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true diftance of all the planets from the fun, and 
from each other. 
Your Lordfhip will excufe me, that I do not at 
prefent attempt to deduce any confequences from the 
above obfervations, not only as I am in want of others 
correfponding to them made in other places, but alfo 
as I am not yet able to fettle the longitude of this 
place to fufficient exa&nefs ; though I am of opinion, 
it cannot differ much from that, which Dr. Halley 
hath affigned to it. I have not yet been able to get 
one obfervation of an eclipfe of Jupiter’s fatellites, 
though I have not failed, on my part, of being ready 
to feize any opportunity, if it had offered j the very 
cloudy weather, which prevails at this time, which is 
the winter here, depriving me not only of thefe, but 
alfo almoft all other obfervations. 
I cannot conclude, my Lord, without making one 
remark, that if the late noble Dr. Halley were now 
alive, he could not receive greater pleafure from fee- 
ing the obfervation of the tranfit of Venus undertaken 
by aftronomers of different nations, conformably to 
his propofal, than from finding it fo warmly efpoufed 
by your Lordfhip, and the Royal Society, to whom, 
as a perpetual body, whofe care it would be always 
to watch over the intereft and advancement of fcience, 
he particularly recommended it. Nor can the learned 
world but look upon themfelves as highly indebted 
to your Lordfhip, for that noble zeal, which you 
have manifefted for the improvement of aftronomy, 
in fetting forward, and promoting, thefe literary ex- 
peditions, which tend to the benefit of mankind, and 
the honour of our native country. 
Taking 
