Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.17141

    Diagram for method of surveying the coast

    Date
    27 January 1702
    Creator
    Edmond Halley (1656 - 1742, British) , Astronomer
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    v4 p27
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (paper): 194mm
    width (paper): 304mm
    Description
    Diagram for making a survey of the coast in letter from Edmund Halley to Robert Southwell. Halley suggests a method to calculate and report on where hidden barriers (such as sand hills or rocks) are in the sea in front of the coast line. His method can be used while on the water by using specific points on the coast line and calculating the distances between the known points.

    From a set of albums known as Collectanea Newtoniana, a selection of prints, original artwork and manuscripts relating to Newton, collected by Charles Turnor (1768-1853). Turnor was an astronomer, collector and Fellow of the Royal Society. He owned Woolsthorpe Manor (Newton’s birthplace).
    Object history
    The manuscript letter was purchased by the Royal Society at a sale of manuscripts at Sotheby's in May 1839, and came from the collection of James Stewart, Esq.
    Related fellows
    Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727, British) , Natural philosopher
    Edmond Halley (1656 - 1742, British) , Astronomer
    Robert Southwell (1635 - 1702, British) , Diplomat
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