Length of the Seconds' Pendulum at the Galapagos, 4'C- 393 



LENGTH OF THE SECONDS' PENDULUM AT THE GALAPAGOS, IN 

 MEXICO, AND IN BRAZIL. 



It appears, from the details of experiments made with an 

 invariable pendulum, by Capt. Basil Hall, F.R.S., and Mr. 

 Henry Forster, as published in the Philosophical Transactions 

 for 1823, part ii., that the length of the seconds' pendulum, at 

 the volcanic island of Abingdon, one of the Galapagos, lat. 

 Qo 32' 19" N.^ long. 90^ W., is 39.01717 inches; and the mean 

 of all the ellipticities thereby deduced from Captain Kater's 

 experiments in England, giTT y a' ^'^^ from those of Captain 

 Sabine at Melville Island, j^j-t^* 



They have also made two series of experiments at San Bias 

 de California, a sea-port town on the N.W. of the coast of 

 Mexico, lat. 2U N., long. 105^ W,, and not far from the south 

 point of California. By the first of these, the length of the 

 seconds' pendulum at that place comes out 39.03776 inches, 

 and the mean ellipticity jjjjj. By the second series, the 

 length of the pendulum comes out 39.03881 inches, and the 

 mean ellipticity yjj-^.jQ : " the circumstances in this case, how- 

 ever, were not so favourable as those of the first series, being 

 to one another in the ratio of 47 to 397, or nearly as 1 to 8. 

 This arose from the change which took place in the weather 

 at that period, the sky being overcast, the temperature fluc- 

 tuating, and the rate of the clock unsteady." Two extensive 

 series of experiments were made at Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, 

 lat. 22° 52' 22" S., long. 43^ W. By the first, the length of 

 the pendulum is 39.04381 inches, and the mean ellipticity 

 T(jTr7 • ^y ^'^^ second series, deemed most satisfactory, the 

 length of the pendulum is 39.04368, and the ellipticity -^Q-g.-sj. 



NEW VOYAGE PROJECTED BY CAPTAIN PARRY. 



It will be recollected, that Captain Parry in his first voyage 

 discovered, after entering Lancaster Sound, an opening, which 

 he called Prince Regent's Inlet ; leaving that, which seemed to 

 turn to the south west, on his left hand, he proceeded in a north 

 westerly direction. This Inlet promised well at the time, but 

 the body of Lancaster Sound not having been then explored, 

 it was passed by. We understand that the Admiralty, at the 

 suggestion of Captain Parry, have resolved that this Inlet shall 

 also be examined, in order that no opening which promises 

 success may be neglected : he is therefore to proceed thither 

 in the ensuing summer, in the Hecla, and from the situation 

 where Hearne discovered the sea, and the apparent direction 

 of Prince Regent's Inlet, he hopes to succeed in reaching Cap- 

 tain Franklin's Cape Turnagain through it. If the wished-for 

 discovery should not be made in this direction, at least so en- 



VoL62. No. 307. iVoT'. 1823. 3D terprising 



