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XLIII. Obfervatmts made, by appointment 
of the Royal Society^ at King George’s 
Ifland in the South Sea ; by Mr. Charles 
Qreen> formerly A[Jifla7it at the Royal 
Obfervatory at Greenwich, and Lieut, 
James Cook, of his Majefly s Ship the 
JEndeavour, 
Read November 2r, 1771* 
1769 
April ^ 2n anchor In Royal Bay In King 
YV George’s ifland. 
Fixed upon the North point of the bay, which is the 
moft Northern point of the ifland, for the place of obfer- 
vation ; here we built a fmall fort, to fecure us againft 
the natives, which we called fort Venus : it was not 
finilhed and the inftruments fet up in proper order until 
the 10th of May, therefore the time for all obfervations 
made before this day, was taken by a watch with a 
fecond hand, the going of which was afcertained by 
altitudes of the fun as often as were necefTary. 
The aftronomical clock, made by Shelton and furnilh- 
cd with a gridiron pendulum, was^ fet up in the middle 
of one end of a large tent, in a frame of wood made 
for the purpofe at Greenwich, fixed firm and as low in 
the ground as the door of the clock-cafe would admit, 
and to prevent its being difturbed by any accident, an- 
other framing of wood was made round this, at the 
diftance of one foot from it. The pendulum was ad- 
jufted 
1 
