143 
Mr. Troughton on dividing Instruments. 
adequate, unerring, use. And I must confess that I never 
could reconcile it to what I hold as due to myself, as well as 
to a solicitous regard for the most accurate cultivation of the 
science of astronomy, to commit to others an operation requir- 
ing such various and delicate attentions, as the division of my 
instruments. 
That my attentions on this head have not failed to procure 
for me the notice and patronage of men whose approbation 
makes, with me, no inconsiderable part of my reward, I have 
to reflect on with gratitude and pleasure : And as I look with 
confidence to the continuance of that patronage so long as the 
powers of execution shall give me the inclination to solicit it, 
I cannot entertain a motive which might go to extinguish the 
more liberal wish of pointing out to future ingenuity a shorter 
road to eminence ; sufficiently gratified by the idea of having 
in the present communication, contributed to facilitate the ope- 
rations, and to aid the progress of art (as far as the limited 
powers of vision will admit) towards the point of perfeo= 
tion. 
