[ 5 12 ] 
For a Point-, I chofe a common fewina; Needle, 
and contrived to. fix it in fuch a manner as to be 
taken out with the greateft Eafe, and replaced by 
another, if neceflary ; by which means an excellent 
Point may be always had with litt'e Trouble or 
Expence. Common Needles, when well temper'd, 
have all the Qualifications that can be defired tor the 
Purpofe intended. The fmalleft are firong enough 
to bear the Weight of a Card; and are neither fo 
foft as to be liable to bend, nor fo hard and brittle 
as to break ; and they are generally better pointed 
than any that a common Workman could pretend 
to make extempore. 
Thus we have gone through all the Parts that arc 
cfiential to a Mariner’s Compafs ; and endeavoured 
to put them upon fuch a Footing, as to leave- ss lit- 
tle Room as pofiiblc for Error in their fir ft Con- 
ftruction, or Failure in the long continued Ufe of 
them. 
This, which I have now the Honour to exhibit to 
the Society , was made by Mr. S meat on. a Gentle- 
man whofe uncommon Skill in the Theory and 
Pra&ice of Mechanics has enabled him to execute 
whatever I propofed in fuch a manner as always to 
exceed my Expectations : And not only fo, but he 
has added a confiderable Improvement of his own. 
By a very fimple Contrivance he has made the fame 
Inftrument capable of ferving the Purpofcs of an 
Azimuth and Amplitude Compafs ; and that in a 
manner much preferable to any thing hitherto con- 
trived j the Description and Ufe of which he has 
drawn up himfelf, for the Perufal of the Society. 
XIX. 
