LET. XVIII. DF THE SUN, MOON, AND PLANETS. 2YH

Indies. Noris it of much consequence whetherthe observation be made at Fort George, com-monly called Madras, or at Bencoolen, on thewestern fliare of the island of Sumatra, near theequator. But if the French should be disposedto take any pains in this affair, an observer maystation himself conveniently enough at Pondi-cherry, on the western shore of the Bay ofBengal, where the altitude of the pole is abouttwelve degrees.”

" As to the Dutch, their celebrated mart atBatavia will afford them a place of observationfit enough for this purpose, provided they alsohave a disposition to affist in advancing theknowledge of the heavens in this particular.And, indeed, I could wish that many observa-tions of the fame phænomenon might be taken,by different persons, at several places; both thatwe might arrive at a greater degree of certaintyby their agreement, and also lest any single ob-server fliould be deprived, by the interventionof the clouds, of a sight, which I know notwhether any man living will ever fee again;and on which depends the certain and adequatesolution of a problem the most noble in thesciences.”

" I recommend it, therefore, again and again,to those curious Astronomers, who may have anopportunity of observing these things when I amdead, that they would remember these admoni-tions,