■[ ' 7 + ] 
The fky, though free from clouds, was charged 
with vapour, which occaftoned a conflant undulation 
of the limbs of the Sun and Planet ; and the wind 
fcmetimes blew fo hard as to incommode the ob- 
fervers. 
On the next morning the fky was very favourable 
to obfervation, and Mr. Phelps determined the eclipfe 
of the Sun to begin at i8^‘ 32' 45^', 7 mean time, or 
18^ 34^ ">7 apparent time, and to end at 20’’ 17' 
23' ,5 mean time, or 2o'‘ 19' 33^^8 apparent time. 
The Earl of Macclesfield oblcrved the end to happen 
one fecond later, making ufe of Mr. Dollond’s ic- 
fradtor. 
The latitude of the obfervatory at Shirburn Caftle 
is 51° 39' 22'', as determined by oblervations of the 
Pole Star, at feveral different times ; and is 3' Si" 
time weft of Greenwich, and i' t" to the eaft of 
Oxford, as appears by computing the difference of 
meridians between Mr. Short’s %oufe, Shirburn 
Caftle, and Oxford, as they refult from the obferva- 
fions of the Sun’s eclipfe on April i, 1764. 
I propofed to obferve the tranfit of Venus and the 
Sun’s eclipfe in the upper room of the tower of the 
Schools, which, though the floor of it be very un- 
fteady, yet from its elevated fituation afforded me 
the cleareft view of the north-weft part of the horizon, 
and is indeed the beft place for making occafional ob^ 
fervations in different parts of the heavens, and at 
different altitudes, which this place at prefent affords. 
The clock, furnifhed with a compound pendulum, 
was for fome time carefully compared with another 
clock 
