276 ASTRONOMICAL and 



fitioa of the Indians, and an attempt to plunder our 

 camp, compelled us to relinquilh our defign, and leave 

 the country. On the 9th day of December following 

 we met at the town of St. Mary's, and took into con- 

 fideration the further profecution of our bufinefs, and 

 came to a conclufion, — that we could not attempt with 

 any probability of fuccefs, more than to determine the 

 fource of the St. Mary's, with its geographical pofition, 

 until the waters (hould fubfide, and the fwamps be dried 

 by the furamer heats, which could not be expedled in 

 lefs tlian eight months, added to an oppoiition we had a 

 right to look for from the Indians. — In order to deter- 

 mine the geographical pofition of the river St. Mary's, 

 we credcd an obfervatory at Point Peter, near the mouth 

 of the river, as a given point ; from whence the latitude, 

 and longitude of the fource of the river might be deter- 

 mined by meafurement, if we fliould fail, either in car- 

 rying on our apparatus, or in obtaining a fufficient number 

 of obfervations for that purpofe. 



At Point Peter the following obfervations were made. 



Dec. 14th. Set up the clock. 



1 5th. Cloudy. 



16th. Set up the fmall Se£lor with the face to 



the Eaft. 



Thermometer 51" at fun rife, rofe to 67". 



Equal altiliiJes of t/<e Sun. 

 A. M. 9'' 14' 59". P. M. 2" 41' 7". 



Thefe equal altitudes are doubtful a few feconds, but 

 not more than 4, 



Cloudy 



