fropofed trigonometrical Operation. 225 
extenfive open plains where an operation of this fort would not 
have been fo difficult as was at firft imagined, when he pro- 
pofed the fcheme to the Academy of Sciences, a year before 
the voyage to Quito was thought of. Had this been adopted 
as the fcene of their operations, inffead of that elevated 
valley comprehended between the lofty ranges of the 
Andes , the bufinefs would have been much fooner accom- 
plifhed, with infinitely lefs labour and fatigue, and ftill more 
fatisfaCtorily, fince degrees of longitude as well as of latitude 
would probably have been meafured. Here then the Porfcu- 
guefe ffiould determine the length of two or more degrees of 
longitude, and as many of latitude, by way of proof or cor- 
rection of the Peruvian obfervations. A well conduced ope- 
ration of this kind could not fail to add to the celebrity of a 
nation who, by their dilcovery of the new world in the well, 
and having opened the route by the Cape of Good Hope to the 
eaffern fide of the globe, may be confidered as the founders of 
modern navigation. 
With regard to operations in high northern latitudes, which 
would doubtlefs be of great importance, the Ruffian Empire 
muff; certainly afford a variety of lituations, more or lefs diffi- 
cult, for the purpofe ; and an Emprefs who commands fo great 
a proportion of that region of the world, where it is faid ex- 
ploratory difeoveries are at prelent carrying on by her order, 
can fcarcely be fuppofed to fufter a reign, otherwile fo bril- 
liant, to expire, without directing lomething of this fort to be 
executed under the polar circle, or as near to the pole as the 
feverity of the climate will permit, by way of confirmation or 
correction of the Lapland mealurement, which yet (lands 
lingle and by itfelf, without any collateral proof of its exaCt- 
nefs. If fuch operations as thole I have fuggeffed towards the 
Vol. LXXV1I. G g clofe 
