:i-^ 



- >- ±-f^r p ^^ 



-1-"^ 



_ -^- ^ 



■^ 



ASTRONOMICAL PAPERS. 



95 



this error arofe from the incrcafe of the Sun^s declination, 

 between the times of forenoon and afternoon fhades; this 

 fmall equation of 3" was allowed for in regulating the 

 clocks. 



" As we were willing to have every corroborating cir- 

 cumftance to prove our work, we made ufe of the method 

 of corrcfponding altitudes of the Sun, forenoon and after- 

 noon. The fextant and refledor were both employed in 

 this hufmefs for feveral days preceding the tranfit (and the 

 day following) in order to afcertain the going of the clocks. 

 In the lafl method (as in that of corrcfponding fliades) the 

 equation of time, anfwerable to the increafe of declination, 

 ought by no means to be negleded. The whole proccfs 

 was conduded with the utmofl caution, that no errors 

 might efcape our notice. We found upon the whole, a 

 furprifmg agreement in thefc two methods of regulating 

 clocks ; they were feldom found to differ a fnigle fecond. 



nW 



(€ 



J 



Being in this readinefs, the morning of the third of 



<c 



day required; all was calm, and not a cloud to be feen. 

 The gentlemen concerned in the bufmefs convened very 

 early at the place of obfervation, to fee that every thing 

 was in order; and at the fight of fuch a morning, the 

 gladnefs of their hearts was vifibly expreffed, by the plea- 

 fure of their countenance. 



" At noon we examined the going of the clocks, as 

 the Sun pafTed the meridian, and found them very regular. 

 We began to look for the firft contad of Venus with 

 the Sun, at leaft 15 minutes before the time given by cal- 

 culation, to get as early a fight of it as poffible. Venus 

 was firfl; perceived, by making a dent upon the fupcrior 

 limb of the Sun, at 2^'' 29'. 43", P. M. apparent time. 

 But, as it is likely the exterior contads will be given dif- 

 ferent, by different obfervcrs, they can be of but little con- 

 fequencc in this affair. The greatcft attention v^as o-iven 

 to the interior contad; this was at 2^* 46^ ^y^^ apparent 



time"^. 



^ 



