[ c ] 



concurrence of circumftances I was enabled to reduce part of 

 mv fyftem to pradice, and to give a fair trial to what I 

 confidered likely, I do not fay to remove, but at leaft to dimi- 

 nifh the evil. 



Our late learned and munificent Provoft, Do£lor Francis 

 Andrews, had bequeathed to the College a confiderable fum of 

 money towards the building of an Obfervatory, and furniihing 

 it with proper inftruments, which fum was to arife from an 

 accumulation of a part of his property, to commence upon a 

 particular contingency happening in his family. As foon as this 

 had taken place, the College, with a diftinguifhed liberality, and 

 a true zeal for the promotion of fcience, determined not to lofe 

 time by waiting for the accumulation ; but, to haften the exe- 

 cution of the plan, advanced from their own funds a fum con- 

 fiderably exceeding the original bequeft ; although at that time 

 not well qualified for fo great and fudden a call, on account of 

 the large fums that had been by them already expended upon 

 other public buildings. They did me the honor to eled me 

 Profeffor, and fent me to England to order from Mr. Ramfdcn 

 the beft inflruments, without limitation of price. His abilities 

 are fufficiently known to all Europe. As foon as the choice of 

 the inflruments had been determined*, the next point to be con- 

 fidered 



* The inftraments ordered were a tranfit inftrument of four feet axis and fix 

 feet focal length, bearing four inches and a quarter aperture, with three different 

 magnifying powers up to near 600, which great power it bears with a moft furprizing 



degree of diftindtnefs An intire circle of ten feet diameter, on a vertical axis, 



for 



