488 Lieut. Col. Lambton's abstract of the results deduced 
n°37 / 49 /; , equal 60481,55 fathoms. However, as thero are 
now three distinct sections, whose respective middle points lie 
in 9 0 34' 44"; *3* 2' 55" ; and i 6°34’42" ; I have thought it 
best to take the degrees due to these latitudes, as deduced 
from actual observation, using each, first with the French 
measure, then with the English, and lastly with the Swedish 
measure ; and thence obtaining a general mean for the com- 
pression at the poles. The first mean of these three degrees used 
with the French degree, gives the compression The 
second mean of the same three degrees used with the English 
degree, gives And the third mean of these three 
degrees used with the Swedish degree, gives -A- for the 
compression ; so that the mean of these three means will give 
the compression at the poles or ~ nearly of the polar 
axes ; and this has been finally adopted for computing the 
general tables of degrees from the equator to the pole. 
It will be seen by inspecting the plan of the triangles, 
(PI. XXIII.) that all the sides from which the arc has been 
deduced lie so near the meridian, that no correction has been 
required ; a circumstance that has saved much trouble. The 
sides being so nearly north and south, that the base reduced 
from each side as an hypothenuse, may be considered as a 
chord of an arc parallel, and so nearly contiguous to the 
meridian, that it may, as to sense, be taken as the chord to the 
same arc on the meridian ; and these chords being in general 
short, they will be the same as the arcs, very nearly. I have 
therefore not been at the trouble of applying any correction ; 
for if the whole arc between Punnas and Daumergidda 
(upwards of 680 miles) were divided into small arcs of 30 
