" NVilliam Marlot," continues the same author, " to show how wonderful this piece of work was, makes use of an expression which can hardly be suffered in our language : Admirabile horologium fubricavit, per instrztmen tum diabolica arte inventum." Since toothed wheels had been known above 1309 years before Gerbert is said to have made his horologium, and above 1100 after they had been applied to the' clep sydra, and as they were also sculptured on Trajan's column at Rome, where they are still to be seen, there seems to be nothing unaccountable in Gerbert's having fallen on the way of applying wheels to make a clock different from the clepsydra, which had been long in use. Besides, Father Alexander seems to have investigated the history of horology more profoundly and indefatigably than Ham berger ; and Gerbert may have made use of the pole-star, for other purposes than merely to set a sun-dial by it, and probably for the purpose of drawing a meridian line, in order to regulate his clock. If it were a sun-dial, as some suppose, why does Harlot, who wrote at Rheims in 1679, consider it as such a wonder, since it appears from our Ilistbry of DIALLING, that dials were well known, and in common use, 1600 years before Gerbert's time ? Hamherger, however, admits, that the clock was invented in the eleventh century ; and he thinks it pro bable, that we are indebted to the Saracens for it. Now Gerbert's clock was made near the commencement of the same century. The college in Spain, where he had been instructed, had Arabians or Saracens among its pro fesso•s, and was at that time the only place in Europe where any learning or science was to be found.
The argument against Gerbert's horologiutn being a clock, in our acceptation of the word, is. that he made use or the pole star, as if to set a sun-dial by it ; and yet we have no positive information that it was a sun-dial. Ber thoud admits, that such a clock as Vick's could not have been a new invention ; and he thinks, " that the difrcrent parts which compose the balance clock, have only been made after a long train of research and of time, which supposes the highest antiquity for the successive discove ries, and that clocks were not known in France till the mid dle of the 14th century." The art of horology might be going slowly on in Ger many, though the balance clock was unknown in France till 1370, previous to which Vick had been sent for. Had this not taken place, it might perhaps have remained still longer unknown. It must be allowed, that there is some thing inconsistent in Father Alexander's argument, for giving the clock to Gerbert, and refusing it to Pacificus, because it was not known in France till 250 years after. The discovery was of too great utility not to be spread abroad, particularly in monasteries, where it was much required to regulate the office of the night. In the famous monastery of Cluny, however, the sacristan, in 1108, went out to see the stars, in order to know the time Nvilen to awaken the monks to prayer." In the early stage of the
art very few clocks could have been made, and those which were constructed could not be of much use.
(c As all arts are at first imperfect,' says Hanrberger, " it is observed of these clocks, that they sometimes de ceived; and hence in the Ordo Cluniacensis Bernardi Mon. the person who regulated the clock is ordered, in case it should go wrong, ut notet in cereo, et in cursu stellarum vel etiam lunge, ut fratres surgere faciat ad horam compe tentem."The same admonition is given in the Constitu tiones Hirsaugiensis." From what is said here, it may be inferred, that even those who had clocks in the earliest pe riods, could not place much dependance on their time keeping ; and with great probability we may suppose, that many a palace and monastery might continue a long time unprovided with such a machine. It was near the end of the 15th century before they came to be in use among pri vate persons.
The art of clockmaking seems to have been introduced into Europe by some of the Romish clergy. They were, in general, especially the higher orders, possessed of wealth, time, and leisure, to cultivate such of the arts and sciences as were then to be attained ; and if the art of ho rology did not originate with them, they certainly were among the first who did every thing in their power to pro mote and encourage it. Time measuring being so desira ble for the regulation of the stated services required of the church, which took place at all hours of the day and night, their attention was naturally called to a subject in which they were so much interested.
Those who wish for more information on the or igin of clocks, are referred to the following works. The ?irtfficial Clockmaker, by William Derham, D. D. London, 1698. Traite general des Horloges, par le R. P. Dom. Jacque Alexandre, Religieux Benedictin de la congregation de Saint Maur. A Paris, 1794. A Dissertation by Hamber ger in Beckmann's History of Inventions., vol. iii. Loud. 1797. Histoire de its Illesure du Temps par les Horloges, par Ferdinand Berthoud, nechanicien de la marine, Ste. Ste. A Paris, 1802. This last is a very interesting work for an amateur in horology, and was the result of seven years labour, when the author was at a very advanced period of life. To these may be added Histoire de l'Astrononzie Moderne, torn. i. p. 60, edition de 1785, and Histoire de l'Astronomie ?lncienne. E.claircissenzens,liv. iv. § 34. liv. ix. § 5. Vitruvius's ?rchitec?ure. Pollius Vitruvius lived 40 years before Christ, and was architect to Augustus. In a triumph of Pompey, among the spoils brought from the East, was a water clock, the case of which was strung round with pearls. Pliny, lib. xxxvii. cap. i. Memoires de I'?cademie des Inscriptions, torn. xx. p. 448.