AN IMPROVED MODE OF SUSPENDING THE CARD OF THE MARINER'S COMPASS
Year: 1813

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GEORGE
ALEXANDER, Watch-maker in Lieth, sends greeting..
WHEREAS the Kings most Excellent Majesty by Letters Patent under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing
date the Fourth of February, in the fifty-third year of His reign, gave and
granted unto the said George Alexander, his executors, administrators, and
assigns, His Majesty's especial licence, full power, sole privilege, and authority
that he, the said George Alexander, his executors, administrators, assigns,
and every of them by himself and themselves, or by his or their deputy or
deputies, servants, or agents, or such others as he, the said George Alexander,
his executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years.
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
his Invention of" AN IMPROVED MODE OF SUSPENDING THE CARD OF THE MARINER'S
COMPASS," within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, in such manner as to him, the said George Alexander, his executors,
administrators, and assigns, or any of them, should in his or their discretions
seem meet; in which Letters Patent is contained a proviso that if the said
George Alexander should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of his said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the same to be.
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then

page_text: the said Letters Patent and all liberties and advantages whatever, thereby
granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become void, anything therein
contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
NOW KNOW YE that the said George Alexander doth by this instrument
in writing under his hand and seal, duly executed, describe and ascrtain the
nature of his said Invention and the methods by which the same may be
performed, that is to say :-
From the centre of the bottom of the brass (or other suitable mettalic) box
or cap there stands up perpendicularly a piece of brass (or other suitable
metal) or fork having two prongs, and between these prongs is hung by two
small screws a gimble ring, within which is suspended (also by two small
screws) a small cup, the bottom consisting of agate (or other suitable substace).
In the centre of the magnetic bar, on which the card is placed, there is a
large circular opening to admit through the fork, at the north and south sides
of which are fixed two small upright pieces of brass (or other suitable metal),
holding between them by a screw from each a large gimble ring, on which
gimble ring is erected at the east and west sides a gallows or arch of brass
(or other suitable metal), in the centre of which, directed downwards, is the
point which rests in the agate (or other substance) cup below. On the top of
the gallows or arch there is placed a thin piece of concave brass (or other
suitable metal) about one inch diameter, and in the centre of the glass,
immediately above is fixed a prong pointing downwards which acts within
the cavity of the brass (or other suitable metal) below. The compass thus
constructed will be found to possess the following advantages over all other
compasses yet invented:-
First, the continued friction to which the common compass is always subject
when in use, and which in a short time makes the point so blunt as to render
it unfit for service till repaired, is entirely done away in this compass by the
manner in which the card is suspended, as the small gimble ring prevents all
friction on the point from the rolling motions, while the agate (or other
suitable substance) cup will have the same effect in the pitching motions.
Secondly, while the cards of all other compasses are subject to continual
agitation in a heavy sea way, the card of this compass will stand perfectly
steady, by which vessels using it will in the hardest gale be enabled to steer a
correct course.
Thirdly, while the card will prove perfectly steady in rough weather, it will
be more nimble in fine weather than that of any other compass, from the high
state of preservation in which the point is kept by the great friction being
avoided.

page_text: Fourthly, were the brass (or other suitable metal) box or cap by any acci-
dent to be put off its horizontal position, the point and agate (or other suitable
substance) cup will remain perpendicular to each other; and if the card, or
even both it and the brass (or other suitable metallic) box or cap be put off
their level, still the compass will traverse with perfect freedom.
Lastly, by the construction of the concave piece of brass (or other suitable
metal) on the top of the gallows or arch, and the action of the prong fixed in
the glass above, nothing short of breaking the glass will ever unship the
card, a property which no other compass possesses.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Alexander have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
(L.S.) GEO. ALEXANDER.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, (being first
duly stamped), in the presence of
JOHN STRACHAN, of Edinburgh,
Merchant, Witness.
DAV. GRAY, of Edinburgh,
Writer, Witness.
David Gray, of the City of Edinburgh, writer, maketh oath and saith that
he did see George Alexander, mentioned in the Deed Poll hereunto annexed,
sign, seal, and, as his act and deed in due form of law, deliver the said Deed
Poll in the presence of John Strachan, of the City of Edinburgh, Merchant,
and this deponent; and that the names "Geo." Alexander" appearing to be
set and subscribed at the foot of each page of the said Deed Poll as the party
executing the same, and John Strachan and Dav. Gray, set and subscribed to
the said Deed Poll as witnesses attesting the due execution of the same, are
of the respective handwriting of the said George Alexander, John Strachan,
and this denonent