riGCEB OP THE EARTH. $25 



stations, and tbelr position appears to have been determined culiar advan- 



with the utmost precision by the theodolite of Ramsden, which ^age ; 



reduces a!) angle? to the plane of the horizon, and with such 



a degree of correctness, that the error in the sum of the three 



angles of any triangle, is scarcely, in any instance, found to 



exceed three seconds of a degree, and in general not more than 



a snjall fraction of a second. 



Accordingly the geodetical observations were conducted 

 with a degree of exactness, which hardly can be exceeded ; 

 and even if we suppose for a moment, that the chains made 

 use of in the measurement of the bases, may not admit of 

 equal precision with the rods of platina employed in France, 

 nevertheless, th^ degree of care employed in their construction, 

 in the m de of using them, and the pains taken to verify their 

 meaj.ores was such, that no error that can have occurred in 

 the length of the base, could make any perceptible difference 

 i;i the sides of the series of triangles, of which the whole ex- 

 tent does not amount to so much as three degrees. 



Nevertheless, the results deduced by the author, from this but which in. 

 measure alone, would lead to the supposition, that the ^•'^h, *v^^'^' ^^^ 

 instead of being flattened at the poles, is, in fact, more elevated more elevated 

 at that part than at the equator, or at least, that its surface is ^^ ^'^^ P°'" 

 not that of a regular solid. For the measures of different equator, 

 degrees on the meridian, as reduced by Lieut. Col. Mudge, 

 increase progressively toward the equator. 



The following table of the different measures of a degree Table of the 

 ^D fathoms, is given by the author in his Memoir. dlgrre'^oMat! 



in England, 

 ars>-,(^a which increase 



00700 i„ g^ij^ so,,,/^. 



60769 ward. 



60794 



60820 



60849 



60864 



6O89O 



60884 



The singularity of these results excites a suspicion of some x^is singular 

 incorrectness in the observations themselves, or in the method "suit, 

 of calculating from them. The author has not informed us in 



hii 



Latitude. 



52" 



50' 



30" 



52 



38 



56 



52 



28 







52 



2 



20 



51 



51 



4 



51 



25 



18 



51 



13 



18 



51 



2 



54 



