[ $20 ] 
the illuflrious Newton, which we ufc at prefent in 
our aftroriomical obfervatory (or tribunal as we call 
it) for calculating ephemerides and eclipfes. In this 
packet wx now fend our agronomical obfervations for 
1 746 and 1 747 ; and next year we will fend thofe of 
1 74,8 and 1 749. And we are encouraged fo to do, by 
the Royal Society’s and your great humanity ; as you 
have been pleafed to think thofe for 1740 and 1741 
not unworthy of a place in your Phil. Tranf. that 
treafury of all forts of erudition. 
From the year 1741 to 1746, we made but few 
obfervations. For my predeceffor Father Ignatius 
Kogler was then broken with age, and I was wholly 
taken up with learning the Chinefe language and let- 
ters. Yet pollibly even thefe few obfervations may 
appear fome time or other, with a long feries of 
others, which the aforefaid father made from 1718 
to 174?, and fet down in loofe papers; which I 
have brought into order, and wrote into one volume, 
in the order of years and planets ; and wifh I had 
leifure to tranferibe that volume. However, botli 
he and I went as far as we could. For, to fay it by 
the bye, thofe bulky machines of our royal obferva- 
tory here, tho’ magnificent, and of folid brafs, do not 
come up to the accuracy of the prefent time. And. 
the agronomical apparatus of our houfe, that we can 
depend upon, almoft intirely confifts of a microme- 
ter, a pendulum-clock, and a two-foot quadrant. 
To which may be added a tranfit-inftrument, which 
we have received a few days ago, by the courtefy of 
Dr. Antonio Ribeyro Sanchez, a Portuguefe, and firft 
phyfician to the court of RufTia : to which if a good 
quadrant, fuch as are made now, were added, then 
we might attempt greater things. For, let the obferva- 
tions 
