“Precept the 1st. With the Difference of the two Thermometers that give the Heat of the Barometer (and which for Distinction sake, are called the attached Thermometers) enter Table I, with the Degrees of Heat in the Column on the left Hand, and with the Height of the Barometer in Inches, in the horizontal Line at the Top; in the common Point of Meeting of the two Lines will be found the Correction for the Expansion of the Quicksilver by Heat, expressed in decimal Parts of an English Inch; which added to the coldest Barometer, or subtracted from the hottest, will give the Height of the two Barometers, such as would have obtained, had both Instruments been exposed to the same Temperature.
“Precept the 2d. With these corrected Heights of the Barometers enter Table II, and take out respectively the Numbers corresponding to the nearest Tenth of an Inch; and if the Barometers, corrected as in the first Precept, are found to stand at an even Tenth, without any further Fraction, the Difference of these two tabular Numbers (found by subtracting the less from the greater) will give the approximate Height in English Feet. But if, as will commonly happen, the correct Height of the Barometers should not be at an even Tenth, write out the Difference for one entire Tenth, found in the Column adjoining, intitled Differences; and with this Number enter Table III, of proportional Parts in the first vertical Column to the left Hand, or in the 11th Column; and, with the next Decimal, following the Tenths of an Inch in the Height of the Barometer (viz. the hundredths) enter the horizontal Line at the Top, the Point of meeting will give a certain Number of Feet, which write down by itself; do the same by the next decimal Figure in the Height of the Barometer (viz. the thousandths of an Inch,) with this Difference, striking off the last Cypher to the right Hand for a Fraction; add together the two Numbers thus found in the Table of proportional Parts, and their Sum subduct from the tabular Numbers, just found in Table II; the Differences of the tabular Numbers, so diminished, will give the approximate Height in English Feet.
“Precept the 3d. Add together the Degrees of the two detached or Air Thermometers, and divide their Sum by 2, the Quotient will be an intermediate Heat, and must be taken for the mean Temperature of the vertical Column of Air intercepted between the two Places of Observation: if this Temperature should be 31°1⁄4 on the Thermometer, then will the approximate Height before found be the true Height; but if not, take its Difference from 31°1⁄4, and with this Difference seek the Correction in Table IV, for the Expansion of Air, with the Number of Degrees in the vertical Column on the left Hand, and the approximate Height to the nearest thousand Feet in the horizontal Line at the Top; for the hundred Feet strike off one Cypher to the right Hand; for the Tens strike off two; for the Units three: the Sum of these several Numbers added to the approximate Height, if the Temperature be greater than 31°1⁄4, subtracted if less, will give the correct Height in English Feet. An Example or two will make this quite plain.”
[128] There is no Occasion to take more than four Decimals out of the Table.
[129] See Section 368, [Note [120].
[130] Section 368, [Note [121] on Note [120].
[131] Taking one Decimal only out of the Table.
[132] The question: In the upper Gallery of the Dome of St. Peter’s Church at Rome, and 50 Feet below the Top of the Cross, the Barometer, from a Mean of several Observations, stood at Inches 29.5218 Tenths: the attached Thermometer being at Degrees 56.6 Tenths; and the Air-Thermometer at 57 Degrees: at the same Time that another, placed on the Banks of the River Tyber, one Foot above the Surface of the Water, stood at 30.0168, the attached Thermometer at 60°.6, and the Air-Thermometer at 60°.2: what, was the Height of the Building above the Level of the River?
[133] See [Section 375]. 2dly. If the Moiety, Half-Heat, or mean Temperature of the Air, is equal to the Standard-Temperature, to which the two Barometers are brought, by the 2d Table; the fourth Table, for Expansion of Air, is needless: the Height already found, in the 2d Table, being the true Height of the upper Station.
3dly. If the Moiety, Half-Heat, or mean Temperature of the Air, is less than the Standard-Temperature of 31°.24; subtract the mean Temperature from 31.24; and with the Remainder find the Expansion, as usual, by the 4th Table: subtract the Sum, (which is a corresponding Height in Feet and Tenths) from the Height in Feet and Tenths of the upper Barometer, at the Standard-Temperature, in the 2d Table: and the Remainder will be the true Height of the Mountain or upper Station. Section 384, Note a.