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ASTRONOMICAL PAPERS. 



, V 



I can be lure of, that I faw- the firft ftroke of it perceptible 

 through my telefcope, having that part of the Sua*s limb 

 in full and ftcady view; and 1 might have noted the time 

 to a fingle fecond, if I had expeded it in that way. 



" As to the internal cojitaB J the thread or crefcent of 



limb, 



light, coming round from both fides of the Sunr's 

 did not clofe inflantaneoufly about the dark body of the 

 planet, but with an uncertainty of feveral feconds; the points 

 of the threads darting backwards and forwards into each 

 other, in a quivering manner, for fome fpace of time, be- 

 fore they finally adhered. The Inftant of this adhefion I 

 determined to wait for, with all the attention in ray power, 

 and to note it down for the internal contact ; which I did, 

 at 2\ 29' f by the clock; a few feconds later than Mr. 

 Lukens-i who judged in the fame way. And even then, 

 though thepoints of the thread of light fcemed to clofe, yet 

 the light itfelf did not appear perfed on that part of the limb 



till about 12'' afterwards; and I apprehend that a perfon 

 who had waited for the perfedion of this fmall thread of 

 light, would have given the contaft that number of feconds 



later than I did, although I was later than the others. 



" After the ift contad, having quitted the telefcope, to 

 note down my time, the gentleman who counted for us, 

 and feveral others now in the obfervatory, were impatient 

 to fee Venus before flie had wholly entered on the Sun; an 

 indulgence not to be denied them, as the refledor was 

 moll convenient for them. For this reafon 1 did not fit down 

 to it again till within 5' or 6' of the internal contad, and 

 confequentlyfaw none of thofe curious appearances, on that 

 part of the planet off the Sun, mentioned by my aflbciates.. 

 But their account may be fully depended on, as both of 

 them are well accuftomed to ccleftial obfervations, and' 

 are accurate in judgment as well as fight. The fmall dif- 

 ferences in the times of our cantaEls-, it is prefumed, may 

 be eafily reconciled, from the different powers of our te- 

 lefcopes, and other clrcumftances mentioned in the manner 

 of judging. At any rate, we have fet them down faithfully.- 



