V.—Observations on the History and Progress of the Art of Watchmaking, from the earliest Period to modern Times: in a Letter from Octavius Morgan, Esq., M.P., F.S.A., to Sir Henry Ellis, K.H., Secretary

Extract

On Thursday evening last I took the liberty of laying on the table of the Society, for exhibition, a few ancient Watches which I had collected, and I availed myself of that opportunity of doing so, because, on the same evening, the valuable paper by our excellent Director, on the curious ancient Bohemian clock in the Society's collection, was to be read, to which I thought the subject of Watches might well form a sequel, and at the same time bring a new matter under the Society's consideration. I also undertook to throw together a few Observations on them in the shape of a paper, which I now take the liberty of sending you, and in which I hope to be able, in some degree, to exhibit the progress of the art of watchmaking from the earliest period to modern times. I can scarcely expect to communicate to the Society any knowledge of which its members are not already in possession; but I rather hope to elicit from those of our Fellows who are more learned in these matters that information which I should desire to obtain, and which they are always so kindly ready to impart. Besides this, I also hope to direct some attention to a subject hitherto but little heeded.