L 77 3 
^ Without adhering to the fuppofition of the earth's 
being formally fluid, but admitting, as in the chap. 
3 and 4, all generality poflible in the variation of 
denfity and ratio of diameters of the beds or ftrata 
laid down from the center to the furface, there will 
hill happen a difference of the diameters lefs than 
For, by § L. the total diminution of the gravity 
from the pole to the equator being fubtradted from 
t4j, the remainder is the difference between the dia-r 
meters. Now the diminution of the gravity having 
been found greater than ■— — , the ellipticity or dif- 
ference of diameters ought to be lefs than that frac- 
tion, and confequently the ratio of diameters lefs than 
230 to 231. 
That confequence of my theory is not fo happy as 
the preceding ; for the degree meafured in the north 
compared to that of France give the two diameters as 
177 to 178, which ratio is greater than 230 to 231, 
inftead of being lefs, as the theory would require. 
As the meafures made in the north have been per- 
formed with great care and exadtnefs, their refult 
Teems at fir ft to be preferred to that of my theory. 
But a reflection upon the errors unavoidable in adtuai 
meafures, and an examination of the limits of theft 
errors, will {hew, that, without violating the mea- 
fures, they would be brought nearer the theory, and 
even agree with it. 
For, by a convenient calculation, it will be found, 
that a diminution lefs than 60 toifes, made. to the dif- 
ference between the degrees of Paris and Tornea, 
would give the diameters in the ratio of 23c to 231. 
And if it be confidered, what is the fmallnefs of an er- 
ror of 60 toifes, when divided in two operations, which 
require 
