other part that I can assist. I own, I am very fond of the work, and it would be of excellent use and entertainment.

The news you read in the papers of a match with my daughter and the Duke of Portland was completed at Mary-la-bonne Chapel; I think there is the greatest prospect of happiness to them both; I think it must be mutual; one part cannot be happy without the other. Here is a great harmony of temper, a liking to each other; which is, I think, a true foundation for happiness. Compliments from all here attend you. I am, Sir,

Your most affectionate humble servant,

The two boys are well.

OXFORD.

Pray let me hear from you soon, and let me know, under

your own hand, how you do.

1787, July.

LX. Letters from Zachary Williams, on the Longitude, some of them corrected, and others written, by Dr. Samuel Johnson.

LETTER I.

To the Earl of Halifax.

1751.

MY LORD, PERMIT an old man, in the 82d year of his age, one who has long been the sport of fortune, to address your Lordship. Though distressed and mal-treated, he is extremely unwilling to carry with him, where it must be buried in eternal oblivion, the effects of more than thirty years' study, as well as very considerable expense. He flatters himself the long-wished for and desired discovery of the longitude may be fully supplied by due observations of the variations of the magnetic needle. To this he has applied his care; and should esteem it the highest honour to have an opportunity of submitting his labours to your Lordship's consideration, a specimen whereof is with all submission inclosed.

How far these calculations may be rendered expedient to the trade and navigation of these kingdoms would not become him to say to a nobleman of your Lordship's judgment and penetration. His only ambition is to be useful to his

country; and, if he should be so happy as to obtain your Lordship's patronage, humbly hopes his grey hairs may descend into the silent grave with peace and satisfaction. From your Lordship's most dutiful and obedient servant,

Z. WILLIAMS.

LETTER II.

To the Lords of the Admiralty.

MY LORDS, Oct. 9, 1751. PERMIT me to signify to your Lordships, that I have a very useful secret, which is as yet unknown to the learned world, for perfecting the hitherto imperfect art of navigation; and might have been long ere this time sufficiently experimented, and many disasters been happily prevented, which have since happened at sea for want of their having a better knowledge of the true longitude and variations of the compass-needle.

I have often, from time to time, proposed this useful secret to this right hon. board for above these twenty years last past; but the true merit of the proposal has not hitherto been justly and fairly examined.

As therefore I do now confidently presume that, by the method which I am ready to propose, I have a just claim to the benefit and reward granted by act of parliament for discovering and determining the longitude at sea; I humbly. request that your Lordships will be pleased to appoint such of the commissioners, or other skilful and learned persons as you shall judge meet and able, to examine into, and judge of, the true merit thereof; and that your Lordships will please to fix a certain and convenient time and place at which the said persons and myself shall meet together, in the presence of your board, for the examination thereof, to the end that they may there, without prejudice, declare their judgment concerning the same, being willing that this valuable secret, which so much tends to the advancement or navigation, be first promoted here in England, to the lasting fame and renown of our nation, rather than be received and first promoted by a foreign power.

I earnestly beg your Lordships' final determination and answer by a line from your Lordships' board.

I remain, with all due regard, your Lordships' most obedient, and humble servant,

Z. WILLIAMS.

SIR,

LETTER III.

To Doctor Bradley.

Admiralty-Office, Oct. 10, 1751.

THE bearer, Mr. Zachariah Williams, having represented to my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that he has found out a very useful secret for perfecting the art of navigation, and for the better coming at the knowledge of the longitude, and variation of the compass-needle; I am commanded by their Lordships to recommend it to you, to examine into what he hath to offer, and to report your opinion thereupon to them.

I am, Sir,

I TROUBLED you lately with a letter, to acquaint you, that I have been favoured by the lords of the Admiralty with a commission to be delivered by me to your own hand; and now write again, to intreat the favour of an interview either at Greenwich, or when your affairs call you to town. I have forborn to wait on you at Greenwich, till I know what time will suit you best, lest you should either be not at home, or not at leisure, for my age makes me very fearful of any fruitless fatigue.

AS the benefit of a right knowledge of the longitude, and variations of the compass-needle at sea, has been thought

an object worthy of the public attention and encouragement, many have applied their studies and endeavours to discover that great and important secret.

Having acquired a competent skill in the grounds and principles that led thereto, and humbly presuming that, through God's blessing on my long study and application, I have found out, by certain tables and calculations, such a method as may render it not only practicable, but intelligible to common understandings; I pray leave to lay the same before your lordship.

And as your lordship must be acknowledged the best judge of the justness as well as the use of what I have to offer, I shall humbly presume to submit the same to your lordship's examination; and to entreat your protection and patronage, if it shall appear to be deserving of that honour.

I am now in the last stage of life, being above 80 years of age; and can hardly expect to live long enough to see the success, should the scheme, through your lordship's approbation, be carried into execution. But it is no small concern to me to think a secret of so general use should die with me, and be lost to my own country, or that after my decease it should be communicated to foreign nations, in case it meet not with a favourable reception here; and so all that labour and pains be lost which for so many years I have been taking, to promote the benefit and advantage both of his majesty's navy, and the whole British navigation in general.

I pray leave to inclose the printed proposals; and humbly presume to hope I may be admitted to the honour of your lordship's presence, in order to answer or explain such inquiries as your lordship may think proper to make; and, in the mean time, I flatter myself with hopes, that your known candour and goodness will receive with favour the well-meant endeavours, as well as person, though almost worn out with age and the want of the necessaries and comforts of life, of, my lord, your lordship's most obedient, humble servant, Z. WILLIAMS.

LETTER VI.

To Mr. Zach. Williams, at the Rainbow Coffee-house, on Fleet-Bridge, London.

SIR,

Greenwich Park, Nov. 5, 1751.

DR. BRADLEY has ordered me to let you know that he will meet you at the Rainbow coffee-house, on Fleet-Bridge,

between eleven and one o'clock on Thursday next, if he is not prevented; but if you do not see him then, he will let you know further.

REV. SIR,

I am your humble servant,

LETTER VII.

To Doctor Bradley.

JOHN BRADLEY.

Nov. 11, 1751.

I HAD not the good fortune to receive Mr. Bradley's letter of the 5th instant till to-day, though I did not miss to inquire daily at the coffee-house; therefore hope you will pardon my not keeping the appointment, which gives me the more uneasiness, as I am informed that you took the trouble of calling upon me there. Let me then again beg the favour that you will appoint another meeting, either there or else. where, and you shall be duly waited upon by,

Rev. Sir, &c.

You will oblige me very much, Sir, by sending me a line in answer by the bearer.

LETTER VIII.

To Mr. Zachary Williams.

DR. BRADLEY intends to call at the Rainbow coffeehouse about eleven o'clock on Thursday next, viz. Nov. 21.

LETTER IX.

To Doctor Bradley.

Nov. 26, 1751.

SIR, THE lords of the Admiralty have been pleased to refer my system of the variations to your examination; and you have now in your hands the final event of the study and labour of a long life, lost, without your candour, in a fruitless application. I am not soliciting you, by this warm address, to any favour inconsistent with honour, with science, or with truth; nor entreat any thing farther than such expedition as my age now makes necessary, and such a representation to their lordships as may incline them to consider my scheme as worthy of their attention, and to favour me, like others who have laboured in the same design, with such encouragement, patronage, and assistance, as may enable me to prosecute my experiments and complete my tables.

2. W.