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L. Obfervation of the \ Tranfit of Venus, 
June 6, 1761, St. John’s, Newfound- 
land : By John Winthrop, Profejfor of 
Mathematicks and Philofophy at Cam- 
bridge, New England. 
Read Nov. 15, rip H E tranfit of Venus over the 
X Sun, being a very curious and im- 
portant phcenomenon, engaged the attention of A- 
merica as well as Europe. His excellency Francis 
Bernard, Efq; governor of the Maffachufetts-Bay, a 
gentleman who feizes every opportunity of advanc- 
ing the fciences, was defirous to have an obfervation 
of it in this quarter of the world ; and as Newfound- 
land was the only Britifh plantation where one could 
be had, propofed to the General Affembly at Bofton 
to make provifion for that purpofe, which they rea- 
dily agreed to do. In confequence whereof, .1 im- 
barked on board a veffel in the fervice of the govern- 
ment, taking with me for affiftants two young gen- 
tlemen my pupils ; and fuch agronomical inftruments > 
out of the college apparatus as were neceffary. Thefe 
were, an excellent clock, Hadley’s oCtant with no- • 
nius divifions ; a refracting telefcope with wires at 
half right angles, for taking differences of right af- 
cenfion and declination ; and a nice reflecting tele- 
fcope, adjufted by crofs levels, and having verti- 
cal and horizontal wires, for taking correfpon- - 
dent altitudes ; or differences of altitudes and azi- 
muths. . 
We ■ 
