also fell from this same level. Lieutenant
Foster, aware of the many occasions on which Captain Sabine had employed
this instrument, and knowing that he considered each division as equal
to one second, never thought that a doubt could exist on the subject,
and made all his calculations accordingly. When Captain Kater made him
acquainted with the mistake, Lieutenant Foster immediately communicated
a paper [The paper of Lieutenant Foster is printed in the Philosophical
Transactions, 1827, p.122, and is worth consulting.] to the Royal
Society, in which he states the circumstance most fully, and recomputed
all the observations in which that instrument was used. Unfortunately,
from the original observations of Mr. Ross being left on board the Fury
at the time of her loss, the transcripts of his results could not be
recomputed like the rest, and were consequently useless.

SECTION 5. OF THE UNION OF SEVERAL OFFICES IN ONE PERSON.

Although the number of situations to which persons conversant with
science may hope to be appointed, is small, yet it has somewhat
singularly happened, that instances of one individual, holding more than
one such appointment, are frequent. Not to speak of those held by the
late Dr. Young, we have at present:--

MR. POND--Astronomer Royal, Inspector of Chronometers, and
Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac.

CAPTAIN SABINE--An officer of artillery on leave of absence from his
regiment; Secretary of the Royal Society; and Scientific Adviser of the
Admiralty.

MR. BRANDE--Clerk of the Irons at the Royal Mint; Professor of Chemistry
at the Royal Institution; Analyser of Rough Nitre, &c. to the East-India
Company; Lecturer on Materia Medica, Apothecaries' Hall; Superintending
Chemical Operator at ditto; Lecturer on Chemistry at ditto; Editor
of the Royal Institution Journal; and Foreign Secretary to the Royal
Society.

One should be led to imagine, from these unions of scientific offices,
either that science is too little paid, and that gentlemen cannot be
found to execute the offices separately at the salaries offered;
or else, that it is too well paid, since each requires such little
attention, that almost any number can be executed by one person.

The Director of the Royal Observatory has a larger and better collection
of instruments, and more assistants to superintend, than any other
astronomer in the world; and, to do it properly, would require the
almost undivided attention of a ma