Letter to Nevil Maskelyne from Alexander-Guy Pingre.

A letter to Nevil Maskelyne dated 9th June 1771, from Alexander-Guy Pingre, (Paris), in French, signed Pingrelle, re obtaining NM’s observations from the eclipse of 4 June 1769, so he can compare them with Cassini’s in Paris and determine the relative longitudes of the observatories. Going to sea again in October to trial marine clocks again, and to put into use all reasonable methods for determining longitude at sea, including lunar and solar distances and observations of Jupiter’s satellites; don’t want to incur the same criticism from NM that l’Abbe de la Caille did. Gives detail of itinerary of journey, and equipment, as he imagines NM will be interested.

Administrative / biographical background
Alexandre Guy Pingré (1711-1796) was a French canon regular, astronomer and naval geographer.