C 55 * ] 
L. Extra& of a Letter , dated Paris, 
Dec. 17, 1770, to Mr. Magalhaens, 
fro?n M. Bourriot; contaming a Jhort 
Account of the late Abbe Chappe’s Obfer- 
v at ion of the Lranft of Venus, in Cali- 
fornia. Tranjlated by Dr. Bevis, F. R. S. 
. . . . | "'1 H E 7 th of December inflant, the 
1 Journals and Manufcripts of the late 
Abbe Chappe were depofited at the Royal Obfer- 
vatory, with M. Caflini de Thury, by the Sieur 
Pauli, one oi the King’s Engineers, and Geographers, 
who had accompanied the Abbe in his voyage to 
California. M. Pauli relates, that M. Chappe chofc 
to day at St. Jofeph, a fmali village ten leagues from 
St. Lucar, notwithftanding the contagious difeafe 
prevailing there, and relying on his own good ccn- 
ftitution ; becaufe he had no more than eight days to 
prepare for his Obfervation. 
Eight days after the Tranfit, he fickened, yet con- 
tinued his obfervations to the iSth of July; and, a 
little before his death, left his materials in writing, 
put into a box, with M. Pauli, to be delivered to 
the Royal Academy. He died about the rft of 
Auguft, as did, about the fame time, the Clock- 
maker 
