[ 578 ] 
After this the Clouds thickened, and covered the 
Moon till the End of the Eclipfe, which was about 
8 h, 3 o', as near as I could guefs through the Clouds. 
The Night before the Eclipfe, viz. 20 December , 
at 12*1, 14', I faw the Moon eclipfe a Fixed Star, 
which, I think, is in the Heel of Caftor. 
Thefe Two laft Obfervations were made with an 
Eight Foot Telefcope, my Watch being re&ified to 
the apparent Time by correfpondent Altitudes of the 
Sun, taken with the before-mentioned Quadrant for 
feveral Days together, before and after the Eclipfe. 
I muft ask your Pardon for this long Trouble, 
and am, 
SIR, 
Cambridge in New- Tour moll humble Servant, 
England, Dec. 30. 
I7+ °‘ John Winthrop. 
III. An Account of the Tranfit of Mercury 
over the Sun, 061 . 25. 17 43. in the Morn - 
ing , obferved at Mr . Geo. Graham^ Houfe 
in Fleetftreet. 
-Read Nov. 3. HPHE Beginning could not be feen 
1743 * .A reaftm of Clouds, but about 
8 h , 45', Mercury was feen (through a refle&ing Tele- 
fcope Three Foot Focus , magnifying about 50 times) 
about Four or Five of his Diameters within the Suns 
Limb. 
At Mr. Short' s Houfe in Surrey-ftreet, Mercury 
was feen juft paft the interior Contact 8 h , 30', 59 "> 
through 
