At TllE ■ MAt>RAS ^OESI^RVATOEV. 





and I believe as near as any sUch bpfer^tions, (without the assistance of 

 clrancfe) arfe likely to approJcim'kteY for after all, \K'e have proceeded ori a 

 supposition that the meridians are ellipses,- and if they are not, it is a 

 matter of doubt (though by iio-m'^'igsft^ att -impossibility ) whether the dif- 

 ferences of the diameters be[ Qrvbe\vnot' proportioitkii to the difference 

 betwe(^n the polar and eq^Liatorial forces. _1 



iV,:; ,, ' "'"• . ■ / I ;, ;.: :. i .. ...., ::,.;: 'fu 



47. j Tmi recording of thd pinssentut experiments must . depend on an 

 opinioFTngf : the accjaracy and skill wlfli wlpichl fhey were made; a^ to the 

 rest, investigations like the present will always be preserved, to ad'vantage ; 

 for although these trials nray iror be" conctuslve^, as to a;ny Ky^iothesis 

 respedting the shapes of .the earth, (wh^n applied as.has.beet^ done 

 hithertfa,) yet they may be couiidered |asr srcrniany: dots, serving to 

 describe, mechanically, the curve, at the respective places whei^e they 

 were made; which may ultimately le^dto some* knowledge of its equation : 

 and with regard to less speculative objects, it.ma^y be- of some utility in 

 several branches of .practical, science, such as gunnei-y, horologery and 

 mensuration, to have the4€flgt!h of the simple pendulum determined at the 

 spot where it is i^^ired, noyj^omrtlieoryThtSt fro nTacTu al investigation. 



4.8. I SHALL concltwlb, Ji|l bbs€i•vi:rig.,^.t•llati wha prejsede^ confirms 

 Mr. Bouguer's detfermiijataoH-:at the equcptc^r ; i and^that Mr. iLe Gentil 

 was mistaken, when hethoiight^thathis-ap^atiorts agreedbetterlvvith those 

 made at Pel/o t^an. at :the b5quat<j)r: I think j thein, however, equally 

 accurate, and, on.-fhe) whole, I ta of! 6pinii)a, th^t we: may with bonfidence 

 take thei- pendulum ^qr' t^onjAlierry^t 39-011^9 inches;_and at Madras 

 59.026273 inches, zk deduced from the present experimlents J 



H. C. 'Observat\?fy, ), ^ - v 



