[ 5°4 ] 
fum to their difpofal, for defraying the expences of the 
obfervations of the late tranht of Venus in 1769, as his 
Majefty had before done with refpedl to the former tranfit 
of Venus in 1761. Out of this benefacftion, after all 
expences had been paid, there was a conliderable re- 
mainder, and, the Society humbly requeuing to know 
his Majefty’s pleafure about the difpofal of it, he was 
gracioufly pleafed to direct them, to lay it out in Juch 
manner as they thought proper^ and was nioji agreeable to 
the end of their injiitution. As this bounty of his Ma- 
jelty had been originally granted for an aflronomical 
purpofe, the Society thought they could not difpofe of 
it on any more important objedt, or in any manner more 
conliftent with the intentions of their Royal Patron and 
Benefa6tor, than by expending it on this aflronomical ex- 
periment of the attra61ion of a mountain, as what could 
hardly fail of throwing light on the principle of univerfal 
gravitation, and was likely to lead to new difeoveries con- 
cerning the conftitution of this earth which we inhabit, 
particularly with refpedl to the denfity of its internal parts. 
The experiment being thus refolved upon, the next 
next thing to be done was to fix on a proper perfon to 
carry it into execution. Numerous and interefting as my 
literary engagements are at the Royal Obfervatory, I had 
no thoughts of undertaking this care and labour myfelf, 
till the Council of the Royal Society were pleafed to do 
me the honour to think my affiflance necefiTary to infure 
Ihe fuccefs of fo important and delicate an experiment. 
Their thinking fo was a fufficient motive with me to 
encounter 
