 No. 1. <( 2^^ 



Greatest extreme variation "J 



in April =1-20 VMean =1'20 



in May =1-20 J 



Trial number . . . = 4*08 



'Greatest mean monthly rate 6*80 



Least ditto 6'80 



Difference = 0-00 



No. 2. •{ Greatest extreme variation ~i 



in April =3-80 VMean = 3-80 



in May =3-8o3 



Trial number... :=2>'S0 



And my trial number, being the least, consequently runs away 

 with the prize. Now as I have several other watches that, by 

 a little shaking or so, I could soon put into a proper training 

 for this sort of prize-fighting, I already anticipate the whole 

 of the rewards offered by Government. 



But now, Mr. Editor, here comes a difficulty which I did 

 not at all foresee or contemplate. I had intended my scheme 

 to be a inofound secret. 1 meant to deposit my watches, with . 

 all due solemnity, at the Observatory: and I already fancied 

 that I saw Mr. Taylor (when he came, day after day, applying 

 his Ithuriel's spear to my miserable production) shake his 

 head and advise me to tsoithdraia it: whilst I, conscious of my 

 success, would laugh in my sleeve and treat his honest inten- 

 tions with unmerited disdain. But I could not keep the secret 

 locked up in my own breast : and in the fullness of my heart 

 I communicated it to my quondam fellow apprentice, a lad 

 more conversant wiUi the world than I am : and who has been 

 recently admitted into the club of master clock-makers, that 

 meet every Monday night at the "Tippling Philosopher" in 

 Liquoqiond-strect. He, alas! has thrown a damji on all my 

 projects, and blighted all my hopes: and I fear that if his 

 predictions be verified, all my schemes will be blown to atoms, 

 lie tells me that they are a cunning set of people at tlie Ad- 

 miralty, who have a will of their own and will not be dictated 

 to: that they snai) their fingers at the Board of Longitude, 

 3 I 2 whom 



