THE 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
AUGUST, 1881. 
I. THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF THE EARTH, 
.AND ITS 
EFFECT ON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
By Col. A. W. Drayson, R.A., F.R.A.S. 
§ NY novelty brought forward in the present day ought 
deservedly to be submitted to every form of fair cri- 
ticism, in order that its truth or falsity may be tested. 
To assume that we have arrived at the end of discovery is, 
it will be generally admitted by reasonable men, a mistake ; 
whilst to refuse to investigate, or even examine, any original 
problem, is a proceeding similar to that which retarded the 
advancement of Science in the Dark Ages. 
During some considerable time I have endeavoured to 
make known through the usual channels the fadts which I 
herein bring to notice, but from circumstances over which I 
have no control my endeavour has been thwarted. As, how- 
ever, the fadts remain, I believe it possible that many 
enquirers may be found who will be interested in, and may 
follow out, the proofs which I here submit to them. 
At the present time it is assumed that the Earth is an 
oblate spheroid ; that the Equator divides the Earth into 
hemispheres; that the two Poles of the Earth are equi- 
distant from all parts of the Equator ; that the axis of the 
Earth passes through the centre of the circle termed the 
Equator; that the zenith of all localities on the Earth is 
that point found by drawing an imaginary line from the 
centre of the Earth through the locality, and producing this 
line to the sphere of the Heavens ; and that the various 
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