456 The Account of a 
instrument would not be sufficiently elevated. There re- 
mained, therefore, no other expedient but fixing upon Dean 
Hill, which is the highest spot near Farley Monument. It 
must be also observed, that Highclere is the only situation 
which affords the means of carrying on the triangles from 
the side Bagshot Heath and Hind Head, without forming a 
quadrilateral. 
When the instrument was at Shooter's Hill, a staff was 
erected on Blackheath, for the purpose of enabling us to de- 
termine the direction of the meridian with respect to Nettle- 
bed. This, however, was not done, the weather proving too 
unfavourable ; but as some of the stations were referred to 
this staff, it may be proper to observe, that on account of its 
being so near Shooter's Hill, a small portfire was placed in a 
groove cut in it, which afforded the means of taking an angle 
very exactly, as thelight had the appearance of a bright point. 
The interior stations which were selected for the use of the 
small instrument, were Bow Hill, near Rook's Hill ; Ports- 
down Common, on the road to Portsmouth ; and Sleep Down, 
near Steyning. To the first and last of these the instrument 
was taken, for the purpose of fixing such objects as could not 
be intersected from the principal stations. The points on the 
coast were particularly wanted, for the construction of some 
maps which were making for the use of the Board of Ord- 
nance. Those places so fixed will be given hereafter ; but it 
must be observed, that few opportunities were lost of searching 
for church towers, and other objects whose situations were to 
be determined. That the bearings of those might be taken 
with precision, the observations were made either in the morn- 
ing or evening, when the air was free from vapour, and with- 
