Measurement of three Degrees oj the Meridian. 323 
in execution those parts of the plan which were most difficult 
and most decisive. 
The results of the first measurements made of different 
arcs on the meridian of different parts of the world, were 
found to be perfectly conformable to the expectations of 
Huyghens and of Newton, and also with experiments made 
on the vibration of the pendulum in different latitudes ; and they 
left no doubt that the earth was in fact flattened at the poles ; 
establishing thereby one point extremely interesting in natural 
philosophy. 
These results, however, did not correspond with sufficient 
accuracy for ascertaining with precision the degree of eccen- 
tricity, or even the general dimensions of the earth, as might 
naturally be expected when we consider the necessary imper- 
fection of the means then employed in these operations, and 
the great difficulties that are to be encountered. 
For the purpose of making a nearer approximation to the 
true dimensions of the earth, and of verifying former mea- 
surements, it is necessary in some instances to repeat them, 
and also to make others in different situations, which may be 
expected to be improved in proportion to the progress that is 
made in the means of perfecting the several departments of 
science. 
At the commencement of the French revolution, men of 
science took advantage of the general impulse which the hu- 
man mind received in favour of every species of innovation, or 
change, and they proposed making a new measurement of an 
arc of the meridian in France, for the purpose of establishing 
a new system of weights and measures, which should be per- 
manent, as being founded on the nature of things. 
