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Astronomical Dialogues.
But, pray, Sir, said she, is not the Word Latitude used also with Reference to the Terrestrial Globe? Surely I have heard my Brother speak of Peking in China's lying in such a Latitude; of the Latitude of London, and of his Ship being harrassed by a Storm, in such a Latitude; but I must own I never knew the, Meaning of it: Am I Astronomer enough to be taught that now?
Yes, Madam, said I, and you will very easily comprehend it: Please to turn your Eyes to the Terrestrial Globe; this Circle which lies exactly in the middle, between the two Poles of the Earth, is here called the Equator.Equator, and by the Sailors the Line; all Places which lie under it, or which have the Equinoctial in the Heavens, passing over their Heads, are said to have no Latitude; but all other Places that lie at any Distance from it, either North or South, are accordingly said to have Latitude of Places.North or South Latitude: And its Quantity is known by turning the Globe about till the Place come to this Brazen Circle in which the Globe hangs, and there the Place will shew its own Latitude, in Degrees upon that Circle: Thus, you see, Madam,when
