Ixiv 
introduction, 
u them, who would not, whatever his real fkill may be, feel 
(i afhamed to have it thought that he did not know how to 
“ obferve for, and compute the time at fea; though, but 
“ a fhort while before thefe voyages were fet on foot, fuch 
“ a thing was fcarcely ever heard of amongft feamen; and 
“ even firft-rate aftronomers doubted the poflibility of do- 
u ing it with fufficient exadtnefs *. 
“ The number of places, at which the rife and times of 
u flowing of tides have been obferved, in thefe voyages, 
“ is very great; and hence an important article of ufeful 
“ knowledge is afforded. In thefe obfervations, fome very 
“ curious and even unexpected circumftances have offered 
* In addition to Mr. Wales’s Remark, it may be obferved, that the proficiency of our 
naval officers in taking obfervations at fea, muft ultimately be attributed to the great at¬ 
tention paid to this important object by the Board of Longitude at home ; liberal rewards 
having been given to mathematicians for perfecting the lunar tables, and facilitating cal¬ 
culations ; and to art ills for conftructing more accurate inftruments for obferving, and 
watches better adapted to keeping time at fea. It appears, therefore, that the voyages of 
difcovery, and the operations of the board of longitude went hand in hand ; and they muft 
be combined, in order to form a juft eftimate of the extent of the plan carried into execu¬ 
tion fince his Majefty’s acceffion, for improving aftronomy and navigation. But, befides 
die eftablifhment of the Board of Longitude on its prefent footing, which has had fuch 
important confequences, it muft alfo be ever acknowledged, that his prefent Majefty has 
extended his royal patronage to every branch of the liberal arts and ufeful fcience. 
The munificent prefent tQ the Royal Society for defraying die expence of obferving 
the tranfit of Venus the inftitution of the Academy of Painting and Sculpture;—the 
magnificent apartments allotted to the Royal and Antiquary Societies, and to the Royal 
Academy, at Somerfet Place ;—-the fupport of the Garden of Exotics at Kew, to improve 
which, Mr. MafTon was fent to the extremities of Africa ;—the Jubjiantial encouragement 
afforded to learned men and learned works, in various departments ; and particularly, that 
afforded to Mr. Herfchell, which has enabled him to devote himfelf entirely to the im¬ 
provement of aftronomy; thefe, and many other inftances which might be enumerated, 
would have greatly diftinguifhed his Majefty’s reign, even if he had not been the patron of 
thofe fuccefsful attempts to perfedt geography and navigation by fo many voyages of difco- 
rery. 
cc them- 
