86 ASTRONOMICAL anp 
During the whole time of this eclipfe, the weather was very 
favourable for obfervation. All the obfervations made at Brad- 
Jord, were taken with a reflector made by Nazrve, magnifying 
about 55 times. The times were fhewn by a good clock, care- 
fully adjufted by equal.altitudes of the fun, the day before and 
the day after the eclipíe. 
9. Obfervations of a folar eclipfe, October 27, 1780, made 
on the eaft fide of Long-Ifland, in Penobfcot- Bay. 
A total eclipfe of the fun is a curious and uncommon phe- . 
nomenon. From the principles of aftronomy it is certain that 
a central eclipfe will happen, in fome part of the earth, in the 
courfe of every year : But it is but feldom that a total eclipfe of 
the fun is feen in any particular place. A favourable oppor- 
tunity prefenting for viewing one of thefe eclipfes on October 
27, 1780, the American Academy of Arts andSciences, and the 
Univerlity at Cambridge, were defirous to have it properly ob- 
 ferved in the eaftern parts of the State, “where, by calculation, it 
was expected i it would be total. With this view. they folicited 
the government of the Commonwealth, that a veffel might 
be prepared to convey proper obfervers to Penobfeot- Bay ; ; and 
that application might be made to the officer who commanded 
the Britifb garrifon there, for leave to take Ba fituati 
ent for this purpofe. | | 
"Though: involved in all the calamities — diftrefles of a 
fevere war, the government difcovered all the attention and 
eadinefs to promote the caufe of fcience, which could have 
been expected in the moft peaceable and profperous times; and 
pafied a ve ne the Board of War to fit out the 
Lincoln 
* RS 
pee 
elc 
Pd 
RAS Vou TR, eR M CS 
