APPENDIX. 



No. 55. 



Remarks on the Chronometrical Observations made during the Sur- 

 ve37ing Voyages of H. M. Ships Adventure and Beagle, between 

 the years 1826 and 1836. 



Before I proceed to notice the clironometricai observations made 

 during the Beagle's latter voyages, from 1831 to 1836, it appears to 

 me necessary to give a copy of Captain King's Report of those made 

 under his direction between 1826 and 1830. 



Copy of a Report of the Chronometrical Observations made during a 

 Voyage for the purpose of surveying the southern extremity of 

 America, in H.M. Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 

 1826 and 1830, under the orders of Captain P. P. King, by direc- 

 tion of the Right Honourable the I.-ords Commissioners of the 

 Admiralt}^ 



Among the important objects to which my attention was directed 

 by the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty, upon my appointment 

 to the command of the Expedition for the survey of the southern part 

 of South America, was that of measuring the diiferences of certain 

 meridians in the north and south Atlantic Oceans by means of 

 chronometers ; and for this purpose I was supplied from the Royal 

 Observatory at Greenwich with nine chronometers ; eight of which, 

 at the suggestion of the Astronomer Pvoyal, were suspended in gim- 

 bals, and divided into two ]}oxes ; and the ninth, an eight-day box- 

 watch, was fitted in the usual manner. The whole were fixed in a 

 chest that was firmly secured to the deck as low down as possible, 

 and as near to the middle part of the ship as could be managed, in 

 order to diminish the effect of the ship's motion, and to counteract 

 that of the ship's local attraction, which, whatever it might have 

 been, always remained the same, as the chronometers w^ere never 

 moved from their positions. 



These nine chronometers were made by Mr. French. Their 

 description and number were as follows : — ■ 



Eight -day box chronometer. No. 3233 designated Z 



Tvv^o-day 3296 A 



Two-day 3295 B 



Two-day 3271- C 



Two-day. 3227 D 



