1050 Teaa'sactioxs of the American Institute. 



dials to the same, one of tlicm being silver, enameled blue, and tlie 

 twelve signs gilt, with three great connterpojes of copper, and three 

 very small connterpoyses of like copper gilt," 



Queen Elizabeth's fevorite, Earl of Leicester, caused a striking 

 clock to be placed in the Coesar tower, the oldest portion of Castle 

 Kenilwortli. Queen Elizabeth visited the Earl in the summer of 

 1575 and the clock persistently stood still during the whole of her 

 majesty's stay. 



We have a record of a very ingenious clock made by Isaac Ilobrecht, 

 in 1589. It was in the possession of the court of the Popes at Rome 

 for two centuries, and afterward the property of "William I, King of 

 Netherlands ; finally it came into possession of an English family. 

 The plan of this clock is almost identical with the Strasburg clock. 



One of the most amusing attachments to a clock that we have read 

 of, represents time in pursuit of an old woman, who flies, frantic with 

 fear, at his approach. Time stops and shakes his hoar}' locks, evi- 

 dently much amused at her efforts to keep out of his clutches, then 

 turns his hour glass and rushes on in pursuit. 



About 1670, Nicholas Prollius, an old veteran warrior, l^usied 

 himself in his latter days by constructing some curious clocks to 

 amuse his visitors. One of these presented the appearance of an 

 ordinary soup plate, with the hours arranged around its edge. A 

 turtle was seen laying quietly in the bottom, but as soon as the water 

 was poured in the turtle immediately turned and pointed his nose to 

 the hour. If taken out and put back in any position, he directly 

 moved to his foi'mer station and continued turning as the hours 

 passed by. In one a mouse was seen crawling along a beam, with 

 the hours marked on it ; and in another, a lizard ascended a column. 

 He made another with a dial and hand, and the escapement was regu- 

 lated b}'' two serpents, who alternately swallowed a small ball. 



In 1696, Burdeau constructed a very curious clock, in compliment 

 to Louis Xiy. On a throne, surrounded by all the pomp and cir- 

 cumstance of royalty, was seated the king, while around him stood 

 the electors of the German States, and the princes and dukes of Italy. 

 These advanced toward the king, and after saluting him retired, 

 chiming the quarters with their canes. For the kings of P]urope was 

 reserved the more dignified ofiice of striking the hours, after having 

 paid their respects. This piece of mechanism so pleased the vanity 

 of the French people that they advised Burdeau to exhibit it in \n\h- 

 lic. The artist consented to do so, and in order to render it more 



