2^34 The late Sular Eclipse. 



will, if oUier matter of greater importance has not filled your 

 pages, give room for the following lines. 



The latitude of the place where I observed the eclipse is 

 51° 54' 59", and longitude 0' 39' 39" west of Greenwich ; alti- 

 tude above the sea 3 1 1 feet. 



The telescope used at the commencement was an achromatic 

 of 2*75 inches, object-glass with a micrometer eye-piece, mag- 

 nifying about 25 times, having proper smoked glass to defend 

 the eye. The telescope was mounted on an equatorial, and the 

 time read off by my son, from a chronometer made by Arnold ; 

 the rate of going having been for some days previous to the 

 eclipse well ascertained by transits of Sir ins in the morning, and 

 >) Opfmichi in the evening. I consider it proper to state the 

 above circumstances, to show what credit may be placed upon 

 the observation as to time ; and although I was at the telescope 

 a fexv minutes before the eclipse began, I will not be positive 

 that I saw it for the first second or two; but from my habits of 

 observing, I think I may say that the eclipse could not have 

 comtnenced three seconds before it was sufficiently visible : and 

 as the conclusion was gradual and steadily watched, I think one 

 second for uncertainty will be sufficient for that part of the ob- 

 servation. The visible beginning was . . 0"^ 21'" 25« 

 end 3 13 7 



H. M. S. Mean Time at this Place. 



At I 47 31, I observed the quantity of the sun's disc covered 

 to be 363 parts out of 2860, or about lOj digits. No distinct 

 spots could be observed of sufficient magnitude to note the time 

 of obscuration; but I could very plainly see two projecting tumuli 

 on the preceding edge of the moon's disc. The angles of inter- 

 section appeared a little rounded both internal and external, in 

 consequence of the refraction of the moon's atmosphere. 



The state of the weather was attended to during the eclipse by 

 my son; but little variation was observable either in the baro- 

 meter or thermometer, or state of the clouds ; the wind being 

 small, had a little veering between the S. and W. and may be 

 called S. W. on the average. 



The barometer for the whole period was 29,868 ; thermome- 

 ter attached 63|", detached 63° ; the detached thermometer 

 sunk about 3' towards the conclusion, but soon recovered its 

 former height. 



I have given the above particulars of the barometer and ther- 

 mometer, with the hope of inducing some others of your readers 

 to do the same, as an excellent mode of determining the relative 

 height of the stations of observation ; and I beg leave to suggest, 

 that if persons in possession of good barometers would take the 



trouble 



