EXPLANATION Ot THE PLATES, XXxix 



fequently erred, in concluding, from the magnitude of thofe 

 degrees, that the Poles were flattened. 



I fhall conclude this demonftration by an image more 

 trivial indeed, but equally fenfible. If you divide the two 

 circumferences of an egg, in length and in breadth, each 

 into 360 degrees, would you conclude that this egg was 

 flattened toward it's extremities, becaufe the degrees of it's 

 circumference in length, were greater than the degrees of 

 it's circumference in breadth ? What is very Angular here, 

 is, that Academicians employ the fame figure nearly, to de- 

 duce refults which flatly contradidl each other. They re- 

 prefent the Globe of the Earth like a Dutch cheefe. They 

 take it for granted that the Globe is very elevated over the 

 f^quator. *' The curve of the Globe," fays Boiiguer, in 

 the paflage above quoted, " is more fudden toward the 

 *' Equator, in the dire6lion of North and South, becaufe 

 " the degrees there are fmaller : and the Earth, on the 

 *' contrary, is flatter toward the Poles, becaufe the degrees 

 *f there are greater. One would imagine that the Equator 

 " was diltinguiflied only by the greateft rapidity of motion 

 ** performed in the fpace of twenty-four hours ; but it is 

 " marked by a diflin6lion ftill more real, namely, a con- 

 *' tinued elevation, which mufc be about fix marine leagues 

 ** and a half quite round the Earth, and every where at an 

 ** equal diflance from both Poles." 



We here fee the fl:range confequence deduced, at once, 

 from the flattening of the Earth at the Poles, and from 

 the magnitude of the degrees of the Meridian at that part, 

 which neceflarily give to the polar circle a projedlion be- 

 yond it's circumference : thofe which may be deduced from 

 the elevation and more fudden curve of the Equator, would 



c 4 be • 



