858 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
are based on all these large arcs, and which must give more accu- 
rate results than if the same parties had measured single degrees 
only, — the Proceedings' author pronounces their final deductions 
worthless, in so far as, in spite of them and the faultless formulae 
of computation employed, the length of the earth’s axis is “ still an 
“ unknown and undetermined linear quantity;” — what, then, must 
not be the overwhelming excellence of the single degree arc-of-the- 
meridian measures, which the same fault-finding author describes 
in the same critical paper, as endued “ with almost perfect mathe- 
“ matical exactitude?” Why, of course, they must be supernaturally 
perfect, i.e., if they exist. But do they exist? At present we 
have only the word of the Proceedings author that they do. And 
why has he favoured the world, through the Boyal Society of Edin- 
burgh, with his statement to that effect ? 
“ Because he knows of their existence, and can produce them,” 
ought to be the answer. But if that answer be not rendered ? 
Why then we have only to look to the sentence following that one 
which we quoted near the head of this article 4 ; and there stands a 
reason of a very exceptionable order, and which manifests its nature 
increasingly in the latter portions of the Proceedings' paper. That 
reason is given in the words, — “ Professor Smyth holds that the 
“ basis side of the Pyramid has been laid down by Divine authority 
“ as such a guiding measure.” 
Accusation Fifth. 
In the above sentence then, we have touched at last on the origin 
of the unnatural excellence attributed to certain unknown surveyors’ 
and mathematicians’ measures of 60 miles long : viz., Professor 
Smyth holds that somethingabout thedesigningof theGreat Pyramid 
was due to Divine inspiration afforded to its architect ;* and imme- 
diately the Proceedings' author insinuates that just such a some- 
thing is often accomplished by unassisted man in the present day, 
* In the same manner as we read in the Bible, it did occasionally please 
the Almighty to issue instructions for practical works, showing the pattern 
thereof, pronouncing the sizes they were to be made in all their chief parts, 
and sometimes even inspiring the workmen with the requisite skill to prepare 
them. See Exodus xxxi. 1-11 ; 1 Chronicles xxviii. 11, 12, and 19, 20; Acts 
vii. 44; and Hebrews viii. 5. 
