94 
Dr. Wollaston on the 
of our observations ; and these come far within the specific 
distance above estimated. 
A selection from the series given to me by Captain Kater 
is contained in the following table : 
t. „ _ 
Diff.R. A. 
Diff. calc . 
from N. Aim. 
May 18 
n. m. s. 
2 40 25 
m. s. 
4 2 5-6 
m. s. 
21 30 50 
3 43- 1 
- . . 
23 27 38 
3 3 8 - 8 
. . . 
19 
000 
• • • 
3 37 
Diff. Decl. 
May 18 
2 44 S3 
43 3 6 
23 19 40 
4° 5.7 
*9 
• • • 
. . . 
40 36 
It is evident, 
that in these 
observations 
the differences 
between the observed and calculated places of the planet, are 
not such as to indicate a refraction that can be relied on. 
My own observations were very few in number, and not 
to be compared to the former in precision ; but they are 
necessary to supply a deficiency when Captain Kater was 
at a distance from his instruments, and could make no ob- 
servation. 
On the 26th, between XI. 20 and XI. 30 I had three compa- 
rative observations, the best of which gave me the passage of 
Venus 3 m 55 s after the sun. The mean of two others being 
3 m 49’. I consider the result as on the 25th, 23 11 24“. Diff. 
R. A. 3 m 5 2\ 
The nearest second to be inferred from the Nautical Alma- 
nac for this time being 3“ 53* after the sun, it is evident 
that no perceptible refraction occurred at this time. 
From the observations of Captain Kater, no retardation of 
