John Underwood - Rare and Antiquarian Books and Manuscripts

The London Chronicle ; from Thursday June 25 , to Saturday June 27 1767. Disbound. Pp8 each page in three columns, partial tax stamp on page two. There is a rubbed patch on the front page resulting in three small holes with the odd letter lost. Otherwise in Very Good condition, spine intact; some stab holes from binding , lightly toned. This issue of the London Chronicle carries a very interesting piece on page seven- more than a column of coverage relating to an answer by John Harrison to criticisms of his timepiece offered by the Astronomer Royal Rev. Mr Maskelyne " under the Authority of the Board of Longitude (concerning the Going of mr Harrison's Time- keeper) ". Maskelyne was a strong and obstructive opponent of Harrison's timepieces , and he produced a pamphlet suggesting that the timepiece in question was gaining time in his tests, which included subjecting the watch to extremes of temperature. Harrison in his pamphlet, quoted here, argues that the tests were improper- the tests at extreme heat producing temperatures that could not sustain life, and at low temperatures , producing conditions that never existed between the decks of a ship at sea. Harrison also defends his timepiece thus: "It's going at the same rate when put together again, as before depends (if none of the parts are altered ) upon nothing more complicated than putting a single screw into the same place from whence it was taken." There are many other interesting stories in this original issue of a classic English newspaper including pieces on the distress of the poor, quack cure ads , Racing at Reading, Plans for preventing Popery, a letter from Boston etc etc.

condition: Very Good

jacket: None Issued

binding: Disbound