598 MEMOIR OF SIR THOMAS MAKDOUGALL BRISBANE. 
temperature was increased ; and as this correction was frequently overlooked, the 
results were generally inaccurate. To obviate these, Sir Tuomas proposed to 
observe simple altitudes of the sun’s lower limb at eleven successive intervals, 
commencing two hours before noon, and near the prime vertical. For this 
purpose, he employed a 10-inch sextant by Troucuton, divided on platina to 
10”, with a mercury artificial horizon, or a surface of oil, protected from currents 
of air by a Troughton’s angular roof. Having set his sextant to an even 10’ or 
20’ greater than the sun’s altitude, he waited the contact, and noted the time by 
the chronometer. If it was necessary to take the time after the meridian, he 
set his sextant 10’ or 20’ less than the sun’s altitude; and having noted the 
barometer and thermometer to obtain the correction for mean refraction, he 
found by these means his time as accurately as if deduced from observations of 
equal altitudes. For the convenience of observers using this method, he compiled 
the tables published at the head-quarters of the Army of Occupation in France, to 
which I have alluded. 
He continued with the army in France until 1818, when he was appointed to 
the command of the southern district of Ireland. 
In 1819 Sir Taomas married Anna Maria, heiress of Sir Henry Hay Makdougall, 
who survives him. The fruit of this marriage was two sons and two daughters, 
all of whom predeceased their honoured father. 
In 1821 Sir Tuomas was, on the recommendation of the Duke of Wellington, 
appointed Governor of New South Wales, the arduous duties of which he admi- 
nistered during four years. This appointment was alike honourable to the Duke 
and Sir Tuomas. The latter used to tell that while the two heroes were walking 
arm and arm one day in Paris, Sir Tomas remarked, that he would gladly accept 
the Governorship of New South Wales, as he was tired of inaction. The Duke 
remarked that he would write to Lord Bathurst, the Colonial Secretary, on the 
subject. Not many days after the Duke met him, and with a hearty laugh said, 
** Do you know, Sir THomas, what Lord Bathurst writes me this morning ?—that 
he wants one that will govern not the heavens but the earth, in New South 
Wales.” Sir THomas replied warmly, ‘“ Your Grace can testify, that during all 
the years which I have had the honour to serve under you in the Peninsula, 
whether I have ever suffered my scientific predilection to interfere with my mili- 
tary duties?” ‘ Certainly not, certainly not!” replied the great captain; “ I shall 
write his Lordship that, on the contrary, you were never in one instance absent or 
late, and that, in addition, you kept the time of the army.” 
While Sir Toomas was Governor of New South Wales he marked his adminis- 
tration by many wise reforms. He relieved the press from a rigid censorship, 
improved the condition of the convicts, and made their reformation more probable 
by giving them the blessing of hope, by shortening the periods of servitude. 
When he arrived in the colony, he found only 25,000 acres cleared, and after a 
