( 1 9* ) 
towards difcovering the Law of the Lunar Motions . 
But he contented himfelf with fparfe Obfervations, 
leaving wide Gaps between, fo as to omit frequently 
whole Months together ; and in one Cafe the whole 
Year 1716. So that notwithftanding what he has left 
us rauft be acknowledged more than equal to all that 
was done before him, both as to the Number and Ac- 
curacy of his Accounts ; yet for want of an uninter- 
rupted Succeflion of them, they are not capable of 
difcovering, in the feveral Situations of the Lunar 
Orbit , what Corrections are neceffary to be allowed, 
to fupply the Deficiencies of our Computus. 
On Mr, Flamjieed’ s Deceafe, about the Beginning 
of the Year 1 710, his late Ma jelly King George I. 
was gracioufly pleafed to bellow upon me the agreea- 
ble Poll of his Aftronomical Obferver , exprelly 
commanding me to apply my felf with the utmoft 
Care and Diligence to the rectifying the Tables of 
the Motions of the Heavens , and the Places of the 
Fix d Stars , in order to find out the fo much defired 
Longitude at Sea , for the perfecting the Art of 
Navigation. Thefe are the W ords of my Commif- 
fion •, and here I might have thought myfelf in a Con- 
dition to put in Execution my long projeded Defign 
of compleating my Abacus , or Table of the Defers 
of our Lunar Numbers ; but on taking Polfellion, I 
found the Obfervatory wholly unprovided of Injiru • 
ments , and indeed of every thing elfe that was 
moveable, which pollponed my Endeavours till fudi 
Time as I could furnilh myfelf with an Apparatus 
capable of the Exadnefs requilite. And this was the 
more grievous to me, on account of my advanced 
