Experiments with the Torsion Rod for Determining the Mean Density of the Earth, forming vol. XIV of the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society.

BAILY, Francis. Experiments with the Torsion Rod for Determining the Mean Density of the Earth, forming vol. XIV of the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society. Published by the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1843, the entire volume 14. xiv,120, ccxlviii pp. Light ex-library copy in calf-backed cloth boards. Two bookplates on front pastedown, plus slight remnants of another bookplate on front free endpaper; also a 8mm library stamp on bottom of spine. That said this is a very fresh copy with reinforced hinges—this may be a contemporary binding or it was bound in a few decades afterwards—I can't tell. [++] "Baily’s (1774-1844) first substantial astronomical work dealt with methods of determining latitude and time by the stars. Since no up-to-date star catalog was available for this purpose, Baily calculated the mean positions of 2,881 stars for the epoch 1 January 1830; this work, published in 1826, earned him his first Gold Medal from the Astronomical Society." ".(H)e worked with great commitment and attention to detail. Reform of star catalogues won him the Society's Gold Medal in 1827, followed by a second one in 1843 for a Herculean repeat and improvement of the so-called Cavendish Experiment to measure the mean density of the Earth (the experiment was originally invented by John Mitchell, as pointed out by Sir John Herschel in his superb biographical memoir of Baily in Monthly Notices). His interests were wide. From studying John Flamsteed's papers, Baily rescued the first Astronomer Royal's reputation. He was prescient in recognizing the potential of mechanical computation as early as 1824, enthusing that “Mr Babbage's invention is one of the … most important in modern times”. Although driven by the desire for calculation and printing of astronomical tables that were more reliable, one cannot but wonder if Baily's commercial experience was also a spur here, particularly as he drew a parallel with “the introduction of the steam engine”.--Edmunds Michael, "Founders of the RAS: Francis Baily " Astronomy & Geophysics, Volume 58, Issue 1, 1 February 2017, Page 1.11.…