262 Gen. Roy’s Account of 
thereby been obtained by angular meafurement alone, without 
any regard to difference of time, more or lefs erroneous even 
with the very bell: time-keepers, and not perhaps to be de- 
pended upon to nearer than half a fecond, after taking a mean of 
a number of comparifons. This mode, by angular meafure- 
ment, was fuggefted in the Paper of 1787; and we prefume 
to think, that the refult of the operation has fully verified the 
goodnefs of the method by the confiftency of the pole-ftar ob- 
fervations among themfelves. It may be laid to be a new mode 
of furveying, by the help of the pole-ftar as a fixed point, for 
preferving the accuracy of the operation, fuccefiively carried on 
from meridian to meridian ; and the fame mode ftiould be 
adhered to in future. 
Another circumftance muft likewife be noticed, as having been 
propofed at the fame time, namely, the ufe of white lights 
for the diftant ftations : for without the help of thefe, ob- 
ferved with fuch an inftrument as ours, it would have been 
utterly impoflible to have determined accurately the diftances of 
Montlambert and Blancnez, the firft nearly forty- feven, and 
the laft nearly forty- eight miles from Fairlight Down. 
Without farther recapitulation, the Writer of this Account 
cannot help confidering it as being incumbent on him to recom- 
mend, that the trigonometrical operation, fo fuccefsfully be- 
gun, fhould certainly be continued, and gradually extended 
over the whole ifland. Compared with the greatnefs of the 
object, the annual expence to the publick would be a mere trifle 
not worthy of being mentioned. In reality, a chief part of 
the expence, namely, that of fine iriftruments, has already 
been incurred ; and it would be a pity indeed to fuffer them to 
be laid up and remain ufelefs. The honour of the nation is con- 
cerned in having at leaft as good a map of this as there is of 
any 
