Noiic6s respecting New Books. 3S5 



llie ridge of mountains which bound the province of Carsentino, 

 and separate Tuscanv from the Ecclesiastical States on the nortli- 

 east; It is situated' S.E. by E. of Florence 57° 58' 9"*, and 

 from thence he carried his triangles to Monte Serario, north, to 

 Pistoja, north-west, to St. Miniato, W. byS., and finally to Vol- 

 terra, which is S.W. of Florence. The latitude of Fiesole, at 

 the bell-tower of the cathedral, he found to be 43° 48' 38-7", 

 and longitude 28° 57' 45-9", which is 2432-98 French toises 

 ciistant from Florence : latitude of the citv of Prato at the Col- 

 lege Cicognini 43° 52' 56-6"; longitude 28° 45' 49-8; latitude 

 of the city of Pistoja at the episcopal palace 43'' 56' 4'6"; lon- 

 gitude 28" 34 48-7". Latitude of St. Miniato, south angle of 

 the Tower 43° 41' 3-8"; longitude 28" 31' 21-9", and distant 

 from Florence 22-9J Tuscan miles of 68 tea degree. Latitude 

 of Volterra at the Mastio Tower 43" 24' 13'6"; longitude 28<» 

 Si' 69-3", and distant from Florence 31 '59 Tuscan miles. The 

 author's topographical description of his different stations, and 

 the extensive views which thev afforded of a beautiful country, 

 will be found useful to future geogra])hers and topographical 

 travellers ; but an abridgement of them would not be intelligible. 

 Professor T. notices the discrepancies between the results of the 

 English and French trigonometrical survevors, and observes with 

 more candour and no less judgement than some other geometers, 

 that as the English surveyors have found it necessary to change 

 their basis, *' if we suppose an equal necessity for change and 

 correction in the base of the French triangles, we might perhaps 

 obtain an approximation in the results of the two operations, 

 wlrere all the diversity should not be attributed solely to the ob- 

 servations." The author, doubtless from his experience, well 

 knows how much of tliis disparity may be attributed to a certain 

 Ivind of dexterity in the production of plausible and uniform re* 

 suits, for which the French are not a little celebrated, as well as 

 for address in overlooking certain difficulties which more candid 

 and philosophical minds not only confess, but seek to trace to their 

 cause. He seems to think that one of the causes or sources of 

 error in the observation of angles may be ascril)ed td the lateral 

 reflection of the atmosphere ; but he dissents from the opinion 

 of Dr. Brewster, that they are owing to some defect in the eye of 

 the observer. On this head, as well as in the whole series of his 

 observations, there are such evident traces of candour, judicious- 

 ness, and accuracy, that some person interested in such inquiries. 



• With this calculation the Professor favoured the Translator, it notboinij 

 necessary to his plan to specify the different bearings of his stations from 

 Florence. 



Vol. 51. No. 241. Mfl?/ 1818. lib «iil 



