[1] For example, A. WYNTER and H. TURNER in
Scientific Instruments, 1975, page 169, Fig. 207 describe
a small theodolite signed "Berge London Late Ramsden", and
on page 171, imply that it is the work of John Berge.
Similarly, E. G. R. TAYLOR in The Mathematical
Practitioners of Hanoverian England, Cambridge 1966,
attributes instruments signed "Berge Late Ramsden" to John
Berge's work. In contrast, N. GOODISON in English
Barometers 1680-1860. A History of Domestic
Barometers and their hfakers, Woodbridge 1977, page
274 mentions that many barometers are signed "Berge
London Late Ramsden", "Berge London", or "Berge M.
London", and attributes them to Mat thew Berge, with some
uncertainty in the latter two cases.

[2] R. S. and M. K. Webster, An Index of Western
Scientific Instrument hlakers, Winnetka, Illinois, 1968, E.
G.R. TAYLOR, op. cit. A. WYNTER and H. TURNER,
op. cit.

[3] N. GOODISON, op. cit. H. C. KING, The History of
the Telescope, London 1955.

[4] R. GIUFFRIDA, Il Progetto di Giuseppe Piazzi per
una Carta Geografica della Sicilia, 1790-1811, Economia
e Credito, 1969.

[5] Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Real Segreteria Viceregia,
busta 1480. (Referred in the following as A.S.P., R.S., b.
1480).

[6] Giuseppe Piazzi (1746-1826) founded, in 1790 the
Palermo Astronomical Observatory. He was its director until
1817, when he was appointed General Director of the Royal
Observatories of Palermo and Capodimonte (Naples), an
appointment which he held until his death, on July 22, 1826.
A critical history of the early times of the Palermo
Observatory and of the work of Piazzi and his successors is
in preparation et Palermo.

[7] Luigi De Medici was, since 1804, "Direttore della
Segreteria di Azienda del Regno di Napoli". This
appointment can be considered the equivalent of Today'S
Finance Secretary.

[8] At the end of the 18th century no map of Sicily drawn to
the accuracy allowed by the high precision geodetical
instruments by that time developed, was as yet available. It is
revealing that, in committing the work for the map of Sicily,
King Ferdinand ordered Piazzi to take into proper
consideration the maps by Baron S. Schmettau which were
based on measurements taken in the 1720's.

[9] Between 1787 and 1789 Piazzi, under commission of
King Ferdinand, travelled through France and England,
updating his knowledge of astronomy and purchasing a large
number of "modern" instruments for the Astronomical
Observatory he was going to establish in Palermo. During
this period, both French and English government expe ditions
were working on geodetic surveys for geographical maps,
using the newest and most accurate equipment developed for
that purpose. Piazzi. who was pursuing his goal with intense
drive and dedication, did not miss the scientific relevance of
such projects, and joined a group of French astronomers that
were going to Dover to meet the English expedition for the
joining of the French and English triangulations. On returning
to Sicily, Piazzi long cherished the idea of making a map of
Sicily and, in 1795, ordered for that purpose a few
instruments in France. A Lenoir repeating circle of 55 cm in
diameter and a standard of the French toise (also by Lenoir)
are still preserved at the Palermo Astronomical Observatory.
These instruments only arrived in Palermo in 1804, and by
that time Piazzi had convinced himself that without
government support his project could never be realized. Luigi
De Medici, who had followed King Ferdinand in Sicily (in
1806), and had wanted to reform the island traditional
taxation system, may have seen in Piazzi's project a powerful
tool for obtaining the detailed geographical information
needed for a revised land taxation system. It is interesting to
speculate that the convergence of these different interests
may have played a determining role in initiating the
government project for the geographical map.

[10] A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480.

[11] The prince of Castelcicala was Plenipotentiary of King
Ferdinand in London, and it was proper that a government
project would go through such official channels.

[12] A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480.

[13] General Roy directed, in 1784, the measurements of the
Hunslow-Heat base using Ramsden's newly invented steel
chains. In July 1787 Ramsden completed for him a 3 feet
theodolite that was used for the survey at Romney-Marsh,
near Dover, where in September 1787 the English expedition
met with Cassini, Mechain, and Legendre (See also note 9).
The trigonometrical survey was continued by W. Mudge and
others from 1791 to 1796. In 1791, the Hunslow-Heat base
was remeasured using Ramsden's improved steel chains and
a Transit instrument whose design is very similar to the one in
Palermo (See Appendix and Fig. 2).

[14] A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480.

[15] A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480.

[16] Such long delay in the shipment of the instruments is
probably related to the fact that, after a promising start, the
entire project was practically abandoned. In a letter dated
July 6, 1808 (A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480) and addressed to De
Medici, Piazzi states that he has already made a draft of the
chart of the Palermo valley and that he is waiting for the
instruments to come from London to continue the work. He
also asks for the Army assistance and for an allowance of at
least 500 oz. (approximately 250 pounds) per year up to the
end of the work. It is quite obvious that the political climate
of the time was quite unfavorable for such extraordinary
expenses and use of military forces, not to mention the
opposition that such a project must have met among the
aristocracy strongly opposed to any reform of the taxation
system. We have not found as yet the draft mentioned above.
The only memoir of it, besides the documents discussed,
survives in an oil painting at the Observatory showing Piazzi
working at it.

[17] A.S.P., R.S., b. 1480.

[18] Philosophical Transactions, 1821, I, page 79. Matthew
Berge's executors are mentioned on rate books of 1820,
according to N. Goodison, op. cit.

[19] Unfortunately this instrument has been lost. A detailed
description of it and reference to M. Berge's note to Piazzi
and to the Greenwich test's note can be found in F. Angelitti,
Pubblicazioni del Reale Osservatorio Astronomico di
Palermo, 1904, N.S., Vol. I, page 40.

[20] Philosophical Transactions, 1793, I, page 67.

[21] We want to enphasize once more that some authors
(Goodison, King) are also positive on the identification of
Matthew Berge as Ramsden's successor. Unfortunately
Goodison does not give specific references, and none of the
references cited by King explicitly mention Matthew Berge
as Ramsden's successor.