27: 



APPENDIX I. 



In order to call in queflion the conclufions drawn from 

 the obfervations of Kraffilnikoif, Monfieur de Vaiigondy 

 pretends that the inftruments and pendulums, which he 

 made ufe of at Kamtchatka, were much damaged by the 

 length of the journey ; and that the perfon who was 

 fent to repair them was an unskilful workman. But 

 this opinion feems to have been advanced without fuf- 

 ficient foundation. Indeed KralTilnikofF* himfelf al- 

 lows that his pendulum occafionally ftopt, even ^v■heIl 

 neceffary to afcertain the true time of the obfervation. 

 He admits therefore that the obfervations which he took 

 under thcfe difadvantages (when he could not correct 

 them by preceding or fubfequent obfervations of the fun 

 or ilars) are not to be depended upon, and has accord- 

 ingly diftinguiOned them by an afterisk ; there are how- 

 ever a number of others, w hich were not liable to any 

 exception of this kind ; and the obfervations already 

 mentioned in this number are comprifed under this clafs. 



If the arguments which have been already produced 

 fliould not appear fufficiently fatisfacftory, we have the 

 further teftimony of Mr. MuUer, who w^as in thofe parts 

 at the fame time with KraffilnikofF, and who is the only 

 competent judge of this matter now alive. For that re- 



* Nov. Com. Pet. III. p. 444. 



4 f23e6table 



