Star.
London, England, 1829-08-19 00:00:00

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH.
CHRONOMETERS.

The annual public trials of these beautiful pieces of mechanism
closed on the 31st of July, when the prize was awarded to chro-
nometer, Dent, No. 114 ; its variation between any two months
during the year is 0.34, being a trifle more than half a second!—
The reward, though now comparatively small. answers the pro-
posed end—the gradual improvement of the chronometer. The
util!ty of the public annual trial may be estimated from the fact,
that nu fewer than 344 have bran entered in competition for
tke prize since its establishment in 1892, before which period
the chronometer-maker knew but little of the performance of his
own production. The first year's trial detected the imperfections
which existed, and which have not since recurred. On the con-
trary, the maker has had the advantage of watching narrowly the
progress of his machine, and by this means of gaining an expe-
rience which otherwise could not have been obtained. Although
longitude has occupied the attention of the English and most other
European Governments, aud induced them to offer and bestow
the most liberal premiums, every effort was iwitfficient to produce
a satisfactory performance; and to the adoption of this annual trial
we are, no doubt, ladebted for the improved results.
According to one of the rules, tin maker is allowed more than
two chronometers upon trial during the year; but it is generally
known that more than that number have been entered by different
individuals in fictitious names, or in the names of persons neither
owning nor constructing them—it is therefore to be hoped that
proper steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of this abuse, as
it destroys the fairness of competition, to the detriment of the
greater number of the depositors.

THE GARRICK PAPERS.
OROS SUR COURT JOURNAL.)
The following letter to Garrick, from Bishop Warburton, is
Very characteristic of its writer :
" Prior Park, Feb. 17. 1761.

" DEAR Sta-13Pfote I left town I talked very seriously with
Millar concerning that scoundrel poem, and more scoundrel subject
of it. He appeared truly concerned. and, as he told me, spoke
to Willis with great resentment of the injury done him, by incur-
ring your displea-ure through his perfidy.
" But do such wretches as the writer of the poem, and the hero
of it, deserve a serious thought from you ? I think you and I have
all the standard dunces of the kingdom on our hands. You the
rhyming, and I the prosaic dunces. You have most of the nature
of tbat sort of vermin DRYDEN speaks of—
' So little and so light,
One could not know they live, but that they bite.'
Mine, most like that which Sir Hugh, is the play, calls a familiar
beast to man. and signifies love.
"On this account I must tell you a story. Two English sol-
diers, travelling through the Highlands, were one night in parti-
cular most miserably lodged, and before morning, half eaten up
with these two sorts of vermin. As day-light approached, they
resolved to make an ample sacrifice for the violated rights of
Jupiter hispitalis I but the first attack was so ill planned, that a
great patt of the enemy had escaped, had not one of these Com-
manders, observing the absurd manseuvring of his fellow, called
out, ' What the devil, comrade, are you about? Let es first se-
cure the light-horse; the heavy-armed foot lie at our mercy.'
" And now, should you and I, think you, be better employed
than those two brave sufferers, did we seriously set about revenging
ourselves on the worthless vermin that molested us? I was pleased
to see you in sentiments more characteristic of you, the last time
we were together, when you hinted to Mr. Berenger and me your
inclination of being the means of diverting some rays of the King's
favour to shine on the other house. I said nothing to you then, but
you will pardon me for giving you mytboughts now Were the King's
using your house intended as a matter of mere favour to you, your'
modesty and generosity would be well employed to serve your
neighbour. But since the King, in this, consults only the gratifi-
cation of his own amusement, which your acting is necessary to,
modesty end generosity would seem to be misplaced in hinting any
thing in behalf of the other house.
" My best respects to good Mrs. Garrick, along with those of all
here—conclude me, my dear Sir, your moat affectionate and faithful
bumble servant, " W. GLOUCESTER."