GOULD REDUCTION OF d'aGELET's OBSERVATIONS. 19 



showing the values for dates after the 9th May, 1783. A glance will suffico to suggest the 

 nature of the distortion, and it will be remarked that its maximum falls at precisely the same 

 declination for each curve. 



It seems evident that previous to d'Agelet's first observations some severe blow must 

 have fallen upon the instrument near the place of maximum distortion, bending and deflecting 

 the whole limb. And that at or about the time already named, efforts were made to remedy 

 the difficulty, although without dismounting the quadrant, and without a knowledge of the 

 real magnitude and extent of the injury which had been incurred. 



The sidereal times of all transits observed by d'Agelet have accordingly been corrected 

 by the values given in the tables here appended, the argument of the principal table being 

 the approximate zenith-distance as read from the limb. 



In the second table, entitled "Values of q betiueen + 9° and -f- 13°," the argument is the 

 mean declination for 1800.0, since this was by far the least laborious form for construction ; 

 and the possible loss of accuracy incurred is quite small in comparison with the probable error 

 of observations in this region of greatest distortion. The right-ascensions of all stars between 

 the limits of 36° 0' and 39° 40' of zenith distance (corresponding nearly to the limits of -j- 12° 

 15' and -f- 9 3 11' of declination) are affected by the special discussion. 



(19) 



