VOL. LII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS* SQS 



ing had the notion of the attraction of the earth on the moon, was diverted from 

 pursuing it by observing, that the earth was too large not to produce a greater 

 attraction. If any member of your illustrious Royal Society is offended with my 

 reflections, I desire you to make my excuses to him, and to assure the Royal 

 Society of my most humble respects. 



LIX. Observation of the Transit of Fenus over the Sun, June 6, I761, at the 

 Island of Rodrigues. By Mr. Pingre, of the Royal /Academy of Sciences at 

 Paris. Translated from the French by Matt. Maty, M. D., F. R. S. p. 37 ] . 



June 5, at about IS'^ 30™, the sun rose amidst very thick clouds. At 18^ 

 43™ 51*, Venus was entirely on the sun's disk; the exterior limb of the planet 

 being at the distance of at most \5" from that of the sun. The intervening 

 clouds did not permit him to measure the distance more exactly. He made use 

 of an 18-foot refracting telescope. These are, a number of the distances of 

 the nearest limbs of the sun and Venus. The diameter of Venus measured 

 several times 54-^'^. 

 O^ 34™ 47* The contact of the occidental limbs. 



52 5 Venus, almost got off, is covered with a cloud. 



52 23 It is still seen, but little; another cloud. 



53 18 The sun's disk seems still a little altered: but this perception is 



faint, and a new cloud prevents making a better observation. 



54 2 1 The transit is certainly ended. 



The latitude of the observatory was 19° 40' 40" s. The variation of the mag- 

 netic needle was 10° 42' n. w. 



LX. Observations made at the Cape of Good Hope. By Mr. Charles Mason, 

 and Mr. Dixon; reduced to apparent Time by Mr. Mason, p. 378. 



This is a kind of journal and register of all their observations, which are very 

 numerous and miscellaneous, relating to their clocks, their instruments, and 

 various proceedings, before and till after the transit. The instruments used were 

 two reflecting telescopes, each 2 feet focal length, and magnifying 120 times, 

 made by Short. A quadrant of 1 foot radius. And an astronomical clock made 

 by Ellicott. 



The sun's diameter measured 3l' 33'''.3. 



And that of Venus measured 59" .6. 



The time of internal contact . . 21*^ 39™ 52^ apparent time.^ 



Ditto of the external 21 57 23 



The former by Mr. Dixon 21 39 48 



The latter by the same 21 57 21 apparent time. 



Latitude of the place 33® 55' 42^^ south 



4 G 2 



