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I don't follow what Byron is telling us, in writing-

"The idea is very old as Capt. Fry's tables for construction of the
diagram. My new use was the adding of the  10 cent compass to mark the
perpendiclar for the scale for the center of the circle. Perhaps you should
read it again. I said I was going to use Capt Fry's table from my 1919
Wrinles in Navigation. My way of contruction "only" was new. "
.
===============

Yes there's a simple geometrical construction, which allows the centre of
the circle to be placed, and the locus then drawn in. And repeated for a
second circle to get an intersection. I presume that was Byron's
revelation, when he writes "My way of construction "only" was new.".

As far as I can follow Lecky, he seems to have missed out on that simple
construction, instead using traverse tables to work out the position of the
centre. And he recommends Fry's table, another way of calculating the
radius of the circle.

It's the simple method of construction, using no tables, but basic
geometry, that's been taught to British navigators for years. Is that what
Byron is claiming to have independently rediscovered? Or have I, and Peter
Hakel,  misunderstood him? Perhaps Byron will clarify exactly what was his
"new" method of construction.

George..

contact George Huxtable, at george{at}hux.me.uk
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.

   

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