Cursory remarks on some parts of a work, entitled Studies of nature ; originally written by M. de Saint Pierre, and translated into English by ... Henry Hunter / [William Cole].

  • Cole, William, active 1807.
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cursory remarks on some parts of a work, entitled Studies of nature ; originally written by M. de Saint Pierre, and translated into English by ... Henry Hunter / [William Cole]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    intersect each other in an angle which varies as the distance from the equator is greater or less. And in high latitudes, they are almost at right angles to each other, consequently the gravitation there can have very little effect upon the centrifu¬ gal force. C5 We shall here just notice another circumtance which our author brings as a proof of the elon¬ gation of the earth at the poles. This he dedu¬ ces from some barometrical obsei vations. It is well known” says he [Page 19, 20. Yol. Hi.] “ that the height of the atmosphere diminishes in «« proportion as we ascend upon a mountain. TNow « this height diminishes likewise as we advance “ towards the pole. The mercury in the borome* « ter, at Paris, sinks one line at the heigth of ele- «< ven fathom; it sinks likewise one line in Sweden, “ on an elevation of ten fathom, one foot, six 4£ inches, and four lines. The atmosphere of Swe- a den therefore is lower, or what amounts to the « very same thing, its continent is more elevated «* than the land'at Paris. The earth therefore *i lengthens out as you proceed northward. He draws a similar conclusion from some observa¬ tions, said to be made by Captain Cook, in the southern hemisphere.