on the Planet Venus. 
12* 
in the same manner as myself. It is here scarcely necessary to 
remind the reader, with respect to the ancient observations-, 
that in all those where no extraordinary light is wanted, par- 
ticularly powerful telescopes are by no means required. I 
should indeed be surprised that the celebrated author had not,, 
in all the time since 1 777, perceived any inequality in the 
boundary of light, or other appearance of that kind, tending to 
confirm the existence of very high mountains according to the 
old observations, were it not that his bold spirit of investiga- 
tion has been chiefly employed in making much more exten- 
sive discoveries in the far distant regions of the heavens, where 
he has gathered unfading laurels.. In fact, the observations 
which he has communicated from his journal are mudh too few 
to prove a negative against old and recent astronomers. With- 
out encroaching upon truth in the least, I could certainly pro- 
duce more good distinct observations during many months, fram 
1779, when I begah to examine Venus carefully, to 1793, when 
my memoir on her rotation was finished, than are adduced for 
a period of 16 years in the abovementioned paper of my op- 
ponent : having, in the latter years, observed this planet not 
only daily, but, as far as the weather and her position ad- 
mitted, almost hourly through the whole day and evening. 
This, I think, is shewn evidently enough by the memoir al- 
ready mentioned, in which only the later observations apper- 
taining to the subject are inserted : and without such steady 
perseverance, my trouble for so many years would have been 
fruitless, us was the case with other observers ; for , in almost 
innumerable observations , the same thing happened to me as to the 
author of the paper in question , namely , I perceived neither spots, 
nor any other remarkable appearance , except the unusually quick 
mdccxcv. R 
