the Trigonometrical Operation * % g ;♦ 
wards and again backwards, the diftance might certainly be 
determined within a foot of the truth. And hence the impor- 
tance is obvious of having at all times fo accurate and eafy a 
mode of meafurement. 
On due confideration of all thefe circumftances, it will not 
be thought furprifing, that in fixing the fituation of Dunkirk 
and the point M near it, where the meridian of the Royal 
Obfervatory at Paris interfeds a line drawn from thence to 
N.D. at Calais, the Dunkirk bafe , with the corrections de- 
pending upon it, are here receded ; and that the fcale of dis- 
tances furnifhed by the Britifh triangles is adhered to, as not 
differing fenfibly from the mean refult given by the other two 
French meafurements. 
From M. de Cassini’s Book, La Meridienne Verifies , p. 5 1 „ 
53 * and 56. it appears, that Dunkirk (rejeding the corredions 
formerly alluded to) is north from the Royal Obfervatory at 
Paris 125522.2 toifes, which are equal to 133775.3 fathoms. 
And from p. 51. and 57. it further appears that, by the mean 
of two fuites of triangles, Dunkirk is eafi: from the meridian 
of Paris 1420.41 toifes, which are equal to 1513.8 fathoms* 
Again, at p. 276. of the fame Book, Dunkirk is faid to be north 
I2 55 x 7 toifes, and eafl 1430 toifes, which are refpedively 
equal to 133769.7 and 1524.2 fathoms. And, laftly, at p. 
36, of the Defcripiion Ge'ometrique de la France , of the fame 
Author, publifhed in 1783, and which being the lateft fhouk! 
of courfe be the moft corred work, Dunkirk is made north 
from the Royal Obfervatory 125495 toifes, and eaft from its 
meridian , only 1416 toifes, which are refpedively equal to 
1 33746.3 and 1509.1 fathoms. Now, without pretending 
here to enter into the inveftigation of the various corredions 
+ and — which have been applied to the angles of the tri- 
Vol. LXXX* B b angles^ 
