[ ] 
Sun’s, and to the left hand of that line, as feen 
“ through my telefcope, which inverted. See Tab, 
“ XV. fig. I. — About the fame time, the Sun’s light 
began to fpread round Venus on each fide, from the 
“ points where their limbs interfecled each other, as is 
‘‘ likewife reprefented in fig. i. 
“ As Venus advanced, the point of the pyramid 
flill grew lower, and its circular bafe wider, until 
“ it met the light which crept round from the points 
of interfedtion of the two limbs : fo that when 
“ half the Planet appeared on the Sun, the other 
, half was entirely furrounded by a lemicircular 
light, beft defined on the fide next to the body of 
‘‘ Venus, which continually grew brighter, till the 
“ time of the internal contadt. See fig. 2. 
“ Imagination cannot form anything more beau- 
“ tifully ferene and quiet than v/as the air during the, 
“ whole time ; nor did I ever fee the Sun’s limb 
“ more perfedtly defined, or more free from any 
“ tremulous motion ; to which his great altitude 
undoubtedly contributed much. When the in- 
ternal contadl (as it is called) drew nigh, I fore- 
“ faw that it would be very difficult to fix the time 
with any certainty, on account of the great breadth 
and brightnefs of the light which furrounded that 
“ part of Venus yet off the Sun. After fome con- 
“ fideration, I refolved to judge as well as I could of 
“ the co-incidence of the limbs; and accordingly 
“ gave the fignal for the internal contadf at 2^ 28'' 4 
“ by the clock, and immediately began to count 
“ feconds, which any one, accuftomed to it, may 
do, for a minute or two, very near the truth. In 
** this manner, I counted no lefs than T 32^^ before 
the 
