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Account of the OBSERVATORY belonging to TRINITY 

 COLLEGE, DUBLIN. By the Rev. H. U S S H E R, 

 D. D. M. R. I. A. and F. R. S. 



H E delicacy of pradical Aftronomy, in its prcfent improved Read June 



ftate, has laid open to us new fources of error, and additional 

 difficulties, which the lefs perfedt inftruments of our predeccffors 

 could not have taught them to fufped. One peculiar advantage 

 of Aftronomy, above other fciences, was formerly thought to arife 

 from the nature of its fubjed, viz. the motions of bodies fo 

 remote as to free the inquirer from the complicated confideration 

 of local effeds, corpufcular attraction, and chemical folution. But 

 it is not fo at prefent ; the fubtle element of fire, the different 

 fpecies of air, and their various combinations, have rendered the 

 theory of refradions, even as coming from the hands of Bradley, 

 ftill liable to fufpicion ; and whilft we juftly admire the induftry 

 of that great man in making obfervations, his fagacity in feleding 



A 2 them, 



'3. 1785- 



