. [ 292 ] 
This gave an opportunity, which I embraced im- 
mediately, to inform Mr. Penn, that this Society, 
before the receipt of his letter, had appointed 
two ^ Committees for the bufinefs he propofed ; 
that the AlTembly had generoufly ordered one hun- 
dred pounds, fterling, to purchafe one telefcope, as 
above fet forth ; but that we fhould be at a great lofs 
for a telefcope and micrometer, of the like con- 
flrudion, for the Norrilon obfervatory; requefting 
him to .order a reflector of 24. feet, with Dollond’s 
micrometer, to be got ready in London ; which I 
was in hopes I fliould prevail on our College to pay 
for, and take for their own ufe, as foon as the corpo- 
ration fliould have an opportunity of meeting. It 
was not long before I had the pleafure to hear that 
Mr. Penn had ordered fuch a telefcope. which came 
to hand in due time, with a moft obliging letter, 
expreffing his fatisfadlion in the fpirit fliewn at Phi- 
ladelphia for obferving this curious phtenomenon, and 
concluding as follows : 
“ I have fent by Captain Sparks a refleding te- 
V lefcope, with Dollond’s micrometer, exad: to your 
“ requeft, which I hope will come fafe to hand. 
“ After making your obfervation with it, I defire 
you will prefent it, in my name, to the College. 
“ Meflieurs Mafon and Dixon tell me, they never 
ufed a better than that which I formerly fent to the 
“ Library Company of Philadelphia, with which a 
“ good obfervation t may be made, although it has no 
“ micrometer.” 
* A third Committee was afterwards appointed, to obferve at 
or near Cape Henlopen. 
t Mr. Owen Biddle, who was appointed by the Society to 
conduft the obfervation near Cape Henlopen, had this telefcope; 
Wc 
