21 



servatories of Philadelphia and Norriton, in North America, 

 and are stiled by our learned astronomer, Dr. Maskeljne, 

 " complete and excellent observations ;" and compared with 

 those made by skilful persons at the settled observatories in 

 Europe, under favorable circumstances of both weather and 

 latitude ; as also with others made at the Cape of Good Hope, 

 the East Indies, and the Island of Otaheite, in the South 

 Seas; in all of which places observations of either, or both, the 

 transits of the years 176I and 1769, were obtained, gives re- 

 sults which, probably, are the best and most accurate which 

 will be got for centuries to come, towards the elucidation of 

 this nice and interesting problem. The following summary 

 of these rusults, will serve to give a clear and concise view 

 of the degree of accurary we may count upon, in regard to 

 this element. 



Mean 



