propofed trigonometrical Operation. 22^ 
portion of its furface which has fallen to their fhare in the 
general diftribution of things. 
Under the aufpices, and immediately under the eye, of a 
Sovereign who loves and cherilhes the lciences, much may be 
done within the limits of the Britilh iflands, which, reckoning 
from Eaftnefs in Suffolk to the weftern parts of Kerry in Ire- 
land, contain near 12 degrees of longitude; and counting from 
the Channel on the fouth to the Orkney iflands only on the 
north about 9 degrees of latitude. With this general purpofe 
in view, and at the fame time to lay the beft foundation for the 
furvey of the Britifh iflands, I would propofe, as the opera- 
tions preferably to be executed, that feriefes of triangles fhould 
be extended along different meridians, particularly thofe of the 
chief Obfervatories, and of fome remarkable hills in the central 
parts of the ifland, till they fall into the fea on the fouth and 
north ; and that, acrofs thefe, a great number of feriefes, in 
the parallels likewife of the chief Obfervatories, and of re- 
markable hills or eminencies, fhould be extended from the eafl 
to the weft coaft. The Wrekin-hill , on the eaftern fkirt of 
Shropfhire, feems to be an eligible point, being in a central 
fituation, fufficiently confpicuous, and yet not fo high as to 
render the frequent accefs to it very inconvenient. If it fhould 
be found, that longitudes may be determined by the inftru- 
ment to the degree of accuracy which is expected, and that 
it may likewife be advantageoufly applied, independently of 
the zenith feftor, in tracing any parallel whofe latitude has been 
already ascertained, or the parallel of any remarkable point, 
whofe meridian is known, but not its latitude; then the num- 
ber of thefe parallel feriefes cannot be too much multiplied : for 
a great many of thefe operations executed with due care would 
abfolutely 
