58 SURVEY OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
For the determination of the time or latitude but little use was comparatively made of 
the sun, as its great heat, especially in the summer, not unfrequently causes an unequal 
expansion of the instrument employed for the mensuration of its altitude, and conse- 
quently the result therefrom deduced would be rendered somewhat erroneous, and less 
to be relied on. But the use of the stars, of course, rendered it necessary that the obser- 
vations should be made at all hours of the night; and as they were made in the open air, 
without any protection or covering whatever, and at nearly every season, much fatigue 
and suffering were not unfrequently experienced. 
On referring to the following table it will be seen, that the position of at least one place 
in every county has been ascertained; also, the positions of nearly all the largest towns, 
of our three colleges, at Amherst, Cambridge, and Williamstown, and of that at Provi- 
dence, which, although situate in another state, is but little more than a mile from our 
undisputed boundary. It is uncertain whether observations have hitherto been made for 
the accurate determination of the situations of more than six of the places contained in 
the table, and if the results of my observations are correct, the position of no one of the 
six was ascertained with any degree of precision. The Jatitude of Cambridge, (and of 
Boston, which was deduced from it by triangulation,) has hitherto been laid down too 
great by a mile and a quarter; that of Providence, by a mile and a third; that of Salem, 
by upwards of two miles; that of Nantucket, too small by merely a mile and a half; and 
that of the Lighthouse in Truro, usually known as the Highland or Cape Cod Light, has 
generally been laid down in the charts and in treatises on navigation yet more erroneous, 
namely, too great by three English miles. This last is the more surprising, as this light- 
house is, by far, the most important on the coast of New England, since from it many of 
the most valuable ships, sailing from Boston, Salem, or other places in Massachusetts 
Bay, take their “departure,” and as it is generally the first object seen from them on 
their return. 
In consequence of the altitude and azimuth instrument, which was imported expressly 
for the purpose of making the observations, not proving satisfactory, the acceptance thereof 
was declined. It therefore became necessary (much time having been already lost) to 
make use of the reflecting instrument before mentioned, fortunately in my possession. 
This instrument, though comparatively small, and not such as would have been pre- 
ferred, has, however, given results so closely accordant with each other as to inspire me 
with great confidence in their accuracy. Indeed it would surprise me, should it hereafter 
appear that the positions of either of the places in the following table, are therein stated, 
erroneous, in any important degree. 
Latitudes of twenty-seven Places in Massachusetts, Sc. 
Latitudes, North. 
Boston, State House, ¢ : A : j 2 : / | 42° 21° 22".97 
Amherst, College Chapel, . F ; > ‘ : : : ; 22 12.6 
Barnstable, New Court House, ; ; : : ‘ : : » 41 42° 7.3 
Bristol, R. I., Episcopalian Church, . ? ; : . i ; 40 2.9 
Cambridge, First Congregational Church, ; ; : ; ; . 42 22 21.8 
Dedham, . ey “ ‘ : : , : : 14 52.8 
Gloucester, First Independent Church, « . » «© «© + : 36 44.2 
Greenfield, Second Congregational Church, . ; ; ; ; : 35 16.8 
