THE

COMPARATIVE PART

O F

Univerfal Geography.

BOOK III.

Of the Properties arifing upon comparing one Place with another.

CHA P. XXXI.

Of the LONGITUDE.

DEFINITION S.

HE Circle of Longitude of any Place is the Circle that paffes through the Place, and both the Poles. It is alfo called a Meridian Circle, which are one and the fame Thing; tho' different in fome Refpects: for the Meridian hath refpect to the Motion of the Stars, and the Circle of Longitude to the Earth's Extenfion, without regard to the celeftial Motions. But the Meridian

is

is the more common Name, which we shall therefore use here. They are plainly feen on the Globes, and in the Maps, paffing thro' every ten Degrees of the Equator.

2. THE Longitude of a Place is the Distance of it's Meridian, from a certain Meridian (meafured on the Equator) which is called the firft; and the Longitude of the Earth itself is it's Extenfion from Weft to Eaft, conceived on the Equator. The first Meridian is made confpicuous on the Globe and in Maps.

3. THE Distance of one Place from another is the fhorteft Line between them, on the Earth's Superficies.

4. ANY Point on the Globe, or Map, is faid truly to represent fome Place on the Earth, if it hath the fame Situation and Distance to the other Points on the Maps, that the Place hath to the other Places reprefented by them.

PROPOSITION I.

There is no Meridian determinated in Nature to be the first, and therefore any one may be taken for the first.

TO understand this aright we must go a little back; for fome conceive a Mystery here, where there is none. All Superficies both plain and curve are measured by two Dimensions (as a Line is by one, and a Body by three) as is known from Geometry, and the common Business of Life; of which two, one is Length, and the other Breadth; and the one is conceived perpendicular to the other: and these two are not in themfelves different; for that we call Length may be called Breadth, tho the longest is ufually called Length,

SECT. VI. IN regular Figures, as equilateral Triangles, Squares, &c. thefe two Dimenfions are the fame, but the Earth's Superficies is fpherical, and the Length not really different from the Breadth, except in our Conception, for the more diftinct underftanding of the Thing. And these two Extenfions may be conceived on the Earth thus; if we take the Periphery of a Semi-Circle from one Point to it's oppofite Point, it will be one Dimension; and if that again be cut in the middle at right Angles by a Circle (as the Length and Breadth is taken in all Superficies) that fhall go round, and be the other Dimension for measuring the Earth's Superficies, as if it were extended into a Plane. The first of these being only a Semicircle may be called the Latitude of the Globe; the other being a whole Circle the Longitude of it. Some fay they are called Latitude and Longitude because a lefs Part of the Earth was known to the Antients towards the Poles than eastward or weftward. . MOREOVER, on the Globe any Semicircles between the Poles may be taken for the Latitude, and a Circle perpendicular to it, for the Longitude, and fo on the Earth; but for the memory fake, it is beft to take fuch Lines as have something peculiar and remarkable, as the Line from Pole to Pole, and the Circle that paffes in the middle between them, as the Equator doth.

THUS it appears plain, why the Latitude is measured on the Meridian, and the Longitude on the Equator.

THIS Latitude and Longitude of the Earth is not to be taken for thofe of a particular Place: for they are only expreffed fo because they are meafured on those of the Earth, and are a Part of them.

AND, properly speaking, a Place or Point, hath neither Latitude nor Longitude: and thefe two different Senfes of the Words ought to be well remembred;

membred; for the Words frequently occur among Geographical Writers; as when we fpeak of the Latitude and Longitude of Spain, the Words are taken properly for Length and Breadth; but when we fpeak of the Latitude and Longitude of a Place, taken as a Point we mean it's Distance from the Equator, and from the firft Meridian; and in my Judgment it were better not to use the Words Latitude and Longitude, but only Distance from the Equator, and from the firft Meridian : but being fo long used they cannot be now abolifhed; and we fhall use them hereafter in this Sense.

MOREOVER, the Latitude of a Place hath, like the Latitude of the whole Earth, remarkable Places for the beginning of the reckoning; as the Poles and the Equator; but the Longitude going round the Earth, hath no certain Place, for a beginning: and therefore we may begin at any Point in the Equator, and count the Meridian that paffes thro' it the first Meridian, from which the reft are reckoned.

WE fhall fhow why these two Distances from the Equator, and the first Meridian are enquired after, as in Prop. iii.

PROPOSITION II.

To determine the first Meridian on the Globe of the Earth, from which we are to begin to reckon the Longitude.

W E faid before that we may begin at any Point on the Equator to reckon the Longitude, but 'tis better to fix upon one Place, thro' which a Meridian being drawn, may be counted the firft. Geographers have not all agreed on this Place. Ptolemy chose to make that the first Meridian which paffes

near

SECT. VI. near the Fortunate, which are Islands about one Degree from it; and reckons from thence to the Eaft thro' Africa and Afia; chufing to begin at a Place inhabited, and which was then the Bounds and Limits of the known Part of the Earth to the Weft, and to end at the eastern Shore of Siam in Afia; but America being known not many Ages ago, and long after Ptolemy's Time, the firft Meridian was removed more to the Weft. Some made that the first which paffes thro' the Isle of St Nicolas; which is one of those near Cape Verd; and Hondius chofe the Isle of St James to be the first Meridian in his Maps.

OTHERS chofe that which paffes thro' the Ifle del Corvo one of the Azores, because the Needle was found not to decline from the North there, and in the adjacent Seas, but to lie in the meridian Line; and this beginning Mercator chooses.

BUT feeing there are other Places where the Needle points to the North, and it doth not so in every Part of that Meridian; Geographers thought this not a fufficient Reason; fome fixing it at the Shore of Brafil, that runs out into the Sea.

LATER Geographers, efpecially the Dutch choose to begin at the Mountain Teneriff, in the Fortunate, or Canary, Ifles, which is counted the highest on Earth, and is called the Pike of Teneriff; and the rather because they thought fome remarkable Place should be chofen that might be most known to future Ages; and fo Ptolemy's firft Meridian, tho' long obferved, was not laid afide without good Reasons. The French fince the Year 1634 have taken that which goes thro' the weft Part of the Isle of Ferro, one of the Canaries, which the French King, Lewis the thirteenth, commanded his Sailors and Geographers to obferve.

ASTRONOMERS alfo have taken diverse Places for the first Meridian, the Followers of Tycho