[ * 9 6 ] 
XXXVI. An Account of the Obfervations 
made on the ‘Tranfit of Venus, June 6, 
1761, in the If and of St. Helena : In 
a Letter to the Right Honourable George 
Lari <9/* Macclesfield, P ref dent of the Royal 
Society , from the Rev.. Nevil Mafkelyne,. 
M. A. and F. R. S% 
My Lord, 
Read Nov. 5, *T Am forry I cannot have the honour of 
X gratifying your Lorddiip, and the 
Royal Society, with an account of a more complete 
obfervation of the tranfit of Venus, than what I here-, 
with tranfmit to you. From the very cloudy weather, 
which prevailed here for the whole month preceding 
the tranfit, I, indeed, almod defpaired of obtaining 
any fight of it at all. I was, however, fortunate 
enough to obtain two fair views, though but of diort 
continuance, of this curious celedial phenomenon. 
The fird was a few minutes after fun- rife, when I 
was furprized not only at feeing Venus fo very large, 
hut alfo fo much nearer the fun’s limb, than I had 
reafon to expedt from the bed; grounded calculations ; . 
which lad circumdance foreboded, that die would 
make a more fpeedy exit from the fun’s body, than 
the fame calculations allowed-; which accordingly 
happened. At this time, her limb, as well as the 
fun’s, appeared exceedingly ill defined, which was 
no more than what one might naturally expedt, from 
their great proximity to the horizon. . 
This. 
