[ 40 1 
Thus it appears from the foregoing Account, that 
the Queftion concerning the Earth's Figure is not yet 
at an end. Nay, 'tis not impoflible, that after finifh- 
ing all the Obfervations which are a&ually making, 
new Difficulties may arife, and. new Obje&ions be 
flatted, that may prevent its being entirely decided. 
However, all this W ork cannot fail giving great Light 
to this important Queftion, and procuring confider- 
able Advantages to Geography, Aftronomy, and na- 
tural Philofophy. 
5 Tis with this View, and particularly to render fuch 
important Service to the Geography of RuJJia , that I 
think it neceflary to undertake a Work of that Nature 
in RuJJia ; towards executing which we have great 
Advantages, which the other Nations have not. One 
of the principal of thefe Advantages is the great Extent 
of RuJJia every way. For were the Meridian of the Im- 
perial Objervatory of Tetersbourg to be determined, 
it might be carried to between 22 and 23 Degrees ; 
which is a fourth Part of the Diftance from the Pole 
to the Equator. The Meridians of Mojco and AJlra - 
can are not of lefs Extent $ and confequently we 
might, by the Meafurement of fome one of thefe 
Meridians, determine more exadly than could have 
hitherto been done, the Inequality that fubfifts befiveen 
the Degrees of the Meridian. 
This is what the great Cajjmi wiftfd, when, after 
having, in the Year 1701, determined this Inequality 
by the extent of feven Degrees obferved in France , 
as has been mention'd above, he fays, that this Faft 
might be verified by Meafurations of greater Extent, 
if the other Princes of the Earth did contribute as 
much 
