C 318 ] 
XLVIII. A Letter of Mr. William Sher- 
vington to Benjamin Franklin, Efq\ of 
Philadelphia, concerning the Tranfit of 
Mercury over the Sun, on the 6 of May 
1 753, as ohferved in the JJJand ^'Anti- 
gua : Cojnmunicated by Mr. Peter Collin- 
fon, F. R. S. 
SIR, Antigua, June 20, 1753. 
Read Nov. ‘S’jV/TR- Benjamin Mecom having re- 
1/53 iVJL ceived half a dozen circulatory 
letters from you relating to Mercury's tranfit over 
the fun the 6 of laft May, he put them into my 
hands. One would have fufficed for our illand, as 
we are not overburthen’d with men, who have a tafte 
that way. Hereunder I fend you the refult of my 
©bfervation * thereof. 
Sunday, May 6, at 6 h 7' yi", I obferved the 
weftern limb of Mercury to touch the weftern limb 
of the fun j and, at 6 h 10' 37", he touch’d the fame 
with his eaftern limb, and totally difappear’d. Lat. , 
of the place 17 0 o' N. Lon. by eftimation 6 45' 
W. from London. 
This was taken by a Graham’s watch, and cor- 
rected by two altitudes taken by a moft exquifite 
quadrant j viz. 
At 
* Dr. Charles Rofe, who was in Antigua at this time, fays, that 
thefe obfervations were taken by Capt. Richard Tyrrel, ofthefaid 
ifland. 
I 
