existing practice of reckoning longitude; but, of course, only in one hemisphere, and that will be eastward of the prime meridian; but, as we shall all remember, to the eastward of the prime meridian we have the main portions of the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa, and in all the navigable water lying in the other hemisphere the longitude will continue to be reckoned as now.  To navigators of the water lying to the eastward of the prime meridian there will be a change in the method of counting longitude both ways, it would be necessary to adopt two different rules for converting local into universal time.

Prof.  ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain.  Oh! no; by no means.

Commander SAMPSON, Delegate of the United States.  For although one rule would answer, by having regard to the algebraical sign affecting the longitude, it must be remembered that this rule is to be applied by many who are not accustomed to distinguishing east and west longitudes by a difference of sign, and who would therefore require one rule when the longitude is east and another when it is west.  If, however, we adopt the method of reckoning from zero to 360 degrees, from east to west, the relation existing between the local and the universal time becomes the simplest possible.  To obtain the universal date and hour, under these circumstances, it only becomes necessary to add the longitude to the local time, understanding by local time the local date as well as the local hour.  I think, for this reason, it will be preferable to reckon the longitude in one direction from east to west, instead of west to east.

Sir FREDERICK EVANS, Delegate of Great Britain.  I would like to present a few words on behalf of seamen.  There is clearly an important change proposed by the amendment.  In the resolution before us it is simply a question of the reckoning of longitude as now employed by seamen of all nations, and I think it would be well to keep that fact separate from the reckoning of time.

The PRESIDENT.  The Chair begs to state that the discussion is now upon the amendment of the Delegate of Sweden, Count LEWENHAUPT, to adopt the fourth resolution of the Congress at Rome.

Sir FREDERICK EVANS, Delegate of Great Britain.  Then I consider that, in the interest of seamen, it would be very undesirable to accept the amendment.  We must recollect that an immense deal of the world’s traffic is carried around the world entirely by sea, and that this proposed dislocation of the methods of seamen by reckoning longitude in one direction only would, to say the least, be extremely inconvenient, and it would require considerable time for them to get into the habit of doing so.  I think, however, that as to the question of time, there would be no difference of opinion; doubtless, it is the easier method; but, as we have to look at the practical side of this calculation of longitude, I must certainly disagree with the amendment and vote for the original resolution.