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The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Mr. Weddington returned from St. Helena, where he and Rev. Mr. Maskelyne observed the transit of Venus on April 6 but faced cloudy weather preventing clear contacts. Their longitude findings were accurate within 20 miles. Departed June 30, arrived British Channel September 8.
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We are informed that Mr. Weddington, who accompanied the Rev. Mr. Maskelyne, F. R. S. to St. Helena, in the Prince Henry Indiaman, is returned in the Oxford Indiaman, and relates as follows:
That they arrived at St. Helena the 6th of April, with their instruments in good condition; they had an observatory made upon a hill about half a mile higher than the surface of the sea, wherein they had their instruments for observing the transit of Venus over the Sun; that they made several observations of the transiting of Venus over the Sun's disk, but could not see the contacts, the day being very rainy and cloudy. Their observations of sundry kinds will be laid before the Royal Society at their next meeting; also the results of their observations made on their voyage of finding the longitude of the ship at sea, and when made, the island; likewise of the observations made on his return in the Oxford; which longitude observations of the ecliptic distance of the sun and moon, or moon and stars, did not differ more than 20 miles with the longitude of port and point in the British channel. They departed from St. Helena the 30th of June, and made no land before they arrived in the British channel the 8th of September last.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
St. Helena
Event Date
Arrived 6th Of April; Departed 30th Of June; Arrived British Channel 8th Of September Last
Key Persons
Outcome
made several observations of the transiting of venus but could not see the contacts due to rainy and cloudy weather; longitude observations differed no more than 20 miles from actual
Event Details
Arrived at St. Helena the 6th of April with instruments in good condition; observatory made on a hill half a mile higher than sea surface; observed transit of Venus over the Sun's disk; observations of various kinds and longitude findings to be presented to Royal Society; departed St. Helena 30th of June; no land made before arriving in British channel 8th of September last.