"Altitude and Azimuth Tables." By Lieutenant Radler de Aquino, Brazilian Navy.
After a careful examination of this book and of the methods given for the solution of the astronomical triangle there can be no doubt of its practicability and of its claim, "The simplest and readiest in solution."
In the solution of the line of position for the sun, which is by far the most common of all sights, and employing all figures to get functions as closely as given in the Nautical Almanac, which in practice is not necessary, a comparison of the two methods is as follows.
Upon examination of the above table it can be immediately seen how much quicker in solution the Aquino is. In point of accuracy of results within the limits of 700 declination, and taking into consideration the errors of observation, there is no choice. There is less chance of making errors in working on account of the fact that only four functions have to be picked out accurately from the tables, whereas in the St. Hilaire eight have to be found. In comparing the two methods the part common to both is not considered.
In the case of the meridian altitudes the ordinary method of combining the zenith distance and declination is better than the method shown in this book, on account of it being necessary to remember one precept instead of four.
The method of finding latitude from a sight of Polaris presents no advantages over that given in the back of the Nautical Almanac for the current year, and has less advantage over that given in the Almanac of 1912.
The determination of the line of position without azimuths is to be commended and, if the altitude is to be determined by the tables of this book, is of great Value.
The necessity of the rectification of lines of position occurs very rarely in practice, but when it does happen this method is an excellent one.
The identification of celestial bodies and the finding of the approximate altitude and azimuth before taking a sight are, under the present great interest in the use of stars for navigational purposes, of great value, and when the tables are once thoroughly understood, very easy to find.
Azimuths can be determined with ease and necessary accuracy by means of these tables.
The use of these to find the Great Circle Course is not recommended. Lunar distances have been abandoned by navigators.
Taken as a whole, this book cannot be too highly recommended, and all navigators should possess a copy. It is to be hoped that the author will publish the larger book he is making out for his own use.
G. R. MARVELL.
"Commodore John Rodgers: Captain, Commodore, and Senior Officer of the American Navy, 1773-1838." A biography by Charles Oscar Paullin, author of the "Navy of the American Revolution," the "Administration of the Continental Navy of the American Revolution," etc., with bibliography, analytical index, and numerous portraits, facsimiles, and early views of war-vessels, buildings, etc. Handsomely printed in large and clear type on the beautiful Alexandria hand-made paper, deckled edges. One large volume, 8vo. (about 450 pages), cloth, uncut, gilt top. Price $4.00 net. Issued in a limited edition, printed direct from the type and the type distributed.
This biography, the only one extant, constitutes in no small measure a history of the American Navy during his years of service, 1798 to 1838, and contains much very important historical material relating to this period, chiefly from unpublished manuscripts and scarce documents. It also constitutes perhaps the most graphic account of the old navy, 1794 to 1855, with much valuable and picturesque information relating to the ships, officers, and seamen. Rodgers commanded such historic fighting vessels as the Insurgente, Chesapeake, President, and Guerriere. As senior officer and president of the board of naval commissioners for nearly 20 years, he established naval asylums at Philadelphia, Chelsea, Norfolk, Pensacola, and New York City; improved the naval yards of Boston; built the first vessel of our steam navy, a gun boat of Jefferson's famous flotilla; established a depot of Charts and Instruments, out of which came our present Naval Observatory and Hydrographic Office; advocated for many years, planned, and later secured the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His plans for systematizing naval practices resulted in a code of regulations which form the basis of our present system and bear directly upon naval administration problems of to-day and the proposed reorganization of the Navy Department.
He participated in the wars with France, the Barbary Powers, and the War of 1812. As commander-in-chief of the squadron, in 1812, he successfully defended Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. The author has brought to light many new facts regarding the causes of the War of 1812.
As commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean squadron, he conducted important negotiations with Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, and Turkey, the success of which pointed the way for all Europe in dealing with the Barbary Powers. This European service, reflected in the private records of the Commodore, gives much new and valuable statistical history relating to the old fighting vessels of England, France, Turkey, and the Barbary Powers. It also throws new and interesting side-lights upon English- French politics and commercial relations in the early nineteenth century, upon Napoleon and his court at the time of making the French-American treaty, and his plans for colonization in the West Indies.
Commodore Rodgers was closely associated with such commanders as Decatur, Hull, Lawrence, O. H. and M. C. Perry, Porter, Bainbridge, and MacDonough. It brings to light much heretofore unpublished contemporary matter relating to the inner facts of Jefferson's administration, especially the commercial restrictions imposed by him upon England and France. Madison was especially close to Rodgers, and considerable new matter both of a personal and public character is given. Private family papers, hitherto unused, afford valuable new data on the public and private lives of many famous contemporaries, as John Quincy Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, Clay, Napoleon, Jerome Bonaparte, Generals Leclerc, Moreau, and Tarleton, Colonel Tobias Lear, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Lafayette, Robert Fulton, and others.
Rodgers spent several years in the Merchant Marine and many facts are set forth illustrative of that interesting service, the history of which is so imperfectly known. Born near Baltimore, Maryland, he early identified himself with the shipping interests of that city. For a time he resided in Philadelphia, and later in New York City, being in charge of the construction of gunboats and the New York flotilla and naval station. His home life at Washington, D. C., gives a remarkably vivid picture (such as cannot elsewhere be found) of the society and social customs of the national capital during the first half of the nineteenth century.
The author, Dr. C. O. Paullin, is one of the leading authorities on American Naval History; a resident of Washington and a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He has had full access to all family and private papers, to the official records of the Navy Department at Washington, and the British admiralty at London. He presents much hitherto unpublished material from the above sources as well as from documentary manuscript material in the "John Rodgers Papers," and other private family collections of great historical value. These until now have been preserved by the Commodore's descendents unpublished. Rare files of old newspapers in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City have also furnished considerable material. An extensive bibliography of sources has been included as well as a careful analytical index.
The Arthur H. Clark Company, publishers, Cleveland, Ohio.
"Deux Marines: France-Allemagne. By Fernand Oury, with a preface by Claude Farrere. 1 volume in-16, with colored cover: 3 fr. postpaid.
The work is divided into three parts, as follows: I. General considerations concerning fighting ships. Digression upon French Naval Artillery.
II. The French Navy, History, French Arsenals. State of our naval forces at the beginning of 1910. Review of the naval program of 1905-06, and of the fleet under construction.
III. The German Navy, History, German Arsenals. The German fleet at the beginning of 1910, and a review of the proposed naval program, and of the fleet under construction.
Conclusion. Comparative tables of the two fleets.
Librairie Maritime et Coloniale, Augustin Challamel, Editeur. 17, Rue Jacob, Paris.
"0 Bloqueio Moderno: Estudo sobre Estrategia Naval." Por Jose Cardoso, Primeiro Tenente da Armada. Coimbra, 1909.