568 The Account of a 



proceeded to Shotover Hill, in Oxfordshire; and, before 'May 

 elapsed, had reconnoitred the country. As the distance between 

 Inkpin Hill and Highclere, appeared to be shorter than was ne- 

 cessary for a base on which the northern triangles were to rest, 

 it became certain, that their sides would depend on the base on 

 Hounslow Heath. The only means by which the series now pro- 

 posed to be carried westwards, (for the double purpose of forward- 

 ing the survey, and also of finding a portion of the meridional 

 arc,) could be properly connected with the triangles in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Salisbury Plain, was the side just spoken of; for the 

 high land in the vicinity of Calne, intercepted the view of the 

 stations on the Marlborough range, from White Horse Hill. In 

 order, hpwever, to make a connection, although imperfect, an 

 intermediate station was chosen on this high intercepting land. 

 When the ground about Nettlebed was formerly examined 

 by us, it appeared difficult to carry on the triangles from Bagshot 

 Heath towards the northward ; because no spot could be found 

 near the former, from which the Chiltern range could be seen. 

 I now, therefore, departed from the usual practice of choosing 

 stations on the ground, and selected Pen Church Tower ; by 

 means of which, I found a connection might be made between 

 the triangles carried round the Chiltern range, from White 

 Horse Hill and Nuffield, with those in Hertfordshire. 



At Shotover Hill the party separated, each having its instru- 

 ment. I shall close this article, without entering minutely into 

 the reasons which operated with me for the choice of all the 

 stations selected this year. I shall content myself with enumera- 

 ting the names of the stations visited and observed, and mentioning 

 that Shotover Hill and Cumner Hill, in Oxfordshire, were select- 

 ed principally with a view of ascertaining the situations of the 



