XV. On the errors in longitude as determined by chronometers at sea, arising from the action of the iron in the ships upon the chronometers

• Published in: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 1820
• Subjects: North Pole; Buchan
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1820.0016; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstl.1820.0016

The determination of the longitude at sea by timekeepers, is so exceedingly easy from the simplicity of the observations and calculations employed, and from the general practica­bility of the method, as to render chronometers, in the present improved state of navigation, almost indispensable articles in the equipment of ships for foreign service and I shall feel happy if the following observations may, in any way, con­tribute to the more accurate determination of the longitude by this method. The sudden alteration in the rates of chronometers when taken on board of ships, has been frequently observed by intelligent seamen and is generally ascribed to the motion of the vessels. Before, however, I attempt to account for this alteration, I shall first prove that it actually takes place and, in order to do this, shall relate the circumstances con­nected with the chronometers on board the Dorothea and Trent, commanded by Captain Buchan, which occurred du­ring the late voyage to the North Pole.