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XXIII. An Account of the Ohfervatlons of 
the unfit of Venus and of the Rclipfe of 
the Sun, made at Shirburn Caftle a?td at 
Oxford. By the Reverend Thomas 
Hornfby, M. A, F, R» S, and Savilian 
Profejfor of Afironomy in the Univerfity of 
Oxford. 
Read June 15,^ | H E weather, on the morning of 
1769. June, was fo very unfa- 
vourable, both at the obfervatory of the Earl of 
Macclesfield and alfo here at Oxford, that there was 
very little reafon to expedt that we fhould be able to 
make any obfervation. But here, a few minutes be- 
fore noon, the clouds began to break, and I was en- 
abled to obferve the tranfit of the Sun’s confequent 
limb over the meridian. At one o’clock in the after- 
noon, the fky was again overcaft, and it rained for 
fome time ; but towards three o’clock, the clouds 
were difperfed, the Sun fhone out clearly, and at five 
o’clock there was hardly a cloud to be feen. The 
preceding evening was alfo fo very favourable, that 
the feveral perfons who propofed to make obferva- 
tions of the tranfit, had an opportunity of adjufting 
their inftruments. 
The Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield 
made ufe of an excellent refrading telefcopc of 34- 
feet, 
I 
