C 3 
Mr. CaJJlnt and others, judge the Earth to be of an 
oblong Spheroidical Figure 5 and the Obfervations 
made in France-, if intirely to be depended upon, 
prove this Hypothefis to be a Matter of Faft. Our 
late illuftrious Prefident, Sir Isaac Newton, Mr. 
HuygenSy and others, make the Earth to be an oblate 
Spheroid, higher at the Equator than at the Poles j 
and this Figure of the Earth is undoubtedly the true 
one, if the Obfervations lately made near the Ardtic 
Circle be admitted as certain and exad. So that 
lince both Sets of Obfervations have been taken by 
Perfons of known Skill, Dexterity, and Integrity, it 
is now become abfolutely necelTary to inquire into 
this Matter, in order to find out the Occafion of fo 
great a Difference in their Conclufions. 
Mr. CelJiuSy in the Treatife before us, propofes to 
confider this Matter more clofely, and begins with a 
Defence of the Obfervations made at Torneay near 
the North Polar Circle j and then takes Notice of 
dome things, proper to be confidered, relating to the 
Inftruments, Aftronomical Obfervations, and Trigo- 
nometrical Operations, performed in France ; which, 
in his Judgment, render the Obfervations uncertain; 
at lead fo far as not to be accurate enough to be 
depended upon in determining the Matter in Que- 
llion. 
To begin with the Defence of the Obfervations 
made at Tornea : Perhaps it may not be improper to 
premife a fhort Account of them. They were under- 
taken at the Charge of the King of France^ by Five 
skilful Gentlemen; Three of them Members of the 
Royal Academy at Rarity who were joined by Mr. 
CelJiuSy and the Abbe Authier, The Trigonometrical 
Part 
