investigation of abstruse questions of science and philosophy, and
his strong mind and perseverance, his power of application and
fulness of resource, have made him acquainted with a fund of
knowledge and information not commonly possessed by men in his
sphere of life. As a mathematician he holds a fair reputation for
proficiency and accuracy, but it is chiefly with the work of the
triangulation and astronomy he has most distinguished himself. His
early service was passed on severe hill duty. Ben Auler and Creach
Ben were his first mountain stations. There he experienced a round
of the varied hardships and dangers peculiar to a _trig_ camp.[231]
Possessing a buoyant temper and a hardy constitution he for many
years bore with happy composure all the stern trials and changes to
which the service exposed him, and carried on his duties with
unrelaxed ardour and success. At Creach Ben he learnt the use of the
instrument, and succeeded Lieutenant Hamley, R.E., in its charge in
1841. He is the first non-commissioned officer of the corps who used
one of the larger instruments. In prosecuting his new trust, his
travels embraced all parts of the British Isles. Now he would have
his station on the mountain top, now on some craggy peak, and anon
staged on the tower of some majestic castle or cathedral. This again
he would leave for service on some stormy coast, or to perch his
observatory on the slender weather-worn spire of some quiet village
or city church. At Norwich cathedral his observatory rested on a
scaffolding 315 feet from the floor of the building—nearly the
height of St. Paul’s, but without the advantage of a dome at the
base, to diminish the apparent distance of the observer from the
ground. Here he used to creep into the “nest” through a hole in its
floor. Some of the men were weeks before they could reach the top,
while it was the duty of sergeant Steel and others to ascend it, and
carry on the work in the most tempestuous weather and in the darkest
nights. The oscillations of the structure were frequently very
violent, but the observer, cool and fearless, continued to complete
his arcs and to record the movements of the stars. In one of the
storms which broke over Norwich an architect paid the sergeant a
visit, but the vibration of the “nest” appeared so alarming to him,
that through his representation a peremptory order was given to
abandon the station, by removing the instrument and scaffolding from
the spire. At Beachy Head the sergeant spent a winter season, where
he was exposed to cold the bitterest he had ever experienced. This
was in March, 1845, and at midnight, when the temperature was 25°
below freezing-point, he did not forsake his work, but continued to
observe the elongations of the pole-star, protected only by the
canvas sides of his frail observatory. In moving from place to place
he acquired much skill and facility in the construction of
scaffolding and stages, and some of these fabrics, from his own
designs, have only perhaps been excelled by the interesting works of
sergeant Beaton. Soon after this, sergeant Steel, instructed by his
officers in the use of the transit and zenith sector instruments,
was employed during periods of five years in carrying on a series of
astronomical observations with Airy’s zenith sector for the
determination of the latitude of various trigonometrical stations
used in the Ordnance survey of the British isles. Out of the
twenty-six sector stations he visited seventeen, at fifteen of which
he took the whole of the observations with the exception of a few at
Balta, and about one-half at Southampton, which were made by
corporal William Jenkins. The record of his observations, comprising
about 700 quarto pages of closely-printed matter, attest both his
industry under difficulties, and his talents. In this honourable
service he displayed a quickness of perception, an accuracy in the
manipulation of his instrument, and a skill and dexterity in the
taking and registration of his observations, that place him in an
enviable light even among scientific men. The most important work
with which the name of sergeant Steel is _popularly_ associated is
the triangulation of London for the Sewers’ Commissioners. He it was
who designed the beautiful scaffolding around and above the ball and
cross of St. Paul’s, and who for four months carried on his duties
from the observatory, cradled above the cross, with so much spirit
and zeal, notwithstanding at times its alarming oscillations. In
that period he made between 8,000 and 10,000 observations, and on
the completion of the service superintended the removal of the
scaffolding, which was found to be an operation even more difficult
and hazardous than its erection. Another important work
superintended by him, was the remeasurement of the base line on
Salisbury Plain by means of the compensation-apparatus, which he
conducted with his accustomed fidelity. In this delicate and
peculiar duty his readiness of invention and perseverance enabled
him to master, with complete success, the various obstacles he met
with in its progress. So important a charge as this was never before
intrusted to the responsibility of a non-commissioned officer, for
heretofore the base lines were measured only by general officers of
great scientific merit and experience. That on Salisbury Plain was
executed by General Mudge in 1794, and its remeasurement was, in its
operation and results, fully equal, in point of skill and
correctness of execution, to any of its predecessors. Subsequently
he took a leading part in the survey of the Queen’s estate at the
Isle of Wight, for which Prince Albert presented him with a cheque
for ten pounds “as a mark of His Royal Highness’s approval of his
attention and care in making the survey of Osborne.” On the 14th
August, 1855, after a stay of ten days on the summit of his old
acquaintance Ben Lomond, he arrived at Arthur’s Seat, where the
zenith sector was awaiting him. No time was to be lost in working
it, as a measure of the local attraction of the mountain—to be
supported by about 850 determinations of latitudes and theodolite
observations at three stations—was to be delivered for the
consideration of the _savans_ of the British Association, at their
gathering on the 15th September. Quickly rearing his instrument, and
obtaining the loan of a chronometer from the astronomer-royal of
Scotland—Piazzi Smythe—he threw his whole energy into the operation,
labouring with his untiring sappers for twelve, sixteen, and
sometimes twenty hours a-day. Thus robbing nature of her wonted
rest, he registered by the 13th, with his usual accuracy, the
necessary number of observations, but the result by calculation did
not turn out as was expected. An additional spur was thus given to
scientific inquiry, experiments were renewed and investigations
made, which ended in establishing, to some extent, the existence of
a disturbing power in that romantic hill, besides its understood
attraction, to influence the plumb-line. Of that other disturbing
force the cause is still a mystery, but as Arthur’s Seat is in the
vicinity of the Modern Athens, and is daily visited by professors
and students of geology and other branches of natural philosophy,
there is every chance of this strange phenomenon being sooner or
later discovered and explained.[232] Of his services Colonel James
thus wrote: “The observations were made by sergeant-major Steel,
during the months of September and October last; 220 double
observations of stars were taken at each station, and the results
have justified my confidence in him as an observer.”[233] Sergeant
Steel’s services and attainments have always been of the highest
class for usefulness and integrity, and his attention to the public
economy was marked by a penetrative species of calculation, which
made him more than a match for such contractors as it was
occasionally his duty to engage. Under the years 1848, 1849, and
1850, the valuable services of this non-commissioned officer are
more particularly alluded to in connection with the special services
upon which he was then employed. It is only a poor act of justice
here to mention that in this instance, as in all others in which
non-commissioned officers and men have signalised themselves, the
corps is deeply indebted to the Royal Engineers for information,
direction, opportunity, patient instruction, and an interest in the
development of individual character and talent; so that, for nearly
a quarter of a century, the officers have assigned to them the
performance of many important services, which from the accuracy and
integrity of their accomplishment have greatly enhanced the corps in
the confidence of their officers and in public esteem. Sergeant—now
sergeant-major—Steel is the chief non-commissioned officer of the
corps on the survey, and is stationed at Southampton, where, under
Captain Clarke, he is superintending the calculations for the
publication of the principal and secondary triangulation of the
United Kingdom.
_Colour-sergeant William Campbell._—Joined the corps in 1829, and
early distinguished himself by his attainments. This led to his
selection, when quite a junior non-commissioned officer, to give
instruction to the inspectors of national schools in Ireland in
surveying and levelling. These gentlemen were appointed to watch
over the schools in the twenty-five educational districts into
which Ireland was divided, to carry out the spirit and intentions
of Lord Stanley’s plan for Irish education. Sergeant Campbell
spent two months in training the superintendents, during which
time he was brought into contact with noblemen and distinguished
personages, all of whom uniformly treated him with marked
courtesy. On completing the service he was rewarded in 1838 by the
Commissioners of Education, of whom the Duke of Leinster was the
chief, with a handsome case of drawing-instruments. His pupils
also, in testimony of their esteem for his attention and ability,
presented him with a purse of ten sovereigns, accompanied by a
flattering address. When removed to the survey of England, his
experience and the wide range of his information qualifying him
for more extended usefulness, he was appointed, under the
executive officer at Southampton, to fill the second subordinate
post of importance on the duty. There he had charge of the
correspondence, accounts and returns of all parties employed in
the principal triangulation, and was responsible for all the money
received for their payment, which at the time amounted to about
6,000_l._ a-year. He was also in charge of the calculation and
preparation of the initial spirit-levelling, showing the relative
altitude of land, which forms the basis of the whole of the
contouring and vertical survey of Great Britain and Ireland. The
importance of this duty, and the fidelity with which it was
executed, gave him a high stand in the estimation of his officers
for intelligence and resource. The special survey and mapping of
Southampton for sanitary purposes was completed under his
superintendence, with Captain Yolland as director. Under that
officer he had charge of the construction and preparation of the
Block-plan of London for the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers,
comprising 847 sheets on the 5-feet scale, and also a plan on the
12-inch scale, containing 44 sheets, which was subsequently
engraved at the Ordnance map office for the commissioners. By
Captain Beatty he was intrusted with a like superintendence of the
10 and 12-feet plans of seventeen other towns, surveyed for local
boards of health by parties under the direction of the captain. In
conducting the survey of Southampton, he became popular with the
citizens, and was commended by the corporation. By some of the
municipal authorities he was called upon to suggest the best means
of supplying the town of Southampton with water. With the sanction
of his commanding officer he made a minute examination of the
sources from which the town could be provided, and furnished his
opinion in a lucid and spirited report on the propriety of
selecting the Otterbourne Spring.[234] Twice sergeant Campbell was
examined on his project by a committee of the House of Commons;
but the bill was eventually lost, not from his being unable to
afford proof of its practicability and preference of selection to
other springs, but from want of zeal and unanimity on the part of
the corporation to prosecute the scheme. When the Society of
Associated Engineers was formed, several condemnatory letters and
articles appeared in various public journals prejudicial to the
Ordnance system of employing officers of engineers and soldiers of
the royal sappers and miners to execute the government surveys;
and the ‘Builder’ was indefatigable in promulgating the
statements. Sergeant Campbell undertook a defence of the Ordnance
system; and fortified as he was by facts and accurate results, a
thorough acquaintance with the effective working of the survey
machinery, and a facility of expressing his views with force and
clearness, his four well-known letters to the ‘Builder’ in 1849,
tended in great measure to terminate the controversy, and to
render the operations of the associated society innocuous to the
corps. After serving on the national surveys for more than
twenty-two years, and reaping its highest honours and rewards, he
was discharged in July, 1852, on a pension of 1_s._ 11½_d._ a-day.
On parting with him, Colonel Hall recorded his opinion of the very
satisfactory manner in which sergeant Campbell had performed all
the responsible and trustworthy duties so long confided to him,
and the great value of his services to the survey, both as an able
superintendent and a first-class assistant. His regimental pay and
allowances were 7_s._ 3_d._ a-day, with quarters &c.; and since
his retirement he has been awarded, through the influence of
Colonel Hall, an annuity of 10_l._ a year, and a silver medal for
“meritorious service” in the corps. From the ranks of the sappers
he passed into comfortable employment in civil life. Out of a
tiring number of candidates who offered themselves, with brilliant
testimonials, for the office of cashier to the Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Navigation Company, he was selected to fill it, at
a salary of 210_l._ a year; since which—such has been his probity
and efficiency—his income has been increased to 300_l._ a year.
_Quartermaster William Young._—This rank was conferred upon Mr.
Young in April, 1853, as a reward for his talents and pre-eminently
useful services. He joined the corps from the Hibernian school in
July, 1825, and soon, by study and application, became a
well-informed mathematician. In 1830 Captain Henderson confided to
him the calculations of the secondary and minor triangulation and
trigonometrical altitudes of one of the districts in Ireland, in
which, from his quickness, mental vigour, and extraordinary power of
memory with reference to the logarithms of numbers, and the results
of various calculations, his services were found, even at this early
period, to be exceedingly advantageous. Promotion, however, being
slow, it was not until 1838 he became a _full_ non-commissioned
officer; and soon afterwards, he succeeded a civil gentleman of
experience and ability in conducting, under the direction of his
officers, the computing department for the survey of Ireland. In
that country his duties were always onerous and responsible; and the
care, rapidity, and correctness with which they were executed,
marked him out for higher employment in England. At Southampton
he was intrusted with duties never before performed by a
non-commissioned officer. Next to his officers he held the most
important post on the survey, and fulfilled its requirements with no
common ardour, integrity, and accuracy. For fifteen years he
superintended a large force of computers and others, employed in
carrying out the various calculations for the principal, secondary,
and minor triangulation, the preparation of diagrams, the
calculations of latitudes, longitudes, and meridional bearings, also
the computation of distances and positions for the hydrographical
office to enable the Admiralty to project the nautical surveys of
the coast of the United Kingdom. With these scientific duties was
connected the computation of trigonometrical and meridional and
parallel distances for the surveys and large plans of towns. In
1844, when the Admiralty sanctioned Mr. Airy’s project for the
chronometrical measurement of an arc of parallel between Greenwich
and Valentia Island, the professor was requested to alter his
formulæ, to enable the calculations to be carried out more
correctly. He accordingly supplied new formulæ, which being
submitted to the most rigid tests, it was found that not only “none
of the approximate processes given by the various writers on geodesy
were sufficiently exact to reproduce the original assumed latitude,
longitude, and bearing, on carrying the calculations to the point at
which they commenced,” but that those of the royal astronomer’s also
failed to accomplish the object, “until it was found that the
normal, or radius of curvature perpendicular to the meridian for the
latitude of the given station, must be used in that of the
determination of the second station, and the normal for the latitude
of the second in the determination of that of the third, and so on,
instead of using any _approximate radius_.” This was ascertained by
sergeant-major Young, “after repeated attempts had been made,
without success, to alter or modify the various approximate
processes which had been tried, so as to cause them to reproduce the
assumed data, on continuing the computations to the original point;
and it was then also discovered by him, that in addition to
obtaining accurate results, the calculations might be materially
abridged by using the normal, as it then became unnecessary to
convert the difference of longitude on the assumed or fictitious
sphere used in the calculations, to the corresponding difference on
the spheroid.”[235] The reversal of the steps of these improved
formulæ also gave the means of finding accurately, when the
latitudes and longitudes of any two points are known, the distances
between them and their reciprocal bearings.[236] In publishing the
work called ‘Lough Foyle Base,’ Captain Yolland acknowledged the
services rendered in its progress by sergeant-major Young, “in
charge of the computing branch” at Southampton, “for various
improvements in the calculations, and for the rigid manner in which
they were performed.” It was moreover added, that to his “quickness,
accuracy, and skill in mathematical calculations, the survey is much
indebted.”[237] He also afforded material aid, being Captain
Yolland’s principal assistant, in the reduction and preparation for
publication, of the astronomical observations with the zenith sector
for the determination of the latitudes of twenty-six different
trigonometrical stations used in the Ordnance Survey. The published
work comprises 1,009 quarto pages of closely printed tabulated
matter, displaying an array of results that must have cost both
chief and assistant a great sacrifice of mental energy and unwearied
application to make the necessary calculations and deductions. For
some years Mr. Young superintended, under an officer of engineers,
the compilation and calculations for the publication of the grand
triangulation of the United Kingdom, and the arcs of the meridian
connected with it. In addition to these scientific duties, he had
charge of an official correspondence, and the management of large
public accounts, the magnitude of which may be judged by the fact
that in four years alone more than 100,000_l._ passed through his
hands—50,000_l._ at least in personal payments, and the remainder in
issues through him, to other persons rendering their accounts to him
for examination. This brief abstract affords sufficient evidence of
the extent and responsibility of his duties, which, Colonel Hall
reported, “could only have been performed, in the highly-efficient
manner in which they had been, by the possession on his part of
great mathematical knowledge and aptitude for applied sciences.” In
some respects to compensate him for his services, he had, when a
non-commissioned officer, been awarded the highest military rewards
and allowances that the regulations permitted: viz., 4_s._ a day and
an annuity of 10_l._ a year and a silver medal. These, with his
sergeant-major’s pay, made his annual allowances reach about 170_l._
a year, exclusive of his regimental advantages of excellent
quarters, fuel, and clothing. Even this, the ultimate stretch of
military reward, was wholly incommensurate with his acquirements and
deserts; and to retain his services in the department, it became
necessary that a special course should be taken to better his
station in the corps. This was successful; and by the cordial and
generous advocacy of Sir John Burgoyne, a commission was obtained
for him to the rank of Quartermaster, by which he is placed, in a
pecuniary view, in a position above the chief civil gentlemen on the
survey, and on a par nearly with the lieutenants of engineers
employed on it. Throughout his career, it is not a little curious to
add, that he was the first non-commissioned officer on all occasions
selected to receive the advantage of all the additional honours and
rewards conferred on the survey companies, for he was the first who
received the 4_s._ a day survey pay, the first appointed
sergeant-major, the first medallist, the first annuitant, and the
first quartermaster.
Of the general merits and services of the survey companies, both
General Colby and Colonel Hall, R.E., have spoken in high terms. In
September, 1846, the former officer, who for twenty-two years had
commanded them, called attention to their peculiar habits of order,
intelligence, integrity, and zeal for the public service. Had it not
been for these qualifications, the great reduction in the number of
officers from forty-five to nine must have been ruinous to the
survey. “In fact,” adds the General, “the royal sappers and miners
on the survey are intrusted with the charge of difficult and
important works without the advantage which other soldiers have, of
being under the control of officers who have ample time to direct
them in all cases requiring knowledge and consideration.” Colonel
Hall’s testimony is an echo of the General’s matured opinion. He
speaks of the non-commissioned officers particularly, as being men
of very superior attainments, and highly valuable to the Ordnance
Survey, and that when discharged, they constantly receive
employments in situations of considerable trust and importance at
high salaries, which they fill with credit and success. In August,
1854, Colonel Hall ceased his connection with the survey, and was
succeeded by Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel James, R.E. In his
parting address he warmly eulogized, in general terms, both civil
and military, for the services they had rendered to the national
survey, and alluded with modest pride to a few of the advantages he
had obtained for those who had so faithfully served under him. “For
the military,” he wrote, “I have had the pleasure of procuring three
important appointments: viz., a quartermaster with a high rate of
working pay in addition to his regimental pay; a permanent
sergeant-major, and a permanent quartermaster sergeant. These are
prizes two years ago unknown in the survey companies; which, whilst
tending to raise the tone of the sappers generally, should act as
inducements to young men to strive to distinguish themselves for
early promotion, and for meriting further indulgences.”
-----
Footnote 213:
‘Aide Memoire,’ iii., p. 612.
Footnote 214:
Ibid., p. 613.
Footnote 215:
‘Aide Memoire,’ iii., p. 613.
Footnote 216:
Ibid., iii., p. 613.
Footnote 217:
Appendix H. p. 1055.
Footnote 218:
The above detail is the last official statement published.
Footnote 219:
Vol. iii., p. 614.
Footnote 220:
Private James Weir was perhaps the most daring sapper in building
stages for the observatories. Like the chamois he could climb
heights almost inaccessible, and stand or sit at work on ledges,
copings, pinnacles, vanes, and pieces of timber, where scarcely
any human being would dare to venture without all the accessories
and appliances which precaution could command for insuring safety
and preventing alarm. At Ely minster, the tower of which is about
200 feet high, and at Norwich cathedral, the spire of which is the
most elevated in England, being 327 feet from the ground, he was
as agile and self-possessed as in an ordinary workshop. At Norwich
spire, a brace broke under him, and he fell a distance of nine
feet, but in his descent he caught hold of another brace, and thus
saved his life. The accident did not in the least daunt him, for
the next moment he was at work again, as cool and as brisk as
ever. At Keysoe, in Bedfordshire, the builder who contracted to
take down a portion of the spire was about to relinquish his
engagement as hopeless, but our adventurous scaffold-builder was
lent for the occasion, and the removal was soon accomplished. Weir
took up his ladders and fixed them, but before placing the last
one, he climbed the spire, unaided by scaffolding or supports,
and, to crown his success, took off the vane, and brought it down
with him. He achieved a still bolder feat at Swaffham in Norfolk.
Upon a projecting joist which he had fixed, the dimensions of
which were four inches wide by twelve feet long, he walked
steadily forward to its end, at a height of about 120 feet, and
with astounding coolness and dexterity performed his hazardous
duty. At Thaxted, in Essex, he climbed the outside of the spire by
the crockets, and at the giddy altitude of about 210 feet from the
ground, sat upon the creaking vane, and whirled himself round upon
its grating pivot. This was on the 11th April, 1844. A drawing of
the scaffold and stage was given in the ‘Illustrated London News’
of that date. At Danbury, in July, 1844, his services were very
distinguished. To take the initiative or first step in any one of
these perilous services was always the most important task; but
however difficult or dangerous it promised to be, Weir never
shrank from its performance. Climbing the inside of the steeple,
he reached its topmost sounding aperture, in which he secured a
piece of timber. This projected some feet beyond the spire. Upon
the end of this joist he stood, and after hauling up a ladder,
fixed it upon the projecting timber, and then ascended by the
shaking ladder to the top of the spire. There he hauled up the
block and tackle, made it fast to the steeple, and descended amid
the cheers and wonder of the crowd who witnessed his fearful
exploits. The services of this daring man were frequently alluded
to with especial particularity by the provincial press, and alike
insured the applause of his comrades and the approbation of his
officers. He afterwards served on the exploration survey for a
railway in North America. In May, 1848, he purchased his
discharge, and set himself up in business in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
His industry and mechanical ingenuity soon brought him success in
his new line of life, and he received the appointment of
superintendent to the Water Company in that town, which he
fulfilled, at a salary with other emoluments, of about 200_l._
a-year. On receiving this appointment the company purchased his
stock of goods from him for about 700_l._, and he bids fair, in a
few years, to be a wealthy man.
Footnote 221:
‘Army and Ordnance Exp.,’ 1849, p. 503.
Footnote 222:
Colonel James, ‘On the figure, dimensions, and mean specific
gravity of the Earth,’ read before the Royal Society, May 8, 1856.
Footnote 223:
‘Professional Papers, R.E.,’ N. S., iii., p. xxiii.
Footnote 224:
Sergeant Robert Meade is perhaps the most distinguished in this
department of duty; for, combining the powers of a ready intellect
and keen perception with unsparing assiduity and patience, he has
succeeded in unravelling some extraordinary cases. Skelton in
Cleveland, Yorkshire, in which had existed a dispute from time
immemorial affecting the legal appropriation of nearly 2,000 acres
of moor and enclosed lands, was decided, on his exposition, by the
officer intrusted with the responsibility; and the boundary
between the townships of Ryhill and Camerton, in the same county,
was altogether unknown to the authorities of the respective
townships till he obtained access to some old documents, which
enabled him to mark out the ancient line of boundary. Indeed, it
may here be added, that scarcely a single township is perambulated
without the non-commissioned officer finding it necessary to
rectify some error in the rating of lands and premises, or to draw
up a report, detailing the circumstances of some feud between
neighbouring parishes, respecting boundaries or parochial
apportionments.
Footnote 225:
‘Army and Ordnance Exp.,’ 1849, App. H, p. 1056. This is the last
official statement published. It was wished to afford a similar
statement, to the latest cardinal date in these records, but the
information could not be procured.
Footnote 226:
‘Aide Memoire, R.E.,’ iii., p. 613.
Footnote 227:
‘Companion to the British Almanac,’ 1849, p. 37.
Footnote 228:
‘Hampshire Advertiser,’ January 17, 1852.
Footnote 229:
‘Hampshire Chronicle,’ March 13, 1852.
Footnote 230:
‘Hampshire Advertiser,’ March 31, 1855.
Footnote 231:
See illustration of the encampment at Creach Ben, ‘Aide Memoire,’
iii., p. 614.
Footnote 232:
It would be a pity to overlook the notice of an incident which
occurred in connection with this astronomical service. When Steel
left Southampton it was arranged he should hut himself with Mr.
Donelan—formerly of the sappers—till the latter had finished his
azimuthal duties on Ben Lomond, and then post away to Arthur’s
Seat with Donelan’s barometer, chronometer, camp and party.
Meanwhile a change was decided on—Donelan remained on the mountain
with his instruments and party, and Steel shot off to Edinburgh.
He could not however proceed with the observations without a
chronometer, and as time was pressing, he could not wait till one
were conveyed to him from the map office. Calling upon the
Astronomer Royal with a credential from Captain Kerr of the royal
engineers, Steel solicited the loan of a chronometer to enable him
at once to commence operations. Very few instruments had the
professor which were not in actual use, and except a pocket
chronometer he had no instrument measuring sidereal time such as
Steel wanted. Strongly interested in a matter so important, the
professor was determined, could Edinburgh prevent it, that the
sergeant should not be delayed an instant; and accordingly he
wrote to the principal opticians—Adie and Son—and to Mr. Bryson,
the chief clockmaker, begging, “for the scientific credit of the
city of Edinburgh,” that the sergeant should be temporarily
furnished with the instruments he required. Whatever could be
given was readily placed at the service of the military
astronomer, but, it was not in the power of the Scotch
metropolis—learned and scientific as are its sons—to supply a
sidereal chronometer! To make the best amends for the absence of
so indispensable an accessory, the obliging professor, although he
daily used his own pocket chronometer, lent it to the sergeant for
one week, by which time an efficient instrument had reached him
from Southampton.
Footnote 233:
Colonel James, ‘On the deflection of the plumb-line at Arthur’s
Seat,’ read before the Royal Society, February 21, 1856.
Footnote 234:
The full report is given in the ‘Hampshire Independent,’ December
8, 1849.
Footnote 235:
‘Lough Foyle Base,’ by Captain Yolland, R.E., pp. 147-149.
Footnote 236: