ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES. 203 



and was seen by but one individual, named Horrocks, 

 who lived near Liverpool, England. The next transit 

 occurred in June, 1761, and was carefnlly observed in 

 different parts of the world, and important conclusions 

 were drawn from it as to the sun's parallax. It was 

 known, however, that its next recurrence, which was to 

 take place in 1769, would be under more favorable cir- 

 cumstances, and several of the governments of Europe 

 sent astronomers to various parts of the globe favorably 

 situated for the observations. France sent an astronomer^ 

 to California, England sent astronomers to Hudson's Bay, 

 to Madras, and to the Island of Otaheite, in the South 

 Sea. Several Kussian observers were stationed at 

 various points of Siberia and the Kussian empire. 

 The King of Denmark sent an astronomer to the 

 North Cape, and the King of Sweden sent an observer 

 to Finland. 



The American Philosophical Society, in January, 1769, 

 appointed a committee of thirteen to observe this rare 

 phenomenon. The gentlemen thus appointed were dis- 

 tributed into three committees for the purpose of making 

 observations at three different places : viz., in the city of 

 Philadelphia ; at Norriton, 17*miles northwest of Philadel- 

 phia ; and the light-house, near Cape Henlopen, on Dela- 

 ware Bay. Dr. Ewing had the principal direction of the 

 observatory in the city, Mr. Kittenhouse at Norriton, and 

 Mr. O. Biddle at Cape Henlopen. Some money was ap- 

 propriated by the Philosophical Society toward defraying 

 the expenses of the observations ; but this being found 



