[ 3o6 ] 
“ The difference of the above obfervations is 
“ greater than might be vviflied. AH that I can of- 
“ fer to excufe them is the want of better inflru- 
“ ments ; although I think the differences were 
“ much owing to the adfion of the Sun on the 
“ wooden frame, which fupported the quadrant. 
For I always found, that when the fhutter in the 
“ roof was opened, the plummet-wire would, in a 
“ minute or two, leave the point, although it had 
“ flood quietly over it all the forenoon. Never- 
“ thelefs, a mean from fo many obfervations may be 
“ fuppofed very near the truth} fince, if we leave 
“ out that of June 6, which differs molf from the 
“ others, the mean of them will be but 2." greater 
than the latitude fet down above.” 
So far 1 have given Mr. Rittenhoufe’s account of 
his obfervations, previous and fubfequent to the tran- 
fit} for regulating his time-piece, and fixing the lati- 
tude and longitude; containing many months work, 
vix. from February 15 to July 8. More obferva- 
tions have been taken fince, but the above are thought 
i'ufficient. 
It hath been already mentioned, that it was not till 
Thurfday afternoon, June i, that Mr. Lukens and 
myfelf arrived at Norriton, with a defign to continue 
with Mr. Rittenhoufe till the tranfit fliould be over. 
When we fet out, the profpedf before us was very 
difcouraging. That day, and feveral preceding, had 
been confiantly overcafl; with clouds, and frequent 
heavy rains, a thing not common for fo long a pe- 
riod at that feafon of the year, in this part of America. 
But, on Thurfday evening, by one of thofe fudderi 
tranfitions which we often experience here, the 
weather 
