EARLY HISTORY OF THE NAUTICAL ALMANAC, 13 



had under their consideration a proposal to discharge the com- 

 puters, and to suspend all the calculations of the "Nautical 

 Almanac," on the grounds that as the Almanacs were then com- 

 puted to the end of 1804, or ten years in advance, it would be 

 important to include in the volumes after 1804 any improvements 

 that might in the meantime be made in the solar or lunar tables 

 from which the Almanac was computed. It was ultimately 

 resolved by the Board to suspend the calculations during the 

 next five years. The wisdom of this resolution, in a scientific 

 point of view, was manifest to the majority of the members of 

 the Board, who expected that, in the interval of suspension, some 

 progress would certainly be made in the construction of im- 

 proved tables, and thus a more accurate exhibition of the tabular 

 places of the sun and moon might be given in the Almanacs for 

 1805 and subsequent years. 



This resolution naturally created a great consternation 

 among the compiiters. Memorials were accordingly submitted 

 to the Board of Longitude from Mr. Hitchins and others, two of 

 whom asserted that they had little or no means of living. One, 

 a Mr. Henry Andrews, stated that ' ' a total discontinuance of the 

 calculations, and at the same time make no compensation for the 

 disappointment " would cause him to " sustain on that account a 

 very great loss, as it has of late years been the chief part of his 

 livelihood and support." The following very characteristic 

 memorial of Mr. Hitchins represents clearly the general feeling 

 of all the computers : — 



• ' To the Honourable the Commissioners appointed by Acts 

 of Parliament for the discovery of the longitude at sea, &c. 

 The Petition of Malachy Hitchins, clerk, humbly sheweth, — 



" That having been employed for twenty-six years * past by 

 the Hon. Board of Longitude in computing and revising the 

 " Nautical Almanac," in which he has discharged his duty with 

 the greatest fidelity, according to the best of his abilities, and he 

 flatters himself to the satisfaction of his honourable employers, 

 he is sorry to find that he is now suddenly and unexpectedly to 

 lose his appointment for seven or eight years to come, and 



* This memorial was presented to the Board of Longitude in 1793. The year 

 in which Mr. Hitchins was first employed on the calculations must therefore 

 he 1767, or possibly the latter part of 1766. 



