on the Planet Venus. 
203 
Indeed with regard to Saturn, I cannot hesitate a single 
moment to say, that, had any such things as flat spherical 
forms existed, they could not possibly have escaped my no- 
tice, in the numberless observations with 7, 10, 20, and 40- 
feet reflectors, which I have so often directed to that planet. 
However, if the gentleman who has seen the mountains in 
Venus, has made observations on flat spherical forms on Sa- 
turn, it is to be regretted that he has not attended to the re- 
volution of this planet on its axis, which could not remain an 
hour unknown to him when he saw these forms. 
Last night,* for instance, I saw two small dark spots on 
Jupiter ; I shall not call them flat spherical forms, because 
their flatness, as well as their sphericity, must be hypotheti- 
cal ; moreover, these two terms seem to me to contradict 
each other. These were evidently removed, in less than an 
hour, in such a manner as to point out, very nearly, the di- 
rection and quantity of the rotation of this planet. 
Before I remark on the rest of the extraordinary relations 
above-mentioned, I will give a short extract of my observa- 
tions on Venus, with such deductions as it seems to me that 
we are authorised to make from them. 
Observations. 
April 17, 1777. The disk of Venus was exceedingly well 
defined, dis inct, and bright, but no spot was visible by which 
I could judge of her diurnal motion. The same telescope 
shews the spots on Mars extremely well. 7-feet reflector. 
April 26, 1777. The disk well defined, and bright, but no 
spot. 10- feet reflector. 
May 31, 1793. 
