Esteemed Friend, Benjamin Franklin,

In as much as Thou art President of so Respectable a Body of Men, as the “American Philosophical Society,” and as I have heard of thy great Sagacity in several of the Things which are Created, I thought it might please thee to be informed that others have, and are Studying too of Wonderful-Things; and through the known Effects of such, when enlightened by the Great-Author of all, They are Caused humbly to Adore them. And in as much as that great and Learned Men have sought, for may of the Things which are Useful; but in some of their Attempts they have not succeeded to their entire Satsifaction; Nevertheless, they are to be esteemed for the Discoveries which have, been, and are made Known, likewise, for the Prospect of others which might be; in which I have thought that to perfect if possible those which are made Known; may be some Encouragement to persevere in so Laudable a Pursuit. Therefore it may not be further necessary in this Time to make a Long prefatory Remark. After that which I have said, let it suffice that I apprehend I have discoverd an Effect, some time ago, which may be Universal in Use if rightly applyed. And therefore I send with this an Account of it, as a Candidate for the Premiums which was made known and offered by the Society of which thou art a Member, and desire thee to aly it before them agreeable to the Concitions of the Propositions, and sincerely desire thy Welfare every Way, and so conclude in a Degree of the Love which wishes the Good of all Men, and thus subscribe myself thy Friend, Measure a Thing without an Cond.

The Discovery of the Means of finding Longitude.

Take the Proportion of the Circumference of a Circle to its Diameter, since it is allowed that the Earth is round at the Equator; then as the Diameter of the Earth are known, and with the Proportion of a Circle will make known the Exact Circumference, and it Divided by the Number of Degrees contained therein, gives the Quantity of a Degree of Longitude; that is to say, the Proportion is as Five to Sixteen:

Demonstration: Take a Thing which if Five Inches in Diameter, then Draw a Line a Cross the Center, and move it from one of the Ends of the Line until it comes to the Place of Beginning, which may Measure in Length Sixteen Inches.