Next message: Jared Sherman: "Re: Averaging"
Bruce-
<The accuracy of a lunar depends on the regulation of the chronometer?! >
Poorly phrased, but logical in the context of the times. As in the Second
Amendment, "regulation" means "regulate" not "rules".
So what Bowditch said translates into modern Ynglitch as:
<The accuracy of a lunar depends upon the proper maintenance [control,
upkeep, performance monitoring and adjustment] of the chronometer.">
This of course is still bad English, since the issue is the *accuracy* of
the chronometer. But the accuracy of a chronometer at that time, as it is
now, was highly dependent upon the proper maintenance/adjustment/control of
it. Horologists still refer to "regulating" a clock movement, not simply
"adjusting" it.
An obsoletism for most of us but yes, that's actually the more proper [sic]
use of the term "regulation".
