response 132 of 207:

Dec 1 16:48 UTC 1998

Yes, #130 was written in the nineteenth century.

response 134 of 207:

Dec 2 01:44 UTC 1998

Sounds like Jefferson or Franklin or one of those guys, but I
wonder where this "L" place could be.

response 136 of 207:

Dec 2 02:56 UTC 1998

"London"?  That was my guess for the L-word, anyway.
I have no idea whom it might be, though.

response 138 of 207:

Dec 2 03:00 UTC 1998

The L. place is not London.

response 140 of 207:

Dec 2 13:01 UTC 1998

It's not clear whether the quote is from a work of fiction or
non-fiction (e.g. a collection of somebody's letters). But I'm not
asking Larry to tell us.

<remmers continues to ponder>

response 142 of 207:

Dec 2 19:14 UTC 1998

Louisiana?

response 144 of 207:

Dec 3 05:49 UTC 1998

  Lesotho?  :-)

response 146 of 207:

Dec 3 12:16 UTC 1998

[But that would make it 20th century.  Never mind.]

response 148 of 207:

Dec 3 20:22 UTC 1998

Here's another excerpt:

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The advantage of a first meridian is known even to those who know least of
the science on which it depends.  To doubt it would be to doubt the
advantage of Longitude which regulates every movement on the ocean, and
the divisions and subdivisions; in short the correct measurement of every
part of our globe.  All nations have agreed in the propriety of establishing
a first meridian.  Every Mariner at Sea, from the time he leaves port,
begins to calculate his distance by reference to some fixed meridian, and
every astronomical observer on land, in making his calculations obeys the
same rule.

Scientific men agree that it would be of advantage to science, if all
nations would adopt the same first meridian and before the discovery of
the new world, this was the case.  It appears that the antient Geographers
had adapted for their first meridian a line passing through the most
distant of the Fortunate or Canary Islands, because it was the most
western land then known.  It appears also, that the changes which the
antients made in their first meridians, of which there were several, were
made in consequence of the discovery of the neighboring Islands, which
were still more to the westward, and on the principle of passing it
through the most western point with which they were acquainted. 

But after the discovery of America which banished the idea of the most
western limit, that of a general meridian gradually lost ground; and
latterly it has been completely abandoned.  The great maritime and
commercial nations of Europe have respectively established first meridians
of their own: England, hers at Greenwich; France, hers at the observatory
Paris; and several other nations at some fixed point within their
respective limits since the period alluded to, the establishment of a
first meridian, -- for themselves, has become by the usage of nations, an
appendage, if not an attribute of sovereignty.

The United States have considered the regulation of their coin, and of
their weights and measures, attributes of sovereignty.  The first has been
regulated by law, and the second has occasionally engaged their attention.
The establishment of a first meridian appears, in a like view, to be not
less deserving of it, at least until by common consent, some particular
meridian should be made a standard.

In admitting the propriety of establishing a first meridian within the
United States, it follows that it ought to be done with the *greatest*
mathematical precision.  It is known that the best mode yet discovered for
establishing the meridian of a place is by observations made on the
heavenly bodies; and that to produce the greatest accuracy in the result,
such observations should be often repeated at suitable opportunities,
through a series of years by means of the best instruments.  For this
purpose an observatory would be of essential utility.  It is only in such
an institution, to be founded by the public, that all the necessary
implements are likely to be collected together; that systematic
observations can be made for any great length of time and that the public
cn be made secure of the result of the labors of scientific men.  In favor
of such an institution, it is sufficient to remark, that every nation
which has established a first meridian within its own limits, has
established also an observatory.  We know there is one at Greenwich, at
Paris, Cadiz, and elsewhere.

response 150 of 207:

Dec 3 22:23 UTC 1998

Martin Van Buren?

response 152 of 207:

Dec 4 02:27 UTC 1998

Melville?

response 154 of 207:

Dec 4 11:40 UTC 1998

I've a hunch that the author was American and the quotes are from
the early 19th century, based on factual and stylistic clues. The
interest in geography and measurement suggests Mason or Dixon, but
they did their famous surveying project (Mason-Dixon Line) in the
mid-18th century. I suppose one of them might have lived into the
19th century though, so I'll guess Mason or Dixon (I've no idea
which).

response 156 of 207:

Dec 4 18:43 UTC 1998

The first meridian (Greenwich) was chosen by international accord in 1884.
What this author is saying about it is practically identical to what
John Ward had to say about the issue in 1714 - but then its not him. 

I'll guess James Monroe, with L. being Loudoun (County), where he went,
deeply in debt and expecting reimbursement from Congress, to live with his
daughter prior to his death. His interest in the first meridian must have
devolved from his friendship with Jefferson and his interest in the
development and division of the west.