c 5°n 
faring a Degree ; the Earth may be not quite fo flat as 
Sir Ifaacs Spheroid requires. By the Table of the 
Length of the Pendulum, exhibited in the Treatise 
^concerning the Figure of the Earth, publifh'd this Year 
by Mr . de Maupertuis, and by Art. XXII. of thepre- 
fent Difcourfe, the Earth may be more elevated at the 
Equator than at the Pole by the Part, or there- 
abouts. After the true Quantity of the Earth's flat- 
nefs (hall be fully fettled, if it fhould be found to have 
this Figure, I fhould be apt to think it is a little more 
denfe at the Centre than towards the Superficies. 
But if on the contrary we fhould be well t afcertain'd, 
that the Earth is raifed higher at the Equator than at 
the Pole, by above the ^ art > and if, for any fuf- 
ficient Reafon, we may fomething fhorten the Length 
of the Pendulum that beats Seconds in the North > 
there would be Tome grounds to allow, that the Earth 
is not fo denfe at the central Regions as at thofe near 
the Surface. But if it fhall happen, that we can nei- 
ther diminifh the Length of the Pendulum, nor the 
Excefs of the equatorial Diameter above the Axe $ I 
muft then give up my Hypothefis. Yet I fhall think it 
may be of fomc Ufe to have thus difeufs'd it, becaufe 
pollibly no one would have imagined what might 
. havq been the Refuit of it. It appears that even Sir 
If nac Newton was of Opinion, that it was neceffary 
the Earth fhould be more denfe towards the Centre, 
in order to be fo much the flatter at the Poles : And 
I that it follow'd from this greater Flatnefs, that Gravity 
imereafed fo much the-more from the Equator towards 
die Pole* 
II. New 
