‘

3. C.3Cf.

I

I

PHILOSOPHICAL

TRANSACTIONS,

GIVING SOME

ACCOUNT

OF THE

Prefent Undertakings, Studies, and Labours,

OF THE

INGENIOUS,

IN MANY

Confiderable Parts of the WORLD.

VOL. LIV. For the Year 1764.

LONDON:

Printed for L. Davis and C. Rev m ers,
Printers to the Royal Society,
againft Gray s-Inn Gate , in Holbourn .

M.DCC.LXV.

ADVERTISEMENT.

H E Committee appointed by the Royal Society

to direct the publication of the Philojophical

cTranfaftions> take this opportunity to acquaint the
public, that it fully appears, as well from the council-
books and journals of the Society, as from repeated
declarations, which have been made in feveral for-
mer 'Tranfaftion.Sy that the printing of them was al-
ways, from time to time, the fingle a£t of the re-
fpe&ive Secretaries, till the Forty-feventh Volume.
And this information was thought the more neceffary,
not only as it has been the common opinion, that they
were published by the authority, and under the di-
rection, of the Society itfelf ; but alfo, becaufe feveral
authors, both at home and abroad, have in their writ-
ings called them the ‘TranfaSlions oj the Royal Society .
Whereas in truth the Society, as a body, never did
interefl themfelves any further in their publication,
than by occafionally recommending the revival of
them to fome of their fecretaries, when, from the par-
ticular circumltances of their affairs, the PranfaBioni
had happened for any length of time to be intermitted.
And this feems principally to have been done with a
view to fatisfy the public, that their ufual meetings
were then continued for the improvement of know-
ledge, and benefit of mankind, the great ends of their
firfl inftitution by the Royal Charters, and which they
have ever fince fteadily purfued.

But the Society being of late years greatly inlarged,
and their communications more numerous, it was
thought advifeable, that a Committee of their Mem-
bers fhould be appointed to reconfider the papers read
before them, and feleCt out of them fuch, as they

a 2

fhould

ADVERTISEMENT.

fhould judge mod proper for publication in the future
Tranfaftions 3 which was accordingly done upon the
26th of March 1752. And the grounds of their choice
are, and will continue to be, the importance or fingu-
larity of the fubjedts, or the advantageous manner of
treating them 3 without pretending to anfwer for the
certainty of the fadls, or propriety of the reafonings,
contained in the feveral papers fo published, which
mult ft ill reft on the credit or judgment of their re-
fpedtive authors.

It is likewife neceffary on this occafion to remark,
that it is an eftablifhed rule of the Society, to which
they will always adhere, never to give their opinion,
as a body, upon any fubjedt, either of nature or art,
that comes before them. And therefore the thanks,
which are frequently propofed from the chair, to be
given to the authors of luch papers, as are read at
their accuftomed meetings, or to the perfons, through
whofe hands they receive them, are to be coniidered
in no other light, than as a matter of civility, in re-
turn for the refpedt fliewn to the Society by thofe
communications. The like alfo is to be faid with
regard to the feveral projedts, inventions, and curio-
fities of various kinds, which are often exhibited to
the Society 3 the authors whereof, or thofe who ex-
hibit them, frequently take the liberty to report, and
even to certify in the public news-papers, that they
have met with the higheft applaufe and approbation.
And therefore it is hoped, that no regard will here-
after be paid to fuch reports, and public notices ;
which in fome inftances have been too lightly cre-
dited, to the difhonour of the Society.

CON-

CONTENTS

T O

VOL. LIV.

I. AN Account of a Mummy infpetfed London

1763. In- a Letter to William Heberden,
M.D. F. R. S.from John Hadley, M. D. F. R. S.

page 1 .

II. The Sequel of the Cafe of Mr. Butler, of Molcow,
Printed in the Philosophical Tran factions, Vol. L.
p. 19. Communicated by Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S.

P-

III. The Defcription of a new and fafe Crane , which

has four differ ent Powers j invented by Mr. James
Fergufon, F. R. S. p. 24.

IV. Of the Moon’s Li fiance and Parallax : A Let-

ter to Andrew Reid, Eff from P. Murdoch, D. D.
and F. R. S. 12 Nov. 1763. p. 29.

V. An Attempt to Account for the Origin and the For-

mation of the Extraneous Fofjil commonly called the
Belemnite. By Mr. Jofhua. Platt. p. 38.

Vi. An Account of a Singular Species of Wafp and
Locuft : By Samuel Felton, Efq } F. R. S. in a
Letter to Henry Baker, F. R. S. p. 53.

VII. An Account of an American Armadilla : By
William Watfon, M.D. F. R. S. p. 57.

2 VIII An

CONTENTS.

VIII. An Account of the Quantity of Rain fallen at

Mount’s Bay in Cornwall, and of the Weather in
that Place : In a Letter from the Rev. William
Borlafe, M. A. and F. R.S. to the Right Rev. Charles
Lord B if )op of Carlihe, F.R.S. p. 59.

IX. An Account of a Hernia of the Urinary Bladder
including a Stone : By Mr. Percivall Pott, Sur-
geon to St. Bartholomew’s Hojpital ', and F. R. S.

p. 61.

X. Some Ohfcrvatiom on the Cicada of North Ame-
rica, Collett ed by Air. P. Coll in Ton, F. R. S.

p.65.

XT. An Account of the Plague at Conflantinople : In

a Letter from Mordach Mackenzie, M. D. to Sir
James Porter, His Majefty s Envoy Plejiipotentiary
at Bruffels, and F. R. S. p. 69.

XU. An Account of a remarkable Fide at Briftol : In

a Letter to the Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret.
R. S.from the Rev. Jofiah Tucker, D. D. Dean of
Gloucefter. p. 83.

XIII. A Letter containing fomc Experiments in Elec-
tricity, to Air. Benjamin Willon, F.R.S. from
Mr. Torbern Bergman, of Upfal, in Sweden.

p. 84.

XIV. An Account of a Fifh from Batavia, called Ja-
culator : In a Letter to Mr. Peter Collinfon, F.R.S.
from John Albert Schlofler, M.D. F.R.S. p. 89.

XV. An Account of the Polijh Cochineal : Inn Letter

to Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S.from Dr. Wolfe, of
Warfaw P-91*

XVI. Obfervations upon two anti ent Etrufcan Coins,
never before illufi rated or explained ; In a Letter to
the Rev. Thomas Birch, D.D. Secret. R. S.from
I " the

CONTENTS.

the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Member
cf the Academy degli Apatifli at Florence, and of
the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona in Tufcany.

p. 99.

XVII. Objervatiom of the Fclipfe of the Sun, the if
of April 1764, made in Surry- ftreet, in the Strand,
London : By James Short, M.A. F.R.S. p. *107.

XVIII. Obfervations of the Fclipfe of the Sun, April 1,
1764 : In a Letter from Dr. John Bevis, to Jofeph
Salvador, Efq F. R. S. p. 105.

XIX. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the Sun, April 1,
1764: In a Letter to the Rev. Thomas Birch,
D. D. Secret. R. S. from James Fergufon, F.R. S.

p. 108.

XX. ' Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the Sun, April 1,
1764, at Brompton-Park : By Mr. Samuel Dunn.

p. 1 14.

XXI. An Account of the Degree of Cold objerved in
Bedfordshire : By John Howard, Efq-, F. R. S. in
a Letter to John Canton, M. A. F. R. S. p. 1 18.

XXII. Some Remarks upon the frft Part of M. I Abbe

Barthelemy’s Memoir on the Phoenician Letters ,
relative to a Phoenician Infcription in the If and of
Malta. In a Letter to the Reverend Thomas Birch,
D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Rev. John Swinton,
F. R. S. Member of the Academy degli Apatifli at
Florence, and of the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona
in Tufcany. p. 119.

XXIII. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelfea
Garden, prefented to the Royal Society by the wor-
Jhipful Company of Apothecaries , for the Tear 1763,
purfuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane,
Baronet , Med, Reg. et Soc. Reg. aliquando P rapes .*

By

CONTENTS.

By John Wilmer, M. D. clariJJ. Societatis Phar -
maceut. Lend. See. Hart. Chelfean. Preefettus et
PraleBor Botanic. p. 137.

XXIV. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the Sun, April 1,
1764: In a Letter to the Right Honourable James
Earl of Morton, Pref. R. S. from the Reverend
Nathanael Blils, M. A. Savilian Profeffor of Ma-
thematics at Oxford, and AJlronomer Royal, p. 14/1.

XXV. Obfervations on the Eclipfe oj the Sun, April 1,

1764: In a Letter to the Right Honourable James
Earl of Morton, PreJ. R. S. from the Reverend
Thomas Horn (by, M. A. and Savilian Profcfjor of
Atlronomy at Oxford. p. 145.

XXVI. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the Sun, April 1,
1764 : By Matthew Raper, Efq-, F. R. S. p. 150.

XXVII. A Table of the Places of the Comet of 1764
difeovered at the Obfervatory of the Marine at Paris,
the i,d of January, about 8 0 Clock in the Evening , in
the Con fell ation of the Dragon, concluded from its
Situation obferved with regard to the Stars : By Mon-

Jiour Charles Meffier, AJlronomer at the Depot of
the Plans of the Marine of France, at Paris, p. 151.

XXVIII. A Supplement to Motif Pingre’s Memoir on
the Parallax, of the Sun : In a Letter from him to
the Royal Society , tranjlatcd by M. Maty, M. D.
F. R. S. p. 152.

XXIX. An Account of the P ran fit of Venus : In a
Letter to Charles "Morton, M. D. Secret. R. S.

from Chriftian Mayer, S. J. Trai fated from the
Latin by James Parfons, M. D p. 163.

XXX. Objcrvationes Ajlronomice Chiiftiani Mayer,

S.J. P- 165.

XXXI

CONTENTS.

XXXI. Objervations on the Eclipfe of the Sun at
Chatham, April i, 1764, by Mr. Mungo Murray :
Communicated to Jofeph Salvadore, EJq ; F. R. S.
in a Letter from Dr. John Bevis. p. 17 1.

XXXII. Objervations and Experi?ne?its on different
ExtraBs of Hemlock : By Michael Morris, M. D.
F. R. S. p. 172.

XXXIII. Efay on the life of the Ganglions of the
Nerves : By James Johnfton, M. D. Communi-
cated by the Right Rev. Charles Lord Biflsop of
Carlifle, andF.R.S. p. 177.

XXXIV. An Account of fever al fiery Meteors feen in
North America : In a Letter to John Pringle,
M. D . and F. R. S. fi-om John Winthorp, Efq-,
Hollilian Profefior of Mathematics and Philofophy
at Cambridge, in New England. p. 185.

XXXV. Some New Properties in Conic ScBions ,
difcovered by Edward Waring, M. A. Lucafian
Profefior of the Mathematicks in the JJ?7iverfity of
Cambridge, and F. R. S. to Charles Morton, M. D.
Sec. R. S. p. 193.

XXXVI. An Account of the Efi'eBs of Lightening at
South Weald, in Effex : By W. Heberden, M. D.
and F. R. S. p. 198.

XL. Obfervations upon the Efi'eBs of Lightning , with

an Account of the Apparatus propofed to prevent its
Mifchiefs to Buildings , more particularly to Powder
Magazines ; being Anfwers to certain Quejlions pro-
pofed by M. Calandrini, of Geneva, to William
Watfon, M. D. F. R. S. p. 201.

XLI. An Account of the Efi'eBs of Lightning in St.
Bride’s Church, Fleet-ftreet, on the i%th of June
1764: In a Letter to Mr. Benjamin Wilfon,

b F.R.S.

CONTENTS.

F. R. S. from Edward Delaval, Efq ; F. R. S.

p. 22 7.

XLII. A Letter from Thomas Lawrence, M. D. to
William Heberden, M. D. and F. R. S. concern-
ing the Effects of Lightning , in Effex-ftreet, on the
i%th of June 1764. p. 235.

XLII I. An Account of what appeared on Opening the
Body of an ajthmatic PerJ 'on : By W. Watfon,
M. D. F. R. S. p. 239.

XLIV. A Letter to the Marquifs of Rockingham,
with form Obfer various on the Effects of Lightening.

p. 246.

XLV. Solis Defedtus cbfervatus in Collegio Romano a
Patribns Societatis Jefu die prima Aprilis Anno
mdcclxiv. Lempore pojl median noble m. p.254.

XL VI. The Defcription of a New Hygrometer , in-
vented by James Fergufon, F. R. S. p. 259.

XLVII. Experiments and Obfervations on the Com -
prejfibility of Water and J’ome other Fluids , by John
Canton, M. A. F. R. S. p. 261.

XLVII I. Concife Rules for computing the Ejfeffs of Re-
fraction and Parallax in varying the Apparent Di-
jlance of the Moon from the Sun or Star ; aljG an
eafy Rule of Approximation for computing the Di-
jlance of the Moon from a Star, the Longitudes and
Latitudes of both being given , with Demonftrations
of the fame : By the Rev. Nevil Mafkelyne, A. M.
Fellow of Trinity College, in the Univerfty of
Cambridge, and F. R. S. p. 263.

XLIX. Extract of a Letter from Mr. John Winthrop,
Prcfejfor of Mathematicks in Cambridge, New
England, to James Short, A. M. F. R. S. p. 277.

L. Obfervarion

CONTENTS.

L. Obfervation of the \ Tranfit of Venus, June 6>
1764, at St. John’s, Newfoundland : By John
Winthrop, Pr fie for of Mathejnalicks and Philofo-
phy at Cambridge, New England. p. 279.

LI. An Account of the Effects of Lightning on three
Ships in the Eaft Indies : By Mr. Robert Veicht.
Communicated by William Lewis, M. D. and
F.R.S. p.284.

LII. A Demonjl ration of the Second Rule in the Effay
towards the Solution of a Problem in the Do Brine of
Chances , publifoed in the P hilofophical Lranfattions ,
Vol. LII I. Communicated by the Rev. Mr. Richard
Price, in a Letter to Mr. John Canton, M. A.
F. R. S. p. 296.

LI II. An Account of a remarkable Meteor feen at Ox-
ford, March 5, 1764. In a Letter to Thomas
Birch, D. D. Secretary to the Royal Society, jrom
the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Member
of the Academy degli Apatifti at Florence, d?id of
the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona in Tufcany.

p. 326.

LIV. ExtraB of a Letter from Mr. John Horfley
Fourth Mate on board the Glatton Eaft-India Ship ,
to the Rev. Mr. Nevil Mafkelyne, F. R. S. dated
Batavia, Nov. 16, 1763, giving an Account of his
Obfervations , at Sea , for finding out the Longitude
by the Moon. p. 329.

LV. An Account of a remarkable Meteor feen at
Oxford, April 23, 1764. In a Letter to the Rev.
Thomas Birch, D. I). Secretary to the Royal So-
ciety, from the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S„
Member of the Academi degli Apatifti at Florence,
and of the Etrufcan Academy 0/" Cortona in Tufcany.

P- 332-

■2 LVI. Some

CONTENTS.

LVI. Some Remarks upon the Equation op Lime, and
the true Manner op computing it. By Nevil Mafke-
Jyne, A. M. Fellow op Trinity College, Cambridge,
and F. R. S . p. 336.

LVII. Afronomical Obfervations made at the If and of
St. Helena. By Nevil Mafkelyne, M. A. Fellow
op' Trinity College, Cambridge, and F. R. S.

p. 348.

LVIII. An Account oj an extraordinary Difeafe among
the Indians, in the IJlands of Nantucket and
Martha’s Vineyard, in New England. In a Let-
ter from Andrew Oliver, Ffq\ Secretary of his Ma-
jejlys Province of Mafiachuiett’s Bay, to Ilrael
Mauduitt, Efq-,F.R.S. p.386.

L1X. Agronomical Objervations made at the If and of
Barbadoes 5 at Willoughby Fort ; and at the Ob -
fervatory on Conftitution Hill, both adjoining to
Bridge Town. By Nevil Mafkelyne, A.M. Fel-
low op 'Trinity College, Cambridge, and F. R. S.

P. 389.

LX. Remarks upon M. l’Abbe Barthelemy’s Memoir
on the Phoenician Letters , containing his Ref e hi ions
on certain Phoenician Monuments , and the Alpha-
bets refulting from them. In a Letter to the Rev.
Thomas Birch, D. D. Secretary to the Royal So-
ciety, from the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S.
Member of the Academy degli Apatifti at Florence,
and op the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona in Tufcany.

P- 393-

PHILO-

C * ]

PHILOSOPHICAL

TRANSACTIONS.

I. An Account of a Mummy , infpe&ed at

London 1763. In a Letter to William
Heberden, M. D. F. R. S. from John
Hadley, M. D. F. R. S.

Dear Sir ;

Read Jan. 12, N the i6th of December 1763,

I/64 ' Dr. Wollafton, Dr. Blanfhard,

Dr. Hunter, Dr. Petit, the Rev. Mr. Egerton Leigh,
and Mr. Hunter, met at my houfe; that we might
together infpedt a Mummy, which I had received
from the Mufeum of the Royal Society.

Our intention was; to examine the manner, in
which this piece of antiquity had been put together ;
to compare it with the accounts given of thefe prepa-
rations by ancient authors ; and to fee, whether
there were any traces left of the fofter parts; and, if
fo, by what means they had been preferved. A greater
Vol. LIV. B number

{*]

number of authors have written on this fubjedl, than
I was aware of; fo that, in all probability, we have not
made any new diicoveries. I enclofe to you the re-
fult of our enquiry ; and the few obvious reflexions
which occurred. If they appear to contain any
thing worthy notice, you will pleafe to communicate
them to the Royal Society. 1 am.

Dear Sir,

Charter-Houfc,
Jan. ioth, 1764,

Your mod; obedient and
Obliged humble Servant,

John Hadley.

The

HE Mummy, which is the fubjeft of the fol-

lowing pages, is the firft article in Dr. Grew’s
Catalogue of the rarities of the Royal Society. He
informs us, that it was a prefent from Henry Duke
of Norfolk ; and was an entire one, taken out of the
Royal Pyramids. He then proceeds to defcribe the
manner, in which the feveral parts were wrapped up ;
but this he has not done exa&ly : as mod of thefe
very parts had evidently never been opened, till we
examined them : and were then found in a very dif-
ferent date from that in which they are reprefented
bv him.

This Mummy had been greatly injured, before it
came into our hands ; the head had been taken off
from the body; and the wrappers, with which
they had been united, having been dedroyed, the
cavity of the thorax was found open towards the neck:
and part of the upper crud, with the clavicles, hav-
ing been alfo broken away, the heads of the ofj'a
humeri prefented themfelves covered with a thin
coat of pitch.

The feet alfo had been broken off from the legs ;
and were fixed, by wires, to the end of the wooden
cafe in which the Mummy lay.

The outward painted covering, which reached from
the upper part of the ched nearly to the bottom of
the legs ; had been removed and fadened on again by a
great number of ordinary nails, driven up to the head
into the fubdance of the Mummy. This had mod pro-
bably been done by thofe, who had orders fome years
fince to repair it ; and by this, and by the manner in
which they had fadened on the feet, they feem to
have done their work in a mod clumfy manner.

j

B 2

This

[4]

This whole external covering of the forepart of the
Mummy confuted of feveral folds of broad pieces of
linnen cloth ; made to adhere together by fome vifcous
matter, which had not yet lod its property: and the
whole had received an additional degree of drength and
iubftance from the coat of paint laid on. The figures,
which were not entirely defaced, were fo much of the
lame kind with thole which the writers on this fubjedt
have defcribed, as to make any account of them here
needlefs : and, indeed, they were all fo much injured,
as to render a particular defcription of them very
difficult, if not impoffible.

There were not the led remains of hair or inte-
guments, on any part of the head ; fome parts of the
ikull were quite bare; particularly about the tempo-
ral bones: which had the natural poliffi, and appeared
in every refpedt like the bones of an ordinary fkull.
To other parts of the fkull adhered feveral folds of
pitched linnen; which together were near half an inch
in thicknefs: on removing them, they were found to
have been in actual contact with the bone; fo that
the integuments mud have been taken away, before
the wrappers were at hrd applied.

The under jaw was lod : and the fuperior maxillary,
fphenoi'dal and ethmoidal bones w7ere broken away ;
the j or amen occipitale was dopped up with pitch, with
which alio the inner part of the fkull was lined; this
leemed to have been poured in at the Jorameny and
made to apply to the feveral parts of the infide of the
fkull, by turning the head in different directions; the
wave of the melted pitch from fuch motion appear-
ing very plain. The infide of the fkull was in many
places covered very thinly; and, in fome few, which

[5l

the fluid pitch had miffed, it was quite bare. The
pitch, which flopped up the foramen cccipitale , had
on it the impreffion of one of the vertebrae of the
neck ; and externally about the foramen adhered a
confiderable quantity of pitch.

The outward painted covering being removed,
nothing but linnen fillets were to be feen : which en-
clofed the whole Mummy.

Thefe fillets were of different breadths; the greater
part about an inch and a half, thofe about the feet
much broader : they were torn longitudinally ; thofe
few that had a felvage having it on one fide only ; the
uppermofl fillets were of a degree of finenefs nearly
equal to what is now fold in the fhops for 2 s. 4 d.
per yard, under the name of long lawn ; and were
woven fomething after the manner of Ruflia-fheet-
ing : the fillets were of a brown colour, and in fome
meafure rotten. Thefe outward fillets feemed to owe
their colour to having been fleeped in fome gummy
folution ; as the inner ones were in pitch.

The fillets immediately under the painted covering
lay in a tranfverfe direction ; under thefe, which were
many double, they lay oblique, diagonally from the
fhoulders to the ilia. Under thefe the fillets were
broader, fome nearly three inches ; and lay longitu-
dinally from the neck to the feet, and alfo from the
fhoulders down the fides; on which there was a re-
markable thicknefs of thefe longitudinal fillets : un-
der thefe they were again tranfverfe, and under thefe
again oblique.

The fillets in general externally did not adhere to
each other ; but, though pieces of a confiderable length
could be taken off intire, yet (from the great age)

fo

fo tender was the texture of the cloth, that it was im-
pofiible regularly to unroll them.

Astheoutward fillets wereremoved, thofe that next
prefented themfelves had been evidently deeped in
pitch, and were in general coarfer, in folds, and more
irregularly laid on; as they were moredidant from the
furface. The inner filleting of all was fo impreg-
nated with pitch, as to form with it one hard black
brittle mafs ; and had been burned nearly to a
coal. On breaking this, it appeared in many places
as if filled with a white eftlorefcence : like that ob-
lervable on the outfide of pyrites , which have been
expofed to the air. This efflorefcence however had
nothing faline to the tade ; and did not diffolve in wa-
ter : but indantly difappeared, on bringing it near
enough to the fire to be [lightly heated ; and was folu-
ble in fpirit of wine.

In the cavity of the abdomen we found feveral
fmall pieces of bone, which had the appearance of
dry oak, mixed with crumbled pitch ; under this was
found more folid pitch, which adhered to the
fpine.

After cutting away the mafs of cloth and pitch
which covered the thorax ; we found, the arms had
been laid drait down by the fides of the ched, and the
ulna and radius bent upwards, and laid with the
hands acrofs upon the bread:, the right hand being
upper mod.

The bones of the fingers were lod ; but the me-
tacarpal bones were found, broken off, and fallen into
the thorax.

The filleting, which went round the upper part of
the body, included the arms alfo j but they had evi-
dently

C 7 ]

dently been fir ft wrapped feparately, then laid up in
the pofition in which we found them, and the hol-
lows which they formed filled up with pieces of
pitched cloth.

In the cavity of the thorax there was alfo a confi-
derable quantity of crumbled pitch and fplinters of
dry bone ; and, as in the progrefs of this examination
we continually found, that fome of the bones did,
as we laid them bare, feparate into fuch fplinters ; it
is very probable, that this appearance was owing to
the Mummy’s having been handled in a rough man-
ner, and much fhaken by the perfons who had dri-
ven it full of nails, when they were employed to re-
pair the outfide of it.

On our firff opening a way into the thorax , we
imagined the ribs were deftroyed ; but, upon a more
accurate examination, they were found entire ; but fo
bedded in the pitch, and fo black, and burned into
the mafs, as to make it difficult to diftinguifh thefe
very different fubftances from each other.

The bones of the fpine and of the -pelvis were
in the fame ffate with the ribs; only rather more
burned.

There was a confiderable thicknefs of hard folid
pitch lining the cavity of the thorax ; this had been
evidently liquified, and poured in ; and retained that
gloffy appearance on its furface, which is obferva-
ble on pitch that is fuffered to cool without being
diffnrbed.

On breaking through this hard cruft of pitch, to
examine the vertebra and the ribs, the pitch, which
was under this cruft and neareft to the bones, was
crumbly and foft ; and, on being expofed to the air,
grew perfectly moift, in a very fhort time.

4

The

[ 8 ]

The lower extremities were wrapped feparately in
fillets to nearly their natural fize, and then bound
together ; the interfaces being rammed full of pitched

rags.

On cutting through the fillets on the thighs, the
bones were found inverted with a thin coat of
pitch ; and the filleting was bound immediately on
this.

The tibia and fibula of each leg were found alfo
wrapped in the fame manner ; and the bones in adlual
contact with the pitch : excepting in one or two

places, where the pitch was fo very thin, that the cloth
appeared to adhere to the bone itfelf.

The feet were filleted in the fame manner ; being
firft bound feparately, and then wrapped together.
The filleting had been by forne accident rubbed off the
toes of the right foot ; and the nail of the great toe
was found perfect : the laft joints of the bones of the
jerter, toes had been broken away ; by which it ap-
peared, that thefe bones had been penetrated and their
cavities quite filled with pitch. The filleting about
the heel had alfo been broken away, and the bones
of the tarfus , and fome of the metatarfal bones had
fallen out and were loft; leaving the remaining filleting
like a kind of cafe.

The fillets on the left foot were perfect ; except on
the heel, and where they had been divided from thofe
of the leg ; a fmall portion of the ten do A chillis ad-
hered to the os calcis-y and fome of the ligaments to
the afragalus.

On cutting into the fillets on the foie of this foot,
they were found to enclofe a bulbous root. The ap-
pearance of this was very frefli ; and part of the thin

fhiniug

9'

Thzlos . Traits. Vol.BJV TAB.I. j>. ,y

cj7is, f//efaitf m/ur/ em/o. reels
Mr roefrwft/ls /fa jfa/nity jfatr at/fanr^-io i/7

;. •

3. &fa 'fur a/ /tried of /fa/ dfafa

^y/w/Je'nfand offfaivrmu /InttwdfPffatir

5 efomes oft/ur dyttnumfo of lie '/ar,uu>

2- —

— 1

[9 3

fhining fkin came off with a flake of the dry brittle
filleting, with which it had been bound down ; it
leemed to have been in contadt with the flefli :
the bafe of the root lay towards the heel. [Vide
Tab. L]

This difcovery immediately brought to mind a
paffage in Profpcr Alpinus *, and gave fome ap-
pearance of probability to a relation, which, as
he himfelf infinuates, might give great reafon to
doubt his veracity. Speaking of the ftone image
of a fcarabceus , which was found in the bread; of a
Mummy he adds : £C lucre dibile didlu, rami rorifma-

<c rini qui una cum idolo inventi fuerunt , folia ufque
<{ adeo viridia et recent i a vifa fuerunt , ut ed die a
“ plant d decerpti et pojiti apparuerint .”

The fillets were removed from this foot with great
care ; they were much impregnated with pitch, ex-
cepting about the toes ; where the feveral folds unit-
ed into one mafs, being cut through, yielded to the
knife like a very tough wax. The toes being care-
fully laid bare, the nails were found perfedfc upon
them all; fome of them retaining areddifli hue, as
if they had been painted ; the ikin alio, and even the
fine fpiral lines on it, were ftill very vilible on the un-
der part of the great toe, and of the three next ad^
joining toes. Where the fkin of the toes was de-
'ffroyed, there appeared a pitchy mafs, refembling
in form the flelhy fubfiance ; though fomewhat
fhrunk from its original bulk. The natural form
of the flefli was preferved alfo on the under part
of the foot; near the bales of the toes. On the

*735

* Profper Alpinus rerum iEgyptiarum, &c; cum notis Veflingii,
pag. 36.

Vo L. UV. C back

C

[ IO ]

back of the toes appeared feveral of the extenfor
tendons.

The root juft mentioned was bound to the foot by
thefilleting that inverted the metatarfal bones; nomore
of this filleting was cut away, than was juft fufficient
to fhew, without removing from its place, a fubftance
which had been prelerved in fo extraordinary a
manner.

On cutting away the fillets which covered the tar -
Jus, the bones adhered ftrongly together ; and were
covered with hard pitch : with which they Teemed
thoroughly impregnated. •

On cutting away this outward pitch, there appeared
very diftindtly the tendons of the peroncus anticus
and pojiicus , the tendons of the extenfor digitorum
longus , and the tendon of the tibialis anticus ; and be-
fides thefe a confiderable portion of the ligaments of
the tarfus.

On examining the cafe formed by the pitch and
fillets, which had covered the right foot, and out of
which the bones had been taken ; there was a very
plain mould left, in which there had been enclofed
another root fimilar to that we difeovered in the left
foot; and in which fome of the external fhining fkin of
the root ftill remained.

During this whole examination, if we except
•what was difeovered in the feet, there were not found
the left remains of any of the foft parts.

All the bones of the trunk were bedded in a mafs
of pitch ; and thofe of the limbs were covered with a
thin coat of it, and then fwathed in the fillets : which
(as has been mentioned) in fome placeswhere the
pitch was very thin, feemed to adhere to the bone
..itfelf.

The

[ 11 ]

The cavities of many of the bones, on being bro-
ken, were found quite full of this fubftance : the me-
tacarpal bones were fo 3 as were the radii, and many
others: the ribs, as was before mentioned, were impreg-
nated with it 3 and fo burned, as to be with difficulty
diftinguifhed from it : in which ftate alfo, were the
vertebra and the bones of the, pelvis.

The pitch had alfo penetrated into the cellular part
of the head of the thigh bone 5 the fmall bones of the
toes were quite full : but it had not entered into all
the metatarfal bones.

From experiment it has been found ; that, bones
and flefh being boiled in common pitch, it will per-
vade the fubftandl and fill the cavities of the former :
and the latter will be fo impregnated with it, as to be
reduced to an uniform black brittle mafs 3 not in the
left refembling flefh.

This treatment however will not account for the
ftate, in which this Mummy was found 3 for, if the
flefh had not been previously removed, though its
appearance would have been entirely changed, yet
the filleting could never have been found in contadl
with the bones.

From this laft circumftance it is moft likely that
the body, excepting the feet, had been reduced to a
fkeleton, before it was laid up 3 it is alfo pretty certain,
that it muft have been kept fome time in boiling
pitch 3 both before and after fome of the layers of the
innermoft filleting were laid on.

The feet feem to have been fwathed, at left in part, ,
before they were committed to the hot pitch : and
this feems to have pervaded the bandages, the flefh
and the bones,

C 2

It

[ 12 ]

It Hl been imagined, that the principal matter
.1 1 fed by the /Egyptians for embalming was the aj-
phalius ; but what we found was certainly a vegeta-
ble production. The fmell in burning was very un-
like that of afphaltus ; nor did it refemble that of
the common pitch of the fir-tree : being rather

aromatic.

It was compared with a variety of refins and
gum - refins ; but leemed not to refemble any
of them, excepting myrrh; and that but very
fiightly.

In all probability, it was not a fimple fubftance ;
but might be a mixture of the refinous productions
of the country, with the pitch of that tree which they
had in greateft plenty.

The AXtiQot() tx Ke^x of Herodotus *, and the
K of Didorus Siculus -f-, was mofi: probably the
tar of the cedar; it is the iubftance faid by the! e au-
thors to be ufed for embalming ; Galen J mentions
its power of prelerving bodies ; and § Diofcorides calls
it day. Pliny , (peaking of the cedar, lays ; that the
tar was forced out of it by fire, and that in Syria it
was called cedrium : cujus tanta vis eft, ut in
/Egypt o || corpora hominum defundiorum eo perfufa
ferventur.

Some branches of the cedar were procured from
the phyfic garden 2\Chelfea\ and, being treated in
the manner deferibed by Pliny , yielded tar and

* Herodot. Euterpe, pag. rig. ed. Gronov.

f Diodor. Sicul. lib. i. p.8 2. ed. Rhodomanni.

X Galen, de funpl. Med. Facult. lib. vii. cap. 16.

§ Diofcorides de mat. medic, lib i. cap, 105. pag. 56.
Francof. 1598.

|| Plinii Hiftor, lib xvi. cap. n. pag. 382. cd. Dalecamp.

pitch

[*3]

pitch, which had no aromatic fmell, and feemed
in many refpeCts fimilar to the produce of the
fir-tree. There mu ft undoubtedly therefore
have been fome other refinous matter mixed with

the cedriwn.

The pitch of this Mummy was carefully diftilled ;
but gave no other produce, than what might be ex-
pected from a refinous body ; the caput mortumn,
when burned and elixated, yielded a fixed alkali ; to
this may be attributed the moifture, which the pitch,
that was in contact with the fpine and thofe other
parts which were moft burned, contracted on being
broken and expofed to the air ; for this pitch had an
alkaline tafte, and had been more than melted ; hav-
ing been burned to a caput mortuurn.

A great variety of experiments were made on this
pitchy matter; the refult of them all tended to prove,
that it had not the left refemblance to afpkaltus ; but
was certainly a vegetable refinous fubftance.

Monf. Rouelle , in the Memoirs of the Royal Aca-
demy of Sciences for 1750, has given us a very ela-
borate and ingenious treatife on embalming : wherein
he has chemically analyfed the pitch of fix different
Mummies.

From his obfervations ; from what Pietro della
Valle*, and Joannes Nardius -j- at the end of his edi-
tion of Lucretius , have written on this head ; from

* Viaggi di Pietro della Valle, Tom. 4.

t Lucretius Joannis Nardii de Funeribus AEgyptiorum Ani-
madverfio 50. p. 627. Thefe accounts of della Valle and Nar-
dius are alfo to be met with in the 3d vol. of Athanaf. Kircher’s
Oedipus Tgygpt.

what

[ *4 ]

what Dr. Middleton J obferved in the Mummy
which was opened at Cambridge from the Me-
moires of Count Caylus , in the 23d vol. of Acad,
des Infcript. et Belles Lettres; and from this prefen t
examination ; it appears, that various methods of em-
balming were praddifed among the /Egyptians', and
that they ufed different materials for this purpofe: and
though Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus have giv-
en us reafon to expert to find the bodies in a much
more perfect ftate, than we ever do meet with
them, yet, on the other hand, it is evident; from
the foot of this Mummy which we examined,
and from the account Monf. Rouelle and Count
Caylus have given us in the above mentioned
Memoires ; that all the flefhy parts were not always
previoufly deftroyed.

t Middleton’s works, vol. 4. Germana quaedam Antiquita-
tis monumenta.

II. The

[ r5 ]

II. 1 *he Sequel of the Cafe of Mr . Butler,

of Mofcow, Printed in Philofophical
Tranfadlions, Vol. L. p. 19. Communi-
ated by Mr. Henry Baker, F. R . S.

Read jan. 19, JN the year 1757 I had the honour to
I/64‘ X communicate to this Royal Society,
from Dr. James Mounfey, F. R. S. late Privy-coun-
cellor and chief Phyfician to the Emprefs of Ruffia,
tEe very extraordinary cafe of Mr. Butler, a paper-
ftainer at Mofcow, who, on mixing verdegris and
falfe-gold leaf with aqua fortis, by way of ex-
periment, for the production of colours, and ftirring
the mixture with a fmall pair of fcifiars, was foon
after affeCted with a burning pain, firft in one finger,
then in his whole hand ; afterwards in the other
hand : in his legs, toes, fhoulders, back, belly,
forehead, eyes, and by turns in every part of his
body, fhooting from place to place, like flafhes of
lightning, as he termed it. He complained likewife of
great anxiety and pain at the pit of the ftomach, as if
a burning iron was laid on it, with many other dan-
gerous and uncommon fymptoms, which in about ten
days abated, and after a time feemed intirely gone :
for the particulars whereof, and the manner in which
he was treated by Dr. Mounfey, I muft refer to the
account printed in the 50th Vol. of the Philofophical
TranfaClions, p. 19.

Thus much being necefiarily premifed, I now take
the liberty to lay before you a letter to me from Dr.

5 Mounfey,

[ 1 6 ]

Mounfey, with a farther account of the cafe of this
fame Mr. Butler.

Dr. Mounfey ’s Letter to Mr. Baker.

Dumfries, Mar. 4th, 1763.

Dear Sir,

| AM afliamed that I have delayed fo long per-
forming my promife to fend you the fequel of
Mi'. Butler’s cafe, which you thought would be very
agreeable to the Royal Society : but I partly waited
to fee if any thing farther remarkable would follow,
and alfo I was for a long time after that fo hurried
with affairs, that I fcarce had a moment to myfelf.
I remember you wrote me word, that the Society
does not much attend to theory and conje&ure; fo I
jfhall omit to give my opinion of caufes and their way
of operating, and only fend a fimple narration of
fads, in the fame order they happened, extracted
from my notes taken upon this occasion.

In my former account of Mr. Butler’s cafe, it is
faid, that he had recovered his perfed health and
ftrength : yet after that he was often fubjed to ail-
ments of the nervous kind, and became fenfibly
affeded not only by the fmell of paints, but even the
handling of fome kinds of metallic inodorous bodies
gave him anxiety, tremor, faintings, and many other
uneafy fymptoms.

The handling of verdegris, vitriol, and the like,
threw him into thefe diforders j and he affured me,
that the handling copper or iron had the fame effed

on

[ x7 ]

on him. — ■ I often heard his complaints ; but, as I
deemed them imaginary, or fenfations raifed by the
apprehenfion, I oftentimes only drove to undeceive

his fancy. However, I began to fee, by fome

accidents, that there was more reality than I had be-
lieved, and that his firft accident had left a difpofition
of the body fufceptible to fuch imprefiions.

One day having got home a box of Ceruffa, he took
out fome lumps to examine the quality, and handled
them without the lead fufpicion of harm; but in a
few hours after this he was taken with anxiety, pal-
pitation of the heart, and a fenfe of trembling and
weaknefs of the whole body. He was obliged to
go to bed : he took fome fpirit of Hartfhorn, fweated
moft plentifully, and next day was recovered. Many
things of this fort happened to him : but I diall only
give you an account of the mod extraordinary attack
which happened to him June 26th, 1758.

Mr. Butler dill wanting to make experiments, but
not daring to meddle with the operations himfelf,
directed his wife to make fome compofitions of blue
vitriol, alum, quick-lime, burnt alabader, and
things of this kind. — They were boiled in fix feveral
pots, then let dand fome time, and the thin or watry
part poured off. She brought thefe pots to her huf-
band to look at : He was fond to try the colours him-
felf, and, without any apprehenfion, he took fome
of thofe precipitations out of each pot, with the middle
finger of his right hand, and rubbed them on grey
paper to try the colours. He then put them away,
and thought nothing more of the matter, drank tea,
and was very well till about three hours thereafter.
Then he began to be uneafy, and found pain in his

Vol. LIV. D arms.

[ i8 ]

arms, and efpecially in his right hand; he became
fick at ftomach, and felt a trembling over his whole
body. He ftrove to get the better of this attack, and,
walked fiowly about for fome time, but turned pale
faint, and fell down. He foon recovered again, and,
Hill thinking to mafter the illnefs, drank two or three
g affes of wine, which he vomited up again. This
began at noon, and at fix in the evening 1 found him
in bed frighted and fweating. His pulfe was then
regularbut quick : hewas fick at ftomach,with anxiety.
I ordered him fome faline draughts, and plenty of
thin warm liquors. In the night he fleeped but in-
differently: his complaints were not continual, but re-
turned by fits, with ftretchings of the limbs, tremor,
and ftarting of the tendons over the whole body, and
when he began to flumber he was difturbed with
frightful dreams of fire.

27th, Early in the morning he obferved many
fmall purple fpots on his hands. I found them juft,
like purple petechia : the moft on his right arm, and
perceptible through the thick fkin of the palm of that
hand. There were alfo fome on the other arm and
legs, and fome of a deeper colour on the thighs, but
very few on the reft of the body. As his pulfe was
now grown quicker, I fufpedted this to be a petechial
fever : but there being no fevers of that kind then in
town, and befides, as 1 could not reconcile the other
circumftances, I remained undetermined and much
perplexed by all thefe appearances. About four in the
afternoon he was again feized with great anxiety, and
pricking burning pains in the feet : the toes were extra-
ordinary red, and he had frequent ftretchings. Thefe
went almoft off in a few hours.

28th,

C x9 ]

28th, He was not fo much troubled with the fre-
quent returns of his complaints : his pulfe was quick,
and the fpots kept out with itching.

29th, He was much the fame as yefterday, only
more cheerful in the intervals, and the fpots appeared
fewer. He got frequently out of bed and walked in
the room.

30th, The attacks returned much feldomer, and
he would not keep in bed, but walked a great deal
about the room, though his pulfe was ftill feverifh.
Many of the fpots difappeared : mod: were grown pale,
and fome of a dun hue : Thofe on the palm of the
right hand were almoft gone. — He faid, the fpots
grew always fairer every time the fits returned, and
then he feltpricking pain with great heat, efpecially
on the infides of his arms and legs, and in his feet
and toes.

July iff, I found him walking about the room,
his pulfe ftill quick. Laft night he had been pretty
eafy and free. The fpots were pale and difappearing.
He took a laxative, which operated very well.

2d, Laff night he got pretty good reft, but this
morning the prickling and tremorous fenfation over
the whole body returned, but did not laft long. He
afterwards got up, walked about, and looked after
his bufinefs. The fpots were moftly gone. He ob-
ferved, that the pricking pains in his arms and legs,
and in alarge fpot on his back (which troubled him,
in all his former accidents) came now only in the fore-
noons, and then almoft ceafed for the reft of the
day.

3d, Every thing much the fame, but the attacks
were lighter.

D 2 4th

C 2° 1

4th, Very little difference j only now and then he
was troubled with a glowing painful fenfation im-
mediatly under the {kin, fometimes inone part of
the body, fometimes in another, a fpot about the big-
nefs of a crown piece.

5th, Things much the fame.

6th, The attacks {lighter, with the fame feelings.

7th, Very little change, but rather better.

Hitherto I was moflly an obfervator; and, not being
forced by an abfolute neceffity, I did not chufe to load
him, at an uncertainty, with many drugs. 1 had
given him little more than abforbent nitrous pow-
ders : but now, as he had no fever, but was rather
lax and weak, and his nervous fyftem affedted, I
thought I might begin to give him things more pow-
erful, and therefore ordered as follows :

*

Extradh Cortic. Peruvian, drach. ij.

■ ' - Aurantior.

Gum. Ammoniac.

Myrrh, ana drach. j

Sal. Martis drach. fs.

Syrup. Cortic. Aurant. q. f. — F. Pillulas lingula;
gran. iv. deaur. fig. capeat mane et vefperi v
Pillulas.

Here, in preferring, I had attention to the anti-
pathy nature had {hewn to iron, therefore took care
the quantity in each dofe fhould be very fmall, the
Sal martis fcarcely making two grains.

8th, He took a dofe this night, was very redlefs,
and greatly affedted with ail the former fymptoms.

9th, He laid, he felt this medicine ftruggling with
the diftemper within him; fo fwallowed, though with

great

[ 21 ]

great relu&ance, another dofe early in the morning.
In lefs than three hours he was again taken very ill,
with anxiety, a fenfe of trembling over the whole
body, and as if prickling fparks were flying out every
where. — When I came to him, he begged me to
change this medicine, and faiditwas like to have killed
him* Having heard all his complaints, I made the
pills be put away, and promifed he fhould have no
more of them: but his fear and averfion were fo
great, that the moment I was gone he ordered the
box to be taken out of the houfe and thrown
quite away.

ioth, Hepaffed this night tolerably, andfoundhim-
felf much .better in the morning: but the complaints
came by turns as before.

From this till the 20th, I gave him fundry me-
dicines, but with little more effedt than to eafe him
now and then : for the complaints always returned
again in different manners and at uncertain times : but
nothing extraordinary happened.

On the 20th, I gave him a dofe of Epfom fait,
which he had been ufed to take : it purged very well j
but, immediately on its leaving off to work, his body
ftruck out with great numbers of fmall red fpots,
without other inconvenience except a little extraordi-
nary heat in the fkin.

2 1 ft, The fpots were almoft gone, and he found
himfelf more cool and eafy than before.

2 2d, He took another dofe, and the fpots returned
in the fame way more than the firft day : he found
alfo the fame relief. After this he took more dofes
of the fame fait, always intermitting a day or two.
The fpots returned, but every time fewer appeared ;
and at laft none appeared on taking thefe falts.

The

[ 22 ]

This fal catharticum amarum came from England ;
and whether home vitriolic acid had been ufed in
making it, I do not know j but it is likely there
had.

From the firfl: of Auguft he took no medicines j
the attacks were grown much lefs frequent and (lighter:
only he often felt in the night time like the ftroke of

an electrified body.

Auguft 13. He was awaked this night by pain, as
if urning irons had been clapped to the in Tides of
hi > legs, with anxiety and a fenfe of tremor over
the whole body. I was fent for, but his complaints
were greatly diminifhed before I came I found his
pulle very quick, irregular and fmall: but I could
find no new caufe for the return of his complaints.
He had after this fome fmaller attacks : but in the
night of the 23d he was feized with a violent fit of
the fame fort, with ftretchings, and as it prickling
fparks were flying continually out of the fkin. He
had palpitation of the heart, and complained of the
want of breath: his left fide turned cold, and his
right fide grew hotter. When I came he was grown
better, but the pulfe hill very fmall, frequent and
inordinate.

24th, He was again attacked in the fame manner
in the night time, and it alfo went off in the fame
manner : but he now grew feverifli and kept his bed
fome days.

By the word flretchings I mean the ftretching of
his body and limbs by a flow and gentle convullion
of the extenfor mufcles 3 for in all the attacks I never
obferved the flexores any way affieCted. — His feel
ings were frequently fo odd that, he faid, he could
not defcribe them. He often felt as if his left lide,

from

[ 23 ]

from his head to his wafte was empty, and that
millions of fmall bodies were drove up and down
with great velocity : which he likened to the (haking
of peas in a bladder.

I tryed many kinds of remedies to rid him of this
diforder. Fie found often relief from them, but the
ailments returned again. The remedy I found the
moft effectual was my putting him on a milk diet, and
making him drive hard on a cart every day, forenoon
and afternoon, which he continued to do for feveral
weeks. His complaints all decreafed ; and, when he
was threatened with an attack, a few drops of fpirits
of hartfhorn and lavendar, or the like, were now
of fervice to him, which formerly had no effed. In
fhort, I gave him again animal food, and he kept his
health pretty well.

The firft year after this he was always fearful; and
often complaining, of what appeared to me fmall
things, but by little and little he got the better of
thefe alfo. Though he always continued to avoid
handling metals, minerals, or things painted with
thefe bodies. When I left Rufha, he was very well ;
and I have lately heard by a letter that he continues fo ;
and I believe obferves the fame circumfpedion about
paints and metals as before.

Ill Tk

C 24 ]

III. The Defcriptlon of a new and fafe Crane ,
which has four different Powers ; invented
by Mr. James Fergufon, F. R. S.

Read Jan. 19, H E common crane confifts only of

1 + JL a large wheel and axle; and the
rope, by which goods are drawn up from fhips, winds
or coils round the axle, as it is turned by men walk-
ing in the wheel. But, as thefe engines have nothing
to flop the weight from running down, if any of
the men happen to trip or fall in the wheel, the
weight defcends, and turns the wheel rapidly back-
ward, and toffes the men violently about within it ;
which has produced melancholy inftances, not only
of limbs broke, but even of lives loft, by this ill-
judged conftrudtion of cranes. And befides, they
have but one power for all forts of weights ; fo that,
they generally fpend as much time in raifing a fmall
weight as railing a great one.

Thefe dangers and imperfedlions made me think
of a method of remedying them. And for that
purppfe, I have contrived a crane with a proper flop
to prevent the danger, and with different powers
fuited to different weights ; fo that there might be
as little lofs of time as poftible : and alfo, that when
heavy goods are let down into fhips, the defcent may
be regular and deliberate.

This crane has four different powers : and, I be-
lieve, it might be built in a room eight feet in width ;
the gib being placed on the outfide of the room.

Three

Philos. Trajttr. 7*1. X/r. TAB Up 24.

/

C 2 5 ]

Three trundles, with different numbers of daves,
are applied to the cogs of a horizontal wheel with an
upright axle ; and the rope, which draws up the goods,
coils round the axle. The wheel has 96 cogs, the
larged; trundle 24 daves, the next larged 12, and
the finalled has 6. So that the larged trundle makes
4 revolutions for one revolution of the wheel and
it’s axle, the next larged makes 8, and the fmalled
makes 16. A winch is occafionaliy put upon the
axis of either of thefe trundles for turning it- the
trundle being ufed that gives a power bed fuited to
the weight : and the handle of the winch defcribes a
circle, in every revolution, equal to twice the circum-
ference of the axle of the wheel. So that the
length of the winch doubles the power gained by
the revolutions of each trundle.

As the advantage gained by any machine or engine
whatever, is in dired proportion of the velocity of
the power to the velocity of the weight , the powers
of this crane are eafiiy edimated; and are as fol-
lows.

If the larged trundle be turned by the winch, it
will make four revolutions for one revolution of the
great axle on which the rope coils in drawing up the
weight and as the length of the winch is double
the femidiameter of the axle, the power gained will
be as eight to one : that is, a man will be able to raife
eight times as much weight by means of the engine,
as he could do by his natural drength without itT al-
lowance being made for fridion.

i If the weight be too great for this power to raife,
the. fecond trundle may be turned by the winch,
which will turn the wheel and axle twice as flow as

Vol. LIV. E the

[ 26 ] .

the largeft trundle did; becaufe it makes twice as
many revolutions for one revolution of the wheel and
it’s axle : and then the power gained will be as fix-
teen to one, becaufe the velocity of the power will
be fixteen times as great as the velocity of the weight.

If the weight be too great for this power to raife
(which we ftill fuppofe to be exerted by one man) the
winch may be put upon the axis of the third (or
fmalleft) trundle, and then, in turning the winch,
the power gained will be as thirty-two to one.

But if the weight fhould be too great, even for this
power to raife, the power may be doubled by draw-
ing up the weight by a double rope, going under a
pulley in the moveable block which is hooked to the
weight, below the arm of the gib ; for then, the
power will be as fixty-four to one. If the block has
two pullies, and the rope be twice doubled below
them, the power will be as 128 to one: and fo on,
by adding more pullies, according to any required
proportion.

Whilft the weight is drawing up, the racch-teeth
of a wheel Hip round below a catch or click that falls
fucceffively into them ; and fo hinders the crane from
turning backward, and detains the weight in any part
of it’s afcent, if the worker fhould happen acciden-
tally to quit his hold of the winch ; or choofe to reft
himfelf before the weight is quite drawn up. The
catch, in this crane, is conftrudted much in the fame
way as in the great crane at Briftol, invented by the
late Mr. Padmore, of that city.

In order to let down a weight, the man who works
the crane pulls down one end of a lever of the fe-
cona kind, which lifts the catch out of the ratchet-

wheel,

[ 27 ]

wheel, and gives the weight liberty to deicend. But
if the defcent be too quick, he pulls the lever a little
farther down, fo as to make it rub againfl the round
edge of a wheel, by which means he lets the weight
go down as flowly as he pieafes ; and, by pulling a
little harder, he can fop the weight, if needful, in
any part of it’s delcent. If he accidentally quits his
hold of the lever, the catch immediately falls, and
fops the whole machine.

In the figure of this crane [Tab. I.] A is the
great wheel, and B it’s axle on which the rope C
coils. This rope goes over a pulley D in the arm
of the gib E, and is hooked to the' weight F for
drawing it up. G is the winch, H the largeft trun-
dle, I the next largeft, and K is the axis of the
fmalleft trundle, which is fuppofed to be hid from
view by the upright fupporter L. M is a trundle,
which is turned by the great wheel; and on the axis
of this trundle is fixt the ratchet wheel N, into the
teeth of which the catch O falls. P is the lever,
from which goes a rope QjQ^over a pulley R, to the
catch; the end of the rope being fixed into the lever
and catch. S is an elaflic bar of wood, of which,
one end is fcrewed to the floor ; and from the other
end (out of fight in the figure) goes a rope to the
farther end of the lever, beyond the pin or axis on
which it turns in the upright fupporter T. The ufe
of this bar is to keep up the lever from rubbing
againft the edge of the wheel U, and to let the catch
keep in the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. But, when
the end P of the lever is pulled down, it lifts the
catch out of the ratchet wheel by means of the rope
QCF and gives the weight F liberty to defcend :

E 2 bi*

[ 28 ]

but if the lever be pulled a little farther down than
what is fufficient to lift the catch out of the teeth of
the wheel, it will rub againft the edge of the wheel
V, and thereby hinder the too quick defcent of the
weight j and will quite flop the weight if pulled hard.
And if the man fhould happen inadvertently to let
go the lever, the elaific bar will pull it fuddenly up,
and the catch will fall down into the wheel, and flop
the machine.

WW are two upright rollers, above the axis or
upper gudgeon of the gib E : their ufe is to let the
rope bend upon them, as the gib is turned to either
fide, in order to bring the weight over the place to
which it is intended to be let down.

N. B. The rollers ought to be fo placed, that if
the great rope were flrctched clofe by their outermoft
fides, the half thicknefs of the rope may be perpen-
dicularly over the center of the upper gudgeon of
the gib. For then, and in no other pofidon of the
rollers, the length of the rope between the pulley in
the gib and the axle of the great wheel will be al-
ways the fame, in all portions of the gib ; and the
gib will remain in any pofition to which it is turned.

When either of the trundles is not ufed in work-
ing the crane, it may be drawn off from the wheel,
after the pin near the axis of the trundle is drawn
out, and the thick piece of wood is raifed up a little,
behind the outward fupporter of the axis of the trun-
dle. But this is not material : for, as the trundle has
no fridion on its axis but what is occafioned by its
own weight, it will be turned by the wheel without
any fenfible refinance in working the crane.

IV. 0/

[ *9 ]

IV. Of the Moon’s Di fiance and Parallax':
A Letter to Andrew Reid, Efq\ from P.
Murdoch, D. D. a?id F. R. S. 12 Nov.
1763.

S I R,

Have at your defire wrote out what I
was mentioning to you in our la ft con-
verfation ; of an eafy rule for determining the Moon’s
diftance, from the received theory of central forces :
which I wifh may merit your approbation : it will at
leaft ferve as a teftimony of the efteem and regard
with which I am, &c.

Read Jan.
1764.

20,

I.

Sir Ifaac Newton, inveftigated the law of gravitation,
in the duplicate ratio of the diftance of the central
body inverfeiy, from the following data.

1. The length of a fimple pendulum which vi-
brates in one fecond of time, gave him, by Huygens’
theorem, a determinate meafure of the force of gravi-
ty, at the place of obfervation. And, by his own
theory, he could thence infer the like meafure for
any other place, of a given latitude

2. The Earth’s femidiameter was computed from
the Abbe Picard’s meafure of a degree of the terreftrial
meridian.

* See one of the Eflays prefixed to Bufching’s Geography.

5. The

C 30 ]

3. The Moon’s parallax, as determined by the
moftfkilful aftronomers, gave him the Moon’s diftance
in femidiameters of the Earth.

4. The time of a periodical month gave him the
ratio of the verfed fine of the arc of the Moon’s orbit
which fhe defcribes in one fecond j to the radius.

And from thefe his conclufion was ; that the gra-
vitation at the Earth’s furface, being diminished as the
fquare of the diftance from the Earth’s centre increafes,
would, at the diftance of the Moon, produce a fall
from reft, in onz /econd, precifely equal to that verfed
fine. Or, that the gravitation of the Moon toward
the Earth, being increafed as the fquare of that dif-
tance is diminiftied, would, at the Earth’s furface, be
of the fame quantity as that of falling bodies is (by
the experiment of the pendulum) a&ually found
to be.

II.

Bat the law of gravitation, thus deduced, being
found to hold univerfally, and reciprocally, amongft
all the great bodies of our fyftem, fo that even the
minute anomalies of their motions are explained from
it ; we may now afiume it as given, and make the
Moons diftance the quantity fought.

Thus, writing F for the number of feet which a
body falling from reft, defcribes, in vacuo> at the
equator, in one fecond , V for the verfed fine of the
arc of the moon’s orbit defcribed in the fame time,
to the radius unity, D for the femidiameter of the
equator in feet, and the ratio of the diftance of the
centers of the earth and Moon, to the femidiameter

of

[ 3i ]

of the earth, that of X to i : We fhall have, by
the general law, the Moon’s fall in W, equal to

jp

^ ; but the fame fall is equal to VxDxXj whence

F 3 / p —

X3 — yyjy and X — V is the diftance fought,.

in femidiameters of the equator.

Nowafimple pendulum which beats feconds, mea-
furing, at London, 39.1 26 inches ; if the ufual al-
lowance is made for the weight of the air, and for
the Newtonian figure of the Earth *, the weight
taken off by the centrifugal force being like-
wife reftored, a fecond-pendulum at the equator would
be 39.154 inches long. And, by Huygens’ rule,,
half this length is to the initial fall in one jecond, in
the duplicate ratio of the diameter of a circle to it’s
circumference: that fall therefore, at the equator,
and in vacuo, is 16.ro 1 85 feet y the logarithm of
which number is 1.2068645 — l°g- F.

The toifss in a degree of the equator, or, which
is the fame, in a degree of the meridian at lat. 544,
being nearly 57200, the logarithm of the number
of feet Englifh in the femidiameter of the equator.

that is log. D will be nearly —
And the log. verfed fine of the Moon’s
arc in 1" , being — — —

7.3211900,,

2.5492882,

Their Sum — — — — .—.5.8704-82

taken from log. F, leaves + 5.3363863, a third of
which is 1.7787954, the logarithm of X —
60.08906 femidiameters of the equator.

* See die Eflay quoted above.

And !

And the arithmetical complement of this lad loga-
rithm, which is — 2.2212046, is the log. tangent of
the Moon’s mean horizontal parallax at the equator;
which therefore, is 57' 12", 34.

Such would be the diftance of the Earth’s and
Moon’s centers, were the Earth immoveable : but it
is fomewhat increafed by their revolution round their
common centre of gravity.

Writing x 1 for that diftance, divided by the
centre of gravity in the ratio of x to 1 ; imagine a
fphere of the fame dimenlions as our earth, placed
at that centre, to exert the fame attradive force on
the Moon as our Earth adually does, the periodic
time remaining unaltered : then mud the denfity of

this fphere be diminished in the ratio of x% to x-\- 1 r,
that its nearer diftance from the Moon may be com-
pensated by the defed of denfity and attradive force.
If now an inhabitant of the fiditious earth were fup-
pofed to compute its diftance from the Moon, in
the manner juft now (hewn 3 the quantities V and
D would be the fame as in the former calculation ;
but his j would be to our F, as x" to x 4- 1\ and

thence, his x would be to our X as x r to x-|-i f ,

This is the diftance from the fiditious Earth, or
from the common centre of gravity; but (T) the

III.

2

that is, x — - 4. x X.

v J r J

.*• -(- r

diftance from our Earth, is

I

X — — |f-xX, greater,

A- 4 - I 1 3 0

as

[ 33 1

as was fuppofed, in the ratio of x-\-i to x-y that Is,

■txX=VH±Ixx.

X

Sir Ifaac Newton, from th z phenomena of the tides,
eftimated the ratio of to x to be that of

40.788 to 39.788. In that cafe, the cubic root of

— will have for its logarithm 0.0035934; which

added to 1.7787954, the logarithm of X computed
for an immoveable earth, gives 1.7823888, the lo-
garithm of 60.5883 femidiameters of the equator.
And the Moon’s horizontal parallax, for this diftance,
is 56' 44", 07.

IV.

On the other hand, if we had obfervations of the
Moon’s parallax (and diftance) which could be
reckoned exad: enough for the purpofe, we might
thence determine the ratio of a; to 1, that is, the ra-
tio of the quantities of matter in the Earth and
Moon.

For having J = and ; likewife

A. X X*. ^ X

T being given from obfervation, and X computed as
above ; it is manifeft that the ratio of x 1 to at,
and, by divifion, that of x to 1, or of the mafs of
the earth to that of the Moon, is given.

For example, if it fhould be concluded from good
obfervations, that T, the Moon’s mean diftance, is
604. femidiameters of the equator ; for the logarithm
of this diftance, which is 1-7317554, take the lo-
garithm of X, or 1.7787954, thrice the remainder
Vol. LIV, F will

C 3+ ]

will be o.co888, the logarithm of — ? — 1.02066-

and the maftes of the Earth and Moon would, on
this fuppofition, be as 48.4027 to 1.

In all this, a fmall variation from the law of at-
traction, arifing from the fpheroid-figure of the earth,
is neglected as inconfiderable ; which it will be found
to be by whoever takes the trouble to compute its
quantity and effects.

REMARKS.

1. If F and D were taken of their juft quan-
tities, the Moon’s horizontal parallax for an immove-
able Earth being, at the equator, 57' 124", is a limit
which the true mean parallax cannot exceed : and
the correfpondent diftance 60.08906 is a limit which
the diftance cannot fall fhort of : both being com-
puted upon the fuppofition that x 4- 1 — x, or that
the matter of the Moon is as nothing in comparifon
of the Earth. Nor ran the parallax and diftance be
fuppofed to lye very near thefe limits, without leav-
ing too little attractive force in the Moon to raife the
tides.

2. If the Moon’s mean apparent femidiameter is
15' 381", and the diftance of the centers 60.5883
femidiameters of the equator, according to Sir llaac’s
eftimate of the maftes ; the femidiameter of the
Moon will be 0.275601 parts of the femidiameter
of the equator, or .2763 of a mean femidiameter of
the Earth. And the magnitudes of the Moon and
Earth being as the cubes of their femidiameters, if
the inverfe ratio of their magnitudes is joined to the

5 direCt

L 55 3,

direct ratio of their maffes (i to 39.788) the fum
will be the ratio of their denfities, that of 1.19143
to 1, a little lefs than 6 to 5.

3. Suppofing ftill the fame femidiameter of the
orbit as before, the force of gravity will be to the
Earth’s attractive force on the Moon as 3670.94 to j ,
and to the Moon’s force on the Earth as 40.788 times
that number, or 149730.4, to 1.

Again, the force ot the Moon upon that furface
of the ocean to which tine is vertical, being to her
force on the Earth’s centre, as the fquare of 60.5883
to that of 59-5883 ; and the difference of thele
fquares being to the latter as 1 to 29.54623, this
difference of the forces will fupport the weight of
one 4423968th part of the water at the vertex.
And, becaul'e the Earth’s femidiameter is fmall in
companion to the Moon’s diftance, the like differences
of force will decreafe from the furface to the centre,
nearly in an arithmetical progreffion, as the weight
of the water does ; making the cafe analogous to the
diminution of gravity by centrifugal force.

But it is likewife eafily fhewn, that half this quan-
tity of lunar force exerts itfelf to deprefs the waters
all around at the didance of 90 degrees from the
vertex ; i. therefore of the former fraction, that is one
-2949312 part of the force of gravity, will be the to-
tal caufe of the difference in heigth of the flood and
ebb, in an open and boundlefs ocean.

Say therefore, if (in determining the figure of
the earth) of gravity, fufpended by the centri-
fugal force, gave, for the difference of diameters T^.T,
what will one 2949312 part give ? and tjae anfwer,
in feet, will be 8.887;

[ 36 ]

4- In like manner, if we take 8"4 for the Sun’s
parallax, and, thence, his diftance from the Earth
23468,6 femidiameters of the equator, we (hall find
that his whole force to produce a difference of Flood
and Ebb, is to his force at the Earth’s centre, as 1 to
78234* But the Sun’s diftance being to the radius
of the Moon’s orbit as 387.34535 to unity, this laft
force will be to that of the Earth on the Moon, as
387,34535 to 178.7234 (by cor. 2. prop, princip. I.)
And the Earth’s force on the Moon is to gravity as 1
to the fquare of 60.5883 j whence, adding thele
ratios, the Sun’s force to move the fea will be to the
force of gravity as the fraction whofe logarithm is
— 8.1778026 to 1 j or gravity is to that force as
13249445 to unity. And therefore, by the fame
analogy as above, we find the difference of Flow and
Ebb , from the Sun alone, to be 1.97824; one foot
ill inches.

The folar force therefore, in raifing the tides, is
to the lunar, as 1 to 4.4924, in a ratio fomewhat lefs
than that computed by Sir lj'aac . The ratio likewife
of the fum of the forces to their difference is but
7.869 to 5> in^eac^ of 9 t0 5> which he affumes
from comparing the Jpring and neap- tides at Brijlol.
And it is indeed furprizing, how he could, from that
datum , arrive at conclufions fo near the truth, as his
very probably are. He tells us he ufed the ratio of
9 to 5, only till a more certain could be procured,
And therefore the foreign mathematicians, who have
cenfured him on that head, and on fome other articles
of this doCtrine, might have fpared their reflexions ;
at leaf! till they could fhew that their own deductions
were more agreeable to nature and obfervation.

6. Unity

[ 37 ]

6. Unity reprefenting the force of gravity, d the
Sun’s diftance, the Earth’s force on the Sun will be
or the fra&ion whofe logarithm is — 9.259021.8.
And the folar force on the Earth is (from the num-
bers in remark 4) to the force of gravity as 1 to
1673.1: whence the attractive forces (and malfes)
of the Sun and Earth will be as 325172,3 to 1. Add
to this the inverfe ratio of their magnitudes, collected
from the Sun’s mean apparent femidiameter 16'. 6",
and the parallax 8"*; and the denlity of the Sun will
be to that of the Earth, as 1 to 4.068.

All this upon the fuppofition that the maffes of the
Earth and Moon are as 39.788 and 1. Hereafter,
when the Moon’s diftance fhall be more certainly
known, that element may be corrected, and the ope-
rations repeated.

As to the Sun’s parallax 8//r±, it cannot be much
affeCted by any future determination of the Moon’s
diftance. Nor is it here affumed of that quantity, at
random 5 but from a theorem deduced from the efta-
blifhed principles. I am, however, too diffident of
myfelf to communicate it at prefent : becaufe, altho’
it agrees very well with Mr. Short's conclufion from
the Tranfit of Venus , it differs confiderably from that
which a very learned and juftly celebrated author hath
lately publifhed.

Note, The periods, as affumed in this paper, are ;
a fidereal year of 365.2563923 days j the periodical
month 27.32165835 days.

y. An

[ 38 ]

V. An Attempt to Account for the Origin
and the Formation of the Extraneous Fojfd
commonly called the Belemnite. [Fide Tab.
III. IV. V.] By Mr. Jolhua Platt.

To the Right Honourable George Earl of Maccles-
field Prefident, and to the Council and Fellows, of
the Royal Society, the following Attempt to ac-
count for the Origin and true Formation of the
Extraneous Foflil commonly called the Belemnite,
is humbly addreffed, by

Their much obliged and obedient

humble Servant,
Jofliua Platt.

%

The

Thilos.Trans.Vol.ZTV: TAB. TV. j>. 38.

J.Afynde- J&.

Fhi/os. Tmns-Vol .UV.TAb.'V. /> 3 tf

Tig-. 16.

J.Jllyrlii? Jo.

C 39 ]

Read Jan. 26, rpHE public hath of late been a-
£ greeably entertained with defcrip-
tions of many curious Foffiis diicovered in different
parts of this kingdom : but very little hath been of-
fered with a view to afcertain their origin and forma-
tion ; a point of much greater importance to a curi-
ous mind, than the moft accurate defcriptions, or the
neateft delineations. It may indeed be thought un-
neceffary at this time, to fay any thing of the origin
of extraneous Foffiis in general ; all our modern
naturalifts being fully convinced, that they are the
exuviae or remains of animals and vegetables, and the
greater part of them of marine prod udtion.

But as to their particular origin and formation ;
in what manner they were produced in the recent,
and how and with what matter they afterwards be-
came impregnated in their foffil ftate ; all this is a
field of natural inquiry, that has been very much neg-
lected, notwithftanding it is the moft fertile and pro-
ductive of ufeful and entertaining knowledge. Be-
ftdes, were we to confident in this view, the recent and
foffil remains would be found to throw a mutual light
upon each other, and the naturalift would not be fo
often at a lofs to clafs every new foffil acquifition, of
which the recent fpecimen is not to be found, ei'peci-
ally whenever the foffil has any thing feemingly
aequivocal in its formation, fo as on a fuperficial im-
fpedtion to render the matter doubtful, whether the
body belongs to the animal or vegetable kingdoms,
or indeed to either of them. One of the fir ft
note is the Belemnite, which has not until very lately
been even ranked amongft the marine productions ;

but

[ 40 ]

but whofe origin and formation have never yet been
fully explained. I lhall not enter into a minute detail
of the leveral fpecies of the Belemnite. The hiftory
of this extraneous foffil, or an attempt to account for
the origin and formation of the Belemnite, fo far as
they can be difcovered and confirmed by reafonings
drawn from fads and experience, is the objed of
the prefent enquiry. I fhall therefore confine my
fie If to two fpecies of the Belemnite ; the one com-
mon in moft counties of this kingdom, and vulgarly
known by the name of Thunder-bolt [a] : the other
that of the fuiiform or Spindlekind [Z>], found in
fiate-flone at Stons-field, but in far greater plenty
in the day near Piddington [c] Oxfordfhire ; anti
in the chalk-pits of Kent and Surrey [</]. Thofe in
chalk have been often miftaken for ipines of the
lea-hedgehog, or Echinus Ovarius ; but the charac-
terifiics of thele two bodies are widely different.
The Belemnite breaks in a diredion perpendicular
to its axis j/]: the fpine obliquely \f]. The Be-
lemnite, when broken, exhibits central rays j the Spine
a fmooth refplendent furface. This difiindion is
. invariable, if the trial be repeated a thoufand times.
Thefe different appearances are probably the effeds
of different formations : and therefore the Belemnite
fieems to be formed by appofition, and the Aculeus
or Spine by protrufion, or, as Mr. Reaumur calls it,
by intus-fufception. The radii in the Belemnite are
owing to the fine laminae, of which it is compofed ;
they are fo very thin, and break fo nearly alike, that
they have ever an horizontal furface when broken,

[rt] T An. III. Fig. i.
M fig* 4* M Fig.

M fig* 2* M Fig* 3-

5. [/'] Fig. 6.

which

[ 4i ]

which is common to all the (hells of the trichitc
kind [g]. The fpine being formed by protrufion, its
component parts are adjuffed on a different manner,
and the pores like thecancelli in bones (though not fo
diftindt) are irregular, which is thereafon of its break-
ing obliquely in any diredt ion, but it is generally fmooth
by being faturated with a plated kind of fpar [/&].

My ingenious and very worthy friend Mr. Brander,
in a differtation on the Belemnite, prefented to the
Royal Society [z], juftly obfervesj {< that the Be-
“ lemnite belongs to the teftaceous part of the ani-
<c mal kingdom, and to the family of the nautili/'
And I would beg leave farther to add, that this gen-
tleman’s fentiments are greatly ftrengthened by the
furprifing analogy, which the Belemnite bears to the
little pearly concamerated (hell, or cornu Ammonis ;
and the orthoceratites, to the large nautilus j the
former having its fiphunculus upon the verge, as
the latter has it in the center of the diaphragm, or
partition, of each cell or chamber. “ It has indeed
been truly matter of fpeculation (continues Mr.
Brander) how this huge folid fubftance called the
Belemnite, exclufive of the nucleus, could be formed ; *
and how it happens, that fome Belemnites fhould have
the nucleus within them, others not ; the cavity to

M Fig. 7. A piece of the Penna Marina, perforated by
the Pholades.

[b~\ Spar feems to be nothing but cryftal debafed by a cal-
careous earth : the more debafed fort breaks in a hairy trichite man-
ner, the more pellucid kind with a fmooth furface; and always in
an oblique rhomboidal direction; which perhaps may in fome
meafure enable us to account for its double refraction.

[fj Philofophical Tranfaitions, Vol. xlviii. for 1754, page

803.

p;

C'V.-V 4\ , v-> A

VVv-W Cc

l .

'V

cyi5.( .

G

contain

[ 42 ]

contain the fame in fome very fmall, in others fcarce
or not at all vifible”. — But I flatter myfelf, that it
will be found upon enquiry, that thefe are only cir-
cumftances, which are common to other teftaceous
bodies, that have been accidentally broken or decayed
by time, when forfaken by their inhabitants. For no
teftaceous body can be formed without an inhabitant 5
nor does it appear to me, that any Belemnite was
ever formed without an alveolus, or concamerated
fhell.

The conical cavity and its nucleus are always pro-
portioned to the bulk of the Belemnite, but not to
its length : fome are four times longer in proportion
to the alveolus than others. The apex of the conical
cavity, where the alveolus is firft formed, in fome runs
up about half the length of the whole Belemnite ;
in others not a fixth part of the whole [£] : but the
aperture, or upper chamber [/] is equally proportionable
to the bulk, or circumference of the Belemnite, of
whatfover lize or ftiape; and is the feat [m] or dwell-
ing-place of the animal, that forms the Belemnite. In
what manner this work is executed, I fhall now endea-
vour to explain.

A conflderable part of marine bodies, efpecially
thofe of the teftaceous tribe, are generally buried in
mud or fand, except fome few, which ftick to rocks,
&c. as the limpets and periwincles ; by which means
we are prevented from making thofe remarks upon
the feveral ftages of their growth, which an accurate
enquirer would defire. We muft therefore have re-
ly] Fig. 8. [/] Fig. xiii. b.

[r«] We never find a Belemnite with part of the alveolus,
hut the veftigia or marks of the remainder appear in the cavity,
and are continued to the verge of it,

courfe

C 43 1

courfe to the different fteps or periods of their life
and growth, as they are marked out by the indented,
lips or foldings of the fhell ; untill they arrive at
their full fizej when they begin to fortify them-
felves, by bulwarks and ftrong holds, againft the
injuries and incidents, which attend old age.
This is mofl confpicuous in the cowree, or concha
Veneris of Lifter, book iv. fecft. 9.

Mr. Reaumur [»] found, by repeated experiments,
that land fnails form their fhells by juxtapofition : as
the animal grows in bulk, the fhell is increafed by
a mucous matter emitted from the body of the animal,
whic hbardens by degrees into a teftaceoas fubftance :
and from the experiments upon land fhells that
great naturaliftconcludes by analogy, that all teftaceous
bodies are formed in the like manner, particularly thofe
of the turbinated kind.

To this general rule an objection is made by Mr.
Poupart, from the formation of the cowree, or con-
cha Veneris before mentioned: but this learned gen-
tleman was not aware, that this fhell is firft a buccinum,
forming many convolutions before it draws in the
verge to form the indented lip.

It was this very objection of Mr. Poupart, which
led me to examine into the growth of the cowree ;
and by fawing one of them through the middle, Ifound
a turbinated flaell within the outer wall, confiding of
fix or feven convolutions, but no ftages, or periods,
of the indented lip appeared in any of the convolu-
tions, as we find in the helmet fhell, andfeveral of the
buccinae. I then began to confider how this animal
enlarged its d welling ; and was fully convinced, that

[«] See his book ofinfedts,

G 2

no

[ 44 ]

no more convolutions could be carried on j the in-
dented lips being a full flop to its inward dimenfions ;
and that here was the period of its growth. My
fentiments were juft as to its inward dimenfion; but
obferving that the lips of fome were much larger
than others, and that the curved part of the outer
lip appeared thicker, when fa wed open, than the
other parts of the ftiell ; I began to think, that the
animal, inftead of enlarging the inner dimenfions,
was employed in thickening the outer wall, to guard
againft injuries and accidents, fo common to the
inhabitants of that turbulent element the lea. I was
the more confirmed in thefe fentiments by feeing the'
beautiful fpots, with which this animal decorates its
houfe, covered by other fpots of different colour and
ffze, as new laminae were added to ftrengthen the
laft-formed convolution. It is really matter off
admiration to fee how thefe fhells are adorned and
variegated ; theexquifite poliihi which covers the whole
infinitely furpaffing-the fkill even of the moft accom-
plifhed human artift. Thefe new coverings or la-
minae, which are carried from the lips, terminate in-
the middle of the back part of the Ihelff and there'
form a lift, or feam, of a quite different colour from
that of the other part of the ihell, and of an unequal*
lurface.

This very circumftance gave birth to my fentiments
concerning the formation of the Belemnite: for who-
ever confiders the feam or fulcus in the Belemnite,
will, I think, conclude with me, that the outward
lamina is formed lateft, as in the cowree, and that
the feam or fulcus iscaufed by. the feveral additional-
coverings or laminae terminating there. But as the
anatomift makes frefli difcoveriesi by difteding the

fubjed,

C 45 1

fubjedt, fo (if I may be allowed the comparifon) T
received farther information by luckily meeting with
a Belemnite, whofe lamina* were in a manner didedted
and laid open by the vague acid, or fome other cor-
roding mendruum, which every where pervades the
earth, deftroying fome bodies [0], and forming
others [/>]. The lamina: of this truly wonderful
body are here expofed to view [y], and plainly fhew
us, that nature, in this, as in all her works, purfues
the moft fimple, eafy, and fhorted methods, though
they appear ever fo intricate and interwoven. This
fpecimen will, I hope, ferve to explain a matter, which
hath fo long puzzled the curious in natural hidory ;
and convince us, that there is nothing ..more’ wonder-
ful in the formation of the Belemnite, than in that
of a cockle, oyder,, or any other tedaceous fub-
dance; with this difference only, the oyder
drengthens its (Hell, and excludes its fird habitation,
by additional laminae formed withiny the Belemnite
inclofes its dwelling by adding new laminae without .
Figure X. reprefents the Belemnite fplit up the
middle, with the fiphunculusin the front t a, b exhibit
the fird: formed cell, or feat of the animal ab ovo. As
theanimal grows larger, it forma afecond cell or cham-
ber b to cy at the fame time covers the fird cell, by
forming thoappendage or guard c3 i, which is the fird
dageof the Belemnite. In forming the third cell c, d3
frelh laminae or coverings are carried, on from dy to k-x,
and fo of the red, e3fy g>h\ or /, my 72, 0. When we
have duly confidered the manner, in which the fhellis

[<?] Al! calcareous fubltances.

[p\ Such as felenites, pyrites, marcafites, ta’Jc,. gyp-
fum, tic.

[?J. Fig, 9,

thus*

[ 46 ]

thus formed ; it will be no difficult talk to account
for the different fedions and broken parts of the
Belemnite ; and in what manner they were reduced to
the feveral forms or appearances, in which we com-
monly find them.

The better to i Huff rate my conjedure, I ffiall firft
exhibit fome drawings, which fhew the feveral fpe-
cimens broken and imperfed ; and then propofe my
fentiments concerning them before they were deferted
by their inhabitants. Figure 6. ffiews the fpine of
the echinus ovarius broken obliquely, as is common
to all of them. Figure 5. exhibits the inward ftruc-
tureof the Belemnite, when broken horizontally, with
the central rays. Figure xi. is the fame Belemnite
fplit through its axis. Figure xii, and xiii, are broken
in the fame diredion as Fig. 5. and xi, and fhew
how the feveral laminae [r] are placed one over
another in the manner, in which it is formed. Fig.
xiv. fhews the Belemnite in the moft perfed ftate we
ever find it. Fig. 4. is the fufiform Belemnite found
in chalk, which has been often taken for a fpine. a ,
which is the termination of the conical cavity, has
been thought to be the focket of the fpine, which
receives the papilla, when growing to the echinus }
but, when compared with the focket of the true
fpine [r], we find it widely different. The pricked
lines b , c. b , c. fhew what the fufiform Belemnite
was, when perfed, with the alveolus d , e. Many of

[?•] Thefe diftindtions of the laminae I prefume to be owing
to the mineral fleams infinuating themfelves into the Belemnite,
when the fpar pervaded the pores, and deftroyed the texture, but
.retained the true form by fubftituting its felf, and filling the
Plafin or mould of the Belemnite.

[r] Fig. 6. b.

I

thofe

[ 47 ]

thofe found in chalk feem to be fomewhat injured
at the end where they are deficient, and are
rounded, but have an uneven furface, as if they had
been gnawed or eaten by the pholas. Thofe found in
clay near Piddington [/], Oxfordfhire, approach nearer
to the fufiform kind, and have a different appearance
at the fmaller end f where the laminae are reduced
to a white impalpable powder, by corrofive juices
in the earth, fb as to ftain the fingers when firft. taken
out ; and they afterwards retain a white chalky ap-
pearance : but, amongft a great number, I never
found one that was three inches long. Thefe have
fuffered in the fame manner as Fig. iv. Fig. 3.
fhews where the alveolus terminates : g, h. g, b.

how much has been defrayed by vitriolic acids f u ].
At Stons-field they are found much longer than at
Piddington, and are inclofed in ftone, which is fplit
by the workmen to make flates. Here we often find

CO FIS* 3*

[zz] It may be afked, why one part fufters more than another,.,
as all parts are homogeneous, and free from extraneous mixtures?
My anfwer is ; becaufe thofe parts, where the concamerated {hell
is lodged, are much thinner than the other parts of the Belem-
nitej and confequentiy the walls are more eafily broken down,
and the alveolus, being ftill lefs folid, is fooner deftroyed, and re-
duced to an impalpable powder, by vitrolic and other acids, which
the water takes up as it paffes through different ftrata, abounding
more or lefs with pyritical matter. Where no fpar follows -
the acid, the parts are carried away and loft in the interftices
of the earth, and a mould or plafm is left, which Steno calls an
aerial {hell. See his Prodomus, pag. 84. But where the fpar
abounds, it pervades the whole fubftance, fills up the cavity, and
affumes the true form of the fhel! ; and fometimes, by burfting
the pores, is fo far fubllituted in the place of the original particles,
that the feveral diaphragms, with the fiphunculus of the
alveolus, are acurately and nicely preferved.

them *

[ 43 ]

‘them in a much more perfeCt date [w] than the for-
mer, with the alveolus in many of them j but that
part is commonly crufhed [x] by the incum-
bent matter.

The fiphunculus of the Belemnite is always upon
the verge of the chamber, or cell ; and in the fip-
hunculusis a little gutt or duCtus, proceeding from the
body of the animal, by dilatingor contracting of which
the animal, it fhould l'eem, may go out or into its cell
atpleafure. Thisis theonly ftay, which the animal has
to fecure its retreat : but I cannot agree with the learned
dodtor Hooke [«], that the gut or dudtuspajjes through all
the cells to the end of the fpiral cone , either in this Hiell or
the nautilus. His difcovering ofafpiramentum in the
centerof the latter was merely conjectural; for the ends
of the fpiral cone of concamerated fhells are fhut
up in the fame manner with thofe of the turbinated
kind : and it is common for all turbinated fhell-fifh,
as they increafe in bulk, and enlarge their fhells,
to leave their bottom or firft-formed convolutions.
Therefore I make no doubt but the fame is done by
the concamerated tribe ; for if the gut go through
only one or two valves, it will be a fufficient ftay to
the animal, and, being contracted or dilated, will
ferve all the purpofes above mentioned. How far
this is practicable by our little inhabitant, cannot abfo-
lutely be determined; but if it be conftantly fixed
by the gut to the fiphunculus, it has a furprifing
power of contracting and dilating its body, to ex-
tend fo far as the bottom or point of the Belemnite,

'[«/] Fig. [*] Ibid, at y.

[%] Hooke’s poithumous works publiihcd by Derham 8®.
p. 306.

[a] See the little pearly cornu-ammonis {hell.

which

[ 49 J

which in fome is more than thirty times the length
of the cell, into which it returns [^h I am apt to
think, that this gut or dud us, as well as the body
of the creature, is capable of being extended very
confiderably, to ferve all the ufes of forming the Be-
lemnite, without leaving the fiphunculus ; and that
the gut ferves for the fame purpofes with the tendons
of the oyfler ; the latter to open and fhut the fheli ;
the former to allow the animal to go out and in at
pleafure. And as the oifter feeds altogether in the
fheli, by opening the verge, the Belemnite (whofe
refidence is in the great deep, which is feldom dis-
turbed) very likely goes out in queft of food, but
travels only upon the guard or rampart, leaving a
trail behind, as all land fnails doj which hardening
into a teflaceous fubftance, increafes the dimenfions of
the outer walls, both in length and thicknefs, from
the cell or chamber, to the bottom or point of the
whole Belemnite. The animal in its progrefs and
return clafps the whole guard, as a fnail does a final!
branch of a tree in the gardens ; and where the two
fides meet, there the fulcus is formed, as is evident
from the laminae in Fig. 9.

The Belemnites,like all other teftaceous bodies, have
the vermicular tribe attached to them, and are per-
forated by the pholades. Other marine bodies alfo affix
themfelves to the Beleinnites, oifters in particular:
but this never happens whilft: the animal inhabits the
fheli, becaufe the new additional laminae would fo
cover the affixed body, and alfo the cells of the pho-
lades and vermiculi, that they could have no com-
munication with the water, and mud consequently

periffi.

Vol. LIV.

[b] Fig. 8.
H

. [ SO ]

perifh. Thefe bodies, thus attached, are the ftrongeft
proof we can defire, that the Belemnite is of marine
production. Indeed it may be objected, that the bonc3
of quadrupeds, wood, and (tone have thefe bodies ad-
hering to them, and therefore may be laid to be ma-
rine, as well as the Belemnite. But when we bring
them to chemical tryal, the objection vanifhes ; for
the bones either come out of the furnace with a black
core, or they are reduced to alhes ; whereas the Be-
lemnite is changed into a fine calx, after the man-
ner of all teftaceous bodies, and is converted into a
fpecies of phofphorus [c]. The oiflers, having no
loco-motion, frequently affix themfelves toother bo-
dies, that they may be better able to Bern the tides,
and currents, which might otherwife carry them
from their proper beds, and places of feeding. This
attachment to other bodies no way incommodes them,
becaufe they increafe the dimenfions of their fbells
by adding frefh laminae inwardly : the flrfl formed la-
minae, being, as it were, excluded, lie in the manner of
tiles upon the roof of a houfe, and exhibit the feveral
fteps orflagesof their growth.

I believe a Belemnite is very rarely found perfeCt in
the foffil Bate : thofe in gravel-beds [d] have differed:
very much by being rubbed againff Bones, &e. by
the fluctuating waters : thofe, which we find in rubble
at Garfington-pitts [ e\ have many adventitious bodies
adhering to them, and confequently were deferted by

[c] The Belemnite after calcination, has all the properties of
the Bolognian ftone. If it be expofed a few minutes to the Sun,
and immediately taken into a dark room, it will thine like Phof-
phorus for fome time ; and when tire light diminiflies, it again
expofed to the Sun, its fplendor will be renewed.

[d] Fig xv. [<?] Fig. xvi.

3

their

[ 51 ]

their inhabitants before they refted there. In the clay
at Shotover [/] near Oxford, they have a curious
fmooth furface, but are otherwise imperfect : at
Stonsfield, in the flate-ftone, they are generally
crufhed [g]: thofe approaching neareft to perfec-
tion, which I have feen, came out of the fand [£],
under the bed of done at Garfington-pitts near Ox-
ford : the outer part is quite perfect, and the verge of
the conical cavity is as thin as paper, but the alveolus
is deftroyed, except the apex or point. At Thame, in
digging f°r Hone, feveral fmall ones were found in
aftratum of blue clay ot a more cylindrical form [z] ;
fome of which have the pearly fubftance (till remain-
ing ; an inconteftable proof of their being marine
productions.

How much of the cavity is occupied by the alveo-
lus, cannot be truly afcertained, until a perfect one
can be found, which it will be hard to do in the
fofiil-ftate ; but if we may judge from the nautilus,
the walls are carried to a diftance from the laft formed
valve, much greater than that, at which the valves
are placed from each other; as in fig. xiii. from to
b , which gives the animal all the convenience of
forminga new valve or diaphragm, c. Thiscircum-
flance has been very ingenioully cleared up by a learn-
ed phyfician in one of our monthly papers [£].

The recent nautili are very common in the eaftern
feas ; and in the fofifil date are frequently found with
the Belemnites at Garfington near Oxford. Why may
we not therefore expert to find a recent Belemnite,

OJ Fjg. 2. y.
[/] Fig. xvii.

[k] Gent. Magazine for Jan. 1752. pag. 8.

H 2

as

* a f ^ y**' ^ ^ ^ 9

J ‘ Vi ev * fi T

! K ' * ' '

[ 52 ]

as well as a recent nautilus, if a diligent perfon were
ftridly to examine the coafis, where the nautili are
found ? Perfons commiffioned to colled: fhells, and
other curiofities, generally grafp at fuch things as
feall the eye ; not regarding thofe of lefs beauty and
luftre, which would help us in our refearches, and
greatly illuftrate the more ufeful part* of this ftudy.
A premium, offered by a Society of Vertuofi, might
encourage our fea-faring gentlemen to fearch the fe-
verul coafls, upon which they touch in their long
voyages, and to ufe drag nets as they do in drudging
for oifters: from fuch affiftance, variety of new

fubjeds would be produced ; and great improvements
might be expeded, if their inquiries fhould be
fuccefsfuh

VI. An

*

_ Philos . Trans,

Tol.XJV. TAB. W. /?. 33 .

A) upon t pin A.

J. Tllyndo Jc,.

[ S3 ]

VI. An Account of a Singular Species of
Wafp and Locuft: By Samuel Felton,

Ffq\ F. R. S. in a Fetter to Mr. Henry
Baker, F. R. S ..

Dear Sir,

King-Street,, Covent-Garden,

December 2, 1763.

Read Feb. 2, F g1 ' H E honour I received, bybeingelec-

ted a fellow of the Royal Society,
excites me through gratitude to offer that learned
body whatever occurs to me new, or worthy atten-
tion in the animal world ; and the refpedt I bear you,
dearlir, for your learning and goodnefs, to which I muff
add your having been fo ufeful a member of that
learned body luch a number of years, and the encou-
ragement you have conffantly (hewn towards promot-
ing natural hiffory, emboldens me to tranfmit to you
this paper containing the defcriptions of a very lingular
fpecies of Wafp and of Locuft, [T ab. VI.] which! met
with in the Hand of Jamaica. I made what fearch I
could in the natural hifforians, butcannot find that they
have ever been taken notice of, therefore are as yet un-
known to the learned, or non-defcripts. I therefore
offer them by your means to the infpedtion of the
Royal Society, to be inferted in the Tran factions,
if deemed worthy their attention. I beg leave
to accompany thefe defcriptions not only with the

fubje&s

I 54- 3

fubjedts themfelves, but allb with accurate drawings
to compleat their hiftory, and am, with great efteem.

Dear Sir,

Your moil obedient

And moft obliged humble fervant

Samuel Felton.

I. Cr INITA — Vefpa fetis colli thoracis abdominisque
radiantibus corpore longioribus.

Large as a common Wafp, but rather narrower.

The head is brownifh, the vertex black, in a triangu-
lar form.

“The Antenna are fhorter than the thorax, a little
thicker towards the end, of a yellow brownifh
colour ; but black in the middle.

The thorax is light brownifh on the back, but on
the Tides and underneath black : before the infec-
tion of the wings, there are two yellow lines run-
ning tranfverfely downwards ; juft over the infertion
of the wings two hairs go out on each fide of equal
length, and very near twice as long as the whole
body j from the upper part of the neck likewile
go out two hairs as long as the body.

The Abdomen is divided into fix fegments of which
the firft is very narrow at its bafis, quite black,
only the hind margins yellow; from this fegment
there only grow out two hairs twice as long as the
abdomen, at the bafe but no where elfe; the other

five

[ 55 3

five fegments are betwixt brown and yellow co-
loured, their hind margins a little paler, and the
Second has a black girth near the fore margin ; hairs
go out near the fore fegment as rays ; in the fe-
cond only three, and they fhorter than the abdo-
men, efpecially the fide ones ; in the third, fourth
and fifth fegments, there are four or five long
hairs longer than the body, and feveral fhorter onea,
efpecially underneath where there are no longer
ones ; the fixth fegment is terminated with a long
hair.

All thefe hairs are of a light brown colour, feem to
be ffiff, but their ends are quite foft like papilla-:,
and from thence thicker.

The wings are fhorter than the abdomen ; the upper
ones folded.

The legs are black, except the thighs which are yel-
low ; at their joints there are fhort hair like rays,
whofe ends are likewile fhort and thickened..

II. Rhombea Cicada thorace comprefio membra-
naceo foliaceo fubrhombeo poftico latiore.

The thorax is like a leaf that is raifed perpendicularly
from the body it is three times as broad as the
body, but the fame length. This leaf is very near
of a rhomboid figure,, a little broader, or rather
higher over the back ; it is membranaceous, pro-
bably brownifh, (when alive) half pellucid, with
two Spots that are more pellucid, or transparent;
the larger one is very near the middle, but the
Smaller lower; the margins are waved, efpecially
towards the hind angle ; over the forepart of the
body the leaf is double.

The.’

[ 56 ]

The abdomen is a little longer projected backwards than
the leaf of the thorax.

The injett had not yet got its coleoptera and

wings.

The hmd thighs that are thicker have on the upper
lide an additional narrow membrane added to
them.

The head and maxilla are very like tbofe of the gryl-
lus’s, but there is fuch an affinity between this
and the Cicada foliata Linn. fvffi nat. 43 5.6. that I
ffiould think it the fame fpecies, if the thorax of this
was not broader behind towards the end.

The antenna are broke off ; elfe from their length
one might learn, to what genus the tribe Linnaeus
calls Cicada foliacea (fyffi nat. p. 435.) ffiould be
referred j for I am in doubt whether Linnaeus ever
has feen perfect fpecimens of them.

y

VII. An

Tbitos. Trans'. Vo/. XIV. TAB. V1T.

P-57 ■

[ SI 1

"VII. An Account of an American Arma-
dilla : By William Watfon, M. D.

F. R. S.

To the Royal Society.

Gentlemen,

Rea^eb-9> T Herewith lay before you, for your in-
JL fpedion, the drawing, by the inge-
nious Mr. Pailiou, of an animal very leldom, if ever,
feen alive in England [Tab. VII.]. It is now alive
in excellent health, and in the poliefiion of the right
honourable the Lord Southwell. It is called by
Linnaeus, in his Syftema Naturae, Dalypus cingulis
novem, pailmis tetradattylis, plantis pentada&y-
hs.

Marcgrave and Ray have both deferibed it under
the appellation of Tatue Bralilienlicus. Albert Seba
has likewife deferibed it in the firft volume of his ele-
gant and elaborate Mufeum. He calls it Tatou,
live Armadillus Americanus. The figure attending
his defeription is taken from a dead animal. The
drawing therefore is hard and ftiff, and the colouring
does by no means come up to the living animal.

This creature, which is called by naturalills the
American Armadilla, was brought hither a few
months fince to Lord Southwell, from the country
near what is ufualiy called the Mofquito fhore, upon
the American continent. Its weight is feven pounds

V o l. LI V. I avoirdupois.

[ 5*]

avoirdupois, and its fize that of a common cat. It
is a male, and has improved greatly both in appear-
ance and colour, fince it has been in his Lordfhip’s
poffcflion. It is fed with raw beef and milk, and
refufes our grain and fruits. In its own country,
according to the accounts of thofe who treat of it,
it burrows in the ground.

As there is no good figure of this animal exifting
in any of the authors, who have treated of it ; and
as Lord Southwell has been fo obliging as to permit
me to have one taken of it by the before-mentioned
able artifi: ; I had reafon to believe, that the infpe&ion
of it would not be dilagreeablc to the Society. I am,
with all imaginable regard, ~

Gentlemen,

Feb. 9, 1764. Your moft obedient,

humble Servant.

W. Watfoiw

VIII. An

C 59 j

VIII. An Account of the Quantity of Ram
fallen at MountVBay in Cornwall, and
of the W lather in that Place : In a bet-
ter from the Rev . William Borlafe, M. A .
and F . R. S. to the Right Rev . Charles
Ford Bifhop of Carlifle, F. R . S.

My Lord, Ludgvan, 0<5t. 31, 1763.

Read Feb. 16, A T Carlifle, I find by your Lord-

*764. Flip’s note, there fell fix inches

and half of rain in the months of June and July
laF. In Mount s-Bay Cornwall, according to my
ombrometer there fell

In: Tenths Parts

In June — - — - 2 — 6 — _L 1 in^es tenths Parts

In July 4 — 3--0 j ' 9 -r

So that the rain in this part of Cornwall exceeded
that at Carlifle almoF half an inch. I could wifh the
gentleman at Carlifle would continue his obfervations,
adding thereto a journal of Farenheidt’s thermometer,
and that we had another equally curious at Cathnefs,
at leaF Aberdeen.

It is fome amufement to compare the journal of the
weather in one part with the accounts in the papers
of Forms, heats, and drought, and their contraries,
in another.

On the 1 1 th of AuguF, there was at Bruffels a
mold dreadful Form of thunder, lightning, and hail ;
at Ludgvan only miFy-rain and Flowers.

On the 19th of the fame month, when one of
the moF violent hurricanes ever known fcourged fome

I 2 parts

[ Go ]

parts of Kent from the Weft and South-Weft, it
was calm, hazy, and fun-Shine, and the windatNorth-
Eaft, in Mount’s-Bay, in the morning ; in the evening
South-South-Eaft.

On the 2d of this month of Oft. there was a
moft violent ftorm on the Eaftern coafts of Britain,
from Yarmouth to Edinburgh * wind from the North-
Eaftand Eaft-North-Eaft; many Ships diftreffed, many
wrecked. What is remarkable, at the fame time
a likeviolentftorm blewin theWeftern channel, along
the coaft of Cumberland, Lancafhire, and Wales, but
the wind from the Weft. In Mount’s-Bay the
wind was fomewhat ftormy and (howerydn the morn-
ing, the wind at Weft half North ; in the afternoon
windy and Showery and Sun-Shine, Weft half South.
You fee how different, nay oppofite, the winds, even
in their extremeft violence, are on the Eaftern and
Weftern coafts, where they have nothing between
them but a narrow ridge of land. The caufe of this
remarkable opposition, I Should be glad to fee well
explained. It muft certainly have lain in the middle
between the two forces; and it might contribute
l'omewhat to the difcovery, to know whence, and. to
what degree, the wind blew on the mountains in Scot-
land, and as far South as Derbyshire, from Sunday
morning to Monday noon : but thefe are particulari-
ties not to be expefted till the age becomes more
philosophical. I remain, my Lord,

Your moft obliged

and obedient Servant,

W. Borlafe.

IX. An

[ 6r 3 '

IX. An Account of a Hernia of the Uri-
nary Bladder including a Stone: By Mr,
Percival Pott, Surgeon to St. Bartholo-
mew’s Hofpital , and F. R. S.

Read Feb. 16, A Healthy boy, about fix years old,
I/64- was fuddenly feized with a moft

acute pain, at the bottom of his belly; during-
the time the. pain lafted he could not difcharge
a drop of urine, tho’ he frequently endeavoured.
After about an hour and half, he became perfectly _
eafy on a fudden, and pifted very freely.

A few days after this, a fmall tumor, about the
fize of a large pea, was diicovered; in the upper part
of the fpermatic procefs, juft below the groin. As this
tumor was perfectly indolent, and gave the child no
kind of uneafinefs, no notice was taken of it. By-
fiow degrees it defcended lower and lower; and as
it- defcended it feemed to increafe in fize : the boy
was cbferved to make water oftener than ufual, but
without pain or difficulty.- He was looked at by
two or three practitioners in the country, who, not
knowing what to make of it, advifed the letting it
alone; at la ft, in the fpace-of five years, it got to the
lower part of the fcrotum ; and, after it was got thi— 1
ther, it was obferved to increafe in fize much fafter
than it had done before* The boy was at a great dift-
ance from London, and his friends could ill bear the
expence of going thither with him; fo that another
year pafied away after the tumor was got into the
laft-mentioned fituation. At laft, when he was about

thirteen

C 62 J

thirteen years old, the (welling becoming troublefome,
and the people in the country not caring to meddle
with ir, he was brought to London.

Two or three gentlemen of the profeffion, to
whom he was (Lowed, took it for a fchirrhous tefti-
cle, and advifed the extirpation of it j to which the
child’s friends would not confent.

When he was brought to me, I examined him
very carefully, and was fatisfied that the tumor,
(which was now about as big as a middling chef-
nut) was not formed by the tefticle : but, though
I was clear that it was not formed by that gland,
yet I could not find any teftis on that fide.

The (welling was (fill perfectly void of pain; had
a ftony, incompreffible, hardnefs ; was troublefome
to the child when at play or ufing any brifk exercife,
but never gave him any uneafinefs when he fat, or
(food (fill. It had all the appearance of being de-
pendent from the fpermatic procefs ; but the pro-
>cefs, tho’ it had neither the look nor the feel of being
difeafed, was yet too large, and too full for a child of
that age, and larger and fuller than that of the other
fide. The perfect equality and fmoothnefs of the
tumor, its extreme, incompreflibility and its being per-
fectly free from pain, even when prefied with fome
force, were the circumftances which induced me to
believe that it was not the tefticle ; but, tho’ I was
in my own mind fatisfied of that, yet I cannot fay
that I was by any means clear what it was ; and all
that I could determine, was, that it certainly ought
to be removed ; as well on account of the trou-
ble it now gave, and its manifeft difpofition to

increafe,

C 63 ]

increafe, as that I could not forefee any great haz-
ard that was likely to attend its extirpation.

From the uncertainty in which I was concerning
the true nature of the cafe, I determined to adl very
cautioufly. I made an incilion thro’ the fkin and cel-
lular membrane, from the upper part of the fcrotum
quite down to the lower; by which I difcovered a
firm, ftrong, white membraneous cift, or bag, con-
nected loofely with the fkin by means of the dartos ;

I differed all the anterior part of this cift, quite
clean ; and found, that, as I traced it upward, it be-
came narrower, and feemed to proceed from the groin :
This determined me to try if I could not free the
pofterior part of it alfo. In doing this I difcovered •
the tefticle, . which was much comprefled, flat,
very fmall, and lay immediately behind the tu-
mor.

The diftedlion of the tefticle and of the fpermatic
chord from the bag, and from its neck (which I
was obliged to do in order to preferve the teftis)
took up fome time, and gave me fome trouble ; but,
when I had finifhed it, 1 found that the cift was de-
pendent from, or continuous with, a membranous
tube, or dudl, of about the breadth of a large wheat
ftraw, which feemed to pafs out from the abdomen,
thro’ the opening in the oblique mufcle, along with
the fpermatic veftels.

When I had perfectly freed this du£t from all con-
nexion, I cut it thro’ immediately above the tumor;
upon the divifion of it a quantity of limpid fluid i
(not lefs than two ounces) followed, and the mouth
of the cift expanding itfelf difcovered a large ftone,
exadtly refembling the calculi found in the urinary

bladder;

[ 64 ]

bladder; which done was clofely embraced by the
faid cid.

As there was not the lead; appearance of any fluid
either in the bag or dudt, before it was cut off, this
difcharge, together with the done, induced me to fuf-
pe£t that the cafe was a Hernia . ciflica. In order to
be certain, I daid fome time j and, when I thought it
was probable that fome urine was derived into the
bladder, I defired the boy to make water; he en-
deavoured fo to do, and a full dream of urine flowed
out through the wound in the groin,, which put the
cafe beyond all doubt.

I drefled him fuperficially he had no bad
fymptom ; his urine all palfcd out. by his wound for a
fortnight, or twenty days; at the end of which
time, the wound gradually contra&ed ; all the urine
came through the urethra; and at the end of a month
he was perfectly well.

P. Pott.

/

IX. Some

1

f/.J M

BQmlJ&S; y:

®I

( i a

■^E^L / '

1 ! \
v/ \

, y

flf///r*Ss Jr.

[ ^5 ]

X. Some Obfervations on the Cicada of
North America, Colle&ed by Mr. P. Col'
linfon, F. R. S.

London Nov. 2, 1763.

Read Feb. 23, y Pennfyl vania the Cicada is leen annu-

J/ !' ally, but not in fuch numbers as to be

remarkable j but at certain periods, of 1401- 15 years
diftance, they come forth in fuch great fwarms, that
the people have given them the name of Locujis .
About the latter end of April thefe Cicadas come
near the fuiface : this is known, by the hogs rout-
ing after them. They creep out of the ground, near
the roots of trees, in fuch numbers, that in fome
places, the earth is fo full of holes, it is like an
honey-comb.

Their firft appearance is an hexapode (an ill-fha-
pen grub) with fix feet. This is their middle or nymph
flate : they creep up every thing near them, and fix
their claws faft, on the fhrubs, and bark of trees :
then the fkin on its back burfts open, and the fly
comes forth, difengaging itfelf by degrees, leaving
the cafe or exuviae behind, in the exaCt fhape, in
which it was before occupied.

At firft coming out, the Cicadae are all white,
with red eyes, and feem weak, and tender; but
next day they attain to their full flrength and per-
fection, being of a dark brown colour,- with four
finely- veined tranfparent wings, as will be better feen,
than defcribed, by the fpecimens before you. [Tab.
VIII.]

Vol. LIV. K They

C 66 3

They come forth out of the ground in the night >
being then fecure from being difturbed by fo many
creatures, that prey on them, whilft they are
under the operation of exchanging one {late
for another. From the tenth of May to the fif-
teenth, they are obferved to be fpread all over the
country.

As foon as the dew is exhaled, the Cicadae are
very active, flying about from tree to tree. The male
makes a finging noife, calling the female, which
he effects by a tremulous motion he gives to two
bladders, filled with air, under his wings. From
their numbers the noife is fo loud and troublefome,
that it interrupts converfation with a continual dinn,
from morning to evening. They continue coupling to
the fixteenth of May: foon after the males difap-
pear, and the females lay their eggs. They are much
larger than the males.

They never could be perceived eating any thing ;
yet, as they are furnifhed with a long probofcis, which
they frequently extend, they may fuck the dews,
or the farina of flowers.

The male, in coupling, hath, at the end of his
tail, two hooks, with which he enters between the
rings, that furround the body of the female. Thcfe,
fpreading internally, confine them long together;
which may be requifite, as there is a great number
of eggs to impregnate, fome fay fix or l'even
hundred.

Soon after this work- is over, the female begins
laying her eggs. To afiift her in this operation, the is
armed with a dart near half an inch long, fixed be-
tween her breafl and belly, and which extends to the end

of

[ 6? ]

of her tail. This die dieaths up, when it is not in ufe:
with this dart (he pierces the lmall twigs of trees,
and, a; the fame time, injedts an egg. The darted
twiggs, that lie before you, will better fhew the
manner, than I can defcribe it.

It is furprihng to lee how quick they penetrate
into hard wood, and croud it full of eggs, the
length of two or three inches, ranged in a line clofe
together, from twelve to eighteen in each partition.
How Ihe depolites the eggs in this diredtion, it was
difficult to difcover, they are fo very ffiy whild about
this work: but my ingenious friend John Bartram,
obferving her, in the beginning of this operation, took
a drong woody dalk of a plant, and, prefenting it to
her, Ihe diredtly fell to work upon it, as he held it in
his hand. It was very wonderful to fee how dex-
treoully die worked her dart into the lfalk, at
every pundture dropping an egg. This was feen very
didindtly, as Ihe did not touch the dalk with any
other part of her body.

The Cicadas fix on mod fort of trees, but like bed
the oak and chefnut, which are the twigs before
you, and the faffafras, and all orchard trees.

They always dart to the pith of the branch, that,
when the egg hatcheth, the little infedt may find foft
food in its infant date. When mature, they creep
forth, go down the tree, or drop off, and foon make
their way into the ground, where they have been
found two feet deep. Here they find a fecure repole,
untill they have paffed through their changes, from a
magot to an hexapode, and ladly to a fly.

July 15th and 1 6th they were perceived coming
forth : feveral darted twigs were perceived, and care-

K 2 fully

9

[ 68 ]

fully examined, and opened: fome eggs were hatched,
others not mature, of a dull brown colour. Thefe
were taken out, and fpread on a table ; in about an
hour the eggs cracked. It was very entertaining to
obferve, how the little infed contrived to difengage
itfelf, from the fliell. When it was got clear from
its incumbrances, it run about, very brifkly, feeking
a repofitory in the earth.

Some General Remarks.

Thefe Cicadas are fpread all over the country in a
few days; but, being the prey of fo many animals,
their numbers foon decreafe, and, their duration by
the order of nature being fhort, quickly difap-
pear.

They are the food of mod kind of domedic and
wild fowl, and many beads : even the fquirils grow
fat with feeding on them.

And one of the repads of the Indians, after hav-
ing fird plucked off their wings, is to boil and eat
them.

There are two didind fpecies of Cicadas in North
America ; the one here defcribed being much larger
than the other.

The leffer fpecies has a black body, with golden
eyes, and remarkable yellow veined wings.

XI. An

1 69 ]

XL An * Account of the Plague at Con-
ftantinople: In a Letter from Mordach
Mackenzie, M. D. to Sir James Porter,

Bruflels, and F. R, S.

S I R,

Read Feb. 23, o many great men have written upon
!764- the piagUe already, as Profper Al-

pinus, Sydenham, Hodges, Diemerbroeck, Mura-
tori, Mead, &c. that it might be juftly thought
prefumptuous in me to touch upon that fub-
jedt after them. But as I find, that they differ in
fome circumflances, and that fome of them have
had an opportunity of feeing only one year’s plague;
I may be allowed to write to you fuch remarks, as I
have made for almoft thirty years, that I have lived
in this plaguy country, without any quotations or
confirmations from other authors ; which I hope will
help to reconcile the different opinions of the above-
mentioned famous authors. Which talk Iwouldchoofe
rather, than to contradict them; for I am perfuaded;
that each of them wrote according to the belt of his
knowledge (as I do myfelf) without any intention of
impofing in the lead upon mankind.

It is beyond difpute, that the plague appears in a
different manner in different countries; and that it
appears differently in the fame country in different
years : for we find moft other difeafes alter more or

His

Envoy Plenipotentiary at

left

[ 7° ]

lefs, according to the conditution and difpofition of the
air in the fame climate: for, feme years, fevers are
epidemic, and very mortal : other years, they are
epidemic, but not mortal ; the imall pox the fame ;
See. And fo the plague is fome years more violent,
and has fome fymptoms different from what it has in
other years; which, I take for granted, mnft be the
reafon of any difference, that may appear in the remarks
of the celebrated authors already mentioned. There is
one extraordinary fymptom, which the mod of thefe
authors mention, tho’ none of them prove it, or pre-
tend to have leen it; which feems to me inconfident and
incompatible with the animal ceconomy ; making ftill
proper allowance for Omnipotence and Divine Ven-
geance, as in that of Sennacherib’s numerous army,
and many other fuch plagues, mentioned in Scripture.
What I mean, is, that a perfon cannot die of the
plague (fuch as it appears among us) indantaneoufly,
or in a few hours, or even the fame day, that he re-
ceives the infedtion. For, you know, Sir, by your
long experience in this country, that all fuch, as have
the plague, conceal it as long as they can, and walk
about as long as poffible. And I prefume it muff be
the fame in all countries, for the fame reafon, which
is the fear of being abandoned and left alone; and fo,
when they druggie for many days againd it, and at
lad tumble down in the dreet, and die fuddenly, peo-
ple imagine, that they were then only infedted, and
that they died indantly of the infedtion ; tho’ it may
be fuppofed, according to the rules of the animal
ceconomy, that the noxious effluvia mud have been
for fome time mixed with the blood, before they
£Ould produce a fever, and afterwards that corruption

[ 71 ]

and putrefaction in the blood and other fluids, as at
laft flops their circulation, and the patients die.
This was the cafe of the Greek, who fpoke with your
mafter of horfe, Knightkin, at the window, anno
1752, and went and died in an hour afterwards in
the vineyards of Buiuk dere ; and it was faid he died
fuddenly, tho’ it was very well known to many, that
he had the plague upon him for many days before this
accident happened.

Mrs. Chapouis found herfelf indifpofed for many
days, anno 1758, and complained pretty much, be-
fore fhe was fufpeCted to have the plauge. Captain
Hills’ failor was infedted in Candia 1736 ; was a
fortnight in his paflage to Smyrna, as the captain
fwore to me ; yet he was five days in the hofpital
there before he died. Mr. Life’s gardiner was in-
difpofed twelve days before he took to his bed, and
he lay in bed eight days before he died, in
July 1745.

It is true, that Thucydides, in his account of the
plague at Athens, relates, that fome were faid to die
fuddenly of it ; which .may have led others into the
fame way of thinking: but Thucydides (with all due
regard to him) mufl be allowed to have known very
little of the animal ceconomy, for he was no phy-
fician, tho’ a very famous hiftorian ; and he owns
moreover, that, when the plague firft attacked the
Pireeum, they were fo much flrangers to it at Athens,
that they imagined the Lacedemonians, who then
befieged them, had poifoned their wells, and that
fuch was the caufe of their death. Befides, he pre-
tends to affirm, from the little experience he had of:
the plague, that the fame perfon cannot have it twice,

which

*■;

[ 72 ]

which is abfolutely falfe. The Greek Padre, who
took care of the Greek- hofpital at Smyrna for fifty
years, affined me, that he had had the plague twelve
different times in that interval; and it is very certain,
that he died of it in 1736. Monfieur Broffard had it
in the year 1745, when he returned from France;
and it is very well known, that he and all his family
died of it in April 1762. The Abbe, who takes care
of the Frank- hofpital at Pera, fworetometheother day,
that he has had it already, here and at Smyrna, four
different times. But, what is flill more extraordinary,
is, that a young woman, who had it in September
lad:, with it’s mod: pathognomonic fymptoms, as bu-
boes and carbuncles, after a fever, had it again on
the 11th of April, and died of it fome days ago,
while there is not the lead: furmife of any accident in
or about Condantinople dnce December, this only
one excepted : but there died four perfons in the fame
little houfe in September ; and as the houfe was never
well cleaned, and this young woman always lived
in it, fhe was at lad: attacked a fecond time, and
died.

The only antecedents, that I could obferve to this
malady, was a great murrain among the black cattle
in May 1745, and in the beginning of June, the fame
year, fwarms of butterdies dew about, and there
were great numbers of caterpillars creeping every
where, and afterwards a violent plague : and, after
obferving the fame anno 1752 and 1758, you may
recoiled:, that I foretold to you, Sir, that we fhould have
a hot plague in thofe years ; which accordingly hap-
pened, efpecially in the months of Augufl and Sep-
tember 17 ;8, when many of Marfellini’s family,

Spathari,

5

C 73 ]

Spathari, Skwackhim’s cook, Chariacci Rirnbeault,
Jackino’s fon, 6tc. died of it.

The plague is now more frequent in the Levant,
than it was, when I came firft into this country, about
30 years ago; for then, they were almoft Grangers
to it in Aleppo and in Tripoli of Syria, and they had
it but feldom at Smyrna; whereas now they have it
frequently at Aleppo, and fummer and winter in
Smyrna, tho’ never fo violently in the winter ; which
muft be owing to the great communication by com-
merce over all the Levant, and more extended
into the country villages than it ufed to be. I take
the plague to be an infection communicated by
contact from one body to another ; that is, to a found
body from an infedted one, whofe poifonous effluvia,
fubtile miafmata, and volatile fteams, enter the cuta-
neous fores of found perfons within their reach, or
mix with the air, which they draw in refpiration,
and fo advancing by the vafa inhalantia, mix with
the blood and animal fluids, in which, by their noxi-
ous and adtive qualities, they increafe their motion
and velocity, and in fome days produce a fever ; fo
that the nearer and the more frequent the contadt is,
the greater is the danger, as the noxious particles, ex-
haling from the infedted perfon, muft be more nu-
merous, and confequently have greater force and ac-
tivity in proportion to their diftance.

Some perfons are of opinion, that the air muft be
infedted, and that it is the principal caufe of thefe
plagues ; whereas I prefume, that the ambient air is
not otherwife concerned, than as the vehicle, which
conveys the venemous particles from one bodyintoano-
ther, at leaft in fuch plagues, as I have feen hitherto
Vol. LIV. L at

C 74 ]

at Smyrna and Conflantinople ; allowing always, that
the different conflitution of the air contributes very
much to propagate the plague : for the hot air di-
lates and renders more volatile and adtive the venem-
ous fleams, whereas cold air contradls and mortifies
them. The perfon having the plague may be (aid
to have a contagious and poifonous air in his room and
about him, while at the fame time the open air is free
from any dangerous exhalations ; fo that I never
was afraid to go into any large houfe, wherein a
plaguy perfon lived, provided that he was confined to
one room.

The peffilential fever fhews itfelf firfl, by a chilli-
nefs and fhiverings even in the months of July and
Auguft, fo very like the firfl approaches of an ague,
that it is impoffible to diflinguifh the one from the
other at firfl fight. This cold fit is foon accompanied
with a loathing naufea and defire of vomiting, which
obliges the patient at lafl to difcharge a vafl quantity of
bilious matter, with great uneafinefs and oppreffion
in the thorax and mouth of the flomach, attended
Sometimes with a dry cough, as in an intermitting
fever; and even in this flage it is very difficult to dif-
tinguiffi the one from the other. Next, the patient
has a violent head-ach and giddinefs, with fome flight
convulfive motions : he breathes hard ; his breath and
fweat flink ; his eyes are ruddy, he looks frighted,
fad, and pale ; he has an infatiable thirfl; his tongue
is yellowiffi, with a red border; he has a total lofs of
appetite, reflleffnefs, great inward heat, and more
than could be expedted from the fever, which is
fometimes pretty moderate, but grows flronger fre-
quently towards night : the patient very often bleeds
4 at

[ 75 ]

at the nofe. He continues in that difmal condition for
fome days, untill the venemous matter begins to be
feparated in fome meafure from the blood, and dis-
charge itfelf critically upon the furface by the cu-
taneous eruptions of buboes, carbuncles, blains, pe-
techial fpots, and fome fmall veficles or blifters : but
all thefe fymptoms are not to be looked for in
the fame perfon. When the cutaneous eruptions
appear and grow fenfibly, the patient finds himfelf
better, and fomewhat relieved from the great op-
prefiion he laboured under before. Some perfons in
the above date have a very violent fever, fometimes
attended with a delirium andphrenzy ; others are ftu-
pid, fleepy, and complain of nothing : as one of
Captain Hill’s men mentioned before; and the young
fellow, who died of the plague laft year, which he had
in our palace ; for I no fooner found, that he had a
fever, and was at the fame time fo very ftupid and
fenfelefs, but I concluded he had the plague, tho’
it was ffrenuoufly maintained by the fervants, that he
had not been out of the kitchen for a month ; but,
upon flridt examination, it was found, that he had
many plaguy fymptoms, as buboes, carbuncles, &c.
upon his body, and that he had been in an infe&ed
houfe near the palace, about 1 2 days before ; where-
in no doubt he received the infection. Such as are
furious and delirious, feldom live fo long, as they who
are fleepy and ftupid ; but if they live long enough
to have the cutaneous eruptions pufh plentifully, and
their phrenzy begins to abate afterwards, they may
recover more probably than fuch as are fleepy and
have a moderate fever ; tho’ I have known fome of
them likewife die ; asDelaria, the French druggerman,

L 2 who

[ 76 ]

who went on horfe-back on Friday to Giamdere,
looking upon himfelf paft danger, but^ died next
Saturday morning. Marfellini’s eldeft fon, 1758,
thought himfelf fo very well after the eruptions of
the buboes, that he went from town, and dined at
Thcrapea, and returned to town the fame evening
and died, after he had been delirious for fome days
before, and had had the plaguy fever from the time
he left Buiukdere about ten days before.

I make no doubt, Sir, but you are very fenfible,
that nothing in this country, either air or diet, produces
the plague, tho' both contribute very much to it’s
progrefs and violence, after it is brought here or to
any part of this country from any other infeded
place ; for you know, by long experience, that it
rages moft in the hot months ot July, Auguft, and
September, when the diet of moft of the poor in-
habitants (who are the greateft fufferers by the plague)
confifts of unripe fruits, cucumbers, melons, gourds,
grapes, &c.

The plague breaks out here and at Smyrna fomeyears,
when it is not poffible to trace whence it is conveyed ;
for fome houfes, which were infeded, and not well
cleaned after the infeded perfon is removed, lodge
fome of the venemous moleculae in wool, cotton,
hair, leather or (kins, &c. all winter long ; which,
put in motion by the heat in April or May, breathe
out of their nidus/ where they refided, and recover
fo much life and adion, as to enter into the cutaneous
pores of any perfon, who comes within their reach,
and fo infed him ; as it happened at the French pa-
lace, at Mr. Hubfch’s and at Caraja’s houfe, for
two or three years running. But plagues of this kind

feldom

[ 77 ]

feldom fpread, and are never fo fatal, as fuch as come
from abroad.

Many are of opinion, that the heat kills the plague,
as they term it, which is owing to a fooiifh luper-
dition among the Greeks, who pretend, that it muft.
ceafe the 24th of June, being St. John’s day, tho’
they may obferve the contrary happen every year; and
the dronged plague, that was at Smyrna in my time,
anno 1736, was hotted about that time, and con-
tinued with great violence till the latter end of Sep-
tember, when it began to abate ; but was not entirely
over till the 12th of November, wdaen Te Deum was
fung in the Capuchins convent.

This midaken notion may be in fome meafure
owing to a wrong fenfe put upon Profper Alpinus,
who allows that the plague at Cairo begins to ceafe in
the months of June and July, when the drong
Northerly winds (called Embats or Etelian winds)
begin to blow, which make the country much cooler
than in the months of May, April, and March, when
the plague rages mod ; which he very judly imputes to
the great fuffbeating heats and Southerly winds,
which reign during thofe months in that country : and
it is then, that the fhips, which load rice, flax, and
other goods and merchandife for Condantinople re-
ceive the infection, and carry it with them hither ;
and, upon thefe goods being delivered to perfons in
different parts of the city, the plague breaks out at
once with great violence among the trading people
of the Greeks, Armenians, and Jews; fori haveob-
ferved, both here and at Smyrna, that the Turks are
commonly the lad of the four nations, who areinfedted ;
but when the plague gets once among them, they fuf-

[ 78 ]

fer moft by it, becaufe they take the leaft care and
precaution, and their families are much more nu-
merous.

The plague, as well as all other epidemical difeafes,
has it’s rife, progrefs, ftate, and declenfion, when
it begins to lofe it’s virulence, and many of the fick
recover. Some years it is felt fporadically all the win-
ter; and we hear fome accidents in the Phanar,
among the Greeks, among the Jews, Turks, and
Armenians; and even among the Franks; for you
may remember, that Pera was not clean all the win-
ter 1762. Some years it lodges in the villages upon
the Bofphorus ; but during the winter it is never of
any great confequence.

As to the cure of this difeafe, fome are for bleeding
plentifully, as Leonardus Botallus and Dodfor Do-
ver, &c. But in this country, it is reckoned infal-
lible death to open a vein, and therefore bleeding is
never ufed ; But I am of opinion that a medium
between thefe two extremes might prove more to the
purpofe; for, as it is an inflammatory difeafe, bleeding
and emetics might be of ufe in the beginning, as
foon as the patient is taken with the fever, efpecially
if the fever is very hot and attended with a delirium or
any violent head-ach; but after there begins a fepa-
ration of the morbific matter, which the ftrength
of nature, and the agitation of the fever, drive
upon the furface of the body in buboes or carbuncles,
bleeding or purging mud prove very prejudicial ; but
gentle vomits might be of fervice even then, as they
might drive out thofe cutaneous eruptions more pow-
erfully than nature could do it without any help.
The vomits likewife might prevent the return of the

morbific

[ 79 3

morbific matter into the blood, which frequently
happens, and the buboes, &c. difappear, and the pa-
tient infallibly dies in a very fhort time. As the pef-
tilential fever has many remiffions, I am of opinion,
that the ufe of the bark in the remiffions might be
of great fervice; as it proved anno 1752, when the
French ambaftador’s fervant was faved at Buiukdere,
by means of fome bark and ipecacuana, which I fent
with directions to Padre Jofeppej and he was the
only perfon, that recovered of all the gang, who were
then taken ill in our village.

The pradtice in the hofpital is after this manner:
when any perfon is fufpeCted, they give him a large
dofe of brandy with a dram of Venice treacle j and
afterwards they cover him very well that he may
fweat: for the firft three days, he eats nothing but
vermicelli boil’d in water, with a little lemon juice.
On the fourth day they give him rice and water ;
which diet they obferve ftriCtly till the 15th or 20th
day, when they begin to allow him very thin chicken
broth, commonly called brodo longo, and they give
him from firft to laft nothing but warm water to
drink.

They apply firft to the buboes and parotides a
cataplafm of mallows and hog’s lard, to advance
maturation j and, after they are ripe and open, they
drefs them with bafilicon ointment.

They apply caimack and fugar to the carbuncles
for fome days to cool them ; and when they begin
to feparate, they apply a digeftive of Chio turpentine
with the yolk of an egg. They apply nothing to
the blains and petechial Ipots, which appear and dif-
appear again upon any part of the body every three or
four days.

All

[ 8° ]

All this time they give the fick no medicines, be-
Tides Venice treacle for the poor, and Tome doles of
hezoar for fuch as can afford to pay for it; and they
never can be perfuaded to change their method ; for
when you gave them Dodlor James’s powder, they
never tried what effe<ft it might have.

I am of opinion that all antiphlogiftics fhould be
ufed before the eruptions ; and all alexipharmics and
antileptics after them; more particularly camphire,
and fome dofes of bark always in the remiffions of
the fever, and blifters ought to be of great ufe in the
fleepy and ftupid plague, for roufing the animal fpi-
rits, and for giving them fome motion : but they are
never ufed here ; and, as they live by cuffom, it is im-
polffble to prevail upon them to change it.

As to prefervatives, I think the belt is to remove
from the infe&ed perfons and houfes, and to keep
at a proper diffance for many days from them.

Some are of opinion, that fire preferves from the
plague, and purges the air; from whom I beg leave
to differ ; for I have remarked here, that cooks and
cooks mates, who are always near the fire, fuffer
more by the plague, than any other fet of people in
proportion to their number. Befides, the fire enlivens
and gives energy to the poifonous effluvia lodged
about them, which otherwife might die and difperfe
in the open air, if expofed fufficiently to it. Fire
moreover opens the pores, relaxes the fibres ; and, as
the hot weather propagates the plague, fire fhould
do the fame more or lefs ; and for the fame reafon I
imagine, that all perfumes muff be of very little
lervice.

The next beft prefervative I take to be modera-
tion, and a diet of fuch meats as are of ealy digef-

tion,

5

[ 8i ]

tion, of a rich balfamic quality, and capable of pro-
ducing a rich and generous blood. It is likewife a
great prefervative to be under no apprehendon, and
to guard as much as podible againd difmal thoughts
and imaginations upon fuch occafions.

Thus, Sir, I have laid before you, in a few words,
all that occurs to me upon the fubjecdj and as mod; of
the examples related happened in your own time, and
are confident with your memory and knowledge, I
hope you can bear witnefs to the truth of the fadts,
if you think proper to prefent them to the Royal
Society j and if not, you may difpofe of them as you
pleafe, for I wrote them in obedience to your dehre,
and to give you an evident proof of the profound re-
fpecd, with which I am.

Conftantinople,
St. George's day,

i?63-

Sir,

Your mod obedient
humble fervant,

Mordach Mackenzie.

N

174S

Vol. LIV.

M

C 8s ]

3748. The plague began the 10th of May, and
ended in November.

1 749; It began the 16th of March, and ended the
20th of October.

1750. It began April 21ft, and ended the 17th of

September,

1751. It began the 15th of May, and continued

all the fummer, autumn, winter, and
to the latter end of September 1752.

1753. It began May 31ft, continued all the fum-
mer, autumn, winter, and till the 17th
of September 1754.

1 755* began in June, but there was very little

plague all this year.

1756. It began March the 6th, and ended the
1 2th of December.

1758. Then there was none till the 23d of April

1758, which ended in October.

1759. It began April 4th and ended about the

10th of September.

1760. It began April the 24th, and ended the 10th

of November.

1761. It began the 10th of March, and continued

till the 19th of December 1762. Since
which day there has not been hitherto one
accident, befides that of the young woman
on the nth of this month already men-
tioned.

In 1751, the 20th of O&ober O.S. a vaft quantity of
fnow fell, that cut off the diftemper, and there was
little plague in 1752. The former year was the moft
considerable, and more univerfally mortal at Con-
llantinople than any in the fpace of fifteen years.

XII. An

XII. An Account of a remarkable Tide at
Briftol : In a Letter to the Rev. Thomas
Birch, D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Rev.
Jofiah Tucker, D. D. Dean of Glou-
cefter.

Read Feb. 23, N Saturday the nth inftant, when

1764- the tide had hardly begun to flow,

according to it’s regular courfe, it was ooferved, by
the water-bailif of the city, and by feveral others,
both on the back, and at the key, to rife very fud-
denly to alrooft high-water mark ; and it fo continu-
ed for near half an hour : then it funk, almoft in-
flantaneoufly, three feet perpendicular : aftei that, it
beo-an to flow in again, and kept flowing on till one
of°the clock, and role to the height it was expe&ed

to do. . .

At Rownham PafTage, a mile below the city, the

ferry-men obferved the tide to ebb almoff inftanta-
neoufly, and to fink at lead four feet perpendicular.
Then it flowed in again, as it fhould have regularly

done, , , .

Ar King- Road, which is about three miles below

the city, the officers obferved the king s boat^to float

fuddenly, which they attributed to a great frefh com-

ming. But they found afterwards the boat pieiendy

aground.

I could get no intelligence of any thing obfervable,

that happened in the river Severn, excepting that at

Gioucefter, and at Worcefter, the inundation funk

very

C 84 ]

very fail on that day. But mod: undoubtedly the
drong rapid tide of the Severn mud have been af-
fected in a very remarkable manner, had there been
any curious perfons to take notice of it.

XIII. A Letter containing fome Experiments
in Electricity, to Mr . Benjamin Wilfon,
F. R. S. from Mr, Torbern Bergman, of
Upfal, in Sweden.

Amplidime atque celeberrime domine.

Read Feb. z 3, I y Xperimentorum circa corporum ad-
1 j fridtum jam ea funt commemoran-
da, quae cum ferico inditui 5 cujus vis ele&rica, etfi a
domino Gray dudum inventa, tamen hucufque parum
fuit explorata. Pulchra funt quae adtulit dominus
Symmer ; fed non fufficientia. Ne vero longa narra-
tione variorum tentaminum charta impleatur ; palma-
ria tantum, et e quibus reliqua intelligi podunt, adfe-
ram. Nova ligamenta fericea, unum- circiter polli-
cem geometricum Suecanum lata, adhibui. Alterum
extremitatibus fixum et bene tenfum, quod in pof-
terum fricatum voco, alterum vero feu fricans mani-
bus, quantum fatis, expando, fuper eodem fpatio
fricati pluries duco reducoque perpendiculariter ad
ejus longitudinem. Hanc operationem tranjverjant
adpello : earn vero qua idem fpatium fricantis ducitur
antrorfum retrorfumque, fuper tota longitudine fricati,
Jecimdum longitudinem fieri dico.

5

Si

C «5 ]

Si jam fricans et fricatum fint ejufdem telas, adeo-
que textura, color, fuperficies, ceteraque, quam prox-
ime paria, fricatio vero inftituatur tranfverfa, fricans
pofitivam et fricatum negativam contrahit eledricita-
tem. In fricatione fecundum longitudinem fricans
fit negativum et fricatum pofitivum.

Si fricans fit alius coloris quam fricatum (modo
non nigri) eventus eft idem.

Si fricatum fuerit nigrum, hoc femper fit negati-
vum, quocunque modo fricetur, excepto unico cafu,
quo nimirum fricans quoque nigrum. Tunc enim,
iecunaum longitudinem fricatum, pofitive eledrifica-
tur.

Ex allatis vidi genus eledricitatis folis circumftan-
tiis fridionis determinari : ut vero modum invenirem,
rem adcuratius penfitavi. In fridione tranfverfa, fri-
catum, magis quam fricans, teritur. Nominetur attri-
tus fricati et fricantis F ,f refpedive, longitudo par-
tis fricantis /, latitudo fricati a , numerus fridionum *
n , et erit femper F z=z nf (l~a). Hinc duplex
oritur eftedus ; nam et fricatum magis Jsvigatur, et
magis calefit, quam fricans. Politura alia corpora dif-
ponit feu aptiora facit ftatui pofitivo 5 ideoque, heic, ne-
gativum ei adfcribere nolui. Experimentum quoque
feci, in quo fricans, multa fridione, erat laevigatum :
fed nihilo minus, fricatum, rude, feu, nunquam antea
adhibitum, inveniebatur pofitivum. Jure igitur in di-
verfum caloris gradum cecidit fufpicio : et hujus exa-
minandae ergo, varia tentavij quibus tandem fequentia
didici.

Si fridio inftituitur tranfverfa, fricans vero antea
probe calefit, hoc invenitur, operatione perada, ne-
gativum, et fricatum, pofitivum. Tentamina hoc fuc-

celfu

C 86 ]

ceftu feci cum Iigamentis, coeruleis, viridibus, luteis,
fubris et albis.

Si fricatum fuerii: nigrum, numquam pofitivam
Contraxit ele&ricitatem, quamvis valde calefadtum
fricans : nil! hoc quoque nigrum.

Ex hifce itaque merito concluditur : Calorcm cor-
pora (faltem nonnulla) Jiatai ?iegativo adaptare,

Ubi de genere eledlricitatis quaeftio eft, nonne bine
varii errores, dum alterutrum ex confricandis, antea,
fortioris vis ergo, calefit ? Nonne hinc phenomena
cryftalli Illandica, frigore producenda ?

Nexum, experientiae congruenter, ita concipio.
Quodvis corpus B (e. g. vitrum rafum) fieri poteft
vel pofitivum vel negativum j prout, vel r<£> C (ferico)
vel r» A (panniculo laneo) adfricatur. Eft igitur
fixus quidam ordo, quern corpora Temper fequuntur,
quamdiu circumftantiae manent eaedem. Sint A, B,
C, D, E, corpora ; quorum quodlibet, cum anteceden-
tibus, fit negativum, cum fequentibus vero, pofitivum.
Jam, quo minor inter confricata diftantia, eo debilior,
ceteris paribus, eledtricitas. Ideoque inter A et E
fortior, quam inter A et B : fi nimirum cetera paria.
Hinc, inter corpora ejufdem generis, difficulter ulla,
producitur vis ; quae, e contrario, cum diftantia, crefcit.
Calor, uti probavi, ftatui negativo corpora adaptat;
led, fi diftantia memorata paullo major, earn quidem
fuperare non valet ; quod ex Iigamentis nigris patet ;
interim tamen vim debilitat. Si globus eledfrificato-
rius incalefcit, experientia quotidiana edodti, novimus,
vim eledtricam debilitari. Nonne inde, quod calore
magis adaptetur ftatui negativo, unde diftantia fricans
inter et fricatum minuitur ? Sed de hifce, alia vice,
plura ; dum fimul caloris effedtus in alia corpora ex-
ponere liceat.

De

C 87 ]

De exiftentia binarum eledricitatum, memet, multa
variaqueluculentiflimaexperimenta plene convicerunt,
fed quid de natura eledricitatis, fic didae, negativa, fit
ftatuendum, adhuc dubius haereo. Apices pofitivi
Jlant, et negativi quoque ; quod ad oculum monftrari
poteft ; phofphoro illito, 11am vapores alias vage e cor-
pore non eledcrifato furgentes, infiar caudas cometa?,
tam pofitivi quam negativi, ad magnam diftantiam
ejedant. Difficulter cum privatione, rarefadione et
adfluxu fluidi eledrici conciliari poflunt phenomena
allata. Quce tua fit mens, ut mihi proxirne explices,
oro.

Quae in noviffima epiftola de metallorum eledrici-
tate fcripfij de confricatione, iifdem Temper (quantum
poffibile) fada circumftantiis, intelligenda funt: 11am
licet, initio, diu Tola fridionis variatione, diverfam, elec-
tricitatem procreare non poftem, tandem vero, ad tuum
prafcriptum, felicius operationem adgrefiiis fum.

Inftrumentum novum nuper invenit dominus
Wilcke, quo, in campo, abfque linea meridiana, acus
magneticae declinatio facile inveniri potefi. Obferva-
tionibus, hocce, Stockholmias fadis, aeftate prater! apfa,
acus 11 gr. 50 min. occidentem verfus, declinare re-
periebatur. Hoc quoque utili invento, linea meridi-
ana, abfque negotio, ducitur.

Domini Mountine et Dodfon, mappam, declinati-
ones magneticas, pro anno 1756 (fi probe memine-
rim) monftraturam : polliciti funt, fed, num talis in
lucem prodierit, adhuc ignoro.

Epiftola, ad R. Societatem Upfalenfem fcripta, du-
dum leda eft.

Hocce autumno, varii globi ignei vifi funt, me-
teoro igneo, in parte prima voluminis LI. Tranfadi-

011 um

3

[ 88 ]

onum defcripto, valde fimiles. Fulmina quoque,
seftate praeterita, in meridionalibus praecipue regni par-
tibus, graftata funt. Ullulne, in Anglia, fulminis idtus,
virgis ferreis erecftis, avertere conatus eft ? et quo fuc-
ceflu ? In Penfylvania tentari mihi narratum eft.
Certe ft prudenter inftituatur, nulla hinc mala metu-
enda video.

Omnigenam tibi optans felicitatem profperitatem-
que, me tuo favori folitaeque amicitias commendo, et
fummo, quo par eft, animi adfedtu, permaneo,

Ampliflimi atque celeberrimi Nominis tui

Dabam Upi'alae,
d. 18 Oct. 1763.

Cultor obfervantiftimus

Torbern Bergman.

XIV. An

0

J

T/u/flS. J'mns. Vot.ZIV: T,ln. JX.fi. 8g

[ «9 ]

XIV. An Account of a Fifr from Batavia,
called Jaculator : In a Letter to Mr,
Peter Collinfon, F. R, S. from John Al-
bert Schloffer, M. D. F. R. fr

Dear Sir, Amfterdam, 22d Feb. 1763.

Read March 1 TT A V I N G lately received from
£~|. Mr. Hommel, governor of the
hofpital at Batavia, many uncommon fifhes, well
preserved, amongft them is one as curious for it’s
^iape, as for it's extraordinary manner of obtaining
it’s food. It is new to me, and, T believe, hath never
been obferved by any writer on natural hiftory. [Vide
Tab. X.]

I requeft the favour, that you will prefent this rare
fiili to the Royal Society, as a fmall, but fincere proof
of the gratitude and efteem, which I really have for
that refpedable, learned body.

Governor Hommel gives the following account of
the Jaculator or (hooting fifh, a name alluding to it’s
nature. It frequents the (bores and (ides of the fea
and rivers, in fearch of food. When it fpies a fly
fitting on the plants, that grow in (hallow water, it
fwims on to the diftance of four, five, or fix feet,
and then, with a furprizing dexterity, itejeds out of
it s tubular-mouth a Angle drop of water, which ne-
ver fails (biking the fly into the fea, where it foon
becomes it’s prey.

Vol. LIV.

N

The

[ 9° ]

The relation of this uncommon a&ion of this
cunning fifh railed the governor’s curiofity ; though
it came well attefted, yet he was determined, if pof-
iible, to be convinced of the truth, by ocular de-
monftration.

For that purpofe, he ordered a large wide tun to
be filled with fea- water ; then had fome of thefe fifh
caught, and put into it, which was changed every
other day. In a while, they feemed reconciled to
their confinement j then he determined to try the ex-
periment.

A ilender flick, with a fly pinned on at it’s end,
was placed in fuch a direction, on the fide of the
veflel, as the fifh could ft r ike it.

It was with inexpreflible delight, that he daily faw
thefe fifh exercifing their (kill in (hooting at the fly,
with an amazing velocity, anrl never miflfed the

mark.

In looking over that noble work of the Mufeuin
of the king of Sweden, printed anno 1754, 1 met with
this Jaculator, well engraven, and defcribed, by the
learned Baron Linnaeus, under the title of Chaetodon,
pag. 61, plate 33.

Baron Linnaeus’s Defcription.

Acanthopterygii-chaetodon.

Chaetodon roftratum, pinna dorfali poftice macula
fufca.

Corpus ovatum, compreflum ; fafcia grifea perpen-
diculars fecat caput per oculos. Fafcia grifea perpen-
diculars ab initio pinnae dorfalis defcendit ante pec-
torales ad ventrales. Fafcia grifea perpendicularis in

-2 medio

C 91 ]

medio pifce. Fafcia fufca faturatior cingit caudam
ante radios. Macula fufca orbicularis in medio pili-
ng dorfalis ubi mutica.

Caput roftro elongato, fere ut in fyngnathis, dentes
in maxillis minimi. Narium foramina utrinque 2
ante oculos, membranae branchioftegae officula 5.
Opercula branchiarum fquamis tedta, ut in reliquis
congeneribus. Pinnae dorfi et ani aequales, valde
tranfverfce, et lateribus fquamis te&ae. Dorfalis radiis
9-3 1 primoribus mucronatis, pofterioribus 3 1 molli-
bus, longioribus. Pedtorales radiis 14. Ventrales
radiis 6 mollibus, excepto primo fpinofo j eorum
fecundus reliquis longior. Ani radiis 3-20 pofterio-
ribus 20 longioribus, mollibus ; primis 3 fpinofis,
caudae radiis 1 4, aequalibus 5 parva

Accedit proxime ad labrum roftro reflexo fafciis
lateralibus tribus fuicis. Amoen. Acad. 1, p. 313.

XIV. An Account of the Polifi Cochineal :
In a Letter to Mr . Henry Baker, F. R . S.
from Dr, Wolfe, of Warfaw.

Warfaw, April 4, 1763.^

Read March 29, O C C I Polonici funt ova, vel
1 7^4* potius pupae infedli nondum fatis

cogniti, quae ad radices variarum plantarum adhaerent,
et verfus finem Julii ab evullis radicibus ope cultri
abraduntur et colliguntur. Plants ills funt valde va-
ris, nec quotannis in una eademque fpecie reperiun-

tur

c 92 1

tur cocci illi, fed pro lubitu vagnntur, hoc anno in hac,
fequenti in alia planta. Ccmmuniter creditum,
non inveniri nifi in fclerantho perenni calycibus fruc-
tus claufts, Linnaei, quod polygonum minus Bauh. fo-
lio et flore albicante, feminibus nudis oblongis. Haec
planta amat loca fabulofa j fed nimis eft rara, ut no-
tabiiis cocci quantitas inde colligi poflit. Uberior
longe proventus eft ejus in 'pratis pinguibus Podoliae
et Ucrainiae : ibique invenitur fupra omne genus fra-
gariae et potentillae ; faepe etiam ad radices fecalis, alia—
rumque plantarum, de quibus tamen nihil certicom-
pertum habeo. Maxima copia colledum vidi ex
potentilla alba Linnaei, fol. digitat. 5 natis, apice con-
niventi ferratis, caulibus filiformibus procumbentibus,
receptaculis hirfutis : hanc nimirum indicare mihi vi-
detur; ceterum exfragraria flnreslho, foliis lanceolatis,.
medio maximo, fubtus villofis, fupra viridibus cum tenui
margine argenteo, caulibus debilibus hirfutis. Deinde
ex pentaphyllo officinali, feu potentilla reptante Lin-
naei, fol. quinatis, caule repente, pedunculis unifloris.
Poftea etiam ex potentilla caulefcente Linnaei fol. qui-
natis apice conniventi ferratis, caulibus multifloris
credis receptaculis hirfutis ; de quibus fpecimina mitto.

Poftquam copia horum cocculorum colleda eft,
immittuntur in ollam, et fupra ignem torrentur
quoufque vermes enecati arbitrantur. In Augufto,
infedum, ovum fuum relinquit, et in planta tarde
decurrit. Eft infedum feminis cannubis magnitu-
dine, totum molle, infra planum, fupra ellipticum,
feu ovatum, rugis tranfverlis femicircularibus decern
circiter a capite ad anum, quae rugae in infcriori ab-
dominis parte in marginem quafi vel fimbriam coeunt,
fecundum circumferentiam abdominis infcriorem.

Caput

C 93 ]

Caput parvulum ; thorax fupra vix confpicuus. Co-
lor totius animalis obfcure purpureo-brunnus. Totum
corpus pilis tenuibus, argenteis longis (refpeftu infedi)
un clique tomentofum, ut videatur pulverulentum, vei
farina alba confperfum. Pedes fex valde breves, mi-
nuti, nigrore fplendentes, inftrudti unguibus acutis
duobus. Antennae duae filiformes perbreves nigerri-
mse : roftrum reflex-urn perbreve. An abdomen pone
fetofum? ut dicit Linnaeus. Saltern pili ibi videntur
paulo crafilores et longiores, fed fimiles reliquis. An
volatilia fiant, expifcare nondum potui, nec fexum qui-
dem internofcere potui.. Sed dabitur, Deo dante,.
opportunior occafio, in haec inquirendi. Transfor-
mationes difficulter obfervantur, cum infedum deli-
catulum a quavis injuria facile vita privetur, et illo
tempore intra fifturas radicum abfcondat fe. Optimam
figuram huj'us infcfti nuperdedit Ledermiiller Norim-
bergenfis in obfervationibus microfcopieis.

Color inde Janas, goftipio, lino, conciliatur dilute
carmefinus. Modus tingendi talis eft. Coquunt
coccum in aheno cupreo, cum liquore, quern kwas
(acidum) dicunt, etquiin Podolia, Rufiia, et Ucrainia,
pauperibus pro potu ordinario infervit. Parant vero
hunc potu.m kwas ex farina fecalina, quam infun-
dunt aqua .multa calida, et in loco tepido relinquunt,.
donee fermentaticne acefcat, et limpida fiat. Quantum
quotidie de hoc liquore ebibunt, tantum addunt no-
vae aquae cum manipulo farinas. Breviori tempore
idem fit, fi fermentum acidum panis lecalini piftorum-
cum multa aqua diluatur, et in locum tepidum repo-
natur. Jam in hoc liquore coccum diu coquunt.
Enalcitur fpuma et pinguedo valde multa, inftar febi
alba, quam foliicite femper auferunt, ufque dum
talis jam nihil appareat. Erit liquor pulcre fangui--

neuso

C 94 3

neus. Jam, lanam puram albam in alio aheno cum
firnili liquore kwast et mediocri aluminis quantitate
decoquunt, et falibus his bene imbutam exficcant.
Tandem lanam ita prasparatam, in liquorem ilium
fanguineum immittunt, et per aliquot minuta co-
quunt : fic in momento omnis color lanas adhaeret, et
liquorem inftar aquas limpidum relinquit. Lanam
lie tindam aqua frigida abluunt et exficcant.

Rudis haec tradatio docet, quantum ille color
emendari pofiet, fi in vafe ftanneo, cum lale ammo-
niaco et folutione ftanni tradaretur. Narrarunt mihi
colledores, fi animalcula viva colligantur et enecen-
tur, colorem inde obtineri multo elegantiorem ; cui
facile crediderim, fi praefertim eadem follicitudine
colligerentur, ac fit cum cocco Mexicano (cui de
cetero noftrum infedum valde fimile videtur), et loco
tofiionis, in aceto enecarentur. Multum Chocimi
inquifivi in id, quo Turci purpureo colore lanam in-
ficiunt : fed tindura ilia non nifi in Afia minori ex-
ercetur. Omnes tamen dicunt, tinduram hanc ob-
tineri ex baccis, quas ad radicem plantae Armeniacae,
quatn Romam appellunt, crefcunt. Forte hasc planta
eadem cum potentilla alba, et forte etiam pulchritudo
coloris non nifi ab artificio tindoris pendet.

Quantitas cocci hujus ad exteros exportati, ex Po-
dolia, facile aliquot millia librarum quotannis excedit,
et praeterea multum domi confumitur. Maxima pars
in Turciam abvehitur, magna etiam Breflaviam venit.
Conftat libra una 8-10 florenis Polonicis, (five 4-5
Shillings) et una libra fere 20 librae lanae tingi poflunt.

Further

C 95 ]

Further Account of the Polifh Cochineal : In a Letter
from Dr. Wolfe to Mr. Henry Baker, F.R.S.

Read April 12, ¥ AST fummer I amufed myfelf with
i764- 1-^ the Polifli cochineal. It is unknown

and negleded in this country. The feveral kinds of
Potentillas are here very rare, and it was only upon
the polygonum minus, or fcleranthus perennis Lin-
naei, that I found the cochinille. I gathered about
300 of the coccufles, and put them with the plants
and fome fand in large pots. They are of different
fizes. The infeds creep out of their coccufles from
the beginning of June till the middle of Auguft:
about fifty got out under my eyes. They are all ex-
actly of the fame fhape : but fome are three times
fmaller than others, according to their coccufles.
‘j^be coccus is a thin round white fkin. The infeds
are all hairy more or lefs; fome are of a darker colour,
fome more crimfon; fome feem fomewhat longer,,
others broader. But thefe differences feem to depend
on their voluntary extenfion, and on their age, becaufe
they grow from day to day darker and more hairy..
No mouth is to be feen, but a deep plait or furrow
at the upper part of the breafl. Two extremely
fmall dark points feem to be the eyes. The two
horns are thick, twilled like a ferew, of the length
of the breafl ; they end in an obtufe point. The two
fore legs are twice the fize of the four hinder legs,
they have all fharp black incurved claws. The fhape
of the wrinkles and furrows may be feen in the drawing.
It is impoflible to find marks of the fex ; and though.

they join fometimes their anufles, yet they do it fo
* J loofely3.

C 96 ]

loofely, that it cannot be accounted for a copulation.
They feem to eat nothing at all. They creep about
the plant a week or two, going often underground, and
getting up again. Then they make themfelves a deep
cylindrical hole in the fand down to the hard bottom
of the pot, the end of which they cover with a fine
white filk growing upon their bodies. There they
lay their eggs and die. Others, who are diffurbed
in their work, grow weary and white, as if they
were powdered all over with a white meal, which
through a glafs appears to be very fine white filky
hairs, coming out over all the body. At laft they
lay them down upon their backs : the filky hairs grow
very faff, to the length of one inch and a half, and
the infed twills with its claws the hairs all round its
body, fo as to referable a fmall heap of cotton ; but the
hairs are fo tender, that a fmall wind will tear and
deflroy it. In this heap of cotton they lay their eggs,
from fifty to an hundred, and then they die. Thus
they remain till the middle of July. Afterwards,
though they make their holes, or their cotton heaps,
yet they die without laying eggs. The eggs are crim-
fon, tranfparent, fcarce vifiblc, long, and round-
pointed at both ends. In a week’s time the young
infeds creep out: they are like their parents, but
fmooth, tranfparent, and crimfon. I prefented them
every day frefh roots of the polygonum, but I cannot
fay they have eat any of them. In a week or two
they difappear, going under ground. I prefcrve all
thefe things. The infeds feem now all dead, and
fo do the young ones, buried up in fand : but I hope
next fpring to fee them alive, and to profecute their
farther change. I have killed about one hundred of

the

[ 97 ]

the infers in hot vinegar, as it is done in Mexico; and
now I fhall attempt to dye fome woolly threads in
the common way of the fcarlet dyers. In the mi-
crofcopical obfervations of Ledermuller at Nurem-
berg* you will find tolerable drawings belonging td
this matter. In the beginning of Augurt, 1 found
an extremely fmall white fly, fomewhat like to what
is fuppofed to be the male infedl. It is a third part
of the fize of what is reprefented by Ledermuller.
It has a body like a gnat, fnow- white, powdered below*
but gray Ihining upon its back, fix tender fnow-white
legs without claws, a thick bulky head, two very
fmall prominent eyes, two hair-like horns, two wings,
large enough in comparifon to the body, fnow-white
below, and fhining gray above. The belly to the
tail is taper, and at the tail are three white hairs, very
tender, and four or five times the length of the whole
fly. But as this was the Angle one amongfl: three
hundred, and totally unlike in every part to the other
infedts, I doubt very much of its being of this genus.

I hope next fummer will teach me more ; and, if I
fhould be happy enough to bring the matter to any
clearnefs, I fhall put my obfervations into fome order,
and fend them over with proper drawings belonging
to it. But as there is no doubt but this infedt will
be found as well in England as in Poland, I thought
it proper to give you the account of my obfervations
as far as they go. Perhaps fomebody of yours will
think it worth their while to look the next month of
June at the potentilla, fragaria, and polygonum minus
roots, and will very likely find thefe fame things.

Tab. X. N°. i. The cochineal infedl of its natural
fize. 2. The fame magnified. 3. The cotton. 4.

Vo l. LIV. O The

[9M

The cotton with the animal in the middle, and its
ecgs of the natural fize. 5. An egg by the firft magni-
fier. 6. Two coccufes greatly magnified. 7. The
infedt greatly magnified.

I fend you alfo fome of the infe&s killed in vinegar
and dryed. The cotton, and the fuppofed male in fed.
Some young infers. Some dead infers buried up in
their cotton, fome of which layed eggs, others not,
fome void coccus (hells, fome young ones, fome eggs,
etc. and alfo the polygonum minus.

P. S. The 1 2th of Odtober, at 8 o’clock in the
evening, we had here a ftrong aurora borealis. It
lafted but a quarter of an hour. The fhooting rays
were white, and went all round from the horizon,
making up at leaft three quarters of the circle of the
horizon, the middle being juft in the north. The
rays pointed all towards one point of the heaven,
which point was not the zenith, but at lead: 20 de-
grees farther diredtly again!! the South. It was a
fair day. No wind or rain followed it j but the air
vyas calm before and after.

»

W arfaw, Nov. 23, 1763.

XVI. A

Thilos. Trans. Yol. XIV. TAB JL.jj.qg.

Tunic and Phoenician Coin#. ^blloJ- Tranf VoLjjv iab. xi hp.y(j.

JPenes Joannem Swinton , S.T.B . Oxomenf. E..S.S .

JPcmj Joannem S'wmtoii.S.T.R.Oxoinenf. RS,S .

%/jH> i/ruiC' /(■

I.

[ 99 3

XVI. Obfervations upon two antient Etrufcan
Coins , never before illuftrated or explained .
i# <3 Letter to the Rev. Thomas Birch,
D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Rev. John
S win ton, B. D. F. R. S. Member of the
Academy degli Apatifti at Florence, and
of the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona in
Tufcany.

Good Sir,

Read March 29, / | \ W O fmail Etrufcan coins, or
1?t4* JL weights, came lately into my
poffeffion, which I take to have been never hitherto
publifhed. Each of them is an uncia, or twelfth
part of an as, and in pretty good confervation. The
weight, or value, of each piece appears from a fingle
globule on the reverfe. As on feveral accounts they
leem to merit the attention of the curious, and have
not been yet explained ; the Society will indulge me
the liberty of imparting to them my fentiments
of thefe valuable coins, and fubmitting to their
confideration a few curfory remarks upon them here,
[Tab. XI.]

I.

The firfl of thefe medals prefents to our view a
diademated head, greatly deformed by the injuries of

O 2 ' time0

[ I°0 ]

time. The workmanfhip is rude, fuch as vve find
k to be in many of the more antient Etrufcan coins.
The flip of metal projecting from the round of the
weight demonftrates the piece to have been caft, and
may therefore be confidered as a certain indication of
it’s high antiquity. From the globule and two let-
ters, t v, on the reverfe, we may infer this coin to
have been a flips uncialis of the Tudertes, or people
of Tuder, TOYAEP, as this antient city of Italy
feems to have been called by (i) Strabo. It is
at prefent known by the name of Todi. It went
under the denomination of Tutere (2) amongfl the
Etrufcans, and is pointed out to us by the let-
ters t v, as here, on (3) feveral of their earlier
coins.

That this piece is an Etrufcan weight of very con-
fiderable antiquity, feems likewife evident from the
barbarous and uncouth tafte that appears in every part
of it, in conjunction with the manner of writing,
from the right hand to the left, viflble on it, which
antiently prevailed over all the (4) lucumonies of
Etruria. The figure on the reverfe, however rude
and inelegant it may be, was perhaps intended to
reprefent the prow of a fhip, fo frequently to be
met with on this minute fort of coins. For a parti-
cular and fatisfaCtory account of the early origin of

(1) Strab. Geograph. Lib. x. Sil. Ital.

(2) Anton. Francifc. Gor. Muf. Etrufc. p. 162, 427. Flo-
rentiae, 1737.

(3) Anton. Francifc. Gor. ubi fup. p. 427. Honor. Arigon.
Num. Urb. et Popular. Hetrur. Tab. VII, VIII, VIIII, &c.
Tarvifii, 1745.

(4) Phil. Bonarot. Ad Monument. Etrufc. Oper. Demp/l .
dddit, Expiuat. & Conject. § xlii. p. 90. Fiorentice, 1726.

fuch

[ 101 ]

fuch caffc pieces (5) as this, recourfe may be had to
the very learned authors referred to here.

With regard to the diademated head on this piece,
I fliall only beg leave to obl'erve, that a fimilar one
occurs on an antient Etrufcan coin publifhed by
(6) Arigoni, on a very old medal of Rome now in my
poffeffion (7), and undoubtedly on feveral other valua-
ble pieces of a very remote antiquity, to be met with
in the cabinets of the learned. This fmall Etrufcan
uncia weighs precilely three penny weights and
one grain.

That the weight, or coin, I have been confider-
ing was current in Etruria long before the people of
that country found themfelves obliged to fubmit to
the Roman yoke, will not, I think, admit of a dU
fpute; but how many years it preceded that wherein
the battle of the Lacus Vadimonis (8^, fo ruinous
to the Etrufcans, was fought, for want of fufficient
light, both from hiftory and the medal itfelf, X muff
not take upon me to decide.

Ih

The fecond piece exhibits on one fide the head of
Hercules, adorned with a lion’s fkin ; behind which a
£fh, refembling the turfo, or tyrfo, appears, attended
by three Etrufcan letters well enough preferved. On
the reverfe a dolphin, or tyrfo, part of an anchor, and
another fifh, under the former, prefen, t themfelves

(5) Idem ibid. § xxxviii. p. 78. Anton. Francifc. Gor. ubi
Tup. p. 421. Una Lettera At Signor Abate Barthelemy di Annibale^
degli Abati Olivieri, p. 27. In Pefaro, 1757.

(6) Honor. Arigon. ubi fup. Tab. XIV, XVI„

(7) See Plate Fig.

(8j T. Liv. Hijioriar. ab Ur be Conch Lib. lx,

to.

[ 102 ]

to our view. The other part of the anchor and the
fifh appertaining to it have been defaced, by the in-
juries of time i as we may colled: from a fimilar
flips uncialis formerly publifhed by F. Montfaucon,
then in the cabinet of the Marfhal d’Eftrees. A
fingle globule, or uncial mark, determining the
weight, or value, of the piece, is alfo vifible here.
The workmanship is fomewhat rude, and different
from that of the Romans. The tyrfo feems to
allude to the origin and moft antient name of the
Etrufcans, who were called Tyrfenians by the Greek
writers that flourifhed before Polybius (io). That
filh not feldom ( 1 1 ) occurs on the Etrufcan coins. It
is thought to have been one of the distinguishing Sym-

(9) Montfauc. Supplem. de V Anti quit. Expliqu. Tom. III.
Liv. iv. c. 6. PI. 48. p. 106. A Paris, 1724.

( 10) Bach. Chan. Lib. I. c. xxxiii. p. 647, 648. Francofurti
ad Moenum, 1 68 r . Phil. Bonarot. Ad Monument. Etrufc. Ex-
plicat. iff Conjeft. § xxxvm. p. 80. Florentine, 1726. Anton.
Francifc. Gor. Muf. Etrufc. Vol. II. p. 421. Florentine,

1 7 37*

(11) Phil. Bonarot. ubi Tup. § xxxviii. Ant. Fran. Gor. ubi
fup. p. 421. I have an exceeding fine Etrufcan weight, or brafs
medal, of Volterra, adorned with the head of Janus on one
fide, done after the Etrufcan manner ; and on the reverfe with a
tyrfo, the obelus, or mark of the as, and feven Etrufcan let-
ters, forming the word velithera, or velitera, the old Etruf-
can name of Volterra, one of the moft antient cities of Tufcany.
The piece is in the fmeft confervation, and weighs four ounces,
fifteen penny weights, and eighteen grains.

It is farther remarkable for a figure of the a, which I never met
with, before this weight fell into my hands, upon any of the Etrufcan
remains of antiquity. One of the fides of that element here is
much fhorter than the other, not unlike the form of the Greek
Alpha exhibited by fome of the earlieft Athenian tetradrachms,
particularly one in my pofteflion, the moft antient of any that I
.have hitherto feen.

bols

[ *°3 ]

bols of the Tyrfenian nation, with which the people
of it were very well pleafed.

The forms of the letters on this medal are exadtlv
the fame with thofe of the correfpondent elements
uied in Umbria and the Proper Etruria, and apparently
anfwer to the Roman letters fai. They are fuffici-
ently clear and diftindt, having differed little from
the injuries of time. The word they reprefent, in
eonformity to the Etrufcan (12) manner, points out
to us fome remarkable town. This may be certainly
evinced from the infcriptions preferved on other
Etrufcan coins. Now to what town can this word
be fuppofed as a proper name to refer, but to Faffulte
in the Proper Etruria ? That city flood at the foot of
the Apennines, and was one of the mod (13) antient,
as well as the mod confiderable, towns of Etruria.
The Greeks wrote the name of it (14) OAIZOTAAI
anc^ ( 1 5) ^AISOA A, the earlier Latins (16) fais vlai.

Hence it fltotiid feem to appear, that this valuable Etrufcan coin
has never yet been publiihed, at leaf! with a fufficient degree of
exadtnefs. I therefore judged it would be by no means improper
to fend the Society a draught of it, as well as one of the Athe-
nian tetradrachm here mentioned, taken with the utmoft ac-
curacy, and fuch as may be entirely depended upon.

V id. Annib. degl. Abat. Olivier, ubi fup. p, 43.

(12) Anton. Franc i lev Gor. ubi fup. p. 422-431. Joan. Baptifr*.
Pafler. Pifaurenf. De Num. Etrufc. Pajlanor. DiJJcrtat. Vid.
Symbol. Litterar. Vol. II. p. 13-35. Florentiie, 1748.

(13) Tho. Dempft. De Etrur. Regain, iv. c. xix. & alibi,
FJ orentire, 1724.

(14) Appian. Alexandria De Bell . Civil. Lib. II. p. 7x1. Am-
ftel. 1670. Dio, Lib. xxxvn.

(15) Polyb. Hijlor . Lib. II. c. 25. p. 158. Amidol. 1670.

( ib) Enn. h Lucret. paflim. Virg. Job. NicoJ. Func.'Marbur-
geni. De Adolefcent. Latin, Ling, Era flat, p, 72 c.’ Martourei
Cattorum, 1723. 5 *

4 and

C r04 ]

and thofe of the Augudan age faesvlae. The
diphthong ai at firft prevailed amongft the Latins,
as well as the Greeks ; but was afterwards converted
by them into /E, or ae.

That the Etrufcans ufed globules on their coins, to
denote the weight or value of them, has been obferv-
ed by the mod: celebrated (17) antiquaries, and is now
univerfally allowed. From them the cuftom of im-
preffing thefe marks upon money and weights pafled
to the Romans. Now Faefulse was one of the mod:
famous and antient cities of Etruria. Nay, with its
didridt, according to a (18) very eminent writer, it
formed one of the twelve lucumonies, or free dates,
of that country; and, in fupport of this fentiment,
it may be remarked, that feveral valuable remains
of (19) Etrufcan antiquity have been found near the
fpot formerly occupied by that city. A mint was
therefore undoubtedly eredted there, and money coined
in it. The fituation of this place, at a fmall didance
from the Arno, and not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea,
may be confidered as an additional reafon why a turfo,
or tyrfo, fhould have fometimes been impreffed on its
coins.

The age of the piece before me I cannot take
upon me, with any precifion, to determine ; but think
it mud have been emitted from the mint at Fasfulas,
before the final fubjugation of Etruria by the Romans.

(17) Phil. Bonarot. ubi fup. Honor. Arigon. Nurn. Urb. & Po-
pular. Hetrur. AnUqu'tJpm. Tarvifii, 1745.

(18) Dempft. ubi fup. et alibi. Vid. etiam Cluver. Cellar. &c.

(19) Anton. Francilc. Gor. ubi fup. p. 19, 112, 435.

I

We

[ *' I05 3

We may therefore reafonably prefame !t to have ap-
peared before the reduction of that country to the
form of a province by the conful Ti. Coruncanius,
in the year of Rome 473 ; if not before the terrible
overthrow given the Etrul'cans by the conful Aimilius
Barbula, in the year 442, which feems to have put
a period to the independency of that nation. If we
admit this, the coin cannot well be fuppofed to have
preceded the birth of Christ lefs than three hun-
dred years. Nay, it may be of a much earlier date, if
the learned (20) Sig. Gori’s notion of the high anti-
quity of the brafs Etrulcan coins be not altogether re-
mote from truth. Be this as it will, no one has yet
fully difproved or invalidated his opinion.

From the coin here confidered, I think, we may
venture to infer, that the manner of adorning with
the head of Hercules fome of the Idler weights was
(21) originally Etrufcan, but adopted afterwards by the
Romans. The people of Fasfulas and the neighbour-
ing trad undoubtedly formed one of the twelve lucu-
monies, or cantons, of Etruria, and even made a figure
after the Etrufcan times. A colony was fettled here
by (22) Sylla, and the inhabitants of this place feem
to have enjoyed the priviledges of a municipium in the
days of (23) Pliny. Other points, belides thofe already
mentioned, are clearly deducible from the medal I

(20) Idem ibid. p. 419. Phil. Bonarot. ubi fup.

(21) Anton. Francifc. Gor. ubi fup. p. 424, 425. Phih Bo-
narot. ubi fup.

(22) Cic. in Catilin. Orat. III.

(23) Plin. Nat. Hiji . Lib. vii. c. xnt. p. 381. Ed. Hard. Pa-
rifiis, 1723.

Vol. LIV, * P have

[ * 106 ]

have been endeavouring to explain, the only one of
Faefulae hitherto difcovered, which at prefent I cannot
fo much as touch upon j having but juft time to afture
you that I am, with the moft perfect confideration
and efteem,

S I R,

Your moft obedient humble fervant,

Chrift-Church, Oxon,

May 31ft, 1763.

John Swinton.

XVII. Obfcr-

[ * 107 ]

XVII. Obfervation of the Eclipfe of the
Sun, the \Jl of April 1764, made in Sm-
ry-ftreet, in the Strand, London: By

James Short, M. A, i F. R . fi.

Read April 5, H E morning of the eclipfe I had

X provided the inftruments I judged
would be neceffary for obferving it in fuch a manner
as to be fatisfadory to the Royal Society as well as
to myfelf. A receding telefcope of two feet focal
length, it’s aperture four inches and a half, and it’s
magnifying power feventy times. To this telefcope
was fitted a micrometer with an achromic objed-glafs
of 40 feet focal length.

The right honourable the Earl of Morton, now
Prefident of this Society, was pleafed to honour me
with his company, and alfo to obferve ; but in different
rooms, out of fight and hearing of one another. His
Lordfhip ufed a refledor of only eighteen inches focal
length, four inches and a half aperture, and a power
of forty times, to the eye-piece of which a helio-
fcope was adapted, for viewing the Sun difiindly,
without the leaf! inconvenience to the eye.

The condition of the air was very unpromifing,
for, befides a general hazinefs of the Iky, thin flow
moving clouds were frequently palling over the Sun

from

4

[ * *o8 ]

from the South-weft, fo that it was by fitts only that
the Sun’s limb could be feen diftindtly. I ufed a
fmoaked-glafs to defend my eye, and my obfervati-
ons were noted down as follows.

Apparent time.

h

March 31,21

t ti

4 33
4 36

{

the beginning of the eclipfe
by me.

by Lord Morton.

All the reft by myfelf, with the before mentioned
micrometer.

h /

21 12

14

16

18

19

48

22 19

22

23
26

28

3°

32

23 35

37

40

41

27

12

1

37

42

15

28

58-

10

13 22, o •

14 32, 1

15 5°» 8

16 50, 6

17 45> 4
27 7, 1
29 33, 2

29 49* 5 :
29 49, 5 :
2 58,7:

: diftance of the cufps.

: ditto.

: ditto.

: ditto.

= ditto,
r ditto.

= ditto.

{Moon’s diameter nearly
parallel to the horizon.
; ditto.

j greateft diftance of Sun
l and Moon’s limbs.

28 — 2 3 1, 3 = ditto.

43 — 2 26, 2 = ditto,
o _ f Moon’s diameter nearly

b 29 49, 5 — j parallel to the horizon.
23 — 21 11, 4 = diftance of the cufps.
33 — 20 18, 4 = ditto.

59—18 52, 9 = ditto.

The

[ I05 ]

The end could not be feen for clouds, but the
whole of the eclipfe may be determined from the
above meafurements.

The Sun’s diameter parallel to the horizon, about
an hour before noon on the day of the eclipfe, was
31' 59", 4, air hazy. The next day at the fame
hour it was 31' 58//, 6.

addition.

i - ■

I f

h f if , . I ir

April i a, II 00 P.M. Moon’s diameter mwured s-s 3? 49,9

13. 6300 P.M. — - =33 M .

10 25 oP. M, - - - — ■ = 33 20, 7 air undulating,

14. 6 30 o P. M. * — — — - — — — s= 33 21, 6

11 00 P.M. — . — — = 33 39, 5 air undulating.

XVIII. Obfervation of the Eclipfe of the
Sun, April i, 1764: In a Letter from
Dr. John Bevis, to Jofeph Salvador, Efq;

F. R .

S I R,

fcead April 5, rT|“1 H E honour you were pleafed to
1764- do me by fending me an invitation

to obferve the late eclipfe of the Sun at your houfe,
and the accommodations I there met with, require
that I fhould give you the bed; account I can of my
obfervation, however imperfedt through the unfa-
vourablenefs of the weather.

Vol. LIII. P

You

[ io6 ]

You may remember, Sir, that, not long before the
beginning of the eclipfe, the air, from very ferene,
turned hazy, and thin clouds came from the South-
weft. I had fet a ftop watch of Graham’s, by a clock
likewife of his, with which the Sun’s tranfit on the
meridian was obferved* carefully two days before the
day of the eclipfe, and the next day after it.. By
comparing my watch with this clock on my return,
I found it was 19 feconds too faft in mean time, at
your houfe, when I obferved the beginning; and
whereas it then fhew’d 9h g' i2", it fhould have
(hewed no more than 9h 8' 53", from whence fub-
du&ing 3' 45", the equation of time, there remains
9h 5' %"> the apparent time of the beginning of the
eclipfe, as I obferved it.

But I muft remark, that, the ftate of the fky con-
tinuing fuch as I have defcribed it, the beginning muft
have really happened fooner, by 10 or 15 feconds,
as I judge from the firft perceivable diftance of the
cufps ; fo that, if I ftate it at gh 4' 53", I prefume I
(hall err but a very few feconds.

About the middle of the eclipfe, the air was very
clear, and the cufps well defined, which wanted a-
bout 60 degrees of joining. I could not then difcern
any thing on the Sun about the Moon’s limb, which
in the leaft indicated a lunar atmofphere. A full di-
git of the Sun, or more, remained uneclipfed. The
day-light was but inconsiderably diminifhed, fo that
neither Jupiter nor Venus could be feen, though both
in a favourable pofition, to the eaft of the Sun.

Fahrenheit’s thermometer, placed without door
to the north, (food at 50 when the eclipfe began, and
fell but one divifion whilft it lafted.

The

C 107 3

The end oi the eclipfe could not be obferved for
tnick. clouds, to the great difappointment of all who
had the curiofity to give their attention to this phe-
nomenon in or about London.

I am, with great regard,

S I R,

Your very obedient humble fervant,

J. Bevis.

Clerkenwell-Clofe,
April 4, 1764.

Tie Moon’s Eclipfe of March 1 jtb, 1764, obferved
in Surrey-hreet, in the Strand, London.

Apparent

b

/

10 32

39

48

53

54

57

11 46

o 49

12 13

J7
56
o
2

16

24

time*

//

43

o the penumbra juft fenftble to the naked eye.
o the beginning, viewed with an opera glafs.

30 the ftiadow touches Mare Humorwn : This, and thofe
that follow, with a 9 inch reflector.

35 Tycho touched by the fliadow.

41 Grimaldi touched.

30 Grimaldi covered.

30 the fliadow touches the fouthern border of Mare Tran-
quillitatis.

36 * — touches the fouthern border of Mare Cri -

Jium.

44 Grimaldi begins to emerge.

36 is quite emerged.

23 Mare Crifiuan nearly bifedted by the fliadow.

30 Tycho out of the fliadow.

40 Mare Crifium out of the fliadow.

30 the end of the eclipfe, with an opera glafs.
o the Moon clear of the penumbra.

The ftiadow was ill defined, tho’ the air was clear.

P 2 P. S.

[ xoS ]

I5. S. I find an obfervation of mine of the lunar eclipfe
of May 7th, 1762, printed in the Philofophical
Tranfadtions Vol. L1I. pag. 543. How it got there
I know not, never having thought it worthy the no-
tice of the Royal Society. Belides, in the three ob-
fervations there faid to be made at Mr. Short s before
the eclipfe, the equation (I fuppofe by my own mil-
take) is fubftrafled , which fhould have been added to
give the apparent time j and die three apparent times
there fet down, are to be increafed each by 4' 16"
to make them the true ones. J. B.

XIX. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the
Sun, April 1, 1764 : In a Letter to the
Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret. R, S.
from Mr. James Fergufon, F. R. S.

Reverend Sir, Liverpool, April 2, 1764*

Read April S-TJAVING been at this place ever
‘764* Jl i fince the beginning of March, and
hoping that the fky would prove favourable (as, to my
great joy it did) for obferving both the lunar eclipfe
of March 17th, and the folar eclipfe of yeflerday, I
propofed to captain Hutchinfon, at whole houfe I
flay, to have a meridian line drawn on the leads on
the top of his houfe, in order to adjufl his clock, for
obferving the times of thefe eclipfes by : and we got
Mr. Holden, who is mailer of a mathematical fchool
here, to do it for us, by fevcral obfervations of the

altitude

[ I09 ]'

altitude and azimuth of the Sun by day, and of the
ftars by night ; and there were fuch exadt agreements
found by many repeated obfervations, that no doubt
could remain of the meridian’s being very well
ascertained. The fame gentleman, who is juftly
efleerned to be a very accurate obferver, and an able
calculator, finds the latitude of Liverpool to be'
53° 2_z' y and its longitude is generally thought to be
three degrees weft of Greenwich, but he believes it
to be fomewhat. lefs.

The clock being duly adjufted by our meridian line,
at noon, and the time being found by obfervations of
feveral ftars in the evening of March 17, the apparent
time of the beginning of the Moon’s eclipfe was ob-
ferved to be at ioh 27' p. m. and the end at 1311 n'.

On the next day, 1 calculated the time of the
ecliptic conjunction of the Sun and Moon for April r,
by Meyer’s, tables, as we have them publifhed by
Mr. Mafkelyne, and then made a projection of the
Sun’s eclipfe for that time by them, for this place, ac-
cording to it’s latitude as determined by Mr. Holden,
and fuppofing it’s longitude to be 3 degrees weft from
Greenwich ; and put up this projection in the council-
room, that it might be feen, in order to find how it
might agree with obfervation.

Being provided with a good refleding telefcope at
captain Hutchinfon’s, I cut a round hole in a pafte-
board which would go tight on the tube, and took
the Sun’s image on a paper behind it, as large as I
could have the image of the Sun (harp and well de-
fined around the edge, which was included in a circle
of 4 inches diameter. I divided the diameter into
12 equal parts, for digits, and each digit into 4 parts,

[ 110 ]

the half of every fourth part being left to be eftimated
by the eye.

, Mr* Holden and two other gentlemen, who are
efteemed good obfervers, and were provided with
refraCting telelcopes and Hadley s quadrants, were
with me on Sunday morning, and I defired a third
gentleman to note down the times, and to be careful
not to miftake the minutes of time; as one might be
more apt perhaps to miftake the minutes than the
feconds. The clouds threatened us difappointment
till about ten minutes before the calculated time of
the beginning of the eclipfe, and then the Sun fhone
out very clear ; and during the time of obfervation
we were but feldom interrupted by thin flying clouds..
The firft and loft contacts of the IVToon and Sun were
fo /harp and inftantaneous, that it feemed poflible to
determine them within one fecond of time. Several al-
titudes of the Sun were taken during the eclipfe, by re-
flecting the Sun’s image from a bafon of treacle; and
the quantities eclipfed were plainly vifible on the fore-
mentioned image of the Sun on the paper, even to the
eighth part of a digit. But the altitudes want yet to
be corrected by their refpeCtive refractions.

Several people came into the room to fee the eclipfe,
fome of whom were fubfcribers to my leCtures ; and
I could not well refufe them admittance. But I told
them before-hand that they muff neither fpeak nor
move till the eclipfe was found to be begun. This
they ftriCtly complied with, and gave no manner of
difturbance ; and, after it was begun, I defired them
all feparately to come and view it by the telefcope,
■which hindered me from obferving the number of
digits eclipfed for the firft hour.

I kept

[ 111 ]

I kept by the reflecting telefcope, and watched the
bun carefully for about five minutes before the calcu-
Iated time of the beginning of the eciipfe. Our watches
were adjufted to the mean or equal time; and two
of them kept exadly alike during the whole time of
tile ecliple. The obfervations were as follows :

Digits.

b

8

59

Ur

O

Sun’s altitude.

t o 8°

ro

2

0

—

8j_

2.

10

5

0

—

9 ~ 35 49

3°;

ro

1 1

0

—

94.

10

13

0

— .

10 — 36 29

0

10

18

0

—

I04

10

21

0

—

104 ~ 37 0

0 uncertain

IO

25

0

—

104 — 37 20

0,

IQ

3°

0

— -

IO

IO

38

0

—

9

~ f vy a piumD-iines

IO 40 30^ fhadow on the Sun’s image. Sun’s alti-
tude then 38°48/o//.

38 57 3°

8 30..

10 43 3°

10 47 o
ro 54 30

11 00

11 3 45

1 1 12 o

11 J5 45
11 19 15

1128 o

11 35 2 ■

u 45 15 •

11 5o 45 |

39

— 8

— 7

— 64

— 6

~ 5

~ 44
4

- f uncertain, on account of a thim

^ [ flying cloud.

— 2

— - 04 uncertain by another cloud,

eciipfe ended, the fky quite clear. Sun’s-,
altitude 4i°27/o//.

Ail]

1

[ It2 ]

All wrote down by Mr. Baxtonden, who kept a
copy thereof.

At night, Mr. Holden returned and examined the
clock by the ftars, and found the time (hewn by the
clock to be true.

Between the beginning and the middle of the
eclipfe, we could plainly perceive inequalities in the
Moons eaftern limb on the Sun, by means of the
reflecting telefcope; and I often obferved little tre-
mulous bright fpecks of the Sun’s lowermoft edge
in the otherwife dark place juft before, or weft, of the
lowermoft cufp ; but they vamfhed in an inftant, ex-
cept one which was confiderably larger than any of
the reft, and was vifible for about two feconds of
time by eftimation : but I was fo intent upon ob-
serving it, and looking for others, that I forgot to
have the time of its appearance marked down. This
undoubtedly was owing to a dent or valley in that
part of the limb of the Moon, which no hill beyond
it took off from the fight. But as the eclipfe was
drawing toward the end, we could perceive no ine-
qualities of the Moon’s weftern limb on the Sun, nor
any fuch fpecks in the Sun’s edge about either of the
culps.

As the Moon’s latitude was north afcending, and
the cufps not perpendicular till after the middle of
the eclipfe, I apprehend that when they were fo, the
apparent altitudes of the centers of the Sun and
Moon were equal. But whether they were then fo
or not, I leave to better judgements to determine.

I {hall now fet down the times of the beginning,
middle, and ending of the eclipfe, as pre-determin-
ed by the above-mentioned projection thereof for Li-
verpool,

L 11 3: J

verpool, from Meyer’s tables, which were the appa-
rent times ; and fhall reduce the obferved equal times
to the apparent, by fubtra&ing 3 minutes 48 ieconds
(which we fuppofe here was the equation of time)
from the equal times as obferved by die clock and
two watches which kept equally going together.

Apparent times.

By projection.. By obfeivatien.
h h

Beginning 8 56 o 8 55 12

Middle 10 21 45 not certain.

End ■ 1148 o — 1 1 46 57

Duration 2 52 o 2 51 45

Digits eclipfed 1044 ioi. exactly.

We with for the accounts of the obferved times at
the Royal Obfervatory and at London ; becaufe, by
comparing the difference, and making allowance for'
the velocity of the penumbra between Liverpool and'
London, the longitude of Liverpool might be known.

As the obferved quantity was fomewhat greater
than the projected, as to the digits, and the projection
which I gave in, lome time ago, to the Royal Society
from Meyer’s Elements, made the lower edges of the ;
Sun and Moon to be very nearly in contaCt at the time
of greateft obiervation at Greenwich, I am apt to
think that the appearance at Greenwich was annular :
and am, with the greateft efteem,.

Reverend Sir,

Your moft obliged humble-fervant,

James Fergufon. .

XX, Oh—

Vol. LIV.

4

[ lr4 ]

XX. Obfervations on the Eclip/e of the Sun,
April i, 1764, at Brompton-Park : By
Mr . Samuel Dunn.

Read April 5, T)ART of the inftruments which I
i;64. was pj-Qyjjjgjj with for obferving this

eclipfe were, a reflecting telefcope 21 inches focus
with a micrometer, a refracting telefcope 6 feet in
length with only two glafles, a double convex objeCt
glafs, and a double convex eye glafs. Two pendu-
lum clocks, and a flop watch to feconds of time. I
had taken as much care as poflible to adjuft the clocks
to mean folar time fome days before the eclipfe, and
from feveral altitudes of the Sun, taken March 30th
in the morning and afternoon, concluded the clocks
were then exactly with the Sun to a fecond of time.

March 31ft was a cloudy day, and not the lead:
hope of feeing the Sun the day following, ’till near
midnight, when it cleared up, and the ftars appeared.

April 1 ft, the Sun rofe a little obfcured by vapours
and thin clouds, which he became more free from
as he advanced in altitude.

At 6h 56' per clock, I took the altitude of the Sun’s
centre 2° 25' 20", from which obfervation the dock
was 6 feconds of time before the Sun.

At 6h 59' per clock, I took the altitude of the
Sun’s centre 120 50' 45", from which obfervation
the clock was 4 feconds of time before the Sun.

At

[ «5 ]

At 7h 5' per clock I took, the altitude of the Sun’s
centre 1 30 49' 55'', from which obfervation the clock
was 4 feconds of time before the Sun. And the
fame dav in the afternoon,

At 4h 23 per clock, I took the altitude of the Sun’s
centre 180 49' 40" from which obfervation the clock
was 5 feconds of time before the Sun.

Thefe and other obfervations confirmed that the
clock was 5 feconds of time before the Sun at the
beginning of the eclipfe.

At Sh45/ per clock, I fet my watch exactly by
the clocks j captain Bentincke and captain Holland
were prefent with curious watches.

From 8h 45' per clock, to the beginning of the
eclipfe, I continued obferving with the refle&ing te-
lefcope, and faw the limb of the Sun through the
telefcope and thin vapours, without any dark glafs,
as clearly as it could be feen by any heliofcope
whatfoever.

Captain Bentincke pronounced the feconds of time
as they were fulfilled by the watch, and as the mi-
nutes of time were fulfilled they were written down.

At 9h 4' 29" per watch, I thought I faw a little
dull tremulous vibration obtrude itfelf on the limb
of the Sun 5 and,

At 9h 4' 30 ' it became a little more fenfible; and.

At 911 4' 31" a little more lenfible ; but it was

At 9h 47 32" per watch before I was certain the
Sun’s limb was touched by the limb of the Moon j
And,

At 915 4' 33 I plainly faw, through this telefcope,
and the thin vapours of the atmofphere, the lead: vi-
able dent, perfectly well defined in the Sun’s limb.

0^2 I inftantly

[ ]

I inftanfly compared the watch with the clocks,
and found the watch had loll 4 feconds of time of
the clocks, a property which it had before had, when
taken out of the pocket and expoled to the cold air.

The watch was therefore but one fecond of time
before the Sun at the time of oblervation, for Bromp-
ton park, which is exadly one mile from Hyde-park-
corner, in the way towards Kenfington.

Clouds prevented the end of the eclipfe from be-
ing obferved j at I2h 3' the Sun appeared, and the
eclipfe was ended, and from the oblervations which
I made, have drawn a map of the phales and end-
ing, which is herewith, Tab. XII.

London, April 4, 1764.

Samuel Dunn,

QhJeruaUom

*

[ ri7 ]

Olfervations on the Eclipfe of the Moon, I Jth March 1764, made
at Brompton-Park, near London, 10' of Tune Weji, of Pari?,
and 43" of Time JVeJi of the Royal Obfefvatory at Greenwich 1
By Mr . Samuel Dunn.

Solar time.

At

'' f the eclipfe begins in that part of the ^loon’s limb
^ l between Tycho and Grimaldus.

Skikardus toucheth the fhade.

10 39
10 4.0 30

r ~ f the lower patt of Mare Humorum is touched by

10 45 ° 1 the (hade. J

10 51 10 Tycho and Grimaldus touch the fhade.

10 C2 o ( Grimaldus exadly covered and Tycho a little
I immerged in the (hade.

7 15 Gaiileus toucheth the fhade.

1 1 45 Keplar and Lanfbergius touch the {hade,

18 ro ( Copernicus toucheth the (hade, and the lower

1 1
1 1

1 1

f Manilius toucheth the fftade, and Plinius not
t yet immerged.

t part of Mare Nectaris is a little immerged.

— 11 28 15 Ariadeus toucheth thefhade,in Mare Tranqmllitatis

— 1 1 36 3° Juhus Cefar toucheth the fhade.

— 11 41 o

— 11 47 10 Mare Crifium it’s lower part toucheth the fhade.

— 12 15 40 Grimaldus is quite immerged.

— 12 17 45 Keplar emerges from the fhade.

— 12 20 30 Copernicus emerges.

{the line of the fhade pafTeth between Julius Cefar
and Manilius, and at the fame time a little of
Mare Humorum is emerged.

{Mare Crifium begins to emerge, and at the fame
time the line of the fhade pafTeth a little below
Plinius and Vitruvius in Mare Tranquillitatis.
— 12 56 50 Tycho emerges.

{the centre of T ycho is a little emerged, and the
line of the fhade pafTeth through Mare Crifium
two thirds from the upper end.

’ 13 1 5° Mare Crifium is quite emerged.

5 45 Theophilus in Alare Nedlaris emerges.

{the eclipfe ends in that part of the Moon’s limb
cut by a line drawn through the Moon’s cen-
tre and the lower end of Mare Nedtaris.

Note, In die above obfervations, where it is faid that any fpot touched the /hade, it is
meant, that that fpot was centrally bifle&ed by the line of the /hade at that time.

I XXI. An

C ”8 ]

XXI. An Account of the Degree of Cold
obferved in Bedfordfhire : By John How-
ard, Efq\ F. R . S. in a Fetter to John
Canton, M. A . F, R . S •

#

S I R,

Read April 12, T Would beg leave to acquaint you of
j764« I a degree of cold that I obferved at
Cardington, in Bedfordihire, the 226. of November
laft : juft before Sun rife Farenheit’s fcale by one of
Bird’s thermometers being lo low as 1 o and L. If it
will throw any light on the locality of cold, or think
it worth the Society’s obfervation, would leave to your
better judgment, and remain with great efteem,

S I R,

Your moft obedient fervant,

John Howard.

XXI. An

7/kPlKPmcian Alphabet, deduced^ from hue
Tranfcriffaoflht Maltefe-Phcemaan Idfcription

TbrtofTranf 7W, Jir I'AB JOT.p.JH).

X

c y ^ - Beth;

^ ..... Ghimel

4 q Ualeik

Ht

v_^ Van

Zam

{£} Held

Tctfv

fjj Jod.

— cv\

— Lamed
jMan
...min

\\i A\i 'Hi Samech

^ q . . _V Ajm or Ain

J?c

\(\ Tzade

XoPh .

q - Roach

Schin orSuv

fj f] Thai

% %'i

*1 f 7
b * y

27.1,’ Maltete-Phoenician Infcription.

q ^ >y q \p/T7 ginq HVJ >* A 9 O

JtMi/ndi Jc.

[ ”9 ]

q'he following paper was received a little before the re -
cefs of the Royal Society, in 1763; but was after-
wards mijlaid, , and not found ’ till the beginning of
April 1764. To this accident is folely to be imputed
the delay of it's publication .

XXII. Some Remarks upon the fir ft Part of
M. TAbbe Barthelemy’s Memoir on the
Phoenician Letters , relative to a Phoenician
Infcription in the Ijland of Malta. In a
Letter to the Rev . Thomas Birch, D. D .
Secret. R . S . /rw» the Rev . John Swinton,
-D. i7. Member of the Aca-

demy degli Apatifti at Florence, and of
the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona in

Tufcany.

Good. Sir,

Read April 12. TV X l’Abbe Barthelemy having lately
17'H. I yl communicated to the learned

world fiU copy o*f one of the Phoenician inferipti-
ons long frnce difeovered in the ifland of Malta more
accurately taken (as he pretends) than any of thofe
that had ever before appeared, and attempted to ex-

(,) Mem. dans kquel on prtruvt , qne Us Chinns font
Egyptiemu, par M. de Guignes, &c. p. 39 54'

I76O.

une tolonie

A Paris,

plain

[ 120 ]

plain it in a manner perfectly new; T /hall beg leave
to make a few curfory remarks upon what he has
been pleafed to advance, on this occafion. Which-,
remarks may perhaps be deemed not altogether un-
necedary, as part of the infcription, according to M.
1 Abbe s ledion of it, feems at lead; fomewhat involv-
ed, if not wholly unintelligible and confequently
will admit, unlefs I am greatly deceived, of a farther
illudration. Nor can M. l’Abbe be difguded at my
prefuming to differ in a few particulars from him, as
he is not aded by a fpirit of odentation, or a third
after applaufe, but the love of truth ; and as he has
taken the fame liberty with one of my didertations,
which the Royal Society did me the honour to pub-,
lifh a few years dnce, upon a fimilar fubjed.

I.

M. r Abbe obferves, that “ in (2) the beginnings
** the Phoenician letters were not didingui/hed from
** the Samaritan ; but that mod of them in proeefs
4t of time admitted of fuch great variations, that the
“ traces of their origin are very frequently loft.”
Hence it feems to appear, that the later any Phoeni-
cian infcriptions are, the more the forms of their
letters mud recede from thofe of the correfpondent
Samaritan ; and, vice veria, that the more remote the
duds of any Phoenician elements from thofe of the
correfpondent Samaritan are, the later fuch charaders,
and confequently the infcriptions formed of them,
mud be. Let this be allowed, and it will be diffi-
dently manifed, that the Maltefe infcription (which

(2) Ibid. p. 39.

our

C 121 ]

our author Teems to have had principally in view,
when he made the preceding obfervations) is fe-
veral year9 at lead; poderior to the days of Simon,
prince and high-pried: of the Jews. The alphabet
therefore deduced from this infcription, which differs
pretty condderably from that exhibited by the fepul-
chral dones found in the ruins of Citium, ought not
to pafs for the true antient Phoenician alphabet, that
prevailed over fo great a part of the Ead in the earlier
ages.

From the paffage here produced we may farther
infer, that the Phoenician infcriptions either coeval
with the Samaritan coins ftruck by Simon, prince
and high pried: of the Jews, or older than thofe
coins, mud: be formed of letters, for the mod part,
extremely dmilar to the Samaritan. And this we
find in fad to be true. Many of the elements
therefore of thofe infcriptions may be more eafily
difcovered by the abidance of Simon’s medals, than by
that of any monument of antiquity feveral hundred
years later. Nay, the powers of many letters, allowed
to belong to the Phoenician alphabet, have been actually
afcertained by means of the correfpondent elements
on the Samaritan coins. We mud not therefore too
hadily admit, or too clofely adhere to, whatM. l’Abbe
has been (3) pleafed to lay down, in the mod unli-
mited terms, as a certain and indubitable truth ; viz.
that tc a Phoenician alphabet ought by no means to
“ be founded upon the affinity of its letters with thofe
<c of other alphabets.” The alphabets he himfelf
has given us, incomplete as they are, will be confi-
dered as a fufficient refutation of this aflertion.

(3) Ibid. & Planch. I.

R

Vol. LIV.

What

[ 122 ]

What has been here obferved of the Maltefe in-
fcription is, with regard to it’s antiquity, at lead",
equally applicable to that of Carpentras (4), the
duds of whofe letters are Hill more remote from
thole of the Samaritan ; and confequently this, ac-
cording to M. I’ Abbe’s decifion, mud be dill of a
later date. And, indeed, the rude and almod bar-
barous forms of it’s Phoenician elements«render this
incontedably clear. Some of them are extremely
fimilar to, if not apparently the lame with, thole of
the correfpondent letters on certain Spanifh or Afri-
can Phoenician coins, druck, as there is reafon to be-
lieve, after the commencement of the Roman em-
pire. And if this be the cafe, how can we fuppofe
them to have been fome of the fird alphabetic cha-
racters that ever appeared, or thole immediately de-
duced (5) from hieroglyphics themfelves? Theyfeem
to have been only corruptions of the earlier Phoenician
letters, from whofe forms feveral of them have very
coniiderably varied. So high an antiquity as that
above fuppofed is not announced by the face of the
infcription, and therefore the learned will not perhaps
readily affent to fuch a fuppofition.

II.

The eleventh letter of the fird line, which is taken
for Thau, feems to have been a little mutilated by
the injuries of Time ; as part of the drait line cutting

(4) Ibid. p. 53.

(5) Recucil cl’ Antiquit. Egypt- Etrufq. Grcc. & Romain. par
M. le Comte dc Caylus, Tom. I. p. 65. Plan. xxvi. A Paris,

»752-

the

[ I23 ]

the perpendicular, in this element, is effaced. That
this is fad, appears from two tetradrachms of Mens,
an antient town of Sicily, at prefent going under the
denomination of Meneo, now in my hands; on one of
which the whole figure of this kind of Thau is per-
fectly well preferved, and on the other a fimilar
figure is vifible, though the original tranfverfe line
has been fomewhat diminished. One of (6) Lord
Pembroke’s medals of the fame town alfo prefents to
our view a Thau completely formed. We meet with
this letter in the Citiean infcriptions, fometimes as.it
has been handed down to us by the Punic Medals of
Sicily, and fometimes as it is reprefented in M. 1’ Abbe's
plate of the Maltefe infcription ; part of it perhaps
having been loft, in the courfe of fo many ages.
However, that the earlier Phoenician Thau frequently
bore fome fort of refemblance to the charader taken
for the fame element on the Sicilian coins, there is
great reafon to believe ; fince other wife it could not
have refembled a crofs, as it moft certainly did.
For that the antient Samaritan Thau , nearly agreeing
in figure with the Phoenician, had the appearance of
a crofs, we learn from fome good (7) authors. In
the later periods, and perhaps to the time when
the Phoenician alphabet itfelf began to be difufed,
it might in certain countries, pretty remote from
Phoenicia, have affumed a fomewhat different form,
though this I muft not pretend abfolutely to affirm ;
but that the infcription I am considering exhibited at

(6) Num. Ant. &C. a Thom. Pemb. ct Mont. Gomer.
Com. Colleft. P. 2. T. 87. Lond. 1746.

(7) Tertullian. Hieronym. &c. Vid. Val. Ern. Loefcher. De
CauJ '. Ling. Eb. p. 234. Erancofurti & Lipfiae, 1706.

R 2 firft

[ 124 ]

firft the complete figure of Thau , (8) from P. Lupi’s
draught of it, taken upon the fpot, in 1735, I
think we may fairly prefume. And that the Thau ,
as it there appears, was not feldom ufed in the
earlier Carthaginian times, from the medals of Me-
nas already touched upon, to omit others that might
be produced, is, I conceive, inconteftably clear.

III.

I cannot forbear fufpedling, that M. l’Abbe has a
little deviated from the genuine form of the Aleph
in his plate; notwithftanding the accuracy with which,
as he informs us, Count Caylus’s copy was taken. That
Phoenician element occurs upon my Punic and Phoe-
nician coins, not to mention thofe of' my friends, a-
bove thirty times ; and yet not one of thefe charac-
ters exhibits an angle, formed of two right lines
cutting the perpendicular, as does the Aleph here.
Nor do we meet with fuch a figure of Aleph in the
Citiean infeription, preferved on the original ftone,
brought from Cyprus by Dr. Porter, and prefented
to the Univerfity of Oxford by Charles Gray, Efq;
member of Parliament for Colchefter, and fellow
of the Royal Society ; though the ufual form of this
letter is found, oftener than once, in that infeription.
P. Lupi’s copy (9) of the Maltefe infeription exhibits
the Aleph (whole dudts were perhaps better preferved
when that tranfeript was taken than at the time Count

(8) Sig. Ant. Fran. Gor. Difcf dell’ Alphab. Etrufc. p. 102.
& Tab. III. p. 109. In Firenze, 1749. Lup. Letter. Pbilelog .
Let. XT. p. 6.

(9) Gor. Difef. deir Alpbeib. Etrufc. & Lup. ubi flip.

Caylus’s

[ 125 ]

Caylus’s copy was fent him) as it appears on my
Punic and Phoenician coins.

IV.

The eighteenth letter of the firft line of this in-
fcription is not He , as M. l’Abbe fuppofes, but Mem.
This is rendered indifputable by the form of the ele-
ment itfelf, as well as by the tenor of the infcrip-
tion. That the form of the element perfectly re-
fembles, or rather is altogether the fame with, that
of Mem , is fufficiently evident from M. l’Abbe s own
plate, and even more fo from the copy communicat-
ed to Sig. Gori by P. Lupi. And with regard to the
tenor of the infcription, I fhall not fcruple to affirm,
that this abfolutely requires the letter to be Mem , and
not He. For other wife the word NT^, tzora, or
tzvra, muft denote Tyre; whereas the name of
that city in Syriac, fuppofed by M. l’Abbe to be
the language of the infcription, as well as Chaldee,
Hebrew, Samaritan, and Arabic, is tzor, or
tzvr. To which we may add, that the four laft
elements of this line cannot form the word nun,
hoc votvm, this vow, as M. l’Abbe aflerts, be-
caufe that would be neither Syriac nor fenfe ; as the
monument could not with any manner of propriety
be termed a vow, and confequently could not be
tranfmitted down to future ages under the denomi-
nation of this vow. It was not a vow, but
eredted in purfuance of a vow. The eighteenth
and the three preceding letters then form the words
DN Ti, tyrvs mater, or rather here tyri ma-
tris, of tyre the metropolis, as we find that

C 126 ]

city actually ftyled on feveral Tyrian coins. This
fenfe is perfectly confonant to the tenor of the in-
fcription, and will therefore, I fatter myfelf, be rea-
dily admitted by (10) M. l’Abbe.

But to put the point here infilled on even beyond
the poflibility of a doubt, I fliall beg leave farther
to obferve, that I have two of thofe Phoenician coins
( 1 1) attributed by M. l’Abbe to the city of Marathus ;
one of which exhibits the firft letter Mem as it (lands
in his alphabet, ( ) and the other exactly as he

has prefented to our view the pretended form (*ff) of
He. Such demonftration as this mud: convince every
one, that is not refolved to be proof againft convidtion,
and be allowed abfolutely decifive in this affair.

V.

Though M. l'Abbe has not inferted the lad: letter
of the word in the beginning of the fecond

line, that element was neverthelefs mod: certainly
Van. This is fufficiently manifefl from P. Lupi’s (12)
copy, as well as from the vacant fpace after Daleth ,
which is capable of containing only a (ingle letter,
and that can be no other than Van. Befides,
uDITOb BENEDICAT ILLIS* not NOBIS, MAY HE
bless, or prosper, them, not us, the laft word
of the infcription, lets this point in the cleared: light.
The next word but one, ’HNh has been rendered by
M. l’Abbe Barthelemy et frater mevs, though
ft frater eivs muft be allowed much more con-

(10) 'Journal des Scavatis, Aout 1760. p. 267-271.

(11) ibiJ . p. 275.

( 12) Gor. 6c Lup. ubi fup.

2

fon ant

L 127 ]

fonant to the tenor of the infcription. I am there-
fore inclined to believe, that the word ’nK'l ought to
be confidered as in regimen, or conftrudion ; and
that the proper name "IDNIDJh abdasar, is un-
derftood after the laffc mentioned term. Indances of
fuch an ellipfis as this occur, in psal. lxxiv. 19.
isai. xiv. 6. See. and have been produced by Buxtorf,
in the piece (13) referred to here. To which we
may add, that the perfon of the verb TOy drongly
countenances, at lead, if it does not give an abfolute
fan&ion to, what has been here propofed to the
condderation of the learned,

VI.

The proper name ‘"iDNHDjh in the fecond line of
the infcription, was pronounced, as I apprehend, by
the orientals abdasar, or abdeser, not abdas-
sar. This is rendered not a little probable by the
proper names asar-haddon and tiglath— pie—
eser, the Scimech neither in asar nor eser there
having received a dagefch from the Maforites. The
fame (14) point is alfo confirmed by the Septuagint.
It likewile appears from the Etrufcan ^esar, which is
evidently the fame word with the Phoenician and
Chaldee asar, or eser, and in common with it
denotes god. That asar, or eser, in • general
iignified god, is allowed by a (15) learned writer j

(13) Johan. Buxtorf .Thefaur. Grammat. Ling. Sanfi. Hcbr.
p. 363. Bafileae, 1663.

(14) 2 King. xv. 29. xix. 37. Isai. xxxvii. 38. Ezr. iv. 2.
Vid. etiam Matth.. Hiller. Onomajl. Sacr. p. 607, 608.

(15) Matth. Hiller. Onomaji. Sacr. p. 596. Tubingae, 1706.

though

[ 128 ]

though that It was alfo applied to one particular deity,
the words asar-haddon, tiglath-pil-eser, &c.
feem clearly to evince. The Gallic hesvs, taken
by fome for the god Mars, of a fimilar found, may
perhaps bring an acceftion of ftrength to what has been
here advanced. The name asar, or eser, there-
fore amongft the Phoenicians was probably both equi-
valent to the general term god, and likewife pointed
out to them one particular deity. In abd-asar, or
abD-eser, it muft have anfwered to bacchus,
or dionysvs; the whole name correfponding with
AIONYZIOE, bacchicvs, of or belonging to

BACCHVS, THE SERVANT OF BACCHVS, the true

import of the two words abd-asar, or abd-eser,
of which this Phoenician proper name is compofed.

VII.

With regard to the next proper name,

or rather “l^rTDTK, aserim-hammar,
M. l’Abbe and I differ confiderably in our notions.
He takes the fourth letter for He , and I for Mem.
Now this character is exa&ly the fame with that in
the firft line of the infcription, which I have already
proved to be Mem , and confequently it muft be con-
fidered as altogether the fame element. Admit this,
and the two words forming the proper name, “lD“1QN
or rather “VjmD^DN, will immediately occur.
I fay "IQ-CnDK, or rather *0*TCT)DN‘, becaufe fuch
an ellipfis of the prefix (particularly (i 6) in the proper
name or may fometimes be

(16) Id. ibid. p. 603, 608.

obferved.

C I29 ]

obferved. In fine *T2“CnDN, or lafrCTlDtf, muft
be compofed of QIDN, aserim, (the Phoenician
name of one of the kings of Tyre, (17) according to
Menander Ephefius) and “ion, hammar, ipse do-
minvs j the term Tj, mar, entering into the com-
pofition of certain fimilar ( 18) names. Now aserim-
HAMMAR being equivalent in Phoenician to the Greek,
or rather Egyptian, sarapion ; the deity deno-
minated sarapi, or sarapis, in Egypt, muff
have afiumed the name of aserim at Tyre, as from
the infcription now before me may be very fairly in-
ferred.

VIII.

That the firfi: letter of the third line is Mem, and
not He, as M. l’Abbe is pleafed to affirm, both the
form itfelf and the fenfe of this part of the infcrip-
tion feem evidently to prove. The figure here is al-
together the fame with that of the eighteenth element
in the preceding line, and confequently muff be allow-
ed to reprefent Mem. The fenfe alfo evinces
this, beyond the poffibility of a doubt. For, I be-
lieve, it will be no eafy matter to prove the reality of
M. l’Abbe’s word p:n, or at leaf! to render it intel-
ligible here. But with refpedt to the word p, which
I take the two firfi: letters to form, equivalent in Sy-
riac to the (19) Latin qvi (eft), or is qvi (eft), it

(17) Menand. Ephef. apud Jofeph. Cent. Apion. Lib. I.

(18) Matth. Hiller, ubi fup. p. 602, 603.

(19) Buxtorf .Lex. Chald . id Syriac, p. 301, 302.

Vol. LIT.

S

clearly

C 130 ]

clearly continues the fenfe, and is of courfe moll
perfectly confonant to the tenor of the infcription.

IX.

What has been obferved of the laft mentioned
chara&er is equally applicable to the eighth and twen-
tieth elements of the fame line. They are both in-
dubitably Mem. This, not only by the powers of
the letters with which they are immediately connedted,
but likewife by what has been already advanced, is ren-
dered indifputably clear. ’Tis worthy obfervation,
that M. l’Abbe Fourmont was the firft (20) who took
this character for He ; and pretended, abfurdly enough,
to deduce it from the Eftrangelo form of that ele-
ment.

X.

With regard to the laft word but one of the in-
fcription, CfrpyOOD, or O’SpyOOa, it feems to be
compofed of the infcparable particles, D> D, and
the participle or CD’SpyO, tortvosi, in-

FLEXI, TORTE NAVIGANTES, Or HVC ET ILLVC

agitati. This therefore may be appofitely enough
rendered, tanqvam ex iis qvi hvc et illvc
agitantvr, inflexo cvrsv (vel itinere) jac-
tantvr, torte navigant, &c. It may alfo be
tranflated, with fufficient propriety, qvvm hvc et
illvc agitati fuerint, qvvm torte naviga-
VERINT,&C. WHEN THEY SHALL BE TOSSED (upon

(20) Saggt di Dijfertazlon. Accadmich. bY. di Cor ton. Tom.
III. p. 90. In Roma, 1741.'

the

[ 131 3

the Tea) hither and thither, when with

MANY TURNINGS AND WINDINGS THEY SHALL

plough the ocean, &c. the particle 3 fometimes
denoting qvvm, and a pleonafmus or redundancy of
0 having not been antiently uncommon, according to
(21) Noldius.

The two Maltefe ftones therefore adorned with this
infcription, fimilar to many others with which we are
fupplied by the remains of antiquity, muft beconfidered
as votive monuments. They were erected by Diony-
iius and Sarapion, both Tyrians, and the fons of Sara-
pion, in confequence of a vow, to Hercules, furnamed
the conductor, or the chief conductor, for a
profperous voyage. That the infcription runs in the
third perfon, not the firft, as M. l’Abbe Barthelemy
afferts, from the correfpondent Greek one, and the
confiderations already offered in fupport of this point,
feems fufficiently clear. This the laft word CD3"Q%
benedicet illis, not nobis, he will bless
them, not us, or benedicat ipsis, may he
bless them, not us, muft be allowed alfo indubi-
tably to prove.

If the preceding obfervations fhould meet with the
approbation of the Royal Society, the following tranf-
lations of the infcription now before me may perhaps
not prove unacceptable to the learned. [See the In-
fcription, Tab. XI.]

(21) Chrift. Nold. Concordant. Particular , Ebrao-Chald. p. 353,
354> 470- 7en*> 1734-

XI.

S 2

[ J32 ]

•via on San p-mS

“)DO“)DK ’nkS*l *-|DK13y TO#
yODD "IDiODy p “IOO"lDK p p
DITD* Ebp

DOMINO NOSTRO MELCARTHO DEO (tUtelari) TYRI
MATRIS VOTVM

FECERVNT ABDASARVS ET FRATER (ABDASARl)
ASERIM— HAMMARVS

IS QVI FILIVS (eft) ASERIM-HAMM ARI FILII AB-
DASARl IIS

TORTE NAVI G ANTI B VS (vel HVC ET ILLVC INFLEXO
GVRSV AGITATIS) BENEDICAT^

ABDASAR AND HIS BROTHER ASERIM-H AMMAR
WHO (alfo) IS THE SON OF ASERIM-HAMM AR THE
SON OF ABDASAR HAVE MADE A VOW TO MEL-
carthus (or Hercules) the (tutelary) GOD OF

TYRE THE METROPOLIS IN THEIR TURNINGS

AND WINDINGS (or IN THEIR CROOKED NAVIGA-
TION') MAY HE BLESS (or PROSPER) THEM.

That M. l’Abbe Barthelemy’s explication of the
infeription here confidered is at lead: fomewhat in-
volved, from the foregoing remarks, feems fuffici-
ently clear ; whether or no his obfeurity, or miftakes,
if any fuch there be, are removed by the illuftration
now offered, the Royal Society will be the bed; able
to decide.

But though M. l’Abbe has perhaps not arrived at
a complete interpretation of this infeription, he has
neverthelefs thrown much more light upon it than

either

[ 1 33 ]

either M. le Commandeur (22) de Marne, or M.
l’Abbe Fourmont, or indeed any other perfon who
attempted, before his memoir was read, an explica-
tion of it. This cannot but be acceptable to the
lovers of antiquity, and muff intitle him to the thanks
of the learned world.

XII.

The language of the infcription is a mixture of
Hebrew and Syriac. The firft word, mull

be looked upon as Syriac ; as may likewife the fixth
term, TU> on account of the fenfe wherein it is ufed.
The feventh is Hebrew, as well as Syriac. The ninth,
however we render it, is undoubtedly Hebrew ; and
the eleventh, however this may have efcaped M..
l’Abbe, as certainly Syriac. The two lad words are
manifeftly Hebrew, though in the laft fyllable of the
former of them Jod is fuppreffed. But this is inti rely
confonant to the Phoenician form, the coins ftruck
at Sidon generally exhibiting DTO1?, for CDUIVV,
with the Jod expunged. The term p, son, ufed
twice in this infcription, is here alfo apparently He-
brew. We cannot therefore infer from the mo-
nument under confederation, as (23) M. l’Abbe
Barthelemy has done, that “ there is lcarce any
“ difference at all between the Phoenician and Syriac
“ languages.” Nor will M. (24) de Guignes me-

(27) Saggi di Dijfertazion. Accadetnich. &c. di Corf on. Tom. I.
Par. I. p. 25 — 34. In Roma, 1735. & Tom. III. p. 89 — in.
In Roma, 1741.

(23) M. de Guign. ubi fup. p. 47.

[ 1 34- ]

rit the attention of the learned, when he is pleated
to after t, that “ M. l’Abbe Barthelemy has actually
“ Proved> from this infcription, that the Phoenician
“ language is nothing elfe but the Syriac tongue.”

xnr.

As the moft antient Phoenician language was al-
moft intirely the fame with the (25) Hebrew, the Sy-
1 lac woids that occur in this infcription, together with
what has been alieady remarked of the forms of the
letters it contains, announce it to have been of a later
date. The figure of the Koph in particular agrees in
all refpedts with the form of the fame element ex-
hibited by a coin ftruck at Achola, or Achulla, as
the name appears on this medal, in the Auguftan,
a§e* ^ ^at this time, and even earlier, as well as
later, feveral Syriac words fhould have been ufed by
the Phoenicians of Tyre, can be no matter of fur-
prize, when we confider, that the Jews themfelves,
dining this period, fpoke a language extremely fimi-
lar to, if not almoft: intirely the fame with, the Syriac.

XIV.

I mud beg leave farther to remark, that, by the af-
fiftance of the monument now before me, two Phoe-
nician proper names have been difcovered, which
have never hitherto in any of the antient hiftorians
occurred. As the Aleph in ID?1? was, however, fome-
times pronounced like E, and perhaps I, the word

(25) Bochart. Chan. Lib. II. cap. 1.

ABDISSAR

[ *35 ]

abdissar, (26) met with by M. l’Abbe Barthelemy
on an antient coin, and abdasar, exhibited by the
Maltefe hones, may by fome poffibly be confidered
as nearly the fame name. Should this prove really
the cafe, M. l’Abbe muft be allowed to have been
extremely lucky in meeting with a proper name fo
fimilar to, or rather fcarcediftinguifhablefrom, one pre-
ferved in an infcription, he was juft going to explain.
Be this as it will, the word abdasar appears, as a
part of another Phoenician infcription, on a piece of
marble, found amongft the ruins of Citium ; which
was prefented by Charles Gray, Efquire, member of
Parliament for Colchefter, and fellow of the Royal
Society, a gentleman of great merit and erudition,
to the Univerfity of Oxford.

\

XV.

To what has been here advanced it may not be
improper to fubjoin an alphabetic table ot the Phoe-
nician letters forming the IVIaltefe inlcnption, which
M. P Abbe Barthelemy has lately attempted to explain ;
[Vide Tab. XI.] , and on which, in this paper, I have
been endeavouring to throw fome additional light.

The form of the Thau in the table, not bearing the
leaft refemblance to a crofs, approaches pretty near
that of Tzade (27), as exhibited by feveral of my

(26) Mem, de Litter. &c. Tom. XXVIII. p. 597. A Paris,

1761. * ,

(27) Of all the letters in the Phoenician alphabet none perhaps

has a greater variety of forms than ‘Tzade, One of thefe, that
not feldom occurs upon the Tyrian and Sidonian coins, pretty
much refembles the charafter which M. l’Abbe Barthelemy takes

Tynan

4

[ ]

Tyrian and Sidonian coins ; though thefe characters,
as upon infpedtion will appear, are fufficiently diftin-
guifhable from each other.

f oxThau , in the Phoenician infcription here explained. Now this
very figure of Tzade immediately precedes the numeral charac-
ters in the exergues of feveral Sidonian coins, and is itfelf imme-
diately preceded by the letter Schin. Thofe two elements there-
fore, as occurring on the medals of Sidon, and preceding a date,
I took for the initial letters of the words the year

of sidon ; and evinced this by fuch reafons as, I apprehenied,
could not be eafily overthrown. But M. l’Abbe Barthelemy be-
lieves the two elements to form the word year ; and has

been followed in this notion by M. Pellerin, who feems a little
to exult, and triumph, on the occafion. However, I fiill am
fully convinced of the truth of what I formerly advanced ; and
am hindered from coming into M. l’Abbe’s opinion, by the fol-
lowing confiderations.

1. The very character I took for Tzade is the firft letter of

the words *Y;£, tzor, or tzvr, and TZIDON, TYRE and

sidon, on feveral Tyrian and Sidonian coins. This directly
evinces the point in queftion. Some of thefe coins are now in
my poffeflion, very weil preferved, and undoubtedly genuine.

2. The word it£>, annvs, year, or the year, does not

occur in any of the oriental languages, or dialects, that I have
hitherto been converfant with ; the term which is rarely

ufed, being a different word. Nor can M. l’Abbe authenticate
the pretended PH 5^, by obferving, or rather without any founda-
tion roundly afferting, that as from is deduced nil, fo

from may be derived T~\W, schat. For we certainly

know, that there is fuch a word as nil, whereas nti* has not
hitherto been found. We are not at liberty to frame terms out
of our own heads, in order to ferve an indefenfible hypothefis ;
nor will a grammatical conjecture, as I apprehend, realize a
non-entity.

3. The numbers expreffed by Phoenician numeral characters
on certain coins that indifputably belong to Sidon do not amount
to 1 1 2. From whence, as I formerly obferved, we may infer,
that the rera referred to by thofe coins was the later epoch of
Sidon. Which if we admit, any year deduced from that sera

The

[ * *37 ]

The figure of the Koph here is by no means
the moft antient reprefentation of that element. It

may, with the utmoft propriety, be ftyled the year of sidon ;
and that appellation may be more naturally fuppofed to be
pointed at by the letters Schin and Tbau> prefixed to the dates on
the fmall Sidonian coins, than the Tingle word at length denoting
THE YEAR. °

4* On one or two medals in my pofieflion, the element Scbin,
as the initial letter of the year, or in the year,

not the whole word denoting the year, appears before the
numeral characters in the exergue. From whence it Teems clearly
to follow, that the elements preceding thofe characters ought to
be taken for initial letters, and confequently that the character I
denominate Tzade ought to be confidered in that view.

_ 5- The year exhibited by the firft medal in my a plate of Phoe-
nician coins, allowed by M. l’Abbe Barthelemy himfelf to belong
to Sidon, and adorned with a numeral infcription, denoting
thirty -six, cannot be the thirty-fixth year of the sra ot'
Seleucus, becaufe the Sidonians were then fubjeCt to Ptolemy
Philadelphus, king of Egypt, in whofe territories the fupputa-
tion according to that epoch did not take place. The aera then
to which the date on this coin refers muft undoubtedly be
the proper sera of Sidon, which commenced in the year of
Rome 643. Nothing therefore can be more natural than to fup-
pofe, that the two alphabetic character; preceding the numeral
infcription fhould be the initial letters of .the words
the year of sidon, as I formerly ventured to fuggeft. From
whence it feems all'o clearly to follow, that the notation by me
ccnbdered in a former paper did not prevail at Sidon before the
207m year of the aera of Seleucus, nearly coincident with the
643d of Rome.

0. It what has been here remarked fhould meet with the ap-
probation of the learned, they will perhaps not fo readily admit
M. 1’Abbe Barthelemy’s pretended coins of Marathus to have ap-
pertained to that inconfiderable city. Befides, fhould this be al-
lowed, which, I am perfuaded, it will not, the notation they ex-
hibit cannot well be luppofed to have been introduced there be-
fore the later Sidonian aera commenced. For if the numeral

a See Philofipk. TroxfoM. Vol. L. P. ii. Tab. XXXI. p. 791.

* T

too

[ * »3» ]

too much refembles the fquare or Chaldee Koph .
The character denominated Koppa , vifible on the

characters above-mentioned were not received in fo large, opulent,
and polite a city as Sidon, before the year of Rome 643 ; it is
utterly improbable, that they fhould have been ufed at Marathus,
or any other obfcure place of Phoenicia, before the commence-
ment of that year. Nay, it is highly probable, that the intro-
duction of them there was pofterior to it. Now if thefe numeral
characters were firft received at Marathus in the year of Roma
643, or rather a little after that year, fome of M. 1’ Abbe’s pre-
tended coins of Marathus were (truck there in the days of Strabo.
But then, according to that excellent b author, the city was de-
ftroyed, and it’s territory occupied by the Aradians, amongft
whom it was divided by lot ; fo that the foregoing fuppofition is,
at firft fight, manifeftly abfurd. Farther, the word on thefe
medals taken by M. l’Abbe to denote Marathus is frequently
not as he fuppofes, but 2rHD» though on fome few

of them part of the laft letter only appears. 'I his M. l’Abbe,
without any manner of foundation, feerns to think a new form
of the Ajin c, and believes it to be the initial letter of the name
of a month ; though he had before, in a great meafure at leaft,
exploded the notion of fuch initial letters. In fine the confuta-
tions now fubmitted to the judgment of the learned abfolutely
determined me to cancel part of a fheet of a fmall work, put to
the prefs here, in 1753; w,iere‘n * aflerted, and endeavoured to
prove, that thofe coins belonged to Marathus. ^ his will be at-
tefted by the workmen I imployed, and the imprimatvr given
me by the Rev. Dr. Brown, Matter of Univerfity College, our
worthy Vice-Chancellor, at that time. The cancelled part of a

Ihect is ft ill in my hands. .*

In farther eviction of what has been advanced, relative to

the7 initial letters in the exergues of certain Sidoman coins ; it
mav not be improper to obferve, that a medal in my fmall col-
leaion exhibits the letter Hheth, immediately after the numerical
inlcription in the exergue. This probably represents the
word ’VH, DiMinivM, half; as both that term and VQi, or
vrDn> qvadrans, qv arter, are exprefled at length on fome

D Strab. Gtograpb. Lib. xvi. p. 1093. Amftelxdami, 1707.
c Journ. des Sfcrv. Aout 1760. p. 275. A Amlterdam, 1760.
«i See Plate Fig.

part

[ * i39 ]

medals of Croton, Corinth, and Syracufe, (28) as
well as upon an inedited Punic coin in my fmail
cabinet, was ufed for Koph by both the Phoenicians
and Carthaginians in the earlier times. The form
of the Koph likewife on a Punic medal, (29) that
I formerly attempted to explain, was of a pretty
high antiquity amongft thofe nations. Nor does (30)
M. Pellerin merit any great attention, or regard,
when he afligns that letter the power of Aleph j the
character on the coin he refers to on this occafion
feeming not to point out Aleph , but Koph. Nor
has he fo much as offered to interpret the greatefl

of the e rarer Samaritan coins. Hence it fhould feem incon-
teftably clear, that the two Phoenician elements, J? W, prefixed
to the fame fort of numerical characters, on fimilar medals, muft
be viewed either in the fame or a fimilar light ; which, in con-
junction with the initial letters preferved on the famous Samaritan
medal of Bologna, formerly mentioned f, muft fet the point here
infilled on beyond difpute.

8. From the preceding obfervations it feems manifeftly to ap-
pear, not only that the alphabetic character immediately pre-
fixed to the aforefaid numerals is Tzade, but likewife that the
coins on which thefe are imprefled muft be of a later date.
Hence we may conclude, that the times in which thofe pieces
were ftruck may, with a fufficient degree of precifion, be
afcertained.

(28) Joan. Bapt. Biancon. De antiq. Lit. Hebraor. Lf Gracsr.
Libel, p. 57, 63. Bononiae, 1748.

(29) De Niton, quibufd. Sam. & Phcen, Dijfert. p. 86, 87*
Oxonii, 1750.

(30) Recueil de Medailles de Peuples et de Villes , Lie. Tom.
III. p. 1 4 1 , 142. A Paris, 1763.

e Nutnifm. Antiq. &c. a Tliom. Pembr. & Mont. Gomer. Com. Colleil.
P. 2. T. 85. Num. 7. Acir. Reland. De Num. Veter. Hebraor. Tab. Non.
Num. 3. p. 2oi. Traje&i ad Rhenum, 1709.
f Philofopb. Tranfad, Vol. L. P. ii. p. 792.

I

part

[ * 1+0 ]

part of the legend, to which it belongs. Tis certain,
that this charader, as well as that on the Punic
medal above-mentioned, bears foperfed a refemblance
to the figure of Koph preferved by a coin of Colyra,
explained by the learned Sig. Abate Yenuti, that it
cannot well be taken for any other letter. As the
objection therefore (31) offered by M. Pellerin to my
notion of this charader is dellitute of every fupport,
it muft fall to the ground of courfe j and conle-
quently no farther defence of that notion can be
deemed requifite, or expeded from,

S 1 R,

Your mod obedient humble fervant,
Ch.Ch Oxon.

April 29, 1763. John Swinton.

(31) Rccueil de Me dailies de Peuples et de Villesy is'e. Tom. III.
p. 14 1, 142, A Paris, 1763.

1

XXIII. A

C *37 ]

XXIII. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants
from Chelfea Garden, prefented to the
Royal Society by the worfoipful Company
of Apothecaries , for the Tear 1763, pur -
fuant to the DireBion of Sir Hans Sloane,
Baronet , Med. Reg. et Soc . Reg. aliquando
Prcefes : By John Wilmer, M. D. cla-
rijfl Societatis Pharmaceut . Loud. Soc.
Hort. Chelfean. PrafeBus et PrteleBor
Botanic.

* - ‘ s J 1' • J • ; • '

Read May 3, 1 2051 A Chillaea foliis pinnatis fupra-
*'64' decompofitis laciniis lineari-

bus diftantibus. Flor. Leyd. Prod. 175.

2652 Achillaea foliis fetaceis dentatis,denticulis fubin-
tegris fubulatis reflexis. Linn. Sp. pi. 896.

.2053 Achyranthes caule eredo, foliis ovatis, calycL
bus fpicas adpreflis.

2054. Aconitum foliorum laciniis linearibus fuperne
latioribus linea exaratis. Hort. Cliff. 214.

2055 TEfchynomene leguminibus fubasqualibus lasvi*

bus. Linn. Sp. PI. 71 4-

2056 Angelica foliolis aequalibus ovatis, incifo-ferra-

tis. Hort. Cliff. 97.

2057 Anthericum foliis carnofis fubulatis teretibus,

fcapo fubramofo. Hort. Upfal. 83.

2058 Afperula foliis irlferioribus fenis, intermediis

quaternis fubulatis triquetris, floribus quadri-
fidis. Linn, Sp. PI. 104. ' 1

Vo Li LIV. T 2059 Afiragalus

[ «3» ]

-20!J9 Aftragalus (Chinenfis) caulefcens procumbens,
capitulis pedunculatis, leguminibus prifma-
ticis redtis triquetris, apice fubulatis.

2060 Boerhavia caule diffufo. Linn. Sp. PI. 3.

2061 Caucalis umbella trifida, umbellulis triipermis

involucris triphyllis. Hort. Cliff. 91.

2062 Ceraftium foliis lineari-lanceolatis tomentofis,

pedunculis ramofis, capfulis globofis.
Caryophyllus holofteus tomentofus angufti-fo-
lius. C. B. P. 210.

2063 Chionanthus pedunculis trifidis triflorisl Linn.

Sp. PI. S.

2064 Convolvulus foliis lanceolatis tomentofis, flori-

bus capitatis, calycibus hirfutis, Caule eredti-
ufculo. Linn. Sp. PI. 224.

2065 Cytifus floribus capitatis, ramis decumbentibus.

Prod. Leyd. 376.

2066 Dracocephalum floribus verticillatis, bra&eis

oblongis ovatis integerrimis, corollis majuf-
culis nutantibus. Hort. Upfal. 167.

2067 Echium corollis flamine longioribus. Linn.

Sp. PI. 140.

Echium ampliffimo folio Lufltanicum. Tourn.
Inft. 135.

2068 Erigeron pedunculis alternis unifloris. Hort

Cliff. 407.

2069 Euphorbia inermis fruticofa, foliis lanceolato-

linearibus, floribus eredtis, capfulis glabris.

2070 Euphorbia umbella quinquefida trifida dicho-

toma, involucellis ovatis, foliis lanceolatis,
capfulis lanatis. Lin. Sp. PI. 460.

2071 Ferula foliis pinnatifidis, pinnis linearibus pla-

nis trifidis. Hort. Cliff. 95.

2072 Ferula

2

C *39 ]

2072 Ferula durior feu rigidis et breviflimis foliis.

Bocc. Muf. p. 2. Tab. 76.

2073 Galium foliis odonis linearibus fulcatis, ramis

floriferis brevibus. Hort. Cliff. 107.

2074 Gypfophylla foliis lanceolatis fubtrinerviis redfis.

Linn. Sp. PI, 582.

2075 Hypericum floribus tetragynis, caule ereda.

herbaceo fimplici, foliis integerrimis femiam-
plexicaulibus.

2076 Hypochseris calycibus aequalibus hifpidis. Hort

Cliff. 385.

2077 Ifatis foliis omnibus dentatis. Linn. Sp. Pi. 671.

2078 Lantana foliis oppofitis fubfeflilibus, floribus

racemofis. Linn. Syff 1 1 1 6.

2079 Mefembry-anthemum foliis triquetris acutis

pundatis diftindis, calycinis foliolis ovato-
cordatis. Hort. Cliff 220.

2080 Nigella piftillis quinis, petalis integris, capfulis

turbinatis. Linn. Sp. PI. 753.

2081 Nigella piftillis denis corollam aequantibus.

Hort. Upfal. 154,

2082 Nigella piftillis quinis, capfulis muricatis fubro-

tundis, foliis fubpilofis. Hort. Upfal. 154.

2083 Oenanthe umbellularum pedunculis marginal

libus longioribus ramofis mafculis. 62.

2084 Raphanus (Chinenfis) iiliquis torofis acumina-

tis foliis integris.

2085 Rudbeckia foliis lanceolato-ovatis hirfutis, radii

petalis bifidis.

2086 Rumex floribus dioicis, foliis cordatis amplexi-

caulibus. .

2087 Scabiofa corollulis quinqueftdis, , foliis diffedis,

receptaculis florum fubrotundis. . Hort.
Cliff 31,

T 2

2088 Scabiofa,

2088

.2089

2090

2091

2092

2093

2094

2095

2096

2097

2098

2099

2100

[ I4° ]

Scabiofa corollulis quinquefidis radiantibus, fo-
lds bipinnatis linearibus. Linn. Sp. PI. 101.
Scabiofa ftellata folio laciniato minor five mari-

tima. C. B. P. .

Sifymbrium foliis pinnato-haflatis dentatis, 11-

liquis eredis. Lin. Sp. PI. 659.

Scandix feminibus nitidis ovato-fubulatis, um-
bellis feffilibus lateralibus. H. Cliff, no.
Scleranthus calycibus frudus patulis. Flor.

Suec. 377. r ..

Solanum caule inermi herbaceo eretto, tolns
ovatis integris glabris, umbellis axillaribus. .
Trifolium capitulis dimidiatis, foliis quinatis
feffilibus, leguminibus polyfpermis. Hort.
Upfal. 223.

Trifolium leguminibus racemofis nudis mono-
fpermis, caule eredo. H. Upfal. 223.
Thalidrum caule foliofo fulcato, foliis hnean-
bus carnofis. Dalib. Parif. 162.

Veratrum racemo compofito, corollis patentil-

fimis. Lin. Sp. 1044. . . . c ..

Verbena tetrandra, fpicis capitato-comcis, tolns
ferratis caule repente. FI. Zeyl. 399.
Veronica fpicis terminalibus, foliis oppontis hne-
ari-lanceolatis, acute ferratis, caule eredo. .
Viburnum foliis ferrulatts ovatis acummatis
glabris, petidis marginatis. Linn.Sp. 1 1. 304.

XXIV. Oh-

[ *+* 3

XXIV. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the
Sun, April r, 1764'- In a Letter to the
Right Honourable James Earl of Morton,
Pref R. S. from the Rev. Nathanael Bills,
M. A. Savilian Profejfor of Mathematics
at Oxford, and Aftronomer Royal.

My Lord,

Read May 10, A S I had reafon to believe, from a
1764.. calculation made from the belt hi-

nar tables, that the north-weft limit of the annular
appearance, in the late great eclipfe of the Sun, would
pafs but a few miles to the South-weft of the Royal
Obfervatory at Greenwich, I thought myfelf indil-
penfably obliged, to leave Oxford, where my em-
ployment then called me ; and to attend to an obfei-
vation which might pofiibly be of feme confidence.
And I had at the fame time an opportunity of paying
my duty to their Royal Highnefles Prince Wiluam
Henry and Prince Henry Frederick, who had
fionified their intention a few days be.ore, of honoui-
jpg the Royal Obfervatory with their prefence on that

OCOn°the ift of April, foon after eight in the morn-
ing, their Royal Highneffes arrived, and were pleafed
to fignify to me, that it was their defire, notwith-
ftanding their prefence, that the obfervations might
be made with all poffible accuracy. Their Royal
Highneffes were alfo pleafed to permit his excehen -j-

[ J+2 ]

the Neapolitan envoy extraordinary, the right honou-
rable Lord Leigh, Dr. Morton, S. R. S. and feveral
other gentlemen to be prefent.

Early in the morning the iky Teemed to promife to
he favourable to us; but before the time when the
eclipfe was expeCted to begin, it became fo hazy that
we almoft defpaired of making any obfervation at alL
Howrever Mr. Reeve, the affiflant obferver, was pre-
pared to obferve on the triangular leads, with a two
foot reflecting telefcope made by Mr. Short, and on
March 31ft, 2ih 5' 3" apparent time, he faw the firit
impreflion made on the Sun’s limb by the Moon ;
the iky being got tolerably clear a few minutes be-
fore. Mr. John Bird,, mathematical initrument maker
in the Strand, with a two feet reflecting telefcope
made by himfelf, on the leads over the new cham-
ber, did not fee the beginning, by reafon of a tre-
mor, until fix feconds later. I myfelf was endea-
vouring to obferve it with an excellent refraCtor of
15 feet focal length in the great room : but, having at
that time a watery defluxion on my eyes occaiioned
by a cold, I was unfortunately obliged to wipe my
eye perhaps at the very time of the contaCl : for at
2 *h S' 3q// when I again applied my eye to the tele*,
fcope and placed it on the objeCt, the eclipfe was
fenfibly advanced. So that I apprehend the begin-
ning as oblerved by Mr. Reeve to be very near the
truth.

It had been before agreed that Mr. Reeve, to
whofe eye the reflecting telefcope had been adjufted
when armed with Dollond’s micrometer, fhould ob-
ferve the quantity of the lucid parts, as they decreaf-
ed before the middle, and alfo as they increafed after

the

C *43 ]

the middle was pad: j while Mr, Bird and myfelf,
with the old micrometer applied to the 1 5 foot tube,
fhould meafure the Moon’s diameter as feen upon the
Sun : But unfortunately, fome time before the middle
of the eclipfe, the hazinefs became fo very thick that
we loft fight of the Sun for many minutes. But as
foon as the clouds began to difperfe, Mr. Reeve ob~
ferved the lucid parts as under, but did riot afcertain
the time at either obfervation.

2' 55". 5—3' °"> 2—3' 28"> 7—3' 47". 6 with
feveral others that increafed much fafter. By a mean
of fix obfervations made (as near the middle as the
clouds would permit) both by Mr. Bird and myfelf,
the extremes of which did not differ fo much as 3",
the Moon’s equatorial diameter was found to be
29' 454." as feen on the Sun.

As the obfervations of the lucid parts were mad®
as faft as the numbers of the micrometer could be
read off, and as the difference increafed but flowly at.
firft, we will fuppofe the two firft obfervations to
have been made not long after the time of the mid-
dle, and at the time of the firft obfervation, the Sun
was at leaft eclipfed 10, 9 digits*

The Sun’s horizontal diameter, as obferved by Mr.
Reeve, with the fame micrometer, on the day be-
fore, and on the morning of the eclipfe, was 31'
being a mean of fix obfervations not fenfibly dif-
fering.

About 1 1 o’clock the hazinefs became fo thick
that no further obfervations could be made, nor, at
the time when the end was expected, could the Sun
be feen.

At

[ »44 ]

At the obfervatory of the right honourable the
Earl of Macclesfield at Shirburn Cattle, the begin-
ning of the eclipfe was obferved at 2ih o' 48" ap-
parent time by one obferver, and but one fecond
later by the other. And the end was. obferved at
2311 c6y 10" ; but this laft obfervation is marked as
very doubtful, the air being extremely hazy.

If your Lordfhip fhould think the above obfer-
vations worthy of the attention of the Royal So-
ciety, and will be pleafed to communicate them to
that learned body, it will very much oblige,

My Lord,

Your Lordfhip’ s and their moft obedient
humble fervant,

Nathanael Blifs.

t

j

i : ?

XXV. Ob-

[ 145 3

XXV. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the
Sun, April i, 1764: In a Letter to the
Right Honourable James Earl of Morton,
Pref R. S. from the Reverend Thomas
Hornlby, M. A. and Savilian Profejfor
of Afronomy at Oxford.

My Lord,

Read May IO, y Take the liberty to tranfmit to your
x764* y Lordfhip the following obfervations of
the great eclipfe of the Sun on the ift of Apiil laft,
in hopes that your Lordfhip may think them not un-
worthy of the attention of that learned body, over
which you prefide.

On the morning of the ift of April, the heavens
were fo uncommonly ferene, that I could not but flat-
ter myfelf with the hopes of a fky very favourable
to obfervation. But about eight o clock a hazinefs
began to appear, and feveral clouds to aiife from the
South-weft, which at fmall intervals deprived us of
a fight of the Sun ; thefe clouds however went off
entirely to the North-eaft, and the Sun’s limb appear-
ed very nicely defined, and without the leaft undu-
lation, through an excellent refraCting telefcope of 1 2
feet focus made by Mr. Bird, to which had been ap-
plied a fyftem of 'eye-glafles flmilar to thofe ufed for
reflectors, and the ufual aperture of which had been

Inch.

contracted to 1, 2. I continued to keep my eye very
attentively fixed upon that part of the Sun s limb,
Vol.LIV. U where

I *46 ]

where I expe&ed the Moon would make the fir ft im-
preffion; and at 8h 59' 33" apparent time, faw a
very flight alteration on the Sun’s limb, which I flat-
ter myfelf may be confldered as the time of the be-
ginning of the eclipfe very accurately afcertained ;
lince a gentleman then prefent, with a reflecting te-
elefcope of 1 8 inches, faw that the eclipfe was begun
about 6" later by the fame clock.

As the eclipfe advanced, I propofed to meafure
both chords and the quantity of the -lucid parts with
a reflecting telefcope of 9 inches, armed with a mi-
crometer executed by Mr. Dollond himfelf,and which
was very obligingly left me for that purpofe by my
worthy collegue the reverend Mr. Blifs. >And ac-
cordingly at 9h 37' 1.7" apparent time (as are all the
times hereafter mentioned) I meafured the chord of
the part eclipfed and found it = 25' 45", 8. At
9h $o/ 2.4!' the unobfcured part of the Sun was —
13' 17", 7; and at ioh 3' 39" = 8' 33", 8. At
the time of which obfervation the colour of the fky
was remarkably changed.

At ioh 19' 15" I determined, by the old micro-
meter applied to the 1 2 foot tube, the quantity of the
lucid parts to be 3' 45" : but, as I found fuch mea-
furements could not be taken with that inftrument,
without great difficulty, I immediately endeavoured
to determine, by the other micrometer, the quantity
of the Moon’s horizontal diameter as feen upon the
Sun, and found it, by a mean of three obfervations,
hardly differing from each other, to be 29' 45//, 1.

It was formerly a difpute among the aftronomers,
whether the Moon’s diameter did not appear lefs
when viewed upon the Sun, than when feen upon a

darker

•[ *47 ]

darker ground. The obfervations of Mr. le Mon-
nier in Scotland, in the year 1748, fecmed to leave
little room for doubt : and it is to be hoped that ob-
fervations made with larger and better indruments
than mine, and in places where the eclipfe was an-
nular, or nearly fo, will fully fettle this point. At
the time of the middle here, the Moon’s centre was
about 39 degrees high, and therefore the Moon ap-
peared under a greater angle to the eye of the obferver
than if feen from the earth’s center, by about 1 8 fe-
conds. The true horizontal diameter from the above
obfervations was therefore 29' 27"; which is but 7"
lefs than according to the lated and bed tables ;
which tables may perhaps give the Moon’s diameter
too large, becaufe condrudted from obfervations made
with refracting telefcopes, through which the diame-
ters, both of the Sun and Moon, mud neceflarily
appear under an angle fomewhat enlarged.

About the time of the middle of the eclipfe, I care-
fully attended to the didance of the cufps : becaufe,
from fome calculations which had been laid before
the public, the Northern limit of the annulus was to
pafs within 4 or 5 miles of this place ; and by other
accounts I might have expected to have found myfelf
condderably within the path of the annular penum-
bra. But as nearly as I could edimate by my eye,
the didance of the cufps was not lefs than 4 of the
whole circumference of the Sun. The quantity of
the Sun’s light was now very fenfibly diminifhed ; a
very didinct halo was feen at the didance of 12 or
14 degrees round the Sun; and we might have ex-
pected to have feen the planet Venus, had not the
Iky been covered with a condderable hazinefs. As

U 2 this

C 148 ]

this hazinefs continued,, I began to fear that I might
be prevented from obferving the end, and therefore
meaiured, as carefully as unfavourable circumftances
would permit, the following chords.

h / // , , ' "

At 11 33 56 chord = 19 52, 5

11 40 25 = 16 27, 9

1 1 42 7 = 15 5

11 45 7 = J3 46» 0

1 1 46 57 =12 9, 4

But the Iky began to clear up ; and at 1 ih 58' 3"
by the clock, or nh 54' 204" apparent time, I ob-
ferved the end, which I believe may be depended

upon to 3 or 4 feconds. ,

About 20 minutes after the Sun had palled the
meridian, 1 meafured the Sun’s horizontal diameter
with Dollond’s micrometer, and found it =3.2' o", 8".

At feven o’clock in the morning, a Fahrenheit’s
thermometer, made by Mr. Bird and placed in the
fhade, flood at 424 degrees. At f 32' I expofed
another thermometer of the fame fcale to the direct
rays of the Sun. In five minutes the mercury role
from 43 to 59. At 7h 44' it flood at 674 ; and a-
bout twenty minutes before the eclipfe began this
thermometer had rifen even to 84.

During

\

[ 149 1

During the time of the cclipfe the following obfer-
vations were made on each thermometei.

Apparent time.

h

//

At 9 ii

9 3°

9 38
9 52

IO 14

10 32

10 44

10 50

11 20’ >

1 1 37

12 10

For feveral minutes before and after the middle of
the eclipfe, the air was very fenfibly colder.

I am, my Lord,

Your Lord flii p’s mod obedient
humble fervant,

Thermometer

Thermometer

in the fhade.

in the Sun.

53

62

53

534

7°4

524

69

5*4

6oJL-

4

494

534

49

53

' 494

544

51 4

59

534

634

554

664.

Oxford, April 3$s-

1764.

Thomas Hornfby.

XXVI. Qb~

C *50 ]

XXVI. Obfervations on the Eclipfe of the
Sun, April r, 1764: By Matthew Raper,
Efq\ F. R. S.

Read May i7, r l" ^Horley Hall. Lat. 51* 50' 45" N.

1<64- J| Long. 38!. eaft of Greenwich.
1764. Mar. 17. d immerged into the true fhadow at

h m s

IO

emerged out of the fame at 13
Mar. 31. o eclipfe was be-
gun above a minute at —
Ended April 1 at — o

41 — apparent time.
25 ~

8 o apparent time.
1 45 or 48.

Obferved with an 8 foot refractor.

\

XXVII. : lalie

XXVII. A Table of the Places of the Comet of 1764
discovered at the Qbfervatory of the Marine at Paris,
the 3 dof January, about 8 o'clock in the Evening , in
the Conftellation of the Dragon, concluded from its
Situation objerved with regard to the Sta? s : By Mon-
jieur Charles Meffier, AJlronomer at the Depot of
the Plans of the Marine of France, at Paris.

1764
Jan

3-

10

II

*4

16

iS

J9

20

22

29

. 3°

Feb. 4

7

8

11

True time.

h . /. •
9 24 33

15 5 4

i3 48 55

16 10 39
iS 33 53

6 43 27

30 54
33
58

18 28

7

6

5

6

5

6

5

6
6
6

7 7

8 32 53

5 43 H
7 »3 J5
0 35 *9
7 26 11

5 4° 32
7 4 45
42 8

50 20

49 5°

11 16

5° 59

2.52

57 53
30 23
16 20
14 49

Read

May

1764.

mean time

R.afcention

Northern

Longitude ob-

Northc

-a

obferved.

declinati-

ferved.

latitude

on

abferv.

obferved*

h

0

/

,.r

0

1

it

0

/

...

0

!

tf

9

29

9

236

29

16

58

32

58

1 1

37

16

72

53

48

M

9

47

*39

45

31

58

51

29

14 49

7

74

22

13

18

53

42

24 1

56

1

59

2

54

17

9

14

7J

J9

5°

16

iS

28

3°5

57

17

44

23

10

vW

29

0

S8

60

41

4i

18

41

44

306

22

0

44

6

14

X

29

r5

54

60

18

20

6

51

3 1

308

J4

2. 1

42

45

45

0

2 r

59

58

28

49

7

3?

59

308

20

1.7

42

42

35

0

26

X9

58

23

5*

18

26 48

309

5°

41

41

22

54

1

7

3 1

56

42

7

17

17

22

316

59

44

34

37

35

4

23

15

,48

8

16

18

41

iS

3X7

5

44

34

3°

37

4

25

12

47

59

5°

5

5*

48

3i7

53

29

33

39

23

5

8

47

47

6

48

7

22

5»

317

59

44

33

3 1

5°

.5-

20

1 1

47

1

47

6

45

15

319

28

52

31

5'

34

5

22

5 1

44

44

33

7

35

58

3X9

32

37

31

48

41

5

24

5s

4t

40

44

5

51

8

321

5 2

36-

28

45

54

6

9

39

41

4

3

7

15

22

321

56

2 1

28

40

52

6

10

49

40

5S

8

7

53

4

322

57

8

27

*7

25

6

29

47

39

x9

57

7

1

34

323

46 38

26

5

33

6

43

22

37

5 6

17

6

1

38

325

9

52

23

49

1

7

0

56

35

20

54

6

23

4

325

10

22

23

47

57

7

0

57

35

19

45

6

4

23

328

9

59

17

28

48

7

7

46

28

2S

8

6

iG

28

328

23

44

16

42

10

7

1

12

27

36

59

6

12

8

329

17

41

13

1 1

38

6

26

10

24

2

24

6

44

54

329

33

Si

1 1

6

J5

5

5°

20

_ r

22

0

9

6

3°

54

329

39

35

10

26

47

5

41

10

2 1

21

2 5.

6

29

28

329

4i

27

9

2

46

5

10

5

20

2

34

I have the honour to fend you like-wife the elements of the
theory of this comet, which monfieur Pingre has ueduced from
my firft obfervations, as follows. s ° > n

The afeending node $1 — 3 29 z0

Inclination * ““ 53 54 J9

. Place of perihelium _ “ 11 4

Logarithm of the diftance of the perihelium 9.751415*.
Paffage by the perihelium 12 February at ioh 29' mean time m
the meridian of Paris. The motion retrograde,

[ *5I 2 * * * ]

XXVIII. A Supplement to Monf Pingrc s
Memoir on the Parallax of the Sun : In a
Letter fro?n him to the Royal Society ,
‘Tranjlated by M. Maty, M. Z). F» R* S»

Gentlemen,

Read May 1 7, y Had the honour to fend you my me-
!764* y moir on the Parallax of the Sun as de-
duced from the obfervations of Venus } give me leave
to add to it fome remarks which I have fince made,
and communicated to our academy. The learned
Societies of Europe, amongft which yours holds a
moft diftinguifhed rank, will be the judges of the
fuccefs of our expeditions. A definitive decifion wnJ
probably not be formed till after the obfervation of
the tranfit of 1769; in expectation of further ac-
counts, which may tend towards this decifion, there
is at leaft one which I now fubmit to your ex-
amination.

Supplement to my Memoir on the Parallax
of the Sun.

I impatiently expected the firft volume of the
Philofophical Tranfadions of the year 1761, where
I hoped to find fome obfervations that might deter-

mine which of the obfervations, viz. that of Mefl.

Mafon and Dixon made at the Cape of Good-Hope,

or that which was made at the ifland Rodriguez by

Mr. Thuillier and myfelf, deferved the preference.

The firft reduces the Sun's Parallax to 8 f at moft,

v

C r53 ]

whereas the latter increafes it to near 10" L\ the dif-
ference is too confiderable not to deferve an enquiry
into its caufes. The expected volume is at lad come
to hand ; and my firfl care has been to examine with
the in od fcrupulous attention the obfervation made at
the Cape. I owe this testimony to truth, that this
obfervation, as well as all the others of Me IT. Maion
and Dixon, appears to me to have been made with
great judgment. An exception might however be
made as to the extenfive delcription of an appulfe ot
cr Sagittarii to the Moon’s, fouthern limb, which is
found page 389. This certainly was moie than
an appulle, and the dar was really immerged at
the Cape.

In this fame volume, I found two obfervations,
which would be decilive, if time and othei circum-
flances had permitted them to be made with luffici-
ent accuracy. I have very carefully calculated them
both. Mr. Mafkeline obferved at the illand of St.
Helena, fituated at 1 5*55' South latitude, and ac-
cording to Dr. Halley at 33' 17" of time Wed of
the Obfervatory at Paris ; but this determination of the
longitude does not feem fufficiently exadl. I have
compared many obfervations of Jupiter’s Satellites
immerlions and emerlions made at the illand of St.
Helena by Mr. Mafkeline with the correfponding
ones made at Paris at the Marine Obfervatory by Mr.
Meffier, and have only found 3 1' 56" for the differ-
ence of longitude between the two places ; and as
the Marine Obfervatory is 2" Ead of the Royal Ob-
fervatory, I think I may conclude that the place where
Mr. Mafkeline obferved is only at 31' 54^ Wed of
the Royal Obfervatory.

Vol. LIV. X The

C *54 ]

The clouds greatly obftruCted Mr. Madeline's
oblervations ; he could make but one that was ufe-
ful. At yh3i/o7// in the morning, apparent time,
the bodies both of the Sun and of Venus being per-
fectly well defined, the diftance of the neared limbs
was, by means of an objeCt-glafs Micrometer adapted
to a reflecting telefcope according to Mr. Dollond’s
invention, found to be I have computed

that by allowing io" for the horizontal parallax of
the Sun, from that phalis to the internal contaCt of
the limbs, there muft have pafied 34' 52" at St.
f Ielena ; I have even allured myfelf, by fome other
calculations, that, by an alteration of one or two fe-
conds in the parallax, and of feveral minutes of time
in the longitude of St. Helena, the interval which 1
have juft now determined would fuffer an increafe or
diminution but of very few feconds. The internal
contaCt of the limbs muft therefore have happened
at St. Helena at 8ho5/59// in the morning. One
can’t fuppofe it to have happened later, becaufe 17'
after, or at about 8h2 3', the Ikies having cleared again,
nothing more could be feen, and the external contact
was over. This obfervation being compared with
that of Tobollk, would give 1 l'Tor the horizontal par-
allax, which is a little too much. Mr. Mafkeline
obferves, that tho’ Venus’s limb and the Sun’s appeared
as defined as could be defired, yet when the artificial
internal contact of Venus’s limb with the Sun’s was
made by means of the object-glafs micrometer, Ve-
nus’s limb dilated and contracted itfelf alternately,
getting and lofing a fmall fpace within the Sun’s limb.
He adds, that he endeavoured to take it in the middle
of this vibration, but dares not affirm that he ex-

[ JS5 3

a6tly did fo. Let the diftance determined by Mr.
Maikeline be only diminished by 2", and his obser-
vation will perfedtly agree with mine ; but in order
to make it tally with that of the Cape, it would be
neceffary to diminish this diftance by 10 or 1 1", and
it is not very likely that Mr. MaSkeline Sliould have
committed Such an error. His observation might
likewiSe be brought to coincide with mine, by mak-
ing a diminution of 40 or 45" in the Weftern longi-
tude of St. Helena, as I juft now fettled it ; whereas
it would be neceffary to take Several minutes from
that longitude in order to make the observation agree
with that of the Cape, which does not Seem pofiible.
Hence, though I don’t take Mr. Malkeline’s obser-
vation5 to be*in itfelf absolutely decifive, yet I am
perfwaded that it adds great weight to the exadtnefs

of mine.

Fort St. George at Madrafs is, according to Mr.
Hirft, 1 3d 8' North latitude and 3' 4" of time Eaft-
ward of Pondicherry, and consequently at leaft 5h 1 2' 54"
Eaftward of our Obfervatory’s meridian. Mr. Hirft’s
observation is related in the Philofophical Tranf-
adtions ; the interval obferved by him between the
two internal contacts was 5*51' 4$", greater by
2'49//j|: than that which was obferved at Tobolfk.
This would give 9" 56 for the Sun’s horizontalparallax,
a quantity which is about a medium between the Cape
observation and mine. The comparison between the
time of observing the contadts, and that of the cor-
responding observations made in other places, gives
conclusions fo vaftly different, that I dare not relate
them here. Mr. Hirft gives a Sufficient account of
his instruments, but he does not fay whether his

X 2 pendulum

[ js6 ]

pendulum or clock was one with weights. He fays
he regulated his clock by equal altitudes, and then
by meridional pafiages of Spica Virginis, and of the
Sun ; but why did he leave off the method of the
equal altitudes which he made ufe of at firft, and in
what manner did he obferve thefe altitudes to deter-
mine the paflage either of a fixed flar or of the Sun
over the meridian ? It does not appear that he had
a quadrant or tranfit inftrument. I am forry that
this uncertainty about the means employed by Mr.
Hirff to determine the time of the phafes puts it out
of my power to make ufe of an obfervation, which
might otherwife have been extremely ufeful, had the
aftronomer been equally well provided with inftru-
ments as he appears to have knowledge and zeal.
It is to be obferved that by increafing or diminifhing
by io" the duration obferved at Madrafs, the quef-
tion of the parallax will be decided conformably ei-
ther to the obfervation of Rodriguez or that of the
Cape.

In the fame volume of the Tranfadtions, are fome
obfervations of the fame tranfit made at Abo and at
Hernofand ; the total duration was obferved in both
places ; it may have been lengthened fomewhat be-
yond its limits ; but thefe obfervations agree at leaf!
in this point with all the others that were made in
the North, viz. that being compared with the To-
bolfk obfervation, with regard to the duration of the
tranfit, they give above i o" for the horizontal par-
allax of the Sun.

I have likewife lately had the communication of
Mr.Rumowfki’s obfervation made at Selenginfk in Si-
beria. 1 fliall not expatiate upon the particulars here,
2 fuppofing

[ 1 57 ]

fuppofing that you Gentlemen have received it. The
latitude of Selenginfk is 5 id6/6//. I have fettled the
longitude to be 50" from the Paris meridian.

Some immerfions of the firft and fecond fatellite of
Jupiter have given me 6h57'i5//, 6h57/2o'/, and
6h58/3 1", by comparing the obfervations of Mr.
Rumowfki with the tables corrected upon the obfer-
vations made at Paris and at the Cape, and eftimat-
ing, as well as I was able, the different effects of the
reflectors and telefcopes. The 15th of July, Mr.
Le Monnier obferved the meridional tranfit of <p Sa-
gittarii at 1 8h25'3 8/7 \ of his clock, being at
76°oo/45// from the zenith. The preceding limb'
of the Moon paffedat 1 8K3 8/2 8/7 4, or at nhoi^o"
apparent time; when the center paffed, the diffance
of the upper limb was at 75d52/oo// from the zenith;
and the lower at 76d22/25//; the threads, which are
5" thick, beingentirely upon theMoon. cr Sagittarii had
paffed at i8h35/22//4-> the diftance from the zenith
being 75d22/20//. I have obferved at Rodriguez the
immerfion of cr Sagittarii at 14^0 \.' 2W' 1- apparent
time, and Mr. Rumowfki obferved at Selenginfk the
immerfion of <£> at nh24/5i// apparent time. Upon
comparing all thefe things together, I find the lon-
gitude of Selenginfk to be 6h57'2 i//i. Ea ft from Paris.
But this goes upon the fuppofition that the error of
the tables has been quite conffant during near 7 hours,
which cannot be warranted. Laftly, the obfervation
of the eclipfe of the Sun made at Selenginfk June 3,
1761, compared with the fame obfervation made at
Toboifkand at Cajanebourg, determines the longitude
of Selenginfk 5hi6/4i//-L Eaff from Cajanebourg, and
at 2h3 4' 3 o' ' Eaff from T obolfk;confequently 6h5 8X2 2 /

Eaff,

C js8 1

Ead from Paris. Thefe are the reafons which make
me believe that the longitude of Selenginfk cannot be
made lefs than (^S7' S°" from meridian of our
Royal Obfervatory. This being fuppofed, the ob-
fervation of Mr. Rutnowlki compared with mine
would give io T for the horizontal parallax of the
Sun in the month of June, and 1 0^26 for that par-
allax when the Sun is at the mean didance. ’Tis
true, the fame obfervation, compared with that of
Medi Mafon and Dixon, would much reduce this par-
allax’; and therefore it can be of no ufe to decide
the quedion, unlefs we hadfome from Africa or from
the adjacent feas.

I have one, which I have not dared yet to lay be-
fore our Academy ; it appears to me a downright phe-
nomenon. As it was made at the ide of France or
Mauritius, it might pretend to the glory of deciding
between Meff. Mafon and Dixon and me ; but it is
fuch a one as can only at mod; determine how far the
difference of lights or that of telefcopes could ex-
tend or fhorten the duration of the exit. I am ac-
quainted with the obferver,Mr. de Seligny, an officer
in the ferviceof the Ead India company; andl think I
can anfwer for his capacity, talents, zeal and accu-
racy. He had noindrument but an eight foot telef-
cope, and an excellent clock: this he regulated by
altitudes of the Sun taken the 5th and 6th of June
with Hadley’s quadrant. That method is not dridtly
true, but our oblerver could do no better; and belides,
whether the clock went too fad by a few feconds
more or lefs, the difference cannot at all affed: the
duration obferved by Mr.de Seligny. His clock on
the 5th of June about 3 o’clock advanced 18"; upon

the

4

[ IS9 ]

the apparent ; the 6th at the fame hour it got only 9".
The obferver was obftruCted by the clouds till near
the inftantof the exit of Venus. This is his obferva-
tion of the exit ; the times are thofe of his clock,,
from which z' 10" are to be fubftraCted to have the
apparent time. At 6^2%’ the preceding limb
of Venus appeared to touch exactly that of the Sun ;
at oh22/oo// onequarter of her diameter was got out;
at oh2 5/io// Mr. Seligny judged her to be half got
out ; at oh2 8/o6// the three quarters of her diameter
were emerged, and oh3i/i2// the exit was total and
inftantaneous. Thefeobfervations follow one another
very well, and they have been made by a man whom
I know to be very fkilful ; but how the exit of Venus
could appear to him to have taken up but 12^ 4" I
muft leave to perfons fkilled in natural philofophy
to account for. The obfervation of the firft contaCt,
or of the internal contact of the limbs, would give
you more than 1 z" for the parallax ; that of the lad;
would reduce it to eight; by a medium, the parallax
would exceed io7/.

You will undoubtedly have obferved a pretty re-
markable difference between my obfervations of
Venus, as I had the honour to fend them to you
from Lilbon March 6, 1762, and the fame obferva--
tions as I have related them in my memoir. I ima-
gined I had fent the correction to fome one of the-
members of your celebrated Society. When I made
the reduction of thefe obfervations at Rodriguez, .
I found myfelf under difagreeable circumftances ;
and it was probably my uneafinefs at that time that
occafioned a want of due attention, which I was
the longer in finding out as I could not eafily fuf-

[ i6° ]

ped it. My clock went too flow that day at noon
by 2/2//, To that I ought to have added i V' to the
time of theclock, whereas I fubflraded as much from
it. This is the reafon of the difference in the times.
The fmall variation in the diflances of the limbs was
owing to a finder verification of the parts of my
micrometer.

Paris, Feb. 14,1764.

I am, with the mofl refpedful efteem,

Gentlemen,
your mofl obedient,

humble fervant,

Pingre.

XXIX, A*

C i6$ ]

XXIX. An Account of the \ Tranfit of Ve-
nus : In a Letter to Charles Morton,
M. D. Secret. R. S.from Chriftian Mayer,
S. J. ‘Tr (inflated from the Latin by James
Parlous, M. D .

Read Feb. 4, T Return you many thanks for the great
176z‘ j[ trouble you have taken in procuring
Mr. Dollond’s telefcope for me ; which, happening
to arrive very opportunely the day before the obser-
vation, gave great pleafure to our Serene Ele&or : a
very happy invention which England alone was ca-
pable of producing ! but at it’s coming to my hands .
I had no lmall concern, for fear all our apparatus
fhould be rendered vain, as it was conflant rainy
weather.

A fquare mount of folid ftone which had been
made into an arch, in the Electoral garden at Schwe-
fmga by his Highnefs’s order, afforded us a bafis 5
in the middle of which another mount of like form
was raifed five feet high, which Supported the agro-
nomical quadrant : both were covered with a move-
able covering, the building being carried round tnem.

Two other fmall buildings of the fame conflrudion
flood near this 5 in one of which IVli. Dollond s tel—
lefcope was placed, and in the other the clock; hav-
ing fo eafy a communication with one another, that
a glance of the eye commanded them all.

The aftronomical quadrant, which was ai. feet ra-
dius Paris meafiire, was made in the year 1758, at
Paris by M. Carinivet mechanical operator to the
Vol. L1V. Y Royal

/

[ 162 3

Royal Academy, and has an Englifh micrometer ;
having a moveable wheel, and divided into minutes;
and by means of a fcrew to the index of the qua-
drant, together with the divifion of the nonnius plate
fattened to it, was fo applied, that during the whole
time of the ohfervation, while the wire of the plum-
met conftantly glided upon the fame point of the
limb, it might be moved in the limb by a vertical
motion in either direction by the alidad alone. This
mott excellent invention of your’s I firtt brought in-
to Germany, to the bett of my knowlege, after I had
feen it’s power at Paris in the hands of the ingeni-
ous M. Le Monier.

Eefides the quadrant, Dollond’s telefcope, and fe-
veral other attronomical tubes of 6, 8, 13, and 22
feet ; v/e had a Newtonian telefcope of 4 feet Auttrian
meafure, with an eye glafs of 4- of an inch.

We had a clock made by M. le Paute, a Parifian,
very well defended from the rays of the Sun and from
the" wind, which I accommodated to this bufinefs
for a month before, in many celcftial obfervations
with as much accuracy as I could, and with more
fuccefs than we could well expeett.

The interior contact of the wettern'
limb of Venus, with the wettern
limb of the Sun, obferved with Dol-
lond’s telefcope — —

The moment of the egrefs, wherein the
fame limb of the Sun after the inte- /

True time.

h

/ //
20 53 8

rior contact firtt appeared cornicu- 1 20 53 35
lated, mott accurately obferved with
the fame telefcope, was — —

Whence I conclude, that the interior
contact happened —

a As

}

20 53 33x

C 163 ]

As to the inftant of the exterior contadf, I fend
only two obfervations made by me with certainty,
becaufe of the intervening clouds : the firft /hews the
time wherein I diftindtly faw through the clouds the
certain emerfion of Venus, part of the diameter
of Venus, as nearly as I could judge, excavating the
limb of the Sun ; the other wherein, from the un-
lucky clouds, I could no more obferve the leaft vef-
tige either of the emerfion, or exterior contatft, or of
Venus.

True time.

h

/ //

The firft outer contact — — 2194

The other time of the certain emerfion — 24 17 27

The time which I ufe, and to which I am ftill at-
tentive, was obtained by a great number of corre-
fponding altitudes of the Sun, both before and
after the day of the tranfit. But in order to the ren-
dering my calculation perfect one thing is to be de-
fired, that the longitude and latitude of the obfer-
vatory at Schwezinga might be precifely determined,
if poftible, in the fpace of a few months.

The Serene Elector, although he was not well the
day before, yet from his great love for aftronomy
was not only prefent himfelf, which other kings and
princes ufually are ; but being of an excellent and
ready genius, he inftituted feveral obfervations with
the aftronomical quadrant two hours before the
egrefs, having marked the appulfes of the four limbs
of the Sun and Venus at each immovable wire, in

Y 2 order

[ l64 ]

order to find out the difference of the right afcenfion
and declinations ; the weather being ferene from
about half an hour after five to half after eight in
the morning. Which pofitions, good Sir, if they
may be acceptable, I will immediately fend you ;
and likewife lome obfervations upon a total eclipfe of
the Moon at which his Serene Highnefs and his
whole court were prefent, together with two very
refpectable perfons of the court, the illuftrious MelT.
Holrinhaufen and de Stanger, both well lkilled in
adronomical matters, who were appointed to be my
affifcants in all thefe obfervations.

Hence you will eafily perceive, that I am attached
to the moil earned endeavour of pleafi ng fo great a
Prince ; who, taking into his protection all kinds
of learning, was the firft that introduced aftronomy
into his country, the name thereof being unknown
here for fo many ages.

It will be a great fatisfaction to me if this our ob-
fervation may obtain a place among the immortal mo-
numents of your Society 5 that the future clafs of
adronomers may retain a grateful remembrance of
the mod ferene Charles Theodore Elector Palatine :
and while I am, learned Sir, in expectation of this
favour from the Royal Society, I humbly commend

myfelf to your regard, being,

Your mod humble fervant

Dated at Schwezinga,
23 June, 1761.

Chriftianus

XXX. Ob-

[ i6s ]

XXX. Ohfervcitiones AJlronomkce Chriftiani
Mayer, S, J.

lllufirijjimo ac celcberrimo Viro ac Domino Carolo de
Morton, Academics Regies Londinenfis a fecretisi
S. P. dick Chriftianus Mayer, S. J. S. E. P. Ajiro-
nomus.

Read May 24,
1764.

OBfervationem meam eclipfis Lunaris
quam hie tibi fifto, quamque circa
2omam Martii Parifios jam miferam, ex refponfo
clariffimi viri de la Lands, die 3 Aprilis ad me dato,
audio Parifiis erroris 10 minutorum fufpedtam habe-
ri, quibus ejas durationem jufto minorem collegifTem :
cum enim ex initio et fine certo hujus meae oblerva-
tionis inveniam quantitatem durationis 2h46/5i//,
earn celeberrimus ephemeridum Parifinarum conditor
de la Landius putat efts oportere 2h 56'. Non
potuit, ut feribit laudatus aftronomus, eclipfis haec diei
17 Martii, nec ilia 1 Aprilis, ob nubes Lutetiae obfervari :
potuit fortafle Londini, et Grenovici; quod li ita, om-
nem facile controverfiam diremptam video. Si enim
Londini initium hujus eclypfis acciderit ioh 31' circi-
ter, cerium eft idem in meridiano Parifino 9 minutis
orientaiiore accidiffe ioh 40' 4o//, ut habent epheme-
rides Parifinaej fin minus, ft Londini initium hujus
eclipfis obfervatum fuerit ioh 39' 5", perfpicuum
eft errorem io minutorum cadere in ephemerides, et
nequaquam in obfervationem meam, quae hac ratione
ftatutae meridianorum differentiae ubique terrarum
optime congruet : fiquidem ex aliis primi fatellitis

Jovis

[ 166 ]

Jovis inftitutis eclipfim comparationibus Schwet-
zingam invenio 31' in tempore Vienna occidenta-

liorem.

Quare cum rumor hie aulam noftram pervaferit,
me in obfervatione eclipfeos -hujus lunaris 10 minutis
aberraffe, ad te, vir celeberrime, mihi confugiendum
fuit, quern hifee demifle oro, ut celeri refponfo, quid
adtum fit Londini, quid Grenovici, mihi fignificare
digneris.

Rem quoque mihi feceris gratiffimam, fi ad me
perferipferis, quae Tint meliores magifque ufitatae in
Anglia cceleftes ephemerides pro annis futuris, qui
tuis me favoribus toto animo demiffiffime commendo.

Illuflriflimae tuae dignitatis
Servus infimus

Heidelbergae,

17 Apriiis, 1764. Chriftianus Mayer, S. J.

SerenilT. Eledtor. Palatin. Aftron.

Immerfiones

[ i67 ]

Immerfiones ct cmerfiones macularum 5 in eclipfi
Lunas diei 17 Marjii, Schwefingae in Palatinatu
prope Heidelbergam, obfervatas a P. Chriftiano
Mayer, e S. J. tubo Dollondi 10 pedum.

Tempus verum.

h

/ //

Penumbra ccepit — — - 1 1 324

Penumbra denfior =■ 8 1 1

Initium dubium 13 8

Eclipfis videtur coepifte 14 9

Mare humorum ftringitur ab umbra - 25 22

Mare humorum medium in umbra 27 24

Tycho incipit immergi 29 58

Tycho totus in umbra 3° 21

Grimaldus proximus umbras 31 31

Grimaldus et Schicardus in umbra — 34 1 5

Mare nubium ingreditur umbram 39 30

Gaflendus ad limitem umbras 41 20

In Tula finus medii in umbra 46 35

Landfpergius in umbra 47 33

Umbra Keplerum ftringit — 48 8

Keplerus ultra dimidium in umbra 51 3

Keplerus totus in umbra -■ ■■ 52 4

Copernicus ftringitur ab umbra 59 15

Copernicus totus in umbra 12 2 26

Mare fcecundatis fere medium in umbra 6 40

Mare tranquil 1 itatis incipit — — • 8 43

Palus fomnii incipit efle in umbra 10 16

Mare tranquillitais ultra med. in umbra 13 55

Taruntius totus in umbra 18 14

Plinius et Meneiaus ad umbram ■ — — 20 18

Mare ferenitatis ftringitur ab umbra 22 23

Proclus

[ i68 ]

Tempus verum.

h

Proclus ad umbram ■■■■>

Mare Crifium ultra med. in umbra

Mare Crifium feu Cafpium tot. in umbra

Mare ferenitatis med. in umbra

Copernicus incipit egredi —

Copernicus dimidius ex umbra .
Limbus umbras ftringit Copernicum

Menelaus emerfit .

Manilius videtur egredi

Mare humorum med. ex umbra

Manilius videtur egreflus

Mare ferenitatis extra umbram

12

J3

Mare tranquillitatis ultra med. emerfit
Langrenus emcrgit cum Dionyfio
Mare foecunditatis fere tot. emerfit

Langrenus certo ex umbra

Videtur umbra mixta luci

Finis eclipfis dubius

Finis certus

Penumbra refidua

Finis penumbras . ■

H

/

27

32

38

41

J«

59

I
8
1 1

T3

Sinus aeftuum et mare humorum tot. ex umbra

Mare nubium medium ex umbra

Mare Cafpium egreditur

Umbra paludem fomnii deferit

Tycho emergit cum dimidio mari Crifio

Tycho certo emerfit

Taruntius videtur egreflus

'i

44

1

28

35

57

57

2r

35
45

H 51

1 7 2

25

41

J5

38

20

23
25
3o
32 30

35 49

41 27

46 7 6

47 2 5

52 18

55

59

0

1

3

4

22
1 1
1 1
o
10
o

Pi aster has maculas, a me di men fas fun t phafes 20:
ct tempore maximce obfcurationis i2h 37', inventa ob-

feu ratio

[ i69 ]

feu ratio maxima 23884. partium micrometri (quod
tubo feparato 6 pedum accommodaveram) quarum
diameter Lunae in venta eft 33 13 = 33/49"; undemeo
quidem calculo obfeuratio maxima deducitur 8 digit,
39 minut.

Obfervatio eclipfis Solaris fadla Schwetzingse in ob-
fervatorio Eledorali anno 1764, die civil. N. S.
ima Aprilis tubo dioptrico 6 pedum micrometro
armato, ccelo fereno, barometro 27 pollic. 2 lin.
praefentibus illuftr. et excell. D. D. O Dunne
Miniftro Galliae, et Comite de Riancour Legato
Saxoniae.

IMMERSIONES,

Tempus

verum.

' " C videtur eclipfis

21 4° 4i Jcoepiffer

43

48

56

az 4
6

5 duplex cornu
2 \ fenfibile.

*3

4

S3
9

33
5a
9 43

II 22

*4 *9
39 46
23 43
25 13
33 *6
38 26

4* 4°
48 6

52 40
55 *+
58
1

7

33

54

3

30 56

V o l. LIV.

Partes centef.
difei © obfeur,
menfurantes fa-
gittam ad chor-
dam duo cornua
fecantjm nor-
mals.

1x3

157

251

418

449

508

536

611

Partes centefi-
mae difei Qlu-
cidi.

7*51

z

1751

1709

1468

1^73

3x62

9S7|

861

762

638

574

5*3

416

409

10 dig. 25! min.

EMER-

[ I7° ]

EMERSION e s.

Tempus

verum.

/ //

a3 *3 4°
14 o
i8 59
ai 49
24 36
27 21
3i 33

33 S3
37 29
40 4s
43 58

50 ss

, S3 43
h S7 48
o 2 29

9 4

34 20
37 38
25 17
27 20
33 4Z
37 16
43 o

Partes centef,
difci O obfcur,
menfurantes fa-
gittam ad chor-
d am duo cornua
fecantem nor-
ma lis.

494

434

311

259

252

no

finis certus eclipfis.

Partes centefi.
mae difci Q lu-
cidi.

414

421

540

621

705

777|

890*

986

1094

1209

*367

15^6a

1606

x7z9?

i86o|

2062

Diameter folis in partibus centefimis micrometri
probe vermcati 3117 — 32' 4", 8.

Nondum licuit pbafes has omnes acuratius exami-
nare; quarum priores immerfionis, in maxima homi-
num frequentia, minus exadaefunt.

XXX. Ob -

[ 171 ]

XXXI. Observations on the Eclipfe of the Sun
at Chatham, April 1,17 64, by Mr . Mungo
Murray: Communicated to jofeph Salva-
dor, Efq\ F. R. S. in a Letter from Dr .
John Bevis.

Sir,

Read May 24, IT Fancy I can now fatisfy your curiofity
I?64’ A as to a place in the northern limit of
the path of the Moon’s Ihadow, in the eclipfe we
obferved at your houfe ; that is, where the lower
limbs of the Sun and Moon coincided, by the fol-
lowing abftradt from a letter I received from my
friend Mr. Mungo Murray of Chatham, a good ma-
thematician, and author of an excellent work on
fhip-building.

“ I am infinitely obliged to you for your kind
« prefent of the telefcope glafles. I got them moft
“ curioufly mounted, and, as you faid, they make
« a 12 foot telefcope, which takes in the whole Sun
« nearly. I fet my watch by a very good vertical
“ fun-dial, precifely at 9 o’clock, and at 8 minutes
<c after I perceived the Moon juft enter on the Sun.
“ About half an hour after 10, the eclipfe was barely
“ annular , the light of the Sun below the Moon be-
tc ing but juft vifible, and lets than a hair in the tele—
“ fcope. At 55 minutes paft n the eclipfe ended,
“ and left the Sun quite round.”

By this, Sir, I think you may fafely conclude, that
Chatham was not much more than a mile (perhaps
lefs) fouth-eaft of the limit ; which therefore pafied
over Rochefter-bridge, or very near it.

Your moft obedient humble fervant, .

John Bevis.

[ 3

XXXII. Obfervations and Experiments on
different ExtraEts of Hemlock : By Mi-
chael Morris, M. D. F. R> S.

Read May 24, T "\R, Wade, an eminent phyfician at
I/64' J / Lifbon, having lately communi-

cated to the London Medical Society, a number of
caffes, in which the extract of Hemlock prepared at
Coimbra in Portugal, had been given with extraor-
dinary fuccefs, and having fent me at the fame time
fpecimens of the luccefsful extract, and alfo of the
extra&s of Hemlock prepared at Lifbon and by Dr.
Storck’s Apothecary at Vienna, which two laft-men-
tioned extra&s he had prefcribed for the fpace of
three years, in various disorders, to little or no effedt;
I thought an experimental inquiry into the com-
ponent parts of thefe extracts and that ufed in Lon-
don might be attended with fome ufeful or curious
confequences ; more efpecially as this medicine was
near loling its credit intirely, from its little fuccefs
here in thofe diforders in which it had been moft
ftrongly recommended by Dr. Storck. I think it not
unneceffary to premife farther, that the extract pre-
pared at Coimbra is not fo moift as the other extracts,
and that it has been given for a confiderable time at
the dofe of a drachm and a half twice a day with-
out producing the lead; difagrecable fymptom.

E X-

[ r73 ]

EXPERIMENT I.

24 grams of the extract of .Hemlock- prepared
at Coimbra, di gelded with an ounce of highly rec-
tifyed fpnit of wine for 36 hours in a warm room,
gave a brownifh yellow tindure ; the clear liquor be-
in? poured oft, a frefh quantity of fpirit was added
as^ before, and expofed to digeftion for the fame fpace
of time ; the fecond tindure was confiderably lefs
coloured j this, added to the former tindure, was fil-
tered, and expofed to the air in a warm room
until the fpirit was intirely evaporated ; the dry re-
fiduum weighed five grains ; on expofing it to the
air it became lofter, and even moift at the furface.

On pouring fome water on the refiduum now
moift, it was foon tinged of a brownifh yellow,
which being poured off, and a frefh quantity added
at different times, until an ounce and a half of wa-
ter had been ufed, there remained fome blackifh
matter not foluble in water, which when dry weighed
one grain, did not attract the moifture of the air,
melted and burned with a bright flame when ex-
pofed to the hre, was foluble in fpirit of wine, and had
every charaderiff ic of a rezin.

The tinged water, which had been feparated from
this rezin and filtered, was evaporated flowly, until
a brown dry matter remained weighing three grains,
which in afew hours attracted themoiffure of the air,
and relented into a dark brown thick liquour, of a
feline tafte, and the fmell peculiar to the extrad of
Hemlock. One drop of this liquor, diluted with a
little water, deflroyed the colour of ten times the

quantity

n

[ *74 ]

quantity of fyrop of violets, without giving it the lead
red tint; reducing it, on adding fome drops of ole-
um tartari per deliquium, it fuffered no remarkable
change. Spirit of fait did r.ot occafion any alteration
in it. But with oil of vitriol there was a ftrong effer-
vefcence, without any fenfible fume.

It appears from the above experiments, that the Co-
imbra extradt of Hemlock contains one fifth foluble
in fpirit of wine, i-ths of which confifl of an oily
eflential fait, the remainder being a refin.

EXPERIMENT II.

The extradt of Hemlock from Vienna was fofter
than that from Coimbra; on breaking it, there ap-
peared fmall whitifh ffreaks on each furface. 24
grains of it, treated as in the former experiments
with fpirit of wine, gave a fine deep green tindlure,
which on evaporation gave a refiduum of a dark
green towards the edges of the cup and a dark brown
towards the middle; the whole refiduum when dry
weighed two grains and jj. ; on leaving it expofed to
the air, the brown matter attracted moifture from it
and relented into a thick brown liquour; on adding
water to it, as in the experiments on the Coimbra
extradt, the folution was of a light green colour ; on
evaporation it gave J^ths of a grain of dark brown
refiduum, which ran per deliquium into a brown
liquour, differing only in colour from that obtained
by a fimilar procefs from the Coimbra extradh The
undiffolved refinous matter weighed 4 grain, was of a
greenifh colour, but in other refpedts like the refin
of the Coimbra extradt. It appears from the green

tindlure

[ *75 ]

tindture communicated both to water and redtifyed
fpirit by the Vienna extradt, that the Hemlock had
been gathered too foon, and before the plant was in
vigour.

E X P. III.

The fpirituous tindture of the Lifbon extradt was
not fo green, nor was the green fo durable, as that of
the Vienna extradt: the phenomena, in confequence
of the other experiments, did not differ materially
from thofe of the Vienna extradt.

EXP. IV,

The fpirituous tindture of the extradt of Hemlock
prepared at the Apothecary’s-Hall, was like in co-
lour to that of Coimbra, but the refiduum did not
differ confiderably from that of Vienna and Lifbon.
This extradt has been ufed with fome fuccefs at the
Weftminfter-Hofpital.

EXP. V,

The fpirituous tindture of the powdered leaves of
Hemlock was like in colour to the laft ; the refidu-
um differed materially from that of the former ex-
tradts only in its rezin’s being confiderably more
fluid.

Thefeexperimentsfhew that the extradt of Hemlock
prepared at Coimbra contains a far greater quan-
tity of an effential oily fait and rezin, than the other
extradts. As the oils, faltsand rezinsare the moft adl-
c ive

[ 1 76 ]

tive parts of vegetables, may not the well-attefled fa-
lutary effects of the Coimbra extrad be owing to its
greater quantity of thefe adive principles, particularly
if we confider the large dofe it has been prefcribed
in ? As thefe adive oily falts and rezins are foluble
in fpirit of wine, we have the means of obtaining
them from the extrad of our own Hemlock in fuffi-
cient quantities for ufe, and without fatiguing the
flomach with the naufeous inadive parts of the
extrad.

But as experience alone can fhew whether the
virtues of the Hemlock refide in the whole extrad,
or in the faponaceous parts foluble in fpirit of wine ;
1 fhall content myfelf with propofing thefe few hints,
until experiments fhall enable me to lay the other
confequences of thefe affays with proper weight be-
fore the Society.

XXXIII. An

[ 177 ]

XXXIII. Effay on the Ufe of the Gangli-
ons of the Nerves : By James John (lone,
M . D. Communicated by the Right Rev .
Charles Lord Rifloop of Carlifle, and
F. R. S.

Read May 3 1,/ g A H E Ganglions of the incercoftal
I?6+ J[ nerves, firft difcovered by Fallo-
pius, are oblong and very hard bodies ; the ufes of
which have not been fatisfadorily afcertained by any
one. Few anatom ifts have indeed entered deep into
the fubjed, except the learned J. M. Lancifi, who
imagined them mufcles fui generis, and, like other
mufdes, capable of contradions ; by which he thought
the nervous fpirits were acclerated and impelled with
fuch additional forces, as are by him fuppofed neceflary
to the produdion of motions in mufcles fubjed to the
will : And in order to give an idea of the ftrudure
of all other Ganglions, he particularly defcribes and
delineates that of the ftrft cervical Ganglion [a).

This theory has the misfortune to be erroneous
in its foundation. For Haller and other fucceeding
anatomifts have not been able to difcover this muf-
cular apparatus in the firft cervical Ganglion [b). The
coats of Ganglions I have found with the appearance
and firmnefs of ligaments; but incapable of fuch
extenfion or retradion, as elaftic mufcular fibres al-
ways allow of.

(a) See Lancifi’s Diflertation in Morgagni adverfar.

(b) Halle , Element. Phyfiolog. Human. T. iv. p. 203.

Vol. LIV. * A a Ganglions

C *:8 ]

Ganglions befides, inftead of being inftruments
fubfervient to the will, are almoft peculiar to nerves,
diftributed to parts, the motions of which are totally
involuntary. And our author muft indeed have been
greatly milled by his hypothecs not to obferve this
linking circumftance.

The theory, which prevailed in his time and coun-
try, of the action of the dura mater upon the brain,
now exploded, might lead this great man more en-
tirely to believe an analogous mufcular power in
Ganglions. But the brain needs no mufcular force
to imprefs motion upon the animal fpiritsj and
granting Ganglions to be, as is ingenioufly conjec-
tured by Lancili and Window, fubfidiary brains, or
analogous to the brain in their office, neither will
they need any luch mufcular apparatus and force.
A power, in fine, abfurd no lets than chimerical, as
it fup poles the force of mufcles of the greateft ex-
ertion and effed, to be derived from thofe of leaft
bulk and ftrength (which muft be in fome propor-
tion to the quantity of mufcular fibres) ; and would
be a fingle inftance of a mechanical force producing
another infinitely greater than itfelf.

i. Ganglions are obferved to be formed generally
upon nervous cords formed by the union of feverai
different nerves. 2. They appear to abound with
blood veffels. 3. The bulk of a Ganglion exceeds,
for the moft part, that of all the nerves and vefiels,
which it receives, and of which it may leem com-
pofed (c). Hence we may not unreafonably conclude,

(c) Gangliorum moles major eft quam fit aggregatum omnium
vaforum ingredientium atquc egrcdientium ; quo fit, ut ad
corum produdionem, neceflc fit concurrere, praeter comtnu-
jiia vafa, peculiare aliud corpus, non tam ex cohasrcntia ct

that

r 179 ]

that in Ganglions the different nervous filaments are
very intimately mixed, a new nervous organization,
or modification of the medullary fubftance, may take
place, fo as to fecern new animal fpirits, or alter the
direction of thofe already brought thither; a con-
jecture, which has the fanction of the lateft as well
as the earlier thoughts of the great Morgagni (d).

In order to determine the particular ufe of Gang-
lions (the intimate ftru&ure of which, equally with
that of the brain and medullary fubftance of the
nerves, we are hitherto ignorant of ) in the animal
fyftem ; let us try, if fomething tending this way
may not be fuggefted, by relieving on the fun&ions
and motions of the parts applied principally by nerv-
ous cords from below the Ganglions.

The intercoftal or great fympathetic nerves abound
moft of all others with Ganglions (e) ; and by ex-
amining what is peculiar in the motions of parts, to
which thefe nerves are diftributed, we fhall probably
be led to the ufes of Ganglions.

The mufcular fubftance of the heart has its prin-
cipal, or rather all its nerves, from the intercoftals ;

complicatione praefatorum nervorum, ac fanguiferorum, quam
ex novis organicis partibus, quas provida folersque natura, fub-
fiftentibus probeq excoctis liquidis, fimul etiam elongatis, vari-
eque diTpofitis, folidorum fibris, fingat et creat. Lancifi, de
Gangliis, loc. cit.

(rt) bee Morgagni,, adverfar. Anatom, ii. p. 71. And De
Sedibus et Caufis morborum, Epift. xii. art. 14. p. 95, vol. I.

(e) Super omnes nerv .s, intercoftali, Ganglia funt frequen-
tiffima, in cos vice quidem iria ; in thorace, lurnbis, et pelvi
tot, quot nervorum ex (pinali medulla propagines intercoftalis
accipic : turn in cordis vicinii, tub diaphragmate, circa arteriae
coeliacm et mefentericae originem : et circa reriem pallim in plex-
uofis retibus. Haller, Elem, Phyf. X. iv. p. 202.

which

[ i8° ]

which are always detached from the principal cords
below the Ganglions, and chiefly from the inferior
cervical Ganglion. The few nervous cords from the
par vagum or 8 pair, which in the human fubjed are
fent towards the heart, are almoft totally fpread upon
the pericardium and great veflels (/ ).

In the abdomen this nerve unites with the par
vagum of the right fide (g), and together form the
great femi-lunar Ganglion ; from which, and from
other Ganglions formed in inferior parts of the ab-
domen, filaments are diftributed to tne inteftines,
the liver, the fpleen, the kidneys ; and fome of them
defeend to the Fallopian tubes, uterus, and other parts
in the pelvis; fome of which are alfo in part furmlhed
with filaments from the lumbar nerves.

The heart and inteftines being wholely fupplied by
nervous filaments detached below fome remarkable
Ganglion, we muft inquire what is particular in the
motions of thefe parts, or in their ftrudure: But the
motions of the heart and inteftines are remarkable,
and exadly analogous in being involuntary, or not
liable to be either ftopped, renewed, or in any way
controuled by the will.

Tho’ it be very certain that thefe motions are ex-
cited in the heart by the gentle ftimulus of the blood
upon the infernal furface of that organ ; and in t le
inteftines by that of the fecreted liquors, and ot the
food taken in ; of which ftimuli thefe parts have the
quickeft and mod exquifite perception : yet this being
ordinarily not fo ftrong as to make us confcious
of its a&ion, much lefs painfully io, can hardly be

(/) Haller, Elcm. Phyf. T. i. p. 366.

(jr) Window, Traitedes Nerfs, N°. 141.

fuppofed

[ *8i ]

fuppofed to render thefe motions quite uncontroulable
by the will, without Tome other etiicient caufe {h).

Anatomy difeovers no peculiarity in the mufcular
ftrudture of thefe parts likely to account for this ; and,
excepting in their nerves 'having Ganglions, which
feem indeed almoft appropriated to them, no ana-
tomical difference has been obferved, nomechanifm,
which thefe parts have more than thofe mufcles, which
are fubjed to the direction of the will.

May we not then reafonably conclude, that gang-
lions are the inftruments, by which the motions of
the heart and intcftines are, from the earliefr to the
laft periods of animal life, rendered uniformly invo-
luntary ; and that to anfwer this purpofe is their ufe,
which they fubferve by a ftru<fture unknown to us, no
lefs than that of the brain, though it feems not
improbable the firft may be analogous to the laft ?

This conclufion concerning the ufe of Ganglions
is fupported by every truly parallel inftance. Thus
the motions of the uvea, or mufcular circle of the
eve ever contraaed or dilated as the eye is more or
lefs’ irradiated with light, are as much involuntary
as thofe of the heart j and it is known to anatomius,
that the mufcular fibres of the uvea are fupphed by
nerves from the lenticular Ganglion, which feems

(h) In the beft explanation of the vital and involuntary mo-
tions which the public has been favoured with, it is remarked by
the moft ingenious author, « I imagine, that the mind s wane
of power over the motion of the head is not only owing to
its being continually afted upon by a ft.mulus, but in part to
an original conftitution; and that, tho we fhould fuppofe this
organ for a little while free from every degree of irritation, yet
“ the mind, by an effort of the will, could not move it. _ Dr.
Whytt’s Effay on the vital and involuntary motions of Animals,

P* 3l6, formed

CC

<c

4

[ *82 ]

formed folely for the ufe of that mufcle, and for that

purpofe.

That the determinations of the will are, as it were,
intercepted, and prevented from reaching certain
parts of the body, by the means of Ganglions, may
be farther inferred by coniidering, that all nerves,
which have a ready communication with the foul,
either by affedting it with perceptions, or conveying
its commands, have no Ganglions: Thefe are never
found upon the olfadtory, optic, or auditory nerves,
any more than upon the nerves and inftruments in
voluntary motion. For we may well imagine the
fame mechanifm, which prevents the will from ex-
tending its controul to fome mufcles, placed upon a
fenfory nerve, would have equally hindered the con-
veyance of any fenfible impreliion to the mind.

The left nerve of the eighth pair, didributed to the
domach, and probably the caufe of the didindt and
exquifite fenfation of that organ, and perhaps alfo
principally concerned in tranfmitting the fenfe of
hunger to the mind, may therefore be reckoned a fen-
fory nerve. It is certain alfo, that Haller (/) and mod
modern anatomids do not allow any Ganglion to this
nerve, though Window does, and Vieudens delineates
one not far from the great Ganglion of the intercof-
tal nerve as proper to the eight pair.

If mufcles fubjedt to the will might have been to-
tally fuppiied with nerves, which have Ganglions ; the
diaphragm had probably been entirely furnilhed from
the intercodals, as mod of the parts in the thorax
above it and in the abdomen below it are. But as
the motions of this mufcular membrane were to be

(/') A. Haller, Primae Lin. Phyfiolog. N°. 377.

controulable

[ i83 ]

controulable by the will, we find peculiar nerves,
namely the phrenic, which have no Ganglions fent to
it from a great diftance.

In propofing this as the probable ufe of Gangli-
ons, lam far from thinking it entirely exempt from
difficulties; but they are chiefly fuch, as arife from
our imperfect knowledge of the nerves in general;
a terra incognita, which remains to immortalize the
name of fome future difcoverer in anatomy. It is
well known, for inflance, that all the nerves fent from
the fpinal marrow have Ganglions, where they fend
off the branch, which communicates with the inter-
coftals (/(’). Though this be true, it is mod probable, that
thefe Ganglions refpedt the intercoflals, and only affiedt
its nerves, leaving the other fibres fit and free for the
conveyance of the commands of the will, as in fadt
many of them are diftributed to mufcles under its
power and diredtion.

So likewife we are not to imagine, wherever the
nerves unite, that their medullary fubftance either de-
cuflates, or is fo intimately mixed, as is reafonably fup-
pofed to be the cafe in Ganglions by mod anatomifts
from Lancifi down to Haller. We know at leaf!,
that this is far from being the cafe in the optic nerves;
for though they unite, and were fuppofed to crofls
each other, the contrary appears by obfervations made
in the bodies of perfons, who were blind of one eye,
from a fault in the optic nerve, the nerve of the
affedted fide only being wafted, while the other was
large and plump (/). And we may juftly infer the

(X’) See the table of VieulTens.

(/) See Monro’s Anatomy, p. 356; alfoN0 23, of the nerves
in general.

plexi-

[ i»4 ]

plexiform unions of the nerves diftributed to the fu-
perior extremities not more intimate, nor to ferve any
fuch purpofe as Ganglions, fince thefe nerves are
equally motory and fenfory, no other nerves being
diftributed to the Ikin, the organ of touch, but
from the fubdivifion of thefe plexufes.

Kidderminfter,

Nov. 24, 1763*

James Johnftone, M . D»

\

XXXIV. An

[ i8S ]

XXXIV. An Account of fever al fery Me-
teors feen in North America : In a Let-
ter to John Pringle, M. D. and F. R. S.
from John Winthorp, Efq ; Hollhhan
Profejfor of Mathematics and Philofophy
at Cambridge, in New England.

S I R,

Read June 7,'r Am greatly indebted to you for the ho-
iy64‘ X nour you have done me in fending me
your curious account of the late fiery Meteor in
Britain, which I received through the hands of my
very worthy friend Dr. Franklin. I have perufed
the account with great fatisfa&ion, in which, as it
appears to me, you have determined the figure, mag-
nitude, height, path, and velocity of the Meteor,
with as much exadtnefs as the nature of the thing will
admit of. The circumftances you mention, p. 259,
260, will, I am afraid, always prevent the attain-
ment of the precifion one could wifh for in thofe
particulars, fo neceffary for laying a fure foundation
to build a theory upon. The hypothefes hitherto
advanced are liable to great difficulties, and the hints
you have given in the conclufion towards another ap-
pear intirely new, and free from feveral objections
with which the others are embaraffed ; and I fhould
be very glad to fee them thrown together into a
juft fyftem. If any obfervations fhould occur to
me, that might throw light on this difficult fubjeCt,
I will do my felf the honour to communicate them
V o l. LI Vk Bb to

[ 186 ]

to you ; and afk leave, for my own Information, juft
to query, what center thefe bodies may moft pro-
bably be fuppofed to revolve round ? Either the
Earth or the Sun feem to bid faireft for this.

1. A body revolving round the Earth in a circle, at
the height of about 40 or 50 miles, would move but
7 miles in a fecond ; and in a very eccentric orb, near
a parabola, but 10 miles: which falls much fhort of
the velocity of your Meteor, which was of 30 miles
in a fecond *.

2. The Earth’s annual velocity round the Sun is
near 16 miles in a fecond ; and a body revolving in
a very eccentric orb would have, at the fame diftance
from the Sun, a velocity of 22 miles in a fecond.
Wherefore if the Earth and fuch a body near it were
moving in the fame direction, that body would get
before the Earth with a relative velocity of 6 miles in
a fecond; but, if moving the contrary way, it would
be left behind with a relative velocity of 38 miles in a
fecond : And this is the greateft pofhble relative ve-
locity. Bodies moving in oblique directions may
have any relative or apparent velocity lefs than this
maximum. This fuppofition therefore agrees better
with a velocity of 30 miles in a fecond, than the
former; but I fhall be much obliged to you for your
thoughts on this point.

As to our late Meteor of May 1759, I have not
been able to come at any farther particulars than
what are contained in my letter to Dr. Birch, ex-
cepting only as to the loudnefs of the report, at a
great didance from the place of explofion. An in-
telligent man of this town has fince informed me,
that he was then fifhing in a boat at anchor about a
"* Vid. Philof. Tranf. Vo!. LI. p. 263.

mile

[ i87 ]

mile below the light-houfe at the entrance of Boffon
harbour, and heard an uncommon noife, which was
fomewhat like that of a very hard clap of thunder at a
great didance, tho’ there was not a cloud to be feen.
All the company in the boat were fo dartled at it, that
they left off fifhing to attend to it; and the noife increaf-
ed to fuch a degree as amazed them all. He fays,
it feemed like a continued fuccedion of volleys of fmall
arms. He thinks i: laded about 3 minutes, and gradu-
ally went off towards the South- Ead. They took it for
the noife of an earthquake, and expected to find
every body talking of one, when they got afhore;
tho’ they could not perceive the lead agitation in their
boar.

Had this Meteor happened in the evening, in-
ffead of the day-time, it would have had many more
obfervers; and the brightnefs of it would pro-
bably have been thought as extraordinary as the
noife.

On this occadon I take the liberty to give an ac-
count of two or three other Meteors of this fort,
feen in North America ; which, if they are per-
manent revolving bodies, according toyour hint,p. 273.
may poffibly be of feme fervice hereafter in enumerat-
ing them. The drd mentioned in the inclofed pa-
per 1 faw in this town ; the fecond, I received an
account of in a letter from the Rev. Mr. Clap, Pre-
fident of Yale College in New-Haven, who heard
the noife himfelf, though he did not fee the light;
and the account of the third, here tranferibed in the
very words of the original, was given me at St.
John’s, Newfoundland, by Michael Gill Efq; Chief
Judge in the courts there, when I wrent thither to

view

[ 188 ]

view the tranfit of Venus laft June. None of thefe
accounts are circumftantial enough to afcertain the
neceffary particulars of magnitude, height, and velo-
city. All I can collect from them is, that the height
muft have been very great, and confequently the ex-
plofion very great likewife, to produce fuch a report
in a highly rarified medium.

Allow me, Sir, the honour of fubfcribing myfelf,
with very great refped.

Your mod obedient

Cambridge, Ncw-England, Humble iervant,

November 17, 1761.

John Winthrop.

Account of Three Meteors fecn in North-

America.

Read^une7, L^NN the 3d of June 1739, as I was

walking over the common in this
town [Cambridge] about 10 o’clock in the evening,
the Moon, which was newly pad: the fird quarter,
fhining bright, and but few clouds to be feen, I was
on a fudden furprifed with four or fiveflalhes of light,
fucceeding each other as quick as poffible. This I at
hrft took to be lightening} but, looking up, presently
difcovered the caufe of it, which was a large Meteor
moving almod in the meridian from South to North.
The body of it was very bright, and left behind it

feveral

C i89 ]

feveral fparks or letter balls of light. When I firft
faw it, it was not far from the zenith, from whence
it moved, not very fvviftly, till at about the height
of 30° above the horizon it expired. In about 2', it
was followed by an hollow rumbling noife, pretty
loud, and fo much like remote thunder, that feveral
perfons in their houfes, who did not fee the Meteor,
took it to be thunder ; as others, within doors, who
faw only the flafh, and not the body of the Meteor,
thought it lightened. But as there was no thunder
nor lightening before or after, nor any clouds likely
to produce them, as I was well attured, being then
abroad, I queftion not but this report was occafioned
by the explofion of the Meteor. And this is con-
firmed by the great extent of this found, which was
heard in feveral places above 80 miles diftant from
each other. And from hence, as well as from the
length of time between the light and the noife, it
maybe collected that the Meteor mud have been very
high in the atmofphere.

II. A Meteor on the 24th of November 1742,
in the Southern parts of New England.

In New Haven, in Connecticut, one man faw a
ball of fire about 4 or 6 inches in diameter, patting
along from the South-weft to the North-eaft, and a
ftream of white, bright, and clear fire followed it,
of near the fame bignefs, and of confiderable length.
Then the ball broke into fundry fmall pieces, and
vanifhed with a kind of flafh j and, a full minute
after, he heard a noife, much like that of rumbling
thunder, and, he fays, about as long again as a clap of
thunder ufually is. ■ — Sundry people at Rehoboth,
in this province [Mattachufetts] faw a ball of about
4 a foot

[ igo ]

a foot diameter, toward the Weft from them, and it
fell to the ground. — At New-London, in Connecti-
cut, the ft ream of fire appeared in the North or
North-weft ; and fome who were off at fea, near
New-London, took the noile to be from great guns at
New-London battery. — Mr. Clap obferves, that,
though the informations he had received differ as to
particular circumftances, thus much in general feems
to be certain, that people in moll, if not all the
towns between Norwalk, near the Weft end of Con-
necticut, and Braintree near Bofton, which is at leaft
200 miles, heard an unufual noife in the air, like
thunder or the difcharge of a cannon ; and fundry
people, in moft places, about a minute or more be-
foiethe noile, law a ball or ftream of fire in the air,
moving in fome form or other. It was cloudy in the*
morning, but about 1 1 of the clock, when this phe-
nomenon happened, it was generally clear, and
but few clouds to be fcen.

III. A Meteor on the 4th of May 1760, at

Newfoundland. 7

I he depofition of James Cawley, mafter of the
Sloop Content, taken before Michael Gill Elq; one
of his Majefty s Jufiices of the peace for the diftridt
ol St. John s, Newfoundland, layeth, that, coming
fiom the Banks of Newfoundland for this harbour
ol St. John’s, being Sunday the fourth inftant, about
a quarter before twelve o’clock at night, being calm
and the weather very clear and fair, then, near the
mouth of this haibour, a fudden light finned, at
which time we faw a fiery Comet orMeteor in the air,
at firft appearing in the fhape of a flafk or Florence
bottle, which as it came nearer to us ftill incrcaled

111

C J?r ]

in magnitude, making the air very hot, fhooting from
the North-ward to the South-weft; fparks of fire
darting from it, the bignefs of a man’s fift. It came
very near us before it difappeared, when it feemed
to us to be of the bignefs of a fhip’s boat, with a
long tail extending from it, attended with a noife
like thunder. As it came near the water, the body
appeared as black as pitch and then vanifhed ; the
tail remaining fome minutes before it difappeared.

Signed,

James Cawley.

Sworn before Michael Gill,
the 1.5th of May, 1760.

The above was likewife attefted upon oath by the
fubferibers, being failors on board the faid veflel, and
at that time upon deck.

[A true Copy.]

John Sullivan,

Mark

Thomas + Frog,
of

The

[ 1 9 2 ]

The teftimony of Richard King, which he is ready
to make oath to, faith, that coming from Kitty- Vitty
to St. John's on Sunday the 4th of May, between the
King s Bridge and the Garrifon, he law towards the
gamfon as if there was a ftar (hooting, falling greatly
but only it made too large *. It was as large as a
man s nead, and juft before it came to the ground
n broke all to pieces, which made like large fparks
of fire flying from it; and in that time it was as light
as ever he faw all day : And in Iefs than two or three
minutes, there was a rumbling noife in the air, fome-
thinglike thunder.

Several other perfons in St. John’s were prodigi-
oufly furprifed at the fame light.

* His meaning Teems to be, it was too large for a ftar.

XXXV. An

C *93 ]

XXX V . Some New Properties in Conic Sec -
tions, difcovered by Edward Waring, M, A.
Lucahan ProfeJJor of the Mathematics in
the IJniverfity op Cambridge, and F R. S.
to Charles Morton, M. D. Sec. R . S.

T H E O R. I.

Read June 21, QIT ellipsis APBQC R D S E T, &c.

defcribantur circa earn duo polygona
[Tab. XIII. Fig. i.J [abcdef^ &c. pqrstv, 6cc.)
eundem laterum numerum habentia, 6c quorum latera
ad refpedtiva contadtuum pundta (APBQCR DS,6cc.)
in duas asquales partes dividuntur, i. e. a l\— Ab,
— Be, cC — Cd, 6cc. p? — Py, yQ^Qr,
r X = R J, 6cc. 6c erit fumma quadratorum ex fin-
gulis unius polygoni lateribus aequalis fummiE qua-
dratorum ex iingulis alterius polygoni lateribus, i. e.

a b -\- bc -\-cd~ -|- d ez 4- e fz 4- , 6cc. — p q~-\~
qr+rs'+sf+tv'-y, 6cc.

Cor. Ducantur lineae AB, B C, CD, DE, EF,
6cc. PQ^QR, RS, ST, TV, &c. 6c erit
AB2 + BC1 -1- CD1 + DE24-EFz-f 6cc. =
+ QR2 + RS*-fST*-f TVx-\-&c.

C c

Vol. LIV.

THEOR.

E *94 ]

T H E O R. II.

Iifdem pofitis fit O centrum ellipfeos, St ducantu?
linear OA, OP, OB, OQ, OC, OR, OD, OS,
Sec. erit

OA2 + OBi + OC14-ODt4-&c. = OPl4-
OQ^+ OR* + OS* + Sec.

Cor. Ducantur etiam lineas Oa , O p, Ob, O q.
Of, Or, O d, O s, Sec. & erit

Oa’ + O^1 4. Of1-)- 0<T 4- Sec. = Op'Jr-
o q ' -)~ Or2-)- Or-)- &c.

Haec etiam vera funt de polygonis inter conjugatas
hyperbolas eodem modo defcriptis.

T H E O R. IIL

Sit conica fe&io MPQJISTM &c. [Fig. 2.]
cnjus diameter fit A L, et ejus ordinata M L'; fit
M p = M 'u, & confequenter Ly> — L-u.

Ducantur linear pq, qr , rj, j/, &c. quae re-

fpedtive tangant conicam fedtionem in pundtis P, Q,
R, S» T, Sec. St erit contentum

/>Px yQj< rR x Sj X See. =zPq x Qr X R JX
Sf1 x T-yx Sec. ve], quod idem eft, fumma omni-
um hujus generis rationum (P p : P y, Q q ; Qr,
R r : Rj, S j : S/, Sec.) erit nihilo aequalis.

Cor. 1. Sit elliplis PQRSTV Sec. circa earn deferi-
batur quodcunque polygonum (/> q r s t u w, Sec.),

[Fig-

ThUos. Trans. Vat.TIV. TAB.xm \ p. J$4-

J.JUynAjc.

[ r95 ]

[ Fig. 3* ] cujus Iatera refpedtive tangant ellipiim
in pundtis P, Q, R, S, Ta V, Sec. & erit contentum

/Px?OxrRXi Sx/Tx <uV &c. = Py x
Qr X Ri xS/x T x V w x &c.

Cor. Ducantur lineas PQ, QR, RS, ST, &c. &
pro finibus angulorum WP/, QPy, RQr, QRr>

SRj-, TS/, &c. fcribantur refpedtive a, p, b, q, c,
r, d, s, Sec. & erit

abed Sec. — p q r s Sec.

Et fie de polygonis inter conjugatis hyperbolas in-
feriptis.

Idem verum eft de polygono, cujus laterum fum-
ma vel area minima fit, circa quameunque ovalem

in fefe femper concavam deferipto, ut conftat e noflra
Mifcell. Anal.

T H E O R. IV.

. SIt ellJpfis PAQBRCSDTEVF,&c. [Fig. 4.]

circa earn deferibantur duo polygona abedef, Sec .
pqrstu. Sec. eundem laterum numerum habentia;
eoium Iatera ab , be, cd , de , e f, Sec. p q, yr, rs, sf,
tv. Sec. refpedtive tangant ellipiim in pundtis A, B,
C, D, E, F, &c. & P, Q, R, S, T, U, &c. & fit
a A : Ab :: pP : Py, & : Be :: yO : Or &

cC : C*/ :: rR : Rs & dD : De :: sS : St, Se fic
deinceps. Et area polygoni abedef Sec. squalis
erit ares polygoni pqr s tv, Sec.

Cor. Duo parallelogramma ( abed Sc pqrs) circa
date ellipfeos. conjugatas diametros (AC Se BDj
FE, QS) [Fig. 5.] deferipta, erunt inter fe asqualia.

C c 2

In

[ *9® ]

In hoc cafu enim a A = A b, b'B — Bc, cC — Cd ,
d D = D 6c /> P — P y, q (V== Qr, r R — R s,
sS — Sp 6c confequenter A : A b : : p P : P q 6c
b B : B c : : y Qj^ Q & ^1C deinceps • ergo per the-
orema haec duo parallelogramma erunt inter fe aequalia,
quae eft notiftima ellipieos proprietas.

Idem did poteft de polygonis inter conjugatas hy-
perbolas eodern modo defcriptis.

T H E O R. V.

Rotetur conica fedio circa diametrum ejus (A L),

✓

6c fit MAM, 6cc. folidum exinde generatum j fint
fq> rs> st > tv, v w, wp, 6cc. [Fig. 6.] lineae,
quae tangant folidum in refpedivis pundis P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, 6cc. 6c erit contentum
p P x q Qx rRx^Sx/T xvV x w\V x 6cc. ~
Pyx QV x Rj xS^xT'uxVw x 6cc.

T H E O R. VI.

Sit ellipfis APB QC R, 6cc. rotetur circa diame-
trum ejus BD; & circa conjugatas diametros (AC
6c BD, PR & QS) defcribantur elliptici cylindri
(pqr s 6c acbd ) [Fig. 7.] folidum generatum cir-
cumfcribentes, 6c erunt hi duo cylindri inter fe ae-
quales.

Sint duo folida e truncatis conis compoftta, folidum
generatum circumfcribentibus, 6c quorum latera con-
tinue

[ *97 ]

tinuo eadem ratione ad pun&a conta&uurn dividun-
tur ; erunt hasc duo folida inter fe asqualia.

Et fic de folidis inter conjugatas hyper boloides eo-
dem modo defcriptis.

Facile con-ftant plures confimiles conicarum fedtio-
num proprietates.

Hujus generis proprietates afHrmari poffunt de in-
finite aliis curvis, ut facile deduci poteft e noftra Mif-
cell. Anal.

XXXVI. An

[ *98 J

X ... W I. ylri Account of the F feels of
Lightening at South Weald, in Ellex:
By W. Heberden, M. D. and F. R. S.

Reacj7^ne zS’ QOUTH Weald is a village in Eflex,
U4’ about eighteen miles diftant from

London, and two to the North Weft of Brentwood,
in the road from London there is analmoft continual
a Lent for the laft four or five miles, which makes a
confiderable eminence above any parts of the neigh-
bouring country. On the higheft part of it ftands
the church, which has at the Weft end a tower, and
in one corner of this there is a round turret, being a
continuation of the ftair-cafe, about four feet wide,
eight feet high, and the walls of it one foot thick.
In the top of the wall of this turret, which was
leaded, are fixed feveral iron bars, that are bent fo as
to meet in the middle and fupport a weather-cock,
which was put up about fixteen years ago.

On Monday June 1 8th, 1764, between twelve
and one (about three hours before the time when the
thunder and lightening happened in London, by
which St. Bride s Steeple and Eftex-Street were da-
maged) there was a ftorm at South-Weald, attended
with uncommonly loud thunder. The lightening
ftruck the weather- cock, and pafting along the iron
bars, upon which it ftands, rufhed againft the wall
of the turret, and has broken a fpace from the top of
the turret to the leads of the tower, about four feet
wide, being about one third of the circumference of
the turret and facing the North. The weather-cock,
and irons that fupport it feem to be unhurt. The
4 walls

[ x99 ]

walls of the turret were made of rough ftones and
mortar ; and part of what is beaten down has fallen
upon the leads of the tower underneath, and part up-
on the roof of the church, which is greatly damaged.
The flair- cafe alfo, which leads up to the turret, is fo
full of the flones and mortar, that it is with great
difficulty and fome hazard that any one can go up it.
From a leaden fpout at this Well end of the church,
which only comes down to near the top of the Weft
window, the plafter is beaten off the wall for fome
inches in breadth quite to the window ; and at the
bottom of the upright iron bars of this window fe-
veral of the ftones are cracked, and the wall is chipped
here and there from thence to the ground. The fame
is obfervable in the ftones at the bottom of the upright
iron bars in the Eaft window, which is alfo near a
leaden fpout that comes down from the roof over the
chancel, the end of which refts upon a buttrefs, and
does not reach the ground by feveral feet; which
buttrefs is cracked, as well as the adjoining wall. On
the infide of this wall, within the church, there is a
large wooden frame, which holds the command-
ments. This frame at the left hand corner is fup-
ported by an iron holdfaft driven into the wall,
which was mentioned above as being cracked on the
outfide under the leaden fpout. The plafter of the
wall, for three or four inches all round this holdfaft,
within the church, is beaten off; and to the left hand
there is a fpace, Hunting from the holdfaft toward the
ground, five or fix inches wide and three or four feet
long, from which all the mortar is forced away.
1 hat part of the wooden frame, where the holdfaft is
fixed, is fhattered. The canvas, upon which the

com-

[ 200 ]

commandments are painted, which was in this wood-
en frame, is torn from the frame on the two fides
of it next the holdfaft, and is rent befides in feveral
places.

The whole appearance of the damage done to this
church very much favours the conjecture of that
fagacious obferver of nature, Dr. Franklin, who
thinks it probable, that, by means of metallic rods or
wires reaching from the roofs to the ground, any
buildings may be fecured from the terrible effects of
lightening.

XXXVII. An

[ 201 ]

XL. Obfervations upon the EffeSis of Light-
ning, with an Accoimt of the Apparatus pro -
pofed to prevent its Mif chiefs to Buildings ,
more particularly to Powder Magazines ; be-
ing Anfwers to certain Queflions propofed by
M. Calandrini, of Geneva, to William Wat-
fon, M. D . F. R. S.

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Morton,
P ref dent of the Royal Society .

My Lord,

Read June 23, t Very lately received a letter from the
17 4‘ learned and ingenious Monfieur Ca-

landrini, of Geneva, who has a confiderable employ-
ment in the Ordnance in that city. In this letter
Monfieur Calandrini tells me, that he had perufed
with attention a letter which I wrote to the late Lord
Anfon, which contained fome fuggeftions tending, as
I hoped, to prevent the mifchiefs occafioned by light-
ning to fhips at fea ; and which likewife might, on the
fame account, be ufeful to powder magazines. This
letter was printed in the Philofophical Tranfadions *.
He fays, that he has confidered with fatisfadion the
real advantages, which may arife from thence to for-
tified towns, where the quantity of gun-powder may,
from any accident, endanger the whole fabric of a city.

This gentleman therefore is defirous of prefenting
a memorial to the Board of ordnance at Geneva ; in
which he would be very glad to explain to their fa-
tisfadion the method I propofe. He has therefore
* Phil. Tranf. Vol. LII. page 629.

Vol. L1V. D d fent

[ 202 ]

fent me the following queflions, which he thinks
tend to throw further light upon this fubjeC, and
has defired my opinion upon them. As thefe may
poflibly hereafter be of public utility, 1 have taken
the liberty of communicating them to your Lordfhip.

I. What fort of apparatus is ufed at Philadelphia?

II. Whether there is not fome improvement to be
made to their methods?

III. In what manner this apparatus may be adapt-
ed to powder magazines ?

IV. Into what place the thunder may be conduc-
ed, where there is no river near, to anlwer the pur-
pole of the fea about fhips ?

V. Whether the apparatus might not eleCrify the
air, fo as to occalion lightning, which was, he be-
lieves, the caufe of the death of Profeffor Richmann
of Peterfburg ? This apparatus may not be danger-
ous to dwelling houfes, where the fire may flip with-
out any manner of ride ; but may be attended with
the mod; dreadful confequences to a powder maga-
zine, where the fmalieft lpark may occalion the ex-
plofion of the whole.

VI. Whether the fquare, or the circular form of
building, will be eafieft adapted to the apparatus ?

VII. Whether an iron bar fixed on the top of the
building, to fupport a weather-cock, may not at-
tract the thunder bolt, and be ccnfequently dangerous
to all buildings; but more efpecially to powder ma-
gazines ?

VIII. Whether there is not fome particular man-
ner of buildings, invented of late, adapted to pow-
der magazines ; either to diminifh the fiiock of the
explofion, or to fecure them againd any accident, by
the method ufed at Philadelphia ?

Mr.

[ 203 ]

M. Calandrini fays further, that he liimfelf has
been eye-witnefs of the effe&s of lightning coming
into a room, which had received much damage from
it. That he looked for the place it went out at, and
after long fearch perceived that it had followed the
wire of the bell, which had conduced it through
a very inconfiderable hole into the next room j from
whence it had opened itfelf a pafiage into a back yard.,
Thisaccident was at that time thought very extraordi-
nary, being anterior to Dr. Franklin’s experiment.

To M. Calandrini’s questions I have fent the fol-
lowing anfwers,

I. The apparatus, ufed at Philadelphia, confifb
either of a long iron rod, placed upon the highefl
part of an houfe, or other building ; or, of a fhorter
rod, inferred into a long wooden pde, placed in the
fame manner. The iron rod, mentioned by Mr.
Kinnerfley in the Philofophical * Tranfa&ions, and
which probably preferved the houfe in Philadelphia
upon which it was placed, extended in height about
nine feet and a half above a ftack of chimnies, to
which it was fixed 5 but he fuppofes that three or
four would have been fufficient. Tbefe rods are
pointed at their upper extremity. It is indifferent,
which of thefe two are ufed, provided that they
are of height enough to reach above the chimnies,
or any other part of the edifice. Connedled to, or
fufpended from, the metal of thefe, a metallic wire,
generally of iron, is conduced, in the eafieft and
moft convenient manner, to the neareft water, viz.
£0 the well of the houfe, or any other water in the
neighbourhood.

* Vol. LI II. page 95,

D d 2 II. This

[ 20+ 3

II. This method, wherever it has been employed,
has hitherto perfectly anlwered the intention ; no
houfe in Philadelphia, or in any other place I have
heard of, having fuffered from the effects of light-
ning, where this apparatus has been eredted. The
improvements I fhould recommend would be, fir ft ;
that, as iron wire foon becomes rufty, and when rufly
to the center is unfit for the prefent purpofey and as
brafs wire is, when long expofed to the weather, ex-
ceedingly brittle and liable to fnap afunder, the wire
fhould be of copper ; and of a fize not lefs than that
of a large goofe quill. Secondly, I prefer it’s being
conducted, from the rod at the top to the water be-
low, on the outfide of the building, and thereby
prevent the lightning from coming within the build-
ing. On houfes, where there are gutters and fpouts
of lead to carry off the rain, the wire need only be
conduced to the lead of the gutters j and attention
be had that the gutters and the fpouts coming from
them are in their whole length in contadl, or very
nearly fo, one with the other. If the leaden fpouts
do not reach to the bottom of the building, a flip
of lead, fuch as is employed for the gutters, and a-
bout an inch wide, fnould be faftened to the bottom
of one or two of the fpouts, and conducted to the
water. If a flip of lead, fuch a one as has juft been
mentioned, was to be conducted from the rod at top
to the gutters, it might with equal advantage be fub-
ftituted for the copper wire : or further, a flip of
lead of this kind may be conne&ed with the rod at
the top of the houfe j and, where there are no leaden
gutters or fpouts, may be conducted on the outfide
of the houfe down to the water, as I before menti-
oned.

[ 205 ]

oned. I would recommend likewife an increafe of
their number j as the effects of one apparatus of this
kind can extend only to a certain diftance, and that
to no great one ; and the fecurity, where mifchiefs
from lightning are frequent, mufc arife from their
number. In countries and places fo circumftanced,
no houfe or other building fhould be without one at
leaft j large edifices ought to have feverah The
number fhould be in proportion to the fize of the
building.

III. In powder magazines, I fhould recommend the
apparatus to be detached from the building itfelf ;
and to be only placed as near it as might be. Pow-
der magazines fhould never be conftru&ed fo, as to
cover a large quantity of ground. If fecurity from
lightning was confidered in their conftru&ion as a
confiderable objedt, I fhould recommend a circular
building ; in the periphery of which fhould be placed
ftorehoufes fufficient in their number and extent to
contain the quantity of powder propofed. In the
centre of this circle fhould be a well, very near which
fhould be eredled a pole or maft, high enough to reach
fome feet above the buildings of the powder maga-
zine, or the buildings in it’s neighbourhood. From
this maft there fhould rife a brafs rod, five or fix feet
in length, an inch in thicknefs, and ending in a
point ; and from this rod a wire of copper of a fize
not lefs than that of a large goofe quill, fhould be con-
veyed down the maft, and terminate in the water of
the well. If there is no well, the wire fhould be
laid into the neareft water ; as the expence even of
fome hundred yards of a wire of this fort can hardly
be confidered as an object in an affair of this impor-
tance.

[ 206 ]

tance. For though I have reafoa to believe, that the
wire communicating with the ground would prevent
the mifchiefs of a thunder cloud, which came near
an apparatus of this fort ; yet as water is a more ready
conductor than the ground, it fhould, if pofhble, be
infilled upon in this particular cafe, and employed. Mr.
Weft’s apparatus, defcribed by the before-mentioned
Mr. Kinnerfley, terminated in an iron ftake, driven four
or five feet into the ground ; neverthelefs the earth did
not condud the lightning fo faft but that, in a thunder
ftorm, the lightning was feen to be diffufed near the
ftake two or three yards over the pavement, though at
that time very wet with rain. It is prefumed, that had
this iron ftake been placed in water inftead of earth,
the lightning had not been vilible, on account of the
water’s receiving the eledric matter more readily than
earth. Where this apparatus therefore is applied to
powder magazines, it fliould certainly terminate in
water. At Mr. Hamilton's at Cobham, about twenty
miles from hence, where an apparatus of this fort
was ereded upon an high and greatly- expofed build-
ing, as there was no water but at a great diftance,
the bottom of the wire was placed deep in an hill
of inoift fand. If, inftead of one wire, two, three,
or more, were adapted to the brafs rod in this man-
ner, and conduded to the water, or if the brafs rod
itfelf was continued to the water, I ftiould confider
it, in extraordinary cafes, as an additional fecurity.
This will explain my fentiments upon the third,
fourth, and fixth queftions.

V. As the expectation of the utility of this appa-
ratus is prefumed to be the preventing of the accumu-
lation of eledricity in its neighbourhood, by afford-
i ing

[ 207 ]

ing a constant and eafy paffage to the electricity of
the clouds furcharged therewith, nothing, in my opi-
nion, need be apprehended from the apparatus elec-
trifying the air ; as its principal operation is conceiv-
ed to be the reverfe of that, viz. diverting the air of
it s electricity. I am well apprized from experiments
made here, that the earth is frequently eledrified
Pfus> an<3 the clouds minus', and that this change of
plus and minus between the clouds and earth are fome-
times feen to vary feveral times in a quarter of an
hour : but in that cafe it is prefumed, that the clouds,
within the fphere of adion of the apparatus, have
by it’s operation their ele&ricity brought to the fame
rtandard with that of the earth in its neighbourhood,
and vice verfd ; and confequently, that the mifchiefs
which might arife from the difference of the dehfi-
ties of the electricity in the earth and clouds are pre-
vented, by the equilibrium between them being main-
tained. This fubjedt, in relation to the electricity's be-
ing plus or minus, I many years ago conhdered, and
laid my thoughts thereupon before the public, as may
be feen in the Philofophical Tranfadions, Vol. XLV.

That the atmofpbere at times is very ftrongly elec-
trified, is evident, to fay nothing of lightning, not
only from our apparatus, but from the marts of fhips,
being befet with St. Elmo's fires, which I believe
would fcarce, if ever, happen, were the marts pro-
vided with an apparatus of this fort j unlefs the caufe
might be fo great, and come on fo fart, that the
metal employed between the tops of the marts and
the water might not, on account of the vaftnefs of
the caufe, be large enough for the purpofe. If it
fhould fo happen, St. Elmo's fres might rtill appear

at-

[ 208 ]

at the tops of the marts, and thunder clouds might burrt:
near them, and exert their dreadful effe&s *. That
even artificial ele&ricity, when in too great a quan-
tity, and hurried on too fart: through a fine iron wire
has a remarkable efFedt upon the wire, appears from
a very curious experiment of Mr. Kinnerlley of Pen-
fylvania. This gentleman in the prefence of Dr.
Franklin, by his cafe of bottles being eledfrified ful-
ly, and made to explode at once, after the manner
of the experiment of Leyden, through a fine iron
wire, the wire appeared at firrt: red hot, and then
fell into drops, which burned themfelves into the fur-
face of his table or floor. Thefe drops cool in a
fpherical figure, like very fmall {hot, of which
Dr. Franklin tranfmitted fome hither to Mr. Can-
ton ‘f-, who has repeated this experiment. This
proves the fufion to have been very compleat, as
nothing lefs than the moft perfedl fluidity could give
this figure to melted iron. Thefe effedls from artifi-
cial lightning, are exadtly fimilar to thofe of the na-
tural ; as we have feveral times known iron wires,

* See more upon this fubje£t Phil. Tranf. Vol. XLVIII.
page 215.

f The diameter of a piece of Mr. Kinnerfley’s wire, which
I received from Do£tor Franklin, was one part in 182 of an
inch. Artificial lightning from a cafe of 35 bottles, I find will
entirely deflroy brafs wire of one part in 330 of an inch. At the
time of the ftroke, a great number of fparks, like thofe from a
flint and fteel, fly upwards, and laterally from the place where
the wire was laid, and lofe their light in the daytime at the dif—
tance of about two or three inches. After the cxplofion, a mark
appears on the table the whole length of the wire ; and fome
very fmall round particles of brafs may be difeovered, by a
magnifier, near the mark ; but no part of the wire itfelf can
be found. J. Canton.

nails.

, , , C 209 ]

;.ad ™ ^0? nallic [uhtnces t0 have be“

«« i wood by ? thld r £' “ft* ,‘h-

bad fome indanceshere in a iLndTdonr v’h'T
appened m July 1759, 0f which the effefls were
_ mmunicafed to the public in the * Philosophical

how much larger ought to be tire metallic par of 4.

KSW kS “ifChirf? «£• parlt

ekh^ofS m?™," °r ^ a'ld ‘n co-^iS

eitner Ot thele materials, were not dangerous to ordi
n y buildings on the account you memion exLm in
very particular and extraordinary cafes , as ’thefe fub
ftances, when not much heated, condudt the eledtric

But what lately

me at -ad ,h °n W ^ evin“s. <0

er cod '’ n m aPPara,us- “fi»«y applied to wea-
* aks’ fllouM never be truded in any building
witnout a metallic communication from them to
fome water, or at lead very mold ground. St Bride’s
Steeple, one of the mod beautiful in London, 'was on
onday, June 18, about ten minutes before three in
the afternoon, very greatly injured, in one of the mod
fevere thunder dorms, whichever happened here
Fiona as^ attentive an examination, as the fteenle
-t the prefent will admit of without fcaffoidirw 'it

* See Volume LI.

VoL. L IV. £ c

appears

[ 210 ]

appears to me, that the weather-cock and its appa-
ratus had the principal (hare in occafioning the great
mifchief done to the upper part of the fteeple. I
am of opinion, that the lightning firft took the
weather-cock and was conduced, without injuring
the metal or any thing elfe, as low as where the
large iron bar or lpindle, which is inferted into the
top of the fteeple, and comes down feveral feet of
its length, terminates. There the metallic commu-
nication cealing, part of the lightning exploded,
cracked and (battered the obelifk, which terminates
the fpire of the fteeple, in its whole diameter, and
threw off at this place feveral large peEes of Ioit-
land (lone, of which this fteeple is built. Here it
likewife removed a (tone from its place, but not far
enough to be thrown down. From hence the light-
ning feems to have rufhed upon two horizontal iron
bars, which are placed within the building, crofs each
other, to give additional ftrength to the obelilk, almoft
at the bale thereof, and not much above the upper
ftory : here, on the North Eaft and Eaft fide, it exploded
again at the end of the iron bar, and threw off a con-
fiderable quantity of ftune. And here, for the fake of
explanation, I muft obierve, that the fpiie of this
fteeple, where it rifes above the bell tower, is com-
pofed of four ftories, befides the obelifk placed over
them. The lowtft and fecond are of the Tufcan
order ; the third is Ionic ; and the fourth or upper-
moft Compofite or Roman. I he ftone piei s of thele
Rories arc connected together and ftrengthened by
iron bars placed horizontally near the height ol the
capitals of the pilafters, and each ftory has only one

let of thefe bars. From the crofs bars near the bale

of

[ 211 ]

of the obelifk juft now mentioned, the lightning
broke through the roof above the Compofite ftory ;
at the ends of another fet of iron bars placed
lower than the former, from which it tore out a large
portion of the ftone. It then ftruck the iron bars of
this ftory, which are placed immediately under, and,
in contact with the ftones, broke one of the iron bars
direCtly acrofs, ana bent the larger part of it from
its horizontal direction to near an angle of 450. Its
rapid progrefs being here in fome meafure prevented,
at the end of one of the iron bars, it threw off the
upper part of one of the Compofite pillars juft above
its capital and a large portion of the cornice project-
ing over it, and that with fuch a force, that part of a
ftone which was placed here and formed a portion
of the cornice, and weighed feventy two pounds,
was projected, not only the whole length of the body
of the church, but beyond it, acrofs St. Bride's
Lane; where it fell upon the top of an houfe, and
broke through the roof and lodged in the garret*
The horizontal diftance from the fteeple to the place
where it fell, wasatleaft: 150 feet; the heigth, from
which it fell, fomewhat more than two hundred.
1 his piece of ftone was of a very irregular figure,
and muft have required an amazing force to rend it,
detach it from the building, and throw it to fuch a
diftance. The fhaft of the pillar, the next to the
Eaft of that whofe upper part had buffered fo much,
was likewife violently ftruck; and a large portion of
its diameter broke out and thrown down. The Io-
nic ftory has fuffered confiderably, more particularly
the pilafter fronting the North Eaft, and placed di-
reCtly under the Compofite column, whofe top was

E e 2 thrown

[ 212 ]

thrown off. This pilafter is much injured, but the
ftory in general has buffered leffs than the Compofite,
and that chiefly where the irons are inferted ; the up-
per Tufcan lefs than that, and the lower Tufcan
but little, except in the North Eaft pier, which is con-
fiderably cracked and fihaken ; as if in its paffage
part of the force of the lightning was fpent in thefe ex-
plofions, and part abforbed and conduced by the maf-
fes of ftone. The damage done to the fteeple is, ex-
cept near the top, confined almoft to the Eaff and
North Eaft fide, and moft generally where the ends
of the iron bars have been inferted into the (lone or
placed under it; and in fome places, by its violence in
the ftone, its paftage may be traced from one iron bar
to another. And it is very remarkable, that, toleffen
the quantity of ftone in this beautiful fteeple, in fe-
veral parts, cramps of iron have been employed; and
upon thefe, ftones of no great thicknefs have been
placed, both by way of ornament and to cover the
cramped joint. In feveral places, thefe fquare ftones
have, on account of their covering the iron, been quite
blown off, and thrown away. A great number of
ftones, fome of them large ones, were thrown from
the fteeple, three of which fell upon the roof of the
church, and did great damage to it; and one of thefe
broke through the large timbers, which form it, and
lodged in the gallery.

In the tower of the fteeple, in the room where
the bells are placed, the lightning took the South-
weft window above the bells and clofe to the window*
not far fiom an iron bar, which goes round, and
rent out feveral large ftones; fome of which fell into
the bell, which was very near this part of the fteeple,

and

[ 2I3

and was the largeft in the fteeple; and, pafling below
the bell, tore out at another place, in a line with the
foimer, a great number more. One of the ftones,
toi n out above tne bell, was thrown to the North-
ed (ide of the tower. Between the two places, in
which the lightning had here exerted its fury, the
wooden block, which confined the axis of the frame
of the great bell, and was fattened down with two
iron ttaples, was thrown off, and the ttaples torn

out. No damage at prefen t feems done to the

bell.

It is remarkable, that, lefs than twenty years ao'o,
one of the ftones of the obelifk of this fteeple was
obferved to be moved from its place, and project
fome inches over thofe under it. This ftone was
about feven feet from the top of the obelifk. Danger
being apprehended from this ftate of thefpire, it was
taken down to the place where the ftone was removed,
and rebuilt with new ftone. This accident, at that
time, was fuppofed to be owing to the ringing of the
bells; but it is highly probable, from what has lately
happened, that, as that ftone was removed from its
place, very near to that part of the fpire, where it is
now cracked and fhivered quite a crofs and feverai
pieces of ftone thrown down, it was owing to the
fame caufe as the prefent damage, viz. lightning,,
though not at that time adverted to.

The lightning on June 18 came from the Weft
and South- weft ; the damage done both to St. Bride’s
church and South Weald was on the Eaft and
North Eaft Tides, except that in the bell-loft at St.
Bride’s. The ftones both from the fteeple of St.

Brides and in its tower were thrown to the Eaft and
North Eaft.

Since

[ 2I4 ]

Since the communication of this paper to the Royal
Society, the fleeple of St. Bride’s has been furveyed, and
found fo very much damaged in feveral of its parts, that
eighty hve feet have been taken down, in order to reftore
it fubflantially. Within thefe eighty five feet are com-
prehended the obelifk, placed at the top of the fleeple,
the fmali dome immediatly under it, the fpace be-
tween that and the uppermoft or Compofite flory,
theCompofite flory, and the Ionic flory. This laft,
on the Eaft and North fides, was taken down to its
bottom; but on the other fides, as they were not in-
jured, fome parts were permitted to lfand. Three
piers were likewife taken down of the fecond Tufcan
flory, and one pier of the firft. The fcaffolding to
take this down and rebuild it enabled me minutely
to examine, not only the damages occafioned by the
lightning, but the manner of its progrefs. This
examination confirmed the opinion of the caufe and
manner of this accident, which I communicated to
the Royal Society, foon after it happened; and be-
fore a near infpedlion could be obtained. It com-
pleatly indicated the great danger of infulated mafles
of metal to buildings from lightning; and, on the
contrary, evinced the utility and importance of mafles
of metal continued, and properly conducted, in de-
fending them from its direful effedls. The iron and
lead employed in this fleeple in order to flrength-
en andpreferve it, did almoft occafion its deflrudtion :
though after it was flruck by the lightening, had it
not been for thefe materials keeping the remain-
ing parts together, a great part of the fleeple muil
have fallen.

4

The

C 2I5 ]

The operation and progrefs of the lightning in the
obelifk and upper parts of the heeple deferve more par-
ticular attention. T o form a more perfect idea of thefe
the following meafures will in fome degree contribute,

Feet

The height of the odiogonal

obelifk - - - - — _ - _ - 22-

Length of the iron fpindle — ig -
Thicknefs of the fpindle, where
inferted into the hone. - - - * o-
Jts length inferted into the hone g -
From the bottom of the fpindle
to the fir ft cramped joints. - - 5 -

Three courfes of hones without

cramps. - -- -- -- -- - ^ _

From the bottom of the fpindle
to the firh concealed chain. - - n -
From the firh concealed chain one
foot above the bafe of the obe-
1 if^k to the firh crofs chain. - - 2 -

From the firh crofs chain to the

fecond, placed in the dome - 8 -

Inches,

“ 3

- 9

- 2 fquare

- 10

- 10

“ 7

- 5

- o

- 10

The vane, the crofs above it, the ball and its focket,
whicn covered lo much of the fpindle as arofe above
the hone, to near ten feet of its length, were of cop-
per gilt. This length of the fpindle was cylindrical,
but the other part was made fquare, where it began
to be inlerted into the hone. To lahen this fpindle
moi efecurely in the courfes of hone, melted lead had
been poured. Tins lead, in the two lower courfes of
hone through which the fpindle had pah'ed, not only
hiicd ail the ipace left between the fpindle and the

hones.

r 216 ]

{Tones ; but had, as it were, ramified itfelf not only
between the joints of the hones, but had infmuated
itlelt in its melted hate into all their fmall clefts and
interhices, The fpindle terminated in one hone
which occupied the whole area of the obelifk, and
was three feet and near two inches in diameter, and
one foot in thicknefs. . Into this hone the fpindle was
infer ted hve inches of its depth, andfahened by melted
lead. Under this hone the obelifk was hollow ; but
above it was folid, excepting the fpace left for the
fpindle.

. Upon examining thefe feveral particulars, no in-
jui v had been done by the lightening to the vane, its
crofs, copper ball, or fpindle. Of the fcven courfes
of hone at the upper part of the obelifk, and which
were above the whole hone into which the fpindle was
inferted, the five upper courfcs, though connected to-
gether at top and bottom with iron collars fodered
with lead, ’'were not damaged ; but the two hones,
which formed the hxth courfe, were cracked, Shi-
vered, and fragments thrown from them. The fe-
venth courfe confihed likewife of two folid hones.
Thefe were burhfrom the fpindle, which was, by the
intervention of the lead, connected with them, broke
into many parts j each was moved from its place; fome
pieces were thrown down, and one large one project-
ed five inches over the hone, immediately under it.
The whole hone, into which the fpindle was inferted,
and upon which it rehed, was burh from the center into
a great many pieces, and every piece removed from its
place. Some of thefe were thrown from the hceple.
Several of the larger mafles of this hone, which hill co-
hered, were very muchfhivered. Thecenterofthehone,

[ 2I7 ]

and near which the fpindle refted, was beaten to
powder, and a hole made through the under part of
the hone. That this ftone in this condition (hould
hill fupport the feven courfes above it, which weighed
four tuns, exclufive of the fpindle, vane, and their
appertinances ; and that the whole did not fall when
firuck with the lightning, is in no fmall degree fur-
prizing.

From the bottom of the fpindle to the firft courfe
of hone, where the workmen had ufed iron cramps,
the diftance was five feet feven inches. Thefe cramps
were bedded in the hone. Part of the lightning,
from the bottom of the fpindle through the hole juft
now mentioned, feized thefe cramps, and threw oft*
large fcales of ftones at their ends. From thefe there
were three courfes of ftone, in which there were no
cramps; thefe fuffered nothing.

In edifices of this kind, for additional ftrength, the
builders employ bars of iron, conne&ed together in
fuch a manner as their exigencies require; and thefe,
though they have no links, are denominated chains.
Thefe are fometimes fo adapted to the courfes of
ftone as not to be vifible, and are perfectly concealed :
at other times, they are in part vifible, and in part
concealed.

The firft metal, that occurred after the cramps
beioie mentioned, was a concealed chain, one foot
above the oafe ol the obelifk, and two feet above the
firft ciofs chain. Here two ftones were burft and
fhattered.. In the courfie of ftone, where the firft
cjois chain was infer ted, and the fieveral ftones con-
i .flea by iron cramps, many of the ftones were
much fbattered,

Vol. LIV. Ff At

[ 218 ]

At the bafe of the dome, near nine feet below the
firft crofs chain, was a fecond. This chain was a
double crofs conneded at its ends with a circle of
iron, which was bedded into the whole courfe and
fattened by melted lead. Here the lightning made
great ravage, burft and threw off the (tones in which
the iron circle was bedded, and tore out part of the
roof of the dome, threw off two pieces of the cor-
nice and one of the vafes, which was contiguous to it.
Thefe two pieces of cornice weighed twelve hundred
pounds. The courfes of flone between the two
chains, except thofe I juft now mentioned, were not
injured.

To what is here faid, I fhall only add, that in no
part the fteeple was injured, except where the (tones
were in contact or very near the iron and lead em-
ployed in its building; and the quantity of (tone
burft, fpoiled, or lb much damaged as not fit to be ufed
again, amounts, asl am informed by Mr. Stanes, a
very honeft and ingenious mafon, who has contracted
to repair the damage done by the lightning, to not lefs
than five and twenty tuns. An amazing quantity!

The above mentioned Mr. Stanes was employed, a
few years fince, in the repair of the fteeple of St. Mary
le Bow in Cheapfide, which was injured by a very
rare and uncommon accident. At its eredion, the
builders had employed, near the top of the fpire, for
additional fecurity, feveral iron cramps; the ends of
which, by being expofed to the weather, became
rutty, fwelled, and fo much enlarged thereby, as to
raife the (tones above them, and to defied the top of
the fpire fix inches from the perpendicular. Danger
being apprehended from this fituation, the fpire was

taken

C 2I9 ]

taken down feveral feet of its length, and properly
repaired. This ought to be a caution to fucceeding
builders, that if, in edifices of this kind, they find
it expedient to employ cramps, they fhould be either
of copper, which is not liable to fwell by moifture ;
or, if iron be ufed, fo much fpace fhould be left in
the under bed of the hones, which immediately
cover the cramps, that they may have room to ex-
tend themfelves without danger to the building.
This remark, though not immediately relating to our
p re lent purpofe, will not, I hope, be thought im-
pertinent in this place.

But to return : this thunder florm had been preceded
by feveral very warm days. The nights had fcarce fur-
nifhed any dew : the air was quite dry, and in a ftate
perfectly unfit to part with its highly-accumulated
electricity without violent efforts. This great drynefs
made the ftones of St. Bride’s fteeple, and all other
buildings under the like circumftances, farlefs fit than
if they had been in a moift ftate, to conduit the lightn-
ing, and prevent the mifchief. For though this
thunder ftorm ended in a heavy fhower of rain, none
except a few very large drops fell till after the church
was ftruck; and I have no doubt, but that the fuc-
-ceeding rain prevented many accidents of a fimilar
kind, by bringing down with every drop of it part
of the eleilric matter ; and thereby reftoring the
equilibrium between the earth and clouds. It is fre-
quently taken notice of, in attending to the apparatus
for observing the electricity of the clouds, that tho’
the fky is much darkened, and there have been fe-
vcrai claps of thunder at no great diftance, yet the
apparatus will be fcarce affeited by it; but as foon

F f 2 as

[ 220 ]

as the rain begins, and falls upon fo much of the ap-
paratus, as is placed in the open air, the belis of the
apparatus in the houfe ring, and the ele&rical fnaps
fueceed each other in a very extraordinary manner.
This demonftrates, that every drop of rain brings
down part of the ele&ric matter, of a thunder cloud,
and diffipates it in the earth and water; and prevents
thereby the mifchiefs of its violent and fudden cx-
plofion. Hence, when the heavens have a menacing
appearance, a ihower of rain is much to be wifhed for.

From thefe confiderations, 1 have no doubt, but
that the mifchief done to St. Bride’s deeple was ow-
ing to the efforts of the lightning, after it had
poffcffed the apparatus of the weathercock, en-
deavouring to force itlelf a paffage from thence to
the iron work, employed in the ffeeple. As this
mud. be done per J'altim , there being no regular me-
tallic communication, it is no wonder, when its force
is vehement, that it rends every thing which is not
metallic, that obdru&s its eafy paflage ; and in this
particular indance, the ravages increafed as the light-
ning to a certain didance came down the deeple.
To procure this eafy pafl'age and avert the ravage oc-
cafioned by the want of it, in future, as much as our
prefent knowledge in thefe matters will enable us to
do, I cannot fudiciently recommend metallic com-
munications between the metal at the top and water,
either as has been before mentioned, or in any
other convenient manner, taking care not to be too
frugal of the metal employed. This was fird fug-
geded by that excellent Philofopher Dr. Franklin;
and fince much ufed in Philadelphia, and other parts
of North America.

Near

[ 221 ]

Near the fame time, that the mifchief was done to
St. Bride’s church, the mad of his Majefty’s ihip Ra-
maillies, lying at Chatham, wasfplit and torn to pieces
by the lightening. This is the lefs extraordinary,
as, from its height, figure, and condituent parts, the
malt of a fhip flops the progrefs of lightening much
more than edifices of the fame height, madeof brick
or flone. This therefore feems to require particular
attention ; but upon this head I fully explained my-
felf in my letter to the late Lord Anfon and fhall
therefore decline faying any thing further of it in this
place.

I flatter myfelf, that what has here lately happened
will tend to occafion the applying of an apparatus of
this fort to all buildings, at lead, of value and ex-
tent. No fteeple fhould certainly be without it ; and
in mod, if the iron work of the weather-cock can
be eafily got at, it may be adapted with very little
trouble or expence. It is only neceffary to make a
metallic communication between this iron work and
the lead, which carries off the water. This fre-
quently reaches to the ground or very near it. From
the bottom of this, the metallic communication
fhould continue to the neared water, or at lead to
very moid ground ; though where it can be procured,
water fhould be preferred. Care mud be taken like-
wife, that metallic communications be added to fuch
parts of the lead, which ferve to convey the water
from the top, as do not already touch or come near
each other. And thefe may be either of lead, or of
copper wire, fuch as I have before mentioned. In
thunder dorms attended with rain, fufficient in quan-

* Philofophical Tranfadlions, Vol. LII, p. 629.

[ 222 ]

tity to run oft in ftreams, a great portion of the elec-
tric matter runs off in, and is diflipated by, thefe
ftreams ; and buildings are thereby preferved from

damage.

What happened to St. Bride’s cannot but give us
fome appreheiftions for that moft noble edifice in its
neighbourhood; I mean St. Paul’s. This is above
an hundred foot higher than St. Bride’s, and there-
fore more in the w iv of accident from thunder ftorms.
Upon its mangnificent lanthorn is placed a crofs of
metal, which is inferted into the ftone of the lan-
thorn; and this is lupported by a truncated cone of
brickwork, which arifes from the arches of ftone be-
low. The cupola is covered with lead, which is
continued to the fpouts of the fame material. Thefe
bring down the water to the ftone gallery under the
cupola, and end within about a foot of the ftone.
From hence the water is conveyed a confiderable dift-
ance, in a ftone trough or channel, to the leaden
fpouts ; and thefe are carried down the building, and
terminate, as I was informed upon inquiry, in the
common fewer. By this arrangement the metallic
communication is interrupted. In thunder ftorms
during rain, the water carries oft' in its ftreams the
electricity, as perfectly, as the moft compleat me-
tallic communication would ; but when there is no
rain, it is otherwifej and thefe interruptions are the
great caufe of danger. To leffen which, as far as we
can conclude at prefent, it would be expedient to
make, by the means of feveral copper wires, ftnali
rods, or pieces of lead, a metallic communication
between the gilded crofs, and the lead of the cupola:
and again, from the leaden fpouts of the ftone

[ 223 ]

gallery to thofe, which bring the water thence ; care
being taken that, from the bottom of thefe lad,
there lhould be a metallic communication, if there
fhould be found to be none at prefent, with the wa-
ter in the common fewer. Thus, without much
expence, a compleat metallic communication may
be made between the top of St. Paul’s church, and
the water ; which had it been done at St. Bride’s, the
ravages fo lately experienced had in all probability
been prevented.

From confidering the circumdances of this thun-
der dorm, I cannot but be of opinion, that the in-
jury done to St. Bride’s prevented mifchief to St.
Paul’s. St. Bride’s is a very high building, and
within a fmall didance nearly Wed of St. Paul’s.
When this didance is confidered, and that the light-
ning came in the direction of St. Bride’s to St. Paul’s,
and that when the thunder cloud came near the for-
mer, it exploded there, and parted with much of its
force; what was left did no damage to the latter, tho’
the much higher and more expofed building, and
having a metallic crofs at its top.

I have recommended as metallic conductors copper
wires of the fize of a goofe quill ; as, when of that
thicknels, they may eafily be bent to any direction ;
and, where thought neceflary, any number may be
employed. I look upon this as a kind of dandard,
from what Dr. Franklin wrote to Monf. Dalibard of
Paris upon this fubjeCt *. He obferves, in a church
which fuffered greatly by lightning at Newbury in
Nevv-England, that though a fmall wire was beaten
to pieces by lightning, and didipated by its force,
the rod of a pendulum conducted the whole without
* See Phil. Tranf. Vol. XLIX. p. 305.

being

5

[ 224 ]

being melted or othervvife injured by it; and that,
great as the quantity was in this indance, and which
utterly dedroyed the fmall wire, no damage
was done to the building, as far as the fmall wire,
and the pendulum of the clock extended : and in the
remarkable indance, mentioned by Mr. Kinnerfley
in his * letter to Dr. Franklin, where a brafs wire of
about two lines thick, ten inches long, and termi-
nating in a very acute point, was inferted into the
iron rod, about two inches and half only of its top
were melted by the lightning; the remaining part of
it tranfmitting the lightning without being fuled by it.

You will obferve in this dilquifition, that I
have no where mentioned the apparatus attracting
the lightning. 1 have avoided introducing the term
attraction here, operating as an active principle; as
I conliderthe apparatus purely paflive, and only af-
fording, from the aptnefs of its parts to that purpofe,
an eafy and uninterrupted palTage to the lightning,
and thereby preventing its violent efforts.

You will pardon, Sir, this long digreflion in relation
to St. Bride’s church ; as it gives fo pofitive and explicit
an anfwer to part of your feventh quedion ; fuch a one
as could not, without the late thunder dorm, have been
furnifhed, at lead from hence : To wit, that, without
a proper apparatus, weather-cocks placed at the tops of
any buildings are dangerous tothem in thunder dorms ;
but more especially to powder magazines.

The accidents, which have lately happened to St.
Bride’s and South Weald churches, if confidered as great
eledricalexperimentsffurnifh very important, and, I flat-
ter myfelf, ufeful conclufions. They are too hazardous
* Philofophical Tranfa&ions, Vol. L1II. p. 96.

and

[ 225 ]

and expenfive however, to with to fee often rc-

If the ereding of an apparatus of this fort fhould
become general in countries where thunder (forms are
frequent and often attended with mifchief, though
damage (hould really be averted by it, the operation
of the apparatus would be unfeen, and therefore un-
known, unlefs in fuch rare inftances as that men-
tioned by Mr. Kinnerfly. To make its effeds ap-
parent, as has been hinted to me by Dr. Heberden, a
very defervedly eminent phyfcian here, if chains are
employed as metallic communications, inf ead of wires
or rods, whenever the lightning comes near enough
to affed the apparatus in a confiderable degree, it will
without mifchief be vifible in the dark, by itsfpark-
Jing and flapping in its paffage, at the links of the
chain.

The effeds of the apparatus may be obferved in
another manner. If the metallic communications are
by the means of a wire or lingle rod, there may be,
in fome part of its length, in any place convenient
for obfervation, a fpaceleft where the metal is difcon-
tinued ; but this fpace fhould not exceed two inches.
The two extremities of the metal at this interruption
fhould be furnifhed with brafs knobs not lefs than an
inch in diameter. By this method, though the effeds
of the apparatus would not be confiderably leffened,
they might be obferved. For at times, when no
lightening was vifible, but when clouds replete with
it came near the apparatus, or rain from them fell
upon it, there would be a flapping from one of the
brafs knobs to the other. When indeed the light-
ning was near, there would not only be this flapping;
but, if the caufe was great, a dream of fire would be
Vol. LIV. Gg feen

' [ 22^ ]

feen, as in M. Romas’s kite*, to pafs from one of
thefe to the other, as the beft and nearefl condudor.
If danger however is apprehended, a piece of chain
may be always at hand to be hung occafionally upon
the upper knob, lb as readily to fall in comad with
the lower. Orherwife, if while the metallic com-
munication is divided, though when entire it is ap-
prehended it may be touched with fafety, a perfon
fb.ould touch the rod above the divifion and at the
lame time touch or come very near the rod below
the divifion with any part of his body; and at the
fame inflan t if a fmart llroke of lightning affeded the
apparatus, he would certainly be deftroyed, as hap-
pened to profeffor Richmann at Peterfbourg ; the
lightning going through his body from one part of
the apparatus to the other, which it is believed it will
not do, while the metallic communication is com-
pleat.

VIII. I have not heard that there has been here of
late any particular mode of buildings, adapted to
powdermagazir.es, to diminilli the fhock of the ex-
ploiion in cafe of accident : nor do I believe that

any attention has been here given, in conflruding
thefe buildings, to prevent, by an apparatus of this
kind, the effeds of lightning.

Thefe, my Lord, are my anfwers to M. Calan-
drini’s queftions. If they are fatisfadory to that
ingenious gentleman, or have the leafl tendency to
public utility, I fhall be gratified. As I know your
Lordfhip’s zeal for philofophical difeuffions, I have
taken the liberty of fending you thefe queries and

* Philofophical Tranfa&ions, Vol. LII. p. 341.

my

/

Tbi/os. Trans. Vo/. ^4 Tub . XI V P.22/

[ **7 3

my anfwers to them, as a teftimony of the very
great efteem and regard, with which lam,

My Lord,

Your Lordfhip’s
moft obedient,
humble fervant,

Lincoln’s Inn-Fields,

June 26th, 1764. W. Watfon.

XLI. An Account of the Effe&s of Light-
ning in St. Bride’s Church, Fieet-ftreet,
on the 1 8th <f June 1764: In a Letter
to Mr, Benjamin Wilfon, F. R, S. from
Edward Delaval Efq-, F. R. S.

SIR,

Read June 28,
1764.

HE inclofed is an account of the
a , . eftedts of the lightning on the

fteeple and fpire of St. Bride’s church, with draw-
er f TAB' XE XV’l which very accurately «-
pie^s the parts damaged by it.

frj t!,M)'-§hi n WOuld be ure’ by describing the
Jereral arcumftances of this accident, to thew more

GS 2 fully

[ 228 ]

fully the neceflity of preventing the danger, thatfuch
buildings are expofed to.

The conftrudtion of the fpire is fomewhat fimilar
to that of an apparatus purpofely contrived to draw
the lightning from the clouds, as it runs up towards
a point, and ends in a metal vane and crofs, the fi-
gure of which, as well as the materials that they con-
ffft of, feem calculated to admit the lightning with
the leaft refiftance.

At this place the firft marks of it are feen : at H
the top of the copper crofs, which is the higheft part
of the building, the gilding is by the explolion partly
torn off and partly difcoloured, fo as to differ re-
markably from the reft of the crofs where the gild-
ing is very well preferved. Some fmall pieces of
folder are melted ; and all this part appears as if it
had been expofed to the fire.

The lightning feems to have entered here, and to
have been conducted as low as the hole at A, by an
iron fpindle twenty feet in length, and two inches in
diameter; of which ten feet were furronnded by the
copper ball, vane and crofs ; and the lower half was in-
clofed in a groove cut through the middle of the folid
ffones which compofed the upper part of the fpire,
and reffed at A on the bottom of that groove, which
was funk five inches deep into the loweft of thofe folid
ffones : this laft mentioned ffone being three feet
broad and one deep. The interval between the fides
of the fpindle and the groove made to receive it was
filled up by melted lead poured in between
them.

The lightning accumulated in the metal, having
it’s pafiage towards the earth ffrongly refilled at this

place, has in expanding itfelf formed the hole A, by

burff-

[ 229 ]

burfting off from the lower part of the fpindle the
ftones contiguous to it on that fide.

At each of the angles of the metal, the ftone on
which it reded is cracked, which probably was oc-
calioned by the lightning ifliiing with greater freedom
from thole parts, than from the flat furface.

No part of the fpindle is in the lead; injured by the
lightning, notwithftanding the great quantity which,
from it’s effects, appears to have been accumulated
in it

From hence, as low as to the corniche B, itfeems
to have been conducted along the furface of the fpire,
which was wetted by the rain that had fallen in the
morning, before the lightning: and having been ac-
cumulated in the iron bars B and C, in difcharging
itfelf from them, it has made the greateft explofion at
this place.

Under this part the freedom of it’s paflage feems to
have been hindered by all the dry ftonework under-
neath, which was defended from the rain by the
corniches: and it appears from fome experiments
which I formerly made-f, that dry free ftone, when
warm’d to a certain degree (which probably does not
exceed the heat which the ftones of buildings acquire
in hot weather) reflfts the paflage of the eledtric
fluid or lightning fo ftrongly, that with plates of that
ftone, inftead of glafs, 1 performed the Leyden ex-
periment.

* In the year 175° the ftones furrounding this fpindle were
fo much damaged, that there was a neceffity of taking them
down and rebuilding that part of the fpire. The caufe of this
was not known at that time, it is probable that it was occaftoned
in the fame manner as the prefent accident.

f Philofophical Tran factions, anno 1759. p. 83.

Under.

[ 23° ]

Under the corniche, the lightning defcended only
by leaping from one iron to another; and at every
leap its force feems to have been weakened, and at
hit to have been quite difiipated.

On examining the infideof the deeple beginning
fiom the top, the fird effedt of the lightning that ap-
pears is a hole in the done work at B, beginning im-
mediately above an iron bar which ferved to fupport
the top of the window or opening, and running up-
wards towards the two crofs iron bars : this, when
viewed from the outfide of the church, is feen to have
fpread round mod: of the lower part of the fpire,
fo that it feems in great danger of falling.

The next ftroke is about four feet below : at this
place four iron bars lie horizontally acrofs the fpire,
and are tied together by chain bars which areinclofed
in the donework : where the end of one of the crofs
bars is inferted in the done, the lightning has burd
open the hole defcribed at C, and, when the fame is
viewed at the outfide, a great part of the corniche ap-
pears to be broken off.

At D, where the two iron bars ferving to fupport
the top of the windows meet and are joined together,
the lightning accumulated in them has broken off
the pier by which they were inclofed.

At Fig 2, a bar of iron, which ferved to fupport the
top or the window in the fame manner as thofe lad
mentioned, 21 inches long clear of the donework,
and half an inch thick, is broke and bent into the
polition expreffed in the drawing; and the dones
immediately above it are Shattered and disjointed.

The fills of two windows of this dory are torn od~
from iron bars which lay beneath them.

At

5

[ 23I ]

At E, an iron bar N°. i. about twenty five inches
long, was inclofed nine inches deep in the ftonework
or the pier, feparating the Eaft arch from the arch
next it towards the North: the end of this bar
joins at a right angle another bar, N°. 2, which is
Idid aciois tne arch. 1 he lightning accumulated in
t.ie iron (h°. 1.) which was inclofed in the ftone-
woik, has bunt off all the ftone that furrounded it,
c.nd part 01 the pier adjoining. The flaw is con-
tinued downwards, as ex prefled in the drawing,
meeting with lmaller iron cramps in it’s way.

At b, the next arch lying immediately under the
laft mentioned one, an iron was inclofed in the ftone
in the fame manner as the bar at N°. 1. The ftone
is torn oft from this iron exactly in the fame manner
as at N°. 1 : but the damage has not reached much
fui tnei than the ftone which was contiguous to and
coveied this bar. At the bottom of this arch the fill
ftone, which covered fome cramps of iron, is torn off
from ids place.

At G, the next arch under this, the force of the
lightning feems to have been much diminifhed, a
ffnall part of one ftone only being broken.

From the wall at the Weft fide of the South win-
dow of the belfry fome ftones are thrown down :
one chalky ftone in particular is reduced into an
impalpable powder, and the wall under the Weft
window is almoft covered with the powder: this
ftroke feems to have been directed towards the hells
one of which is very near the place damaged : the
bells have not been examined ; nor can they, as I
am informed, without danger of fhaking the fpire by
their motion.

This

[ 232 ]

This is the loweft mark which is left of the effects

of the lightning.

In every part that is damaged, the lightning has.
adted as an elaftic fluid, endeavouring to expand
itfelf where it was accumulated in the metal: and
the effects are exadtly fimilar to thofe which would
have been produced by gun-powder pent up in the
fame places, and exploded. Amongft many other
ftones thrown to a confiderable diftance by thefe ex-
plofions, one weighing above feventy pounds was
removed fifty yards Eaftward from the fteeple, where
it fell through the roof of a houfe.

It is evident that thefe effects would have been
prevented, if a lufficiently large metallic conductor
had been extended from the metal at the top of the
fpire down to the earth, communicating with the
other metallic parts of the building that lay in it's
way.

From feveral obfervations which I made on this
occafion, fuch a communication feems neceftary in
buildings of this form. The iron bars, which were
fixed in the ftonework of the Eaft arches were firuck
by the lightning, while thofe in the arches fronting
them on the Weft fide of the fame flory remained
untouched by it. So that I do not apprehend, that
a conductor communicating with the Weft arches
only, would have preferved the oppofite ones from
the damage which they have fuffered.

When fuch buildings are expofed to very large
clouds replete with lightning, there is no reafon to
imagine that they will not convey fome of their
contents to other metallic parts of the building at
the fame time as to the metal at the top : for though

the

C 233 ]

the conductor may be large enough to convey to the
ground, from the top, all the lightning that enters that
part ; yet one fuch tmall conductor cannot be fup-
pofed to exhauft thofe immenfe bodies lo quickly, as
to disable them from ftriking at the fame time
other buildings, or other parts of the fame build-
ing.

A wire, or very fmall rod of metal, does not feem
to be a canal fufficiently large to conduit fo great a
quantity of lightning to the earth ; efpecialjy when
any part of it, or of the metal communicating with
it, is enclofedin the hone work : in which cafe, the ap-
plication of it would tend to increafe its bad effeits,
by conducing it to parts of the building which it
might otherwife not have reached.

Dr. Franklyn, from obferving that the filleting of
gold leaf on the cover of a book conducted the
charge of five large jars, reafons that a wire will be
fufficient to conduit the lightning from the higheft
buildings to the earth.

But it appears from an experiment of his own,,
that a much larger body of metal, when inclofed
between fmall plates of thick looking- glafs, is not
fufficient to conduit a fifth part of fuch a charge,
without being melted, and burftingto pieces the plates
of glafs.

And it is remarkable, that in thofe parts of the
church where the effeits of the lightning are moft
confpicuous, the iron was inclofed in a refilling fub-
llance fimiiar to the glafs furrounding the gold leaf
in that experiment.

Wires, inliead of conducting the lightning, have
frequently been melted by the explolion. So that,
Vo l. LI vh FI h I think,

[ 23+ ]

I think, a condudor of metal lefs than fix or eight
inches in breadth, and a quarter of an inch in thick-
nel's (or an equal-quantity of metal in any other form
that may be found more convenient) cannot with
faicty be depended on, where buildings are expofed
to the reception of fo great a quantity of lightning.
Thefe are the only points in which 1 have ventured
to differ from Dr. Franklyn.

I fhall not think my time ill employed, if thefe
obfervations contribute to our fecurity againff the
effeds of lightning. Certainly an inquiry into the
properties of the eledric fluid, as it furnifhes us with
the means of preventing fuch accidents, is far from
being an ufelefs ipeculation. I am.

your mod humble fervant.

Old Palace Yard,

June 28, 1764.

Edward Delaval.

XLII. A

[ 235 ]

XLII. A Letter from Thomas Law-
rence, M. D. to William Heberden, M D.
and F. R. $, concerning the Ejfe&s of
Lightning , m E ilex- iircet, on the i%th

of June, 1764.

S I R,

Re.a76J4.ly 5’ T Send y°u’ as y°u defired; an account
^ > A of the effects the lightning on Mon-

day fe’n night had in my neighbourhood. The ftorm
which came from the South-eaft, broke firfl on the
two houfes at the bottom of Eflex-ftreet (which look
irotn their fouth windows upon the river) and beat
down feveral feet of the eaft-flue of the chimney on
the weft fide, and feparated the remainder down to
the roof of the houfe from the weftern flue by a
wide crack. From hence the lightning went higher
up the ftieet, and at trie diftance of about eighteen
yards from the chimney juft mentioned, went thro’
the eves of a houfe, in a direction from the North-
eafl: to the South weft, as appeared by the breach, and
forced the cieling of the garret inward by a kind of
pointed bulge, without breaking the laths. It con-
tinued up the ftreet, perhaps along the leaden gutter,
over the eves of the houfes for thirty yards, as j o-uefs,
and turned downward by the lide of a leaden pine
made to convey the water from the top of the houfe,
and tore a wooden cafe at the lower end of that pipe*
cracked the wall near that place, and broke feveral

Hh 2 panes

C 236 ]

panes of glafs in the kitchen window next it. The
wall that was cracked was blackened, and there was
a ftrong knell of fulphur in the ftreet.

On the eaft fide of the ftreet, the lightning broke
the fouth garret window of the bottom houfe, threw
down the eaftern flue of the chimney down to the
roof of the houfe, and took away part of the weftern
flue. The lightning feemed to have paffed between
the garret window and the chimney, as the window
was damaged on the weft fide ; but the chimney,
which flood weft of the window, on the eaft fide.

The tiles on the roof of both houfes were broken
both on the fouth and north fide in a deep furrow, as
if a heavy plough had pafted over them.

The houfe laft mentioned has a door on the eaft
fide, which opens into a garden looking into the Tem-
ple ; from this door there are feveral ftone fteps down
to the garden. On the left hand of the fteps is an
iron rail. 1 have reprefented the fteps and rail as
well as I can in the figure.

E

A B is an iron rail fupported by an iron balufter
B C ; B D is the fame rail continued down the fide
of the fteps, and fupported at D by the iron balufter

D E. The lightning, conducted (as I fuppole) by

the

[ 237 ]

the rail AB to B, and from thence by the balufter
B C to C, druck off the corner of the done dep at
C, without any difcolouring of the ftep ; the piece
druck off might be three or four pounds weight.
Part of the lightning, conducted farther from B to
D along the iron rail was carried by the baluder D E
to E, and a large piece was ftruck off from the cor-
ner E of the done dep ; there was no difcolouring
of the dep. The piece, which I took up in my hand,
might be three or four pounds weight, and fitted the
broken corner of the dep exadtly. This iron rail is
within three feet of a leaden pipe, which comes
down from the top of the houfe, and is not continu-
ed to the ground.

The lightning went up the ead fide of the dreet
without any effed, till, at about the didance of 70
yards from the bottom houfe, it druck the dag pave-
ment near the iron rails of the adjoining houle, and
broke off a piece of the dag done, weighing, per-
haps, two pounds 5 there was no difcolouring here,
but, as in the done deps before mentioned, the ap-
pearance was as if the done had been broken by the
blow of a Hedge hammer. One continued leaden
gutter runs over the eves of thefe houfes on the ead
dde as well as on the wed fide.

The effeds of the {hock were very particular on
fome perfons. A lady in the bottom houfe on the
ead fide, who had left the room which looks over
the river, to avoid the lightning, and fat near a win-
dow which looks diredly up the dreet towards the
north, fell from her chair ; but her lurprize was fo
great that fhe cannot fay whether fhe was thrown

down by the concuffion of the air, or fell by the

fright.

. t . [ 238 ]

nghf. She (ays, (he felt the lightning on her arm,
and had a very odd fenfation like what (he fuppofes
peop.e feel by the eledrical (hock ; (lie further fays,
her arm fmelt very ftrong of fulphur for a conlider-

able time, though (he went out of the houfe im-
mediately.

Another lady, who lives on the weft fide of the
ltreet, in the houfe the roof of which was bulged
in, as has been mentioned, as fhe fat on the bed
with a window open behind her, which looks to the
weft, was thrown off the bed on a child, who fat
on a chair by the bedfide. The fenfation the {hock
gave her, was as it were of a blow crofs her {boulders.

y houfe is on the eaft fide of the ftreet, next door
but one to that where the fteps were broken and the
chimney thrown down. I was at home in the fore
room 011 the ground floor. I felt a greater {hock and
concuflion in the air than I had ever obferved before
irom thunder. A gentleman, who was with me, fays,
what he felt was moft like the fenfation produced by
the preflure of the water when a man leaps into it.

EfTex-ftreet,
June 28, 1764.

I am, Sir,

With great relpeft,

Your moft humble fervant,

Thomas Lawrence.

■XLIII. An

C 239 ]

XLIII. An Account of what appeared on
Opening the Body of an aflhmatic Perfon :

By W. Watfon, M. D. F. R S. '

To the Royal Society.

Gentlemen,

^^1764 [2> /\ ^ nothing tends more to illuflrate
./"CIl the nature of uncommon difeafes
than the examination of morbid bodies after death,
I take the liberty of communicating the following
hiflory.

Mr. W. aged twenty eight, confulted me at the
latter end of November 1763. He had for about
two months laboured under great difficulty of re-
fpiration, for which he had taken great variety of
medicines without any relief. He had been largely
bled, which, without helping his refpiration, had
greatly depreffed and weakened him. The air of
the country, where he had relided fome time, made
not the leaf! alteration in his complaint, which daily
grew worfe.

When I faw him, his breathing was exceedingly
difficult; the heat of his fleffi moderate; his pulfe
too quick, beating about an hundred ffiokes in a
minute, and withall low and thready, indicating
great want of fluid in the arterial fyflem. He coughed
veiy frequently, and what he expectorated was vi-
fcid; but neither purulent nor bloody, and in no
great quantity. He was without thirft. His nights
were almoA without fleep, on account of the diffi-
culty

*

C 240 ]

culty of refpiration ; he not having been able to lie
down in bed for fome time, more efpecially on his
right fide.

1 o relieve him, I ordered at intervals blifters to
his legs and fide, which, though they difcharged
liberally, did fcarce help his refpiration. I likewife
during about ten days, that I faw him, directed fo-
lulions of the foetid gums, volatiles, Conf. V)a?nocratis
cumVmo Antimon. Vinegar of fquills, volatile oily mix-
tures, and other antifpafmodics and attenuants with
plentiful dilution. The Conj'eSt, Damocratis cum Vino
Antimoniali at firft much relieved him, and he was
enabled to lie down in his bed; but this relief was
temporary.

He generally grew hot, and more uneafy towards
evening; and one night, during my attending him, he
was feized with a violent pain in his right fide. For
this he loft feven ounces of blood, which, though it
fomewhat funk him, very much abated the violence
of his pain.

Frequently likewife in the night, notwithftanding
that the feafon was cold, he, on account of the diffi-
culty of his refpiration, ordered and infifted upon the
windows of his chamber being opened, to gratify

himfelf with yet cooler air than that of his cham-
ber.

Two or three days before he died, his refpiration
was extieamly laborious; he fweated profufely ; and
hisftrength growing lefs and lefs, he expired without
the leaft convulfion.

Several days before his death, he took large dofes
of Vinegar of fquills four or five times a day. This,
though it did not in the leaft offend his ftomach, did

not

r

[ 241 ]

not promote his expectoration, which ftill continued
vifcid.

From a careful confideration of this difeafe I
was of opinion, that it was confined to the lungs:
that thefe, efpecially on the right fide, adhered to
the pleura : that their fubftance was occupied by
tubercles, or fomething analogous thereto, which
greatly difturbed their fundtions. The feverifh
heat and quick pulfe I confidered as fymptomatic
of, and occafioned by, his extremely laborious re-
fpiration.

As I was very defrrous of feeing the date of his
lungs after death, my requeft to fatisfy myfelf was
compliea with ; and this examination was fufficiently
convincing, that toe difeafe v/as of too fevere a kind
to admit of a cure.

Upon lifting up the _ fternum, the lungs were
enormoufly did; ended with air, which no preffure
could force back through the windpipe. This air
was ext iava fate, had burfl through the extremities
of the bronchia and vehicular fubftance, and had
infinuated itfelf throughout the whole fubftance of
the lungs, in which it was detained by the membrane
invefting them. In a word, the whole fubftance of
the lungs was in a ftate truly emphyfematous. In
feveral parts this air had formed large bladders, which,
though no preffure upon the furface of the lungs
could force back, a flight incifion into them per-
mitted to efcape, and caufed the whole lobe to
collapfe.

Befides this emphyfematous affedtion of the whole
fubftance of the lungs, the pulmonary vein was in
ah its parts diftended into numberlefs varices, many
Vol. LIV. Ii 0f

[ 242 ]

of which were of the fize of the fmall, or Lucca
olive, and were diftended with grumous blood.
Befides thefe, there was a larger cift in the right lobe
of the lungs, which was filled with deep- coloured
ichor : this lobe adhered to the pleura in great part
of its furface. The lungs in general were of a deep
red colour, and here and there upon their furface be-
ginning to fphacelate.

The figure of the human heart is that of a cone,
divided through its axis; but in this cafe, the hearts
figure was altered, and was more compreflcd than
ufual; and its ventricles difiended with grumous
blood.

Every other part of the body was in its natural
fiate.

From this examination we find that in this infiance
refpiration was greatly difiurbed, to fay nothing of
the cift in the right lobe, nor of the adhefion of that
lobe to the pleura, from two manifeft and potent
caufes; viz. the varicofe fhte of the pulmonary vein,
and the emphyfema throughout the whole fubftance
of the lungs.

The ‘varices of the pulmonary vein not only re-
tarded the blood in its pafiage to the left auricle of
the heart; but, occupying a much larger fpace in the
lungs than they naturally fliould, they left lefs room
for the minute ramifications of the bronchia to ex-
tend themfelves ; and eonfequently a lefs quantity of
air was taken in at every infpiration than was ne-
ceflary for the ordinary purpofes of life.

But the diforder of the lungs from the ‘varices was
made infinitely worfe by the emphyfema. For by
theextravafate air pofieffing fo large a portion of the
lungs, and which the patient could by no means part

with

[ 243 ] '

\yith in exfpiration, very little room was left for frefli
air in infpiration; the lungs, from the emphyfema,
and fiom the difeafed hate of the pulmonary vein,
ruling almoh the whole cavity of the thorax. This
not only occafioned an enormous defed in the quan-
tity of air in infpiration necehiiry to the purpofes of
hfe, but by the preternatural compreflion the motion
of the blood was retarded in the lungs, more efpe-
cially in their fmaller vefTels. This affeded not only
the ferous extravafation in the cih before-mentioned,
but occafioned thofe general obhrudions in the blood
veffels of the lungs, which brought on the fphacelated
appearance; and finally, by the increafe of the com-
plaint, was the caufe of death.

This extraordinary dihenfion of the lungs accounted
for the heart’s being of a more compreffed°figure than
is ufually feen.

In the prefent inhance an ahhma was occafioned
by two caufes, either of which has hitherto been
fcarce coniidered as conducing thereto; the one an
emphyfema, and the other a varicofe aftedion of the
pulmonary vein. Had the caufes of this difeafe been
as perfedly known during the life of the patient, as
fince his death, the cafe would not have admitted of
a cm e ; as there was no method of difcharging the
extravafate air from the lungs; neither could any
medical procefs alter or amend the varicofe hate of
the pulmonary vein.

' Such a hate of lungs, as that juh now defcribed,
in an otherwife healthy young man, could not, I was
perfuaded, happen but from fome very powerful
caufe; and, upon enquiry, I was informed, that about
the beginning of Odober, not two months before his
death, from fomething which had greatly offended

I i 2 his

E 244 1

his ftomach, he was feized with violent and long con-
tinued vomitings. Thefe, though at length they were
quieted, left his cheft very fore. From this time his
cough became troublelome, as did remarkably his
fhortnefs of breath upon the leafl motion, attended
with the feveral circumflances above defcribed.

From confidering the hiftory of this difeafe, and
comparing it with the appearance of the lungs after
death, I cannot but be of opinion, that the violent
efforts to vomit occafioned primarily both the em-
phyfema, and the varices of the pulmonary vein.
This opinion, I flatter myfelf, will not, to perfons
well vei led in the animal (Economy, feem ill founded,
when they reflect how forcibly the lungs are prefled
in violent efforts to vomit, both by the mulcles fub-
fervient to refpiration and the abdominal mufcles,
as well as by the contents of the abdomen itfelf.
And it is wonderful, when the texture of the lungs
is confidercd, that accidents of this kind do not much
oftener happen, not only in vehement Teachings to
vomit, but in violent coughs, pains of childbirth,
lifting great weights, and other preternatural exertions
of flrength.

When once the extremities of the bronchia
and the veficular fubftance have given way, the
mifehiefs are eafily forefeen. The air getting loofe
into the fubflance of the lungs cannot be parted
with in exfpiration ; it confequently is retained there,
and the fpace it occupies prevents as much of the
' external air being received into the lungs as its own
quantity. As, from their inceflant motion, injuries
to the lungs are not eafily removed, when once a
rupture is made, every fit of coughing or other vio-
lent exertion extravafates more air. Hence the rup-
ture

C 245 ]

ture dill continuing, and probably increafing, more
and more air becomes extravafate, until, as in the
prefent cafe, the quantity becomes fo great, as not only
to impede the coutTe of the blood through the lungs,
but the internal preflure of the extravafate air pre-
vents the ingrefs of a quantity of frefh air, fufficient
to cool and attenuate the blood. In fadt, a fmall part
only of the lungs is employed ; as the extravafate air,
though dill in an elaftic date, anfwers by no means
the purpofesof frefh air in refpiration j as the former,
by its confinement in the lungs, is very foon deveded
of its vivifying fpirit, that principle which is foon
dedroyed in animal bodies, and which fume chemi-
cal phyfiologids have fuppofed to be an acid nitrous
Gas, and is mod eflential to human life. Hence, in
a very diort time, the effedls are too obvious to be
mentioned 3 and death mud loon follow, as hap-
pened to the perfon, who is the fubjedt of this com-
munication.

I am, with all poffible regard,

Gentlemen,

July 6, 17^4. Your mod obedient

Humble fervant,

W. Watfon.

XLIV. An

1

[ *46 ]

XL IV. A Letter to the Marquifs of Rock-
ingham, with J'otne Observations on the

Effects of Lightening .

To the moft honourable the Marquifs of Rockingham.
My Lord,

Read July 28, y Have taken the liberty of addrefflng
. A the inclofed paper to your Lordfhip,

as it contains a few obfervations on a fubjedt not un-
known to you, and may probably be thought of ge-
neral ufe. &

I have a further reafon for addrefling it to your
Lordfhip, as it gives me an opportunity of expreflino-,
m l'ome fmall degree, the high fenfe of gratitude^I
bear your Lordfhip, for many and repeated favours
and obligations conferred on,

My Lord,

Your Lordfhip’s moft obedient.

June 24, 1764,
Crreat Queen-ftreet,
London.

and moft humble fervant,

Benjamin Wilfon.

LONG

C 247 ]

Confideratiom to prevent Lightening from doing Mifchief
to great IV orks , high Buildings , and large Magazines :
jBy Mr. Wilfon, F.R.S. and Member of the Royal
Academy oj Sciences at Upfal.

TONG experience, fince the difcovery by Dr.

Franklin, has now eftabbfhed a truth amongft
philofophers, that lightening, like the eieCtric fluid,
pa lies more freely through iron, copper, and other
metals, than through dry wood, ilone, or marble.

Inftances of this truth are innumerable : and to
convince us thereof, we need only trace the late vio-
lent effects of lightening on St. Bride’s Church, and
the houfes in EfTex-ftreet, &c.

For, upon examining thefe buildings, it appears,
that there are certain thick bars of iron, through
which the lightening has paft, without producing any
vifible effects : and on the contrary, in certain parts
where the junctions of thofe bars with the hone, or
wood, are made, there the lightening, rufhing from
the iron, has broke the ftone to pieces, and fhivered
the wood.

From the like experience we alfo learn, that if the
iron is too {lender for conducting the lightening, it is
either dafhed into pieces, or exploded like gunpow-
der; juft in the fame manner as we are able, by the
eieCtric power, to break and diffipate in vapour a very
(lender wire. Bars of metal, of a proper thicknefs,
and conveniently difpofed, feem therefore neceffary
for the fecurity of inch buildings.

It is to be noted, that the mifchiefs caufed by lighte-
ning are not always owing to its direction from the
clouds to the buildings or other eminences, and thence

to

[ 248 ]

<ulC but fometimes, on the contrary, from

the earth, buildings, and other eminences, to the
clouds. For the principle upon which its direction
depends, appears to arife from the reftoration of a
certain equilibrium , in a fubtile and elaflic fluid, pre-
vioufly diflurbed by various caufes.

Now, according to the laws of elaflic fluids, the
endeavour to reflore the equilibrium of fuch a fluid,
wifl be in that diredion, where the rejijlance to it’s
paflage happens to be the leaft. Upon ‘this principle
we therefore fee a neceflity, either to open a paflage
for it to go freely through, by placing certain bars of
metal properly j or, to flop the paflage of the fluid
through fuch buildings entirely.

The lafl method would be dangerous to put in
pradice ; becaufe, if high buildings were fo fecured,
the lightening would then attack the lower buildings*
which are far more numerous, and probably would
deftroy a greater number of people, cattle, &c.

Whereas, if the firft method is preferred, the high
buildings will then tend to proted the lower ones
more efledually ; and may with propriety be confl-
dered, as fo many pipes to carry off the lightening
quietly j either from the earth to the clouds, ° or from
the clouds to the earth.

And that feveral proper condudors are neceflary to
carry off the lightning more readily, than fome of
tne accidental or partial condudors, in a large town,
are capable of, appears from this j that we are able to
colled fmall quantities of the eledric fluid, with a
flender apparatus in our hands only; whilft it is ex-
pofed in the flreet, garden, or other open place, dur-
ing the hovering of fuch clouds as occafion violent
lightening.

. 4

From

C 249 j

ln*om repeated obfervations of this kind, there is
reafon to believe, the quantity of lightning at parti-
culai times is fo very great, that it would be danger-
ous to invite it to any buildings, and that unnecefla-
rily, in the moft powerful manner we are able ; by
differing the feveral conductors to end in a point at
the top.

On which account, it is -apprehended, pointed bars ,
or rods of metal , ought always to be avoided.

And as the lightening mud vifit us, fome way or
other, from necefiity, to reftore the equilibrium , there
can be no reafon to invite it at all : but, on the con-
trary, when it happens to attack our buildings, we
ought only fo to contrive our apparatus, as to be able
to carry the lightening away again by fuch fuitable
conductors, properly fixed, as will very little, if at
all, promote any encreafe of it’s quantity.

Xo attain which defirable end, in tome degree at
lead, it is propofed, that the feveral buildings remain
as they are at the top ; that is, without having any
metal above them , either pointed or noty by way of
a conductor.

On the infide of the highed part of fuch building,
and within a foot or two of the top, it may be pro-
per to fix a rounded bar of metal, and to continue
it down along the fide of the wall to any kind of
moidure in the ground.

But if the building happens to be mounted with
an iron fpindle, for fupporting a vane, or other orna-
ment, and it fhould not be convenient to have it
taken away, then the bar of metal ought to commu-
nicate with that fpindle.

And in regard to the diameter of fuch a metal
bar, it will probably depend upon the height
Vol. LIL. K k of

C 25° ]

or the building : for it is apprehended the great
cnurch of St. Pauls, to compleat the partial conduc-
tors (which are the metallic crofs, ball, gallery, dome,
&c.) and fecure it effectually, would require a bar of
metal two inches diameter, if not more : and a build-
ing like the Bntifli Mufeum, one confiderably lefs.
But it appears there is no occafion for any at that re-
pofitory, as it is already provided, though from ac-
cident, like many other buildings, with very effectual
conductors. The copeings of the roof thereof, and
tile feveral fpouts, which are continued from thence
into the ground, being all of lead.

That conductors ought to be thicker than is gene-
rally imagined, feems to appear from a late inftance
taken notice of in St. Bride’s church by Mr. Delaval
and Dr. Watfon, where an iron bar two inches and
a half broad, and half an inch thick, or more, was
bent and broke afunder by the violence of the light-
ening.

The Eddyftone Lighthoufe, which flands upon a
rock furrounded by the fea, the work of Mr. Smea-
ton,. was thought to be an objeCt very likely to fuffer
by lightening ; and the more io, as the top of it con-
fided of a copper ball two feet in diameter, with a
chimney of the fame metal, palling through it down
to the fecond floor, but no further. Directions were
therefore given to make a communication of metal
horn the lowed part of the copper chimney down to
tne lea j which was executed accordingly about the
year 1760, or foon after the building was finiilied.
Now if, inflead of the copper ball, a pointed bar of
metal had been put in its place, or above it, and
communicated with the conducting matter below,
there is no faying what might be the confequence of

fo

[ 25* ]

fo powerful an invitation, to an edifice thus partial-
larly fituated.

8- Q I N C E the former part of this
^ • . paper was communicated to the

Royal Society, that is, on the 5th of Auguft, 1764,
1 received the following account from captain Dib-
den, . commander of a merchant fhip, who fays,
that in the year 1759, he was taken by the French,
and carried prifoner to Fort Royal in Martinico. That
in removing him from thence fome time after, and on
foot to St. Pierre, which is about 20 miies, his con-
ductor, or guard, hopped at a fmall chapel five miles
from the laft place, to fhelter themfelves from the
heavy rain which fell during a violent thunder ftorm.
That the chapel had no fteeple or tower belonging
to it, but flood upon an eminence with three or four
poor low houfes near it. That foon after they were
thus Sheltered, a violent flafh of lightening ftruck
two foldiers dead, who had been leaning againfl the
wall of the chapel between two buttreffes,* and not
far from the reft of the company j they being all on
the leeward fide of the chapel.

That it made an opening in the wall about four
feet high, and about three feet broad, and in that
part only againft which they refted.

That captain Dibden, along with other perfons,
entered at this hole immediately after, to fee if any
other damage had been done to the chapel. That
they obferved a fquare bar of iron near the hole, and
upon the ground, about four feet long, and one inch
end a quarter thick , making an angle with the wall,
as they fuppofed, to fupport the upper part of an in-
clined tombftone, which was alfo thrown down and

Kk 2 broke

C 252 ]

broke to pieces. That this bar was joined in the mid-
dle to one end of another bar, about one foot long,
and one inch thick , which laid horizontally, and, pal-
ling to the wall, had been there fattened with lead.
That the lightening in ruShing along the inclined bar,
had watted or reduced its thicknefs in fome places
very considerably: infomuch, that it looked like a burnt
poker which had been long ufed : and broke the bar
into two pieces, about an inch above the joining of
the letter bar; the ends of which had a burnt flaky
appearance. That the other parts of the bar were
changed in colour to a grey, or whitifh hue ; refem-
bling iron, after it has been expofed to a violent heat,
and then fuffered to cool.

That the horizontal bar had alfo undergone an ex-
traordinary change by the lightening, but particular-
ly at that end next the wall of the chapel, it being
reduced from one inch in diameter, to the fize of a
Slender wire, but tapering towards the wall.

That when the foldiers retted againft the wall, their
heads were about the fame height with the fhortett
bar ; and, from what he can recoiled:, were very near
being oppofite to that end thereof, which was inferted
in the wall:

That the two foldiers were forced from the wall
at the fame inttant by the lightening : fo that their
feet, which were one yard or more from it, were
neareft to the wall, and their heads the fartheft off.
That their flefh appeared very black. That their
cloaths were burnt and fcorehed in many parts : and
their belts Shriveled up, as if they had been expofed
to a large fire. That captain Dibden, and other peo-
ple, felt a difagreeable kind of an eledric Shock, at
the fame inttant that the foldiers were killed.

Captain

[ 253 ]

Captain Dibden gave an account alfo, that he was
lately at Virginia, 1763: that the inhabitants of Nor-
folk had changed their opinions in refpeCt to fixing of
wires and fmall rods of iron on the tops of their
houfes ; from the frequent inftances they have lately
had of their being melted, or deftroyed, by the vio-
lence of the lightening : and that now they adopted
in their dead, rods of iron from half an inch thick,
to three quarters of an inch thick, or more. That
thofe rods ended in a point at the top, and extended
from three feet above their houfes down to the ground:
and that many houfes had one of thefe conducting
irons at each end.

This account appears very material upon the pre-
fent occafion, as it ferves to confirm the conjectures
that are now offered, in a manner fo obvious as to
require no particular explanation.

The captain added, that, though the pine trees are
confiderably higher than the oaks in the American
woods, yet the oaks are the ofteneft attacked by the
lightening : and that he does not remember any
oaks growing among the pine trees, when the latter
have buffered by lightening : which muff be owing to >
the greater rejiftance arifing from the unCtuous nature
of the pine trees.

LVI. Solis

[ 254 ]

XLV. Solis DefeStus obfervatm in Collegio
Romano a Pair thus Societatis Jefu die
prima Aprilis Anno mdcclxiv. 'Tempove
vero poji media??! noftem,

8’ T N hoc obfervando Solari deliquio adhi-
X buimus praxipue tclefcopium objedtivo
micrometro inftrudtum, egregium opus Jacobi Shortii,
a Praeneftino principe iterum jam humaniftime nobis
commodatum, pro quo beneficio maximam illi, dum
erimus, habebimus gratiam. Cum hoc inftrumenti
genere in Italia nulla lit hadtenus oblervata ecliplis,
ab exteris vero nationibus, fi quid hac in re prasftite-
runt, nihil ad nos pervenerit, quod Sc aliis pluribus
k contigifle arbitrari fas eft, obfervationem hanc no-
ftiam, aftronomis praefertirn Italis, non injucundam
fore cenfuimus.

Diftipata nebula rarae nubes, quas fuperfuere, im-
pedimenti quidem aliquid obfervationi attulerunt, ut
plurimum tamen Sole fatis claro uft fumus.

Ex obfervationibus decern diameter Solis deficientis,
cui ex Parienfi Ephemeride refpondent igzi"3 4,
deprehenl'a eft intercipere micrometri particulas 2260:
Summum autem inter omnes dilcrimen particulas duas
non exceftit.

Eclipfis initium animadverfum eft tubo palmo-
rum decern 9h 49' 87/ : Finis vero eodem tubo
I 2h 52' 49".

Definivimus turn chordas oblcurationis, turn di-
ftantias limborum Solis ac Lunaa fecundum lineam

conjnn-

[ 255 ]

conjungentem utriufque centra, nulla digitorum ha-
bita ratione : maluimus enim tempus adnotare, quo
aliquid accurate obfervatum videbatur; quam ex-
pedtaie, ut obfcuratio certain menfuram attingeret;
ne aut nubes, aut impedimenta, quas loci anguftiae
objecere plurima, faspius obfervationem fubriperent
nullus autem ad curiofos arcendos homines rem om-
nem perturbaturos opportunior locus occurrebat : eas^*
dem fuere cauilie, cur hoc inftrumentum adeo ac-
curate aliqua non exhibuerit, ut in aliis pluribus ex-
perti fumus..

1

2

Chordas limbi obfcur.

h

9 56 31
io 014

Dift. limb. Solis, et Lunae.

3

5

O

4

11 26

19

5

3 1

J7

6

34

1 1

7

A

53

53

8

1211

53

9

21

32

10

25

12

11

27

28

12

29

16

J3

3°

43

33 38

817

I.

1016

II.

1 192

III.

2095

IV.

2083

V.

2077

VI.

T949

VII.

1729

VIII.

1561

IX.

1484

H32

1

1388

1

*349

j

1257

h

/ //

6

59

1853-

16

18

1636

33

3

1273

56

38

825

9

49

636

*5

18

618

21

45

618

39

32

798

45

16

8 94

Ex obfervationibus VI, VII, VIII invenimus per
interpolationem limborum diftantias tempore obfer-
vationum 4, 5, 6 ex ordine fuiffe 639, 682, 716.

[ 256 ]

Ex datis eodem tempore Solis diametro, chorda
partis obfcuratae, & limborum diftantia, in fingulis
obfervationibus Lunas diameter in micrometri parti-
culis ex ordine prodiit 2114, 2110, 2114. Hinc
Lunas diameter circa horam 11 30' ftatui poteft
partium 2112,7, quibus refpondent fcrupula fecun-
da 1796,1. In inveftigandis tamen centrorum di-
flantiis, quas in fequenti tabula in fcrupulis fecundis
damus, ufi fumus conftanti diametro 1795^, quia
totum inter maximam & minimam difcrimen Eclip-
iis tempore eft circiter 3", & ea, quam mox inve-
nimus, media eft aliquanto major.

DISTANTIiE CENTRORUM.

Ex obf. h

/

//

//

1 9

56

3 1

*723

2 10

0

J4

i645

3

5

0

I557

I.

6

59

1512

II.

16

18

1328

III.

33

3

1019

IV.

56

38

638

V. II

9

49

495

VI.

18

462

VII.

21

45

462

4

26

l9

472

5

3 1

l7

51 9

Ex obfervationibus

h

6

u 34

//

1 1

//

54°

VIII.

39

32

6i5

IX.

45

16

697

7

53

53

832

8

12 11

53

1 ^ 34

9

21

32

I299

10

25

12

^63

1 1

27

28

1403

12

29

16

*435

13

3°

43

1461

H

33

58

1520

, VI, VII, VIII, mutuo

comparatis minima centrorum diftantia contigiffe vi-
detur uh 18' 45", eaque faille 45s7', adeoque max-
ima obfcu ratio digitorum 8 43'. Juniores aliqui ex
noftris ex Solis imagine per tubum opticum in chartam
tranfmifta obfcurationem maximam, nobili & erudita

fpe&ante

[ 257 ] ■

ipedtante multitudine, asftimarunt digitorum fere 8 i,
alius vero alibi eadem ratione obfervans digitorum 8.1,
ac pluribus habitis circa illam oblervationibus vix io/
in tempore definiendo a noflra determinatione defecit.

Lun$ diametrum ex eclipfi definitam cum diame-
tio extra Solem conferre conati fumus : verum die
tertia Aprilis aegre admodum obfervari potuit propter
nimiam Lunaris lucis tenuitatem, cui plurimum etiam
cfficiebant refiduum aliquod crepufculi lumen, & in
horizontis vicinia vapores. Eas proinde obfervationes,
licet multum neque inter fe, neque ab inventa dia-
metro difcreparent, rejecimus, ut certiores obtinere-
mus die quarta ; fed ea quoque die non levem experti
fumus difhcultatem, quia Lunas cornua in exiliffimas
tenuabantur lineas ab ejufdem afperitatibus umbra
identidem interruptas : eas nihilominus, ut nobis fefe
obtulerunt, hie fubjicimus in micrometri particulis.

D I E QJJ ARTA APRILIS.

°bf. h ,

1 8 o

2 7

3

4 23

5 29

6 35

Diam. Lunas.
Veip. 2096
2094
2093

2087

2088
2086

Converts micrometri particulis infcrupula lecunda^
primo correximus diametri decrementum a refradti-
one ortum, nam diameter obfervata inclinabatur ad
horizontem gradibus circiter 18, ut idem telefcopium
indicavit: base autem corredtio in ultima obfervatione,
Vol. LIV. L 1 in

[ 258 ]

in qua maxima fuit, inventa eft i",2. Secundo, ex
obfervationis hora determinavimus Lunas horarium,
ac declinationem, atque inde ejus altitudinem turn
veram, turn apparentem. Tertio, ex iis inveftigavi-
mus Lunas diametrum horizontalem ope trianguli
conftituti a femidiametro terrcftri, atque a redis dudis
a centro Lunas ad lpedatorem, & ad telluris centrum.
Ex fingulis obfervationibus has prodierunt.

Diam.horiz, Lunas.

Ex. obf.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Media

augenda eft

//

l77 3>
I772=
J772’

Diameter Lunas horizon-
talis die quarta Aprilis circa

7 horam odavani ex Parif.

8 Ephem. eadem eft adamuf-

9 ftm, ac in ipfa eclipii, in quo
1768, 4 feniibilis error efte non poteftj

1770, o cum enim Luna circa Apo-

1769,0 gasum verfaretur, diametri
• variationes erant exigus, quas

1771, 1 Aftronomicas Tabulas exhi-
bent fatis accurate : tantum

ea quantitate, quam poftulat apparens
altitudo Lun$ 1 ih 3o;, quas fuit circiter grad. 52 4 :
quo fado additamento diametrum Lunas obtinuimus
1793/ 32' Ab ea quam ex Eclipfi collegimus, dif-
crimen eft 3", quod ad unicum redigitur, ft rejician-
tur tres pofteriores obfervationes, quas minus certas
arbitramur, quia oculus prioribus defatigatus (fumma
enim opus erat contentione) fortafte fadus eft minus
idoneus ad languidam Lunae lucem percipiendam.

XLVI. A

A

Fy.l.

A

C 2S9 ]

XL VI. The Defcription of a New Hygro-

meter , invented by James Fergufon, F.R. S.

Read Nov. 8, t ]\f this machine (Tab. XVI. Fig. i. and 2.)

I7&4' 1 A AAA is a frame of wainfcot or ma-

hogany, grooved in the innermoft edges of the two longeft
fides, for holding a pannel BBBB of white deal-board,
without pinching it. The pannel is about the thicknefs
of a crown piece, and fifteen inches in length, crofs-wife
,to the grain of the wood. The middle part projects out-
ward from the upper and lower edges, at C and C, where
it is faftened into the frame by two fcrews, to keep the
middle part always in the fame place, whilft the reft of
the pannel expands by moifl air toward both ends'of the
frame, and contracts toward the middle when the air is
dry. F is a pin fixt into the pannel near one of its ends,
and a round pin is fixt near the other end of the pannel,
on which the large pulley H turns, and alfo the fmall
pully G which is fixed to H. One end of a fmall flexible
cord DE is faftened to the pinF, and the other end goes
round the pully G, and is fixt into the bottom of its groove,
as at h. One end of another fmall cord I K is fixed into
the bottom of the groove of the large pulley H, as at a ,
from which it goes round the part a i H ; and in its way
thence to M it goes round a fmall pulley L, in which an
axis is fixt, and turns in the piece O, which lies above the
pulley, and is fcrewed to the upper fide of the frame at
C. This cord goes over the pulley M (which turns cn a
round pin fixt into the pannel) and has a flattifh weight N
hung to it. — The pullies G and L are of equal diameters
in their grooves, which is only equal to a tenth part of the
diameter of the large pulley H in its groove. The pulley
M may be of any convenient fize.

Now it is plain, that as much as the pannel expands
between F and G, fo much will the pully G be removed
farther from the pin F; and juft fo much will the cord
DE turn the pulley G backward ; and any point in the

L 1 2 groove

r 260 ]

groove of the pulley Ii ten times as much, becaufe it is
ten times the diameter of G in the groove: and this mo-
tion will caufe rhe cord I K to turn the pulley L (and draw
up the weight N) ten times as much as the pulley G is
turned. So that, if the pannel expands a tenth part of
an inch, by moilt air, the pulley L will be turned quite
round: and half round if the pannel expands but a 20th
part of an inch: As the air grows dry, the pannel con-
tracts, and the weight M defcends and turns all the pul lies
the contrary way.

The back of the plate A A (Fig. 2.) is fcrewed to the
other fide of the frame (Fig. i.)lo as the ftraight edge of
the plate may be even with the uppermoft fide of the
frame, and the center B (Fig. 2.) may be direCtly over the
center of the pully L (Fig. 1.) on whofe axis the index
BC (Fig. 2.) is fixed. And as the pulley L is turned by
the cord IK, the index will be moved on the plate, and
Ihew the degrees of moiflure or drynefs of the air.

If the expanfion and contraction of the pannel be fo
great as to move the index beyond the limits of the degrees
on the plate, this may be remedied by putting on a larger
pulley at L. — But if not great enough, in very wet and
very dry weather, to move the index through all the de-
grees 011 the plate, the pulley L mult be made lefs in dia-
meter accordingly.

Ar. B. In three or four years at moll, a new pannel fhould
be put into the frame: becaufe, when the old one has been fo
long expofed to the air, it will almoft ceafe to be affected thereby.
And therefore, a large thick piece of deal Ihould be kept in re-
ferve for that purpose ; and about the thicknefs of a card always
planed off that fide from which the new pannel is to be taken.

At G and M, there muft be fmall knobs of fome hard wood
glued on the back of the pannel below the graduated plate, to
make a proper thicknefs for holding the wires upright and fait on
which the pullies G and M do turn : for othcrvvifc, the wires
would foon loofen in the pannel.

2 c

XLVII. Exfe-

[ 261 ]

XLV1I. Experiments and Observations on the Compref-
JibiBty of Water and feme other Fluids , by John
Canton, M. A. aiid F. R. S.

Read Nov. 8,
1764.

’N a paper lately laid before the Roy-
al Society *, I net only related the
experiments by which I found water to be com-
prefllble, but alfo thofe by which I difeovered how
much a given weight would comprefs it when in
a temperate degree of heat. By limilar experiments
made fince, it appears that water has the remarkable
property of being more compreflible in winter than
in fummerj which is contrary to what I have
obferved both in fpirit of wine and oil of olives :
thefe fluids are (as one would expedt water to be)
more comprefllble when expanded by heat, and lefs
fo when contracted by cold. Water and fpirit of
wine I have feveral times examined, both by the air-
pump and condenfer, in oppofite feafons of the year:
and, when Fahrenheit’s thermometer has been at ^4
degrees, I have found the water to be com prefled
by the mean weight of the atmofphere 49 parts in a
million of its whole bulk, and the fpirit of wine 60
parts ; but when the thermometer has been at 64
degrees, the fame weight would comprefs the water
no more than 44 parts in a million, and the fpirit of
wine no lefs than 71 of the fame parts. In making
thefe experiments, the glafs ball containing the fluid
to be comprefled muft be kept under water, that the
heat of it may not be altered during the operation.

The compreflion by the weight of the atmofphere,
and the fpecific gravity of each o! the following fluids,
(which are all that I have yet tried,) were found when
the barometer was at 294 inches, and the thermo-
meter at 50 degrees.

* See Philofophical Tranfa&ions, Vol. LII. p. 640.

[ 262 ]

Millionth parts. Specific gravity.
Compreffion of fpirit of wine 66 — 846

Oil of olives 48 — 918

Rain-water - 46 — 1000

Sea- water - - 40 — 1028 1

Mercury - - 3 — 13595

Thefe fluids are^not only compreffible, but aifo
eiaftic : for if the weight by which they are naturally
compreffed be diminifhed, they expand; and if that by
which they are compreffed in the condenfer be re-
moved, they take up the fame room as at firft. That
this does not arife from the elafficity of any air the
fluids contain, is evident ; becaufe their expanfion,
by removing the weight of the atmofphere, is not
greater than their compreffion by an equal additional
weight : whereas air will expand twice as much by
removing half the weight of the atmofphere, as it
will be compreffed by adding the whole weight of
the atmofphere.

It may aifo be worth obferving, that the compref-
fions of thefe fluids, by the fame weight, are not in
the inverfe ratio of their denfities or fpecific gravities,
as might be fuppofed. The compreffion of fpirit of
wine, for inftance, being compared with that of
rain-water, is greater than in this proportion, and the
compreffion of lea-water is lefs.

The weight of 324 feet of fea- water is equal to
the mean weight of the atmofphere : and, as far as
trial has yet been made, every additional weight equal
to that of the atmofphere, compreffes a quantity of
fea- water 40 millionth parts; now if this conflantly
holds, the fea, where it is two miles deep, is com-
preffed by its own weight 69 feet 2 inches ; and the
water at the bottom is compreffed 1 3 parts in icoo.

XLVI1I. Conafi

[ 263 ]

XLVIII. Concife Rules for computing the
Fjfe&s of RefraBion and Parallax in va-
rying the Apparent Diflance of the Moon
from the Sun or a Star ; alfo an eafy Rule
of Approximation for computing the D fi-
ance of the Moon from a Star, the Lon-
gitudes and Latitudes of both being given ,
with Demonflrations of the fame : By the
Rev. Nevil Mafkelyne, A. M. Fellow of
Trinity College, in the Univerfity of Cam-
bridge, and F. R. R.

Read Nov. 15, 1 H E following rules, excepting

one, are the fame which 1 have
already communicated to the Royal Society, but with-
out demonftration, in a letter to the reverend Dr.
Birch from St. Ilt-lcna, containing the refults of my
obfervations of the distance of the Moon from the
Sun and fixed ftars, taken in my voyage thither, for
finding the longitude of the fhip from time to time;
fince printed in Part II. Vol. LH. of the Philofophi-
cal TranfaCtions for 1762. The two rules for the
correction of refraCtion and parallax 1 have alfo
fince communicated to the public in my Britifh Ma-
riner’s Guide to the difcovery of longitude from like
obfervations of the Moon ; and have added in the
Preface a rule for computing a fecond but fmaller cor-
rection of parrallax, neceffary on account of a fmall

imperfection

4

[ a6+ ]

imperfection lying in the firSt rule derived from the
fluxions of a Spherical triangle. To the rules I have
here fubjoined their demonstrations.

With refpeCt to the ufefulnefs of thefe rules, I
cannot but entertain hopes that they will appear more
Ample and eafy than any yet propofed for the fame
purpofe : the lait rule, for computing the diftance of
the Moon from a ftar, though only an approximation,
being fo very exaCt, feems particularly adapted for the
conftruCtion of a nautical Ephemeris, containing the
distances of the Moon from the Sun and proper fixed
Stars ready calculated for the purpofe of finding the
longitude from obfervations of the Moon at lea ; an
affiftance which, in an age abounding with fo many
able computers, mariners need not doubt they will
be provided with, as Soon as they manifelt a proper
difpofition to make ufe of it.

A RULE

To compute the contraction of the apparent distance
of any two heavenly bodipc by rpfraCtion • the ze-
nith distances of both, and their distance from each
other being given nearly.

Add together the tangents of half the fum, and
half the difference of the zenith distances ; their fum,
abating io from the index, is the tangent of arc the
firSt. To the tangent of arc the firft, juft found,
add the co-tangent of half the distance of the Stars ;
the fum, abating io from the index, is the tangent
of arc the Second. Then add together the tangent
of double the firSt arc, the co-fecant of double the

fecond

T////OJ. Trcuw. Vri.ZIV. TAB.XM.

i

%.% ssHjmJf l/".

[ a65 ]

double the fecond arch, and the conftant logarithm
of ii 4" or 2,0569: the fum abating 20 from the
index, is the logarithm of the number of feconds
required, by which the diftance of the liars is con-
tracted by refraCiion: which therefore added to the
obferved diftance gives the true diftance cleared from
the effeCt of refraction.

Explication of the foundation of the preceding rule.

This rule is founded upon an hypothecs that the
refraCtion in altitude is as the tangent of the zenith
diftance : and the refraCtion at the altitude of 45
degrees being 57" , according to Dr. Bradley’s ob-
fervations, therefore the refraCtion at any altitude,
calling the radius unity is = 57" x tangent of the
zenith diftance. This rule is exaCt enough for the
purpofe of the calculation of the longitude from
obfervations of the diftance of the Moon from ftars
at fea as low down as the altitude of io°, for there
the error is only 10" from the truth. But, if the
altitude of the Moon or ftar be lefs than io°, the rule
may be ftill made to anfwer fufticiently, by only firft
correcting the obferved zenith diftances by fubftraCt-
ing from them three times the refraCtion correfpond-
ing to them taken out of any common table of re-
fraCtion, and making the computation with the zenith
diftances thus corrected. This correction depends
upon Dr. Bradley’s rule for refraCtion, which he found
to anfwer, in a manner exactly, from the zenith
quite down to the horifon, namely that the refraCtion
is = 57" x tangent of the apparent zenith diftance
Vol. LIV. M m leffened

[ 266 ]

lefTened by three times the correfponding refra&ion
taken out of any common table.

Demonftration of the preceding rule.

Let ZXY Tab. XVII. Fig. i. reprefent a fphe-
rical triangle formed by great circles joining the ze-
nith Z and the ftars X and Y. Refradtion adting
in the vertical circles ZX and ZY wilL carry the
Rar X nearer the zenith by a quantity Xb=z^y" x
tangent of Z X, and the ftars Y towards Z by the
quantity Y d= 57" x tangent of Z Y ; fo that the
apparent diftance of the two ftars will be b d inftead
of X Y or lefs than X Y, the true diftance, by the Sun of
the two little fpaces Xa> Y ey terminated by the perpen-
ndiculars b a and d e. The little fpace X a — X b X
cofine of the angle ZXY (calling radius unity) =
57 " X tang, of Z X x cofine of angle ZXY, or,
by fpherics, = 57" x tang, of X P. (Z P being an
arch drawn from Z perpendicular to the arch XY).
In like manner the little fpace Ye — 57" X tang, of
Y P ; and therefore X a 4- Y e or the total effedt of
refradtion = 57" x tang. XP ~\- tang Y P. Let
M be the middle of the arch X Y, and put the tan-
gent of X M or Y M or X Y = t> and the tan-
gent of M P, or the diftance of the perpendicular
Z P from M the middle of the arch XY = By

trigonometry, tang, of X P or XM-j-MPz:—,
and tang, of Y P or Y M — M P — * — — ; the funi

1 + t n

of which, or tang. XP -f tang. YP

t + n

+

t — n

2i + 2t n
I — fn*

2 t n
l-fnx

I + ri
2 n

1 -tn

2. Now

1 -Ytn

2 t n

[ 267 ]

is the tangent of double the angle whofe tan-
gent is t n, and t n or the product of the tangents
of 4- X Y and M P, by fpherics, is equal to the
product of the tangents of half the fum and half
the difference of the zenith diffances Z X and Z Y ;

whence n- *s ecluai t0 ^ tangent of double arch

the firft found by the rule. Alfo arch the fe-
cond found by the rule being by fpherics — M P,

whofe tangent is reprefented by 72, and being

2> Tl

by trigonometry equal to the cofecant of double the

arch whofe tangent is therefore — ^ = cofecant

of 2 MP or double arch the fecond. Whence
the rule is manifeft; namely, that Ha q-' Y e, the
total effeCt of refraction in contracting the apparent
diffance of the two ftars = 57" x tan. X Pq-tan. YP
= double 57" or 114" x tang, of double the frit
arch x cofecant of double the fecond arch. Q^E.D.

REMARK.

When the perpendicular arch ZP, let fall from
the Zenith on the arch X Y, falls without the trian-
gle Z X Y, the effeCt of refraCtion in diminifhing
the apparent diftance of the ftars X, Y is the differ-
ence of X a and Y e : but the rule being general,

gives always the fum or difference, which- ever it be,
which is a great advantage* and removes all grounds
of ambiguity in the correction of refraCtion ; as the
the total effeCt thereof always diminifhes the dift-
ance of two ftars from each other, however they are
pofited.

Mm2

A

26 8 ]

A RULE

To compute the contraction or augmentation of the
apparent diftance of the Moon from a ftar, on ac-
count of the Moon’s parallax ; the zenith diftances
of the Moon and ftar, and their diftance from
each other being given nearly.

Add together the tangents of half the fum, and
half the difference of the zenith diftances of the
Moon and ftar, and the cotangent of half the dift-
ance of the Moon from the ftar ; the fum, abating
20 from the index, is the tangent of an arch, which
call A. Then, if the zenith diftance of the Moon
is greater than that of the ftar, take the Sum of the
arch A, juft found, and half the diftance of the
Moon from the ftar; but, if the zenith diftance of
the Moon be lefs than that of the ftar, take the
difference of the faid arch A and half the diftance
of the Moon from the ftar ; and the fum, or dif-
ference call B. To the tangent of B, thus found,
add the cofine of the Moon’s zenith diftance, and
the logarithm of the Moon’s horizontal parallax, ex-
prelf'ed in minutes and decimals ; the fum, abating
20 from the index, is the logarithm of the effedl of
parallax, tending always to augment the apparent
diftance of the Moon from the ftar ; except the ze-
nith diftance of the Moon be lefs than that of the
ftar, and, at the fame time, the arch A be greater
than half the diftance of the Moon from the ftar,
in which cafe the effedt of parallax diminifhes the ap-
parent diftance of the Moon from the ftar.

2 DEMON-

[ 269 ]

DEMONSTRATION.

In the fpherical triangle Z L S, fee Fig. 2, 3,4,
and 5th, Z reprefents the zenith, L the Moon, and
S the ftar; the effedt of parallax deprefling the
Moon from L to r, r is the apparent place of the
Moon, and r S the apparent diftance of the Moon
from the ftar; let fall the perpendicular L t upon
r S, produced if neceffary, and r t will be the dif-
ference of L S and r S, or the effedt of parallax.
Draw the arch ZP perpendicular to to rS, and let
M be the middle of rS. The Moon’s parallax in
altitude, being to her horizontal parallax, as the
line of her apparent zenith diftance, to the radius,
Lr = Moon’s horizontal parallax x fine of Z r;
and rt the effedt of parallax upon the apparent di-
ftance of the Moon from the ftar will be — L r x
cof. Z r S — horizontal parallax x fin. Z r x cof.
ZrS (or, becaufe tan. rP : cof. ZrP :: tan Z r :
rad :: fin Zr : cos Z.r ; and therefore fin. Z r xcos
Z r S = cof. Z r x tan r P) — horizontal parallax
X cof. Zr x tan. rP agreeably to the rule. For
it is evident by fpherics that the arch A, found by
the rule, is the fame with M P the diftance of the
perpendicular from the middle of the arch rS : and
it is evident, by the infpedion of the figures, that
the arch B or r P is equal to the fum of rM and
M P, if the zenith diftance of the Moon be greater
than that of the ftar, as in Fig. 2d and 4th ; but is
the difference of r M and M P, if the zenith dif-
tance of the Moon be lefs than that of the ftar, as
in Fig. 3d and 5th. Laftly, it may appear from the

confideration

[ 270 ]

eonfideratlon of the figures, that, as the effeCt of par-
allax depreftes the Moon directly towards the hori-
zon, fo it will always encreafe her apparent diftance
from a ftar, except in the cafe reprefented by Fig.
5th i that is to fay, unlefs the zenith diftance of the
Moon be lefs than that of the ftar, and, at the fame
time, the arch M P be greater than r M or half
the diftance of the Moon from the ftar. Q^E. D.

Remarks on the ufe of the two foregoing rules.

It has been remarked, after the rule for refraCtion
above, that if the altitudes of the Moon or ftar are
under 10 degrees, the zenith diftances muft be firft
lefiened by 3 times the refractions correfponding to
their refpeCtive altitudes before the effeCt of refrac-
tion be computed.

But in order to compute the effeCt of parallax from
the fecond rule, the obferved diftance of the Moon
from the ftar muft be firft corrected by adding the
effeCt of refraCtion to it found by rule the firft ;
as muft the obferved altitudes of the Moon and ftar
be alfo corrected by taking from them their refpec-
tive refraCtion in altitude, and the corrected arches
thus found muft be made ufe of in computing the
parallax. Only, if the altitudes of the Moon and
ftar are both 10 degrees or more, part of the calcu-
lation of rule the fecond may be faved, and arch the
fecond, found by rule the firft, taken for arch A in
the fecond rule without any fenfible error. In this
cafe, it will be moft convenient to obferve the fol-
lowing order of computation inftead of that before
4 prefcribed

[ 27* ]

prefcribed to be ufed when the altitudes are under I o

degrees.

i ft. Making ufe of the apparent altitudes of the
Moon and ftar uncorreded, compute arches the firft
and fecond by the directions contained in the rule of
refradion.

2dly. Taking arch the fecond for arch A in the
rule of parallax, compute the effed of parallax ac-
cording to rule the fecond.

3 dly. With arches the firft and fecond compute the
effeCt of refraction by rule the firft.

4thly, and laftly. Applying the two corrections of
parallax and refradion duly, according to the rules, to
the obferved diftance of the Moon from the ftar, you
will have the true and corred diftance of the Moon
from the ftar, cleared both of refradion and paral-
lax.

A RULE

For computing a fecond, but fmaller corredion than
the firft, neceffary to be applied to the obfervations
of the diftance of the Moon from a ftar on ac-
count of parallax.

Call the principal effed of parallax, found by the
preceding rule, the parallax in diftance ; and find
the parallax anfwering to the Moon’s altitude. Then
to the conftant logarithm 0.941 add the logarithm
of the fum of the parallax in altitude and the paral-
lax in diftance, the logarithm of the difference of
the fame parallaxes, and the cotangent of the ob-
ferved diftance of the Moon from the ftar (correct-
ed for refradion, and the principal effed of paral-
lax), the fum, abating 13 from the index, is the

logarithm

[ 272 ]

logarithm of the number of feconds required, being
the fecond correction of parallax ; and is always to
be added to the diftance of the Moon from the
ftar, firft corrected for refraCtion, and the principal
effeCt of parallax found above, in order to obtain the
true diftance ; unlefs the diftance exceeds 90 degrees,
in which cafe it is to be fubftraCted.

DEMONSTRATION.

Let L Fig. 6. reprefent the Moon’s true place in
the fphere, and r her apparent place as depreffed by
parallax, S the place of the ftar, and L t a perpen-
dicular let fall from the true place of the Moon L
upon the great circle r S joining the ftar S and the
apparent place of the Moon r; (all as in the four
figures belonging to the preceding rule). Let L a
be the arch of a parallel circle defcribed from the
ftar S as a pole through the true place of the Moon L.
S# terminated by the parallel circle L a, and not
terminated by the perpendicular L f, as was fuppoled
in the former demonstration, is equal to S L or the
true diftance of the Moon from the ftar, which was
therefore computed too fmall from the former rule
by the little fpace a t. Let L T and a T be the
equal tangents of the equal arches L S and a S in
L and a, meeting in the radius C S, drawn from
the centre of the fphere C and produced, in T. The
fpace hat, on account of its fmallnefs, may be look-
ed upon as lying all in one plane namely haT, and
ha as the fmall arch of a circle defcribed from the
point T as a centre with the line L T as a radius,
V thro’

[ 273 ]

through L and a , L/ as the fine, and at as the
verfe-fine of the arch L a ; and confequently <2 t
equal to the fquare of L t divided by 2 L T. But,
the triangle Lr/ being right-angled in t, the fquare
ot is equal to the difference of the fquares of
L r and r t> and confequently to the product of their

fum and difference ; that is to fay, at =

2 L TP

or (becaufe the tangent T L is equal to the fquare
of the radius C S divided by the cotangent of L S)

= LHT7? Now fup-

2 x lquare ot Cb V

pofe the fpaces Lr, rt to be expreffed in minutes,
which will be mod: convenient in practice, then the
radius of the iphere C S muff be taken equal to
3437t> f°r many minutes are contained in an arch
of a circle equal to its radius : and at will be - —
L r + rt -f- L r — rt x cotan. of L S ^ ,

~ • But> the eontan-

gents of nmilar arches of circles of different radii
being diredtly as the radii, therefore the cotangent
of L S to the radius CS or 34372., is to the cotan-
gent of the fame arch to 10000000000, which is
the radius to which the logarithmic tables are adapt-
ed, its logarithm being io; as 34374 to 10000000000.

Therefore the cotangent of L S — tabular cotangent
of L S x 34.37 i ...

10000000W wlllch> beinS fubftituted in the value
of at above, gives at> expreffed in minutes =
Lr + rZ + Lr - r t x tabular cotangent L S . .

T5 ; or, multi-

oo755°°°oooooo

plying by 60, the value of at will come cut in fe-
Vol, LIV. N n conds

[ 27+ ]

conds — — + r t x L r — rt x tabular cotangent of L S

1146000000000

The logarithm of the denominator 1146000000000
is 12,059, hiftead of fubftracfting which, when the
operation is performed by logarithms, add 0,941
(its compliment to 13) to the value of the numera-
tor found in logarithms, and fubftracft 13 from the
index : the remainder will be the value of at in
feconds. Q. E. D.

A concife rule to find the diflance of the Moon from a
zodiacal far, very nearly ; the difference of the longi-
tudes of the Moon and ftar , and the latitudes of both
being given .

To the coline of the difference of the longitudes
add the coline of the difference of the latitudes, if
both of the fame denomination, or fum ; if of con-
trary denominations, the fum of the two logarithms,
abating 10 from the index, is the coline of the ap-
proximate diftance. This gives the true diftance of
the Moon from the Sun, being then nothing more
than the common rule for finding the hypothenufe
of a right-angled fphcrical triangle from the two
lides given. But in the cafe of a zodiacal liar apply
the following corre&ion to the approximate diftance
thus found.

To the conftant logarithm 5.3144 add the line of
the Moon’s latitude, the line of the liar’s latitude, the
verfe-fine of the difference of longitude, and the
cofecant of the approximate diftance j the fum of
thefe 5 logarithms, abating 40 from the index, is
the logarithm of a number of feconds, which fub-

ftra&ed

C 275 ]

{trailed from the approximate diftance, found before,,
if the latitudes of the moon and jftar are of the fame
denomination,^ or added thereto, if they are of dif-
ferent denominations, gives the true diftance of the
Moon from the ftar.

. This rule, though only an approximation,

is fo very exadt, that even, if the latitude of the Moon
was 5 , and that of the ftar 1 50, the error would be
only io7/; and if the latitude' of the Moon be 50,
and that of the ftar io3, the error is only 4" 4 ; and
if the latitudes be lefs, will be lefs in proportion as
the fquares of the fines of the latitudes decreafe.

demonstration.

Let P [Fig. 7.] reprefentoneof the poles of the eclip-
and Q^R the places of the Moon and ftar. From
R let the arch of a great circle R D be drawn per-
pendicular to P By fpherics, the tangent of
= tangent of P R x cofine of the angle RPD.
And, by trigonometry, cofineof QJD or (QP-PD)
= col- QJ' x cof. PD + fin. QP x fin. PD =
cof. Qj>xcof. P D 4. fin. Qj> x cof. P D x tan. P D

= cof- P D x col. QP 4. fin. Q4 x tan. P D = cof.

P D X col. o P 4- fin. 04 x tan. P R x col. P
.-.cof. QJ) : cof. P D : : cof. QP + fin. Q P x tan. P R
X cof P : 1. But, by fpherics, cof. QD : cof. P D : :
cof. R Qj_ cof. P R .-. cof. R Qj cof. PR:: cof.
Q P 4 fin. QP x tan. P R x cof. P ; i. Whence cof.
R Q = c°f- PR X cof. QP 4. fin. QP X fin. PR
X cof. P : Now, by trigonometry, cof (QP — PR)

N n 2 = cof.

[ 276 ]

cof. QP X cof. P R + fin* QP X fin. P R j
whence fin. QP X fin. P R = cof. (Qj5 — PR) —
cof. QP X cof. P R j which being fubftituted above,
gives cof. R Qj= cof. (QP — P R) X cof. P — cof.
PR X cof. QP x cof. P -p cof. P R X cof. Q P =
cof. (QJP — PR) x cof. P 4- verfe-fine P X cof.
P R X cof. QP. Now put cof. (QJP — P R) X
cof. P — cof. G, or the approximate difiance, then
cof. R Q^- — cof. G, or (becaufe the difference of

R Qjmd G is but fmall) G — R Q^X fin* (G+

= verfe-fine P x cof. P R X cof. P Q nearly.
Whence RQ== G — _verl'-|'ine P x cof. P R x cof^P

nearly — G
QJE. D.

V.

lirt. Cj + K Ci.

f. P X cof. P R X cof. QP
~ lin. G

nearly.

Note , the error of this formula arifes from
takino- G — JL±_!L5-by which means it will always

give R Q too great, nearly by the following quan-
tity, L S q cof. P R X S q cof. Q P X cot. G X S q
tan. 1 G. This comes to a maximum when G is
6o°, and is then = 4 X S q cof. R P X S q cof.

P Q. If the latitudes of the Moon and ftar are both
r° it is= 1". If the Moon’s latitude be 50, and that
of the fiar io°, it is = 4" 4; and if the latitude
of the fiar be 1 50 it is = 10",

XLIX.

[ 277 ]

XLIX. Extra& of a Letter from Mr . John
Winthrop, Profejfor of Mathematicks in
Cambridge, New England, to James
Short, A . M. F. R . S.

SIR, Dated June 6, 1764.

Read Nov. 1 5, TT AM greatly obliged to you for your
*764- candid and judicious remarks on my

obfervation of Venus on the Sun, which I received
from my much-efteemed friend Dr. Franklin. X
wrote to the Dr. pretty largely on the fubjeift, which
I defired him to communicate to you : but when I
had the pleafure of a vifit from him laft fummer, he
could not recolledt whether he had done it or not.

I therefore beg leave now to trouble you with the fub-
ftance of it. Your remarks turned on two points,
the longitude of the place of obfervation, and the
equation of time when found by equal altitudes. As
to the firft, I was fo diffident of the obfervation on
the Moon, that I chofe to keep to the longitude of
St. John’s, as fet down by Sir JonasMoore, who makes
it 520 50' Weft of Greenwich. Though I did not
think it needful to mention this doubt in the pamph-
let, which was publifhed foon after I got home, to-
gratify the curiofity of my countrymen, yet I ex-
preffed it fully in a written account of the obfervation,
drawn up in a different form, and fent to the late
Dr. Bradley, but which I believe never reached his
hands.

As-

[ 278 ]

As to the equation of the time of noon, depend-
ing on the change of the Sun’s declination, I did not
make it in that pamphlet. I had all along intended
to calculate it when I fhoula fettle the refult of the
obfervation, though I knew it mud be very fmall, as
the Sun did not alter his declination, then, above
i in 4 hours. But when I came to obferve the con-
tacts, and found that I could not be fure of them
within 2" or 4 > whereas Dr. Halley’s papers led me
to expeCt that I might obferve them to a tingle fe-
cond, I thought it hardly worth while to calculate
this equation, as the precife moments of the contacts
could not be fixed by it. — But I have fince done it,
and find it to be 4"' to be fubftraCted from the middle
time. An account of the obfervation, thus corrected,
I fent lad fummer to Profeflor Blils at Greenwich,
concluding, from his dation, that the obfervations
from different parts of the world would be collected
and compared by him. But having fince underftood
that that affair is in your hands, though I have not
yet had the pleafure of feeing your paper upon it,
and having had no return from Mr. Bids, I afk leave
to tranfmit a copy of it to you ; and if \ou will be
pleafed to give it a place in your TranfaCtions with a
remark at the end (if you think it proper) flowing
what the Suns parallax comes out from the obferva-
tion as it now dands (which I fuppofe will not differ
much from the other determinations) I fhall take it
as a favour. This will do honour to the govern-
ment who employed me. Perhaps, too, poderity may
be glad to fee, and may make ule of, the only ob-
fervation of this rare phenomenon that was made in
America. I am, &c.

John Winthrop.

L. Obfcr-

[ 279 ]

L. Obfervation of the \ Tranfit of Venus,
June 6, 1761, St. John’s, Newfound-
land : By John Winthrop, Profejfor of
Mathematicks and Philofophy at Cam-
bridge, New England.

Read Nov. 15, rip H E tranfit of Venus over the
X Sun, being a very curious and im-
portant phcenomenon, engaged the attention of A-
merica as well as Europe. His excellency Francis
Bernard, Efq; governor of the Maffachufetts-Bay, a
gentleman who feizes every opportunity of advanc-
ing the fciences, was defirous to have an obfervation
of it in this quarter of the world ; and as Newfound-
land was the only Britifh plantation where one could
be had, propofed to the General Affembly at Bofton
to make provifion for that purpofe, which they rea-
dily agreed to do. In confequence whereof, .1 im-
barked on board a veffel in the fervice of the govern-
ment, taking with me for affiftants two young gen-
tlemen my pupils ; and fuch agronomical inftruments >
out of the college apparatus as were neceffary. Thefe
were, an excellent clock, Hadley’s oCtant with no- •
nius divifions ; a refracting telefcope with wires at
half right angles, for taking differences of right af-
cenfion and declination ; and a nice reflecting tele-
fcope, adjufted by crofs levels, and having verti-
cal and horizontal wires, for taking correfpon- -
dent altitudes ; or differences of altitudes and azi-
muths. .

We ■

[ 280 ]

We arrived at St. John’s Newfoundland the 22d
of May, where we met with a very kind reception,
and all the afiiftance we could defire. As this town
is bounded with high mountains toward the fun-rifing,
10 that no houfe in it would anfvver our end, we
encamped on an eminence at fome diftance, from
whence we could fee the Sun prefently after his rifing.

Hither we conveyed our inftruments, and fecured
the clock to a pillar fet in the ground under a tent.
Near this tent, and within call of the clock, we
fixed two other pillars firmly in the ground ; one,
to mount the refra&ing telelcope on ; the other,
which was above 8 feet high, for a fiyle or gnomon,
having at top a plate of lead with a little hole for
tran fmitting the Sun’s rays ; and we laid an horizon-
tal platform to receive thofe rays. The platform we
kept covered, to defend it from the Sun and wea-
ther : and examined its pofition every time we made
ufe of it, by a very long level. On this we careful-
ly drew a meridian line, by correfpondent altitudes
of the Sun, taken both by the refledtor and by the
Sun s image on the platform. Thefe operations we
repeated every fair day, and feveral times in a day.
It would be tedious, as well as needlefs, to give a
detail of them : ’tis fufficient that we adjufted the
clock with as much exa&nefs as we could have done
at home.

Thus prepared, we waited for the critical hour,
which proved favourable to our wifhes. The morn-
ing was ferene and calm. The Sun rofe behind a
cloud that lay along the horizon, but foon got above
it ; and at 4h i8' we had the pleafure of feeing Ve-
nus on the Sun j though dimly indeed at firfl. But
i the

[ 281 ]

the planet prefently became diftinCt, and her limb
well defined. Upon this, I applyed myfelf to ob-
ferve the paffage of the Sun’s and Venus’s preceding
limbs, by the vertical, and of their lower limbs by
the horizontal, wires in the refleCtor, and made the
following obfervations ; one of my alliftants counting
the clock, and the other writing down the obferva-
tions as I made them ; which, having made the pro-
per correction of the time for the change of the Sun’s
declination, Hand as follows.

True time.

' h

j n

At 4 21 20 Sun at the vertical

31 Venus at the fame

23 6 Venus at the horizontal -

24. 23 Sun at the fame. -

27 29 Venus at the horizontal —

28 47 Sun at the fame

35 15 Sun at the vertical — —

21 Venus at the fame

37 49 Venus at the horizontal -
39 9 Sun at the fame

diff. long.

o&?

g Lat, South.

/

//

/

Jt

10

47

9

2

9

4

10

50

9

25

10

52

10

55

9

56

1.0

8

II

00

„ As Venus began now to draw near the Sun’s limb,
I prepared to obferve her egrefs. The interior con-
tact did not appear fo perfectly inftantaneous, as Dr„
Halley’s papers led me to expeCt. I was not certain
of it till 411 47' 21/ , though I doubted of it at ij".
The exterior contaCt I judged to be at 5h 5' 49",
doubtful alfo 3 or 4 " ; and fo the paffage of Venus’s
diameter, 18' 28//.

The above obfervations gave me feveral altitudes and
azimuths of Venus, from whence I deduced her

Vol. LIV. O o right.

C 282 ]

right afcenfions and declinations ; and from them,
her longitudes and latitudes. The refultof the whole,
or the planet’s difference in longitude from the Sun’s
centre and her latitude, is fet down above, againft
each obfervation of Venus.

From hence I concluded that at the central emer-
fion, which I put at 411 56' 38", the difference of
longitude was if 19, and the latitude if 6".
Alio, that the conjundtion in longitude happened at
2h 4' 36", the planet’s latitude then being 9' 28 '.

In thefe calculations, I fuppofed the lemidiameter
of the Sun to be 1 5' 50", and of Venus 29".

By feveral obfervations, I found the latitude of the
place 47° 32' N ; which falls within the latitudes
laid down in feveral books and maps, which make it
from 470 25' to 48° o' . I could make no ufe of Ju-
piter’s fatellites in finding the longitude, as they were
not rifen high enough to be obferved above an hour
before day-light came on. There were but two of
their eclipfes that could have been vifible there while I
was on the iff and ; and though I watched for both
of them, I was difappointed of both by unfavourable
weather. Neither was I fortunate enough to get fo
much as one occultation of a fixed fiar by the Moon,
though I fpared no pains for it. The only obfervation
I could get for this purpofe was of the right afcenfion
of the Moon, which I endeavoured to find, by com-
paring with that of a fixed fiar. But whether any
mifiake was committed in counting the clock, or in
writing down the obfervations, or whether the pofiti-
on of the telelcope was difiurbed by any accident in
the interval between the Moon’s and ftar’s palling, I
am not able now to fay. However, as I am Icnlible

that

[ 283 ]

that obfervation is not to be depended on, I think it
needlefs to infert it here. The longitude of St. John’s
is var.oufly fet down by different authors, though
none I have met with mention the obfervations by
which it was determined. According to Sir Jonas
Moore, it is 52h 50' Weft from Greenwich; and as
his authority may be as good as any, I keep to this
longitude till it can be afcertained by farther obferva-
tions. I have taken meafures to procure fuch ; and

if they fucceed, fhall be ready to communicate the
relult.

I viewed the Sun with great attention in the reflec-
tor both on the 5th and 6th of June, in hopes to
hnd a fatellite of Venus j but in vain. There were
feveral fpots then on the Sun ; but none that I faw
could be a fatellite.

The variation of the needle there I found 190 W.

J. Winthrop.

REMARK.

Mr. Short has computed the parallaxes at the egrefs
for this obfervation at St. John’s, and by comparing this
obfervation with that at the Cape of Good Hope (on the
above longitude and latitude of St. John’s as fet down

by Mr. Winthrop) he finds the parallax of the Sun,
refulting therefrom, “ $",25.

O o 2

LI. An

[ 284 ]

LI. An Account of the EfeBs of Lightning
on three Ships in the Eaft- Indies ; By
Mr . Robert Veicht. . Communicated by

William Lewis, Mi D . and F. R. S.

%

Read Nov. 22, \ TJGUST the I ft 175°* Lilt.

•764- /A j° 56' N. Malacca bearing about
N. E. All this day there was a frefh breeze, S. to
S. S. E. the weather being hot and iultry. The
evening was fair and clear ; and when day-light was
gone, there was not a cloud in the fky ; and the wa-
ter was fo clear of vapour or mift, that the ftars
could be feen to rife out of the horizon.

This ferenity continued till about 2 A. M. when a
black cloud appeared above the horizon in the W.
and W. N. W. and continued to rife very faft ; and
the flafhes of lightening, which proceeded from it,
fucceeded each other very faft. In 4 of an hour, it
covered almoft half the hemifphere, and as it ap-
proached, the wind from the S. E. began to fan,

and died quite away at laft.

By the time the clouds had covered half the he-
mifphere, the wind proceeded iiom it in great
violence, and the flafhes of lightening were very
frequent, and we judged of their nearnefs to the
fhip by the interval betwixt the flatb and repoit,
according as this interval was longer or fhorter. The
whole heavens were now covered with this cloud,
and the ftafhes of lightening happened at times on
different fides of the fhip, which had all the tails
, furled

[ 285 ]

furled before it came upon her. It muft be remark-
ed, that the wind, which reached the {hip before
the thunder, brought with it a violent and heavy
rain, which fufficiently foaked the {hip and every
thing about her. The fhip was all this time, which
was in about half an hour after its firft appearance
above the weftern horizon, in the midft of repeated
flafhes of lightening, which were juft upon the fhip
by her trembling and fhaking on every explofion,
and the flafh and clap coming in the fame inftant,
and the officers and people were apprehenfive of
damage to the maft.

2 -i ’A. M. At this time a clap burft, as was judged
by the report, about mid-way betwixt the head of the
maft and the body of the fhip, or it might be* higher,
and in defcending might caufe that appearance, and
juft over it. This made the fhip tremble and {hake
as if {he was going to burft into pieces, and great
pieces and fplinters of the maft were fallen upon
different places of the fhip ; but it was fo very dark,
we could not fee from which of the mafts they were
forced.

Immediately after this firft came a fecond, which
burft juft above, and on the quarter deck of the fhip,
which by the report was as great, and being clofe
upon the deck was more terrifying than the former.

Here I muft take notice, that the wind brought
very heavy rain before the thunder came near the
flaip ; and in proportion as the thunder approached-
the fhip, the wind, which came in violent gufts at
firft, decreafed gradually, and the rain was lefs
heavy ; and when the thunder furrounded the fhip,
and broke upon her, it was aimoft calm. And we

could

[ 286 ]

could not only judge of the nearnefs of the thunder
by the tremor and fhaking of the fhip, and the re-
port inftantaneoufly following the flafh ; but we could
alfo hear feveral of the dallies fall into the water clofe
upon the fhip.

We reckoned, that the firft clap, which burft at
the main-mart, was what damaged the mart; the
lecond having burrt betwixt the main-mart and
mizen-maft.

At this time we came to an anchor, and conti-
nued till day-light, that we might examine into the
damage we had received ; for, as pieces of the mart
were carried to all places of the fhip, we imagined,
th at all the marts had been hurt.

At day-light we found, that the fore-mart and
mizen-maft had efcaped, and the main-mart had
fuffered as follows :

All the main-top-gallant-maft (which is the upper-
moft piece of the mart) from the rigging at the top of
it, to the cap at the head of the main-top-maft, was
entirely carried away, part falling over-board, and part
into the fhip in different places. The main-top-
mart had great pieces carried from it, from the hunes
down to the cap, at the head of the main-mart, fo
that it could but juft ftand, being hardly rtrong enough
to bear its own weight, and that of its rigging.
The main-mart being compofed of three pieces, to-
wards the top of it, thofe of the Tides, being of oak,
called the cheeks, were not hurt ; but the middle-
moft part, being of fir, was fhivered in feveral places,
and pieces were carried out out of it 6 or 7 inches
in diameter, and from 10 to 12 feet long, and this
in a circular defcending manner from the parrel of

the

[ 287 ]

the main-yard down to the upper deck of the {flip,
the pieces being taken out crooked, or circular, or
ftrait, according as the grain of the wood ran.
It mud be remarked, that thefe claps were not one
lingle explofion, but fuccefdve explofions, about the
dimendons, as near as we could guefs, of fmall
fhells, and continued fome time cracking after each
other ; and as the lightening is obferved to run notin
fit ait line, but zig zag, fo thefe different explofions
might be differently placed in the air j that when they
came to take fire and burft, they might take the
pieces out of the different fides of the maff as above
related.

In great fhips the mails are compofed of three
parts, eredled upon one another, the lowermofl part
is called by its proper name, the middlemofl part is
called the top-mad, and the uppermod part the
top-gallant-mad. The mad, which was here da-
maged, w'as the main-mad, or principal mad of the
fhip, and which dands near the middle j and fome-
times the name of main-mad is applied to all the
three pieces as they dand eredled, and fometimes to
the lower piece, or part of the mad only : and
when they are didinguidied feverally, they are called
the main-mad, main-top-mad, and main-top-gallant-
mad.

Each of thefe parts of the mad are divided as to
length, and have their proper names accordingly ;
and generally into three parts in common conven-
tion, viz. the head part, which reaches from the upper
extremity to the place, where the rigging is fixt ; the
middle part, which reaches from a little below the
rigging, to that place, where the lowermod part be-
4 gins,

[ 288 ]

gins, and this is often called the hoift, or holding
part ; and the lowermoft part, called the heel,
reaches to the lower extremity. There is the fame
divifion of all the three parts ; of which the maft is
compofed ; but of the lowermoft part of the maft,
the heel part of it is hid below the upper decK in the
body of the fhip.

At the top of the main-maft, on the extremity,
is fixed a piece of wood, which has a hole in it ;
and at the lower part of the head of the main-maft;
are alfo fixed lome pieces of wood crofs each other,
on which lies a fcaffolding called the top : through
thefe the top-maft is thruft upwards; and when
eroded at its greateft height, the lower part of the
top-maft, called the heel, and the upper part of the
main-maft he clofe to and againft each other, and
betwixt the top, or fcaffold, and the cap : and fo the
top-maft and top-gallant-maft together: but the head
part of the top-gallant-maft, as there is no other
above it, is tapered away to a point, whereon is fixed
an iron fpindle and vane.

As a fhip does not at all times carry her fail of the
fame height, but higher or lower in proportion to
the ftrength of the wind or other circumftances, it
is upon the middlemoft of the three parts above-
mentioned, into which the mafts are divided as to
length, that the fails are made to flip up and down,
and are attached to the maft by feveral pieces of
wood fixed by a rope round it to the yard, that ex-
tends the fail, and this flips up and down along
with the yard, and is called the parrel.

And as it is neceftary to cover thefe mafts with
fome matter, that may preferve them from the

weather

C 289 ]

weather and fun, they are therefore covered with
different kinds of matter, according to the ufes of the
different parts of the mart.

The head and heel parts of the mads are always
covered with tar mixed into a confidence with lamp
black, and this being frequently repeated, it forms
at lad a covering of the thicknefs of a crown, and
fometimes a quarter of an inch ; through which
as the Sun cannot pierce, it is commonly without
daw or rent j but the middlemod part, upon which
the fail dips up and down, is always rubbed with
tallow, or greafe, or hogs lard, to make it more '
dippery ; and this being frequently fcraped off, and
anointed afrefh, and in hot weather, or the fummer
time, it becomes extremely thin, being melted off,
and frequently and in many places rubbed off by the
dipping up and down of the fail and parrel, which
expofes it fo much, that the Sun fometimes rends it
from end to end almod, and fo deep as to reach the
centre of the mad, and an inch wide. But as the
yard, which extends the lowermod fail upon any of
the mads, is commonly carried at the fame height,
the middlemod part of this mad is ufually covered
with rofin mixed with tallow or oil, and fometimes
turpentine mixed with the fame ; and this being foft,
cracks and melts with the Sun, and fo leaves fome
places of the mad bare, and this will rend and fplit alfo
like the top-mad and top-gallant- mad, that are co-
vered with tallow or greafe, but not quite fo large
rents.

We are now to obferve, that no part of the top-
gallant mad or top-mad, that was covered with the
lamp black were touched with the thunder, the

Vol. LIV. P p grealy

[ 290 ]

o-reafy part only being carried away. The head of
die top-gallant-mad, from the rigging upwards to the
fpindle, was entire, as was alfo its heel, for the
lightening did not touch the heel, but milled the
whole both of top-gallant-maft and top-mad, that
lay betwixt the cap and upper end of the greafy part
of the mail. Of the top-mad great pieces were
carried out, of many feet in length, and 9 or 10
inches in thicknefs, and this on different fides of the
mad, for the whole length of the greafy part. From
the top of the main-mad to the upper end of that,
which is covered with turpentine, there was no da-
mage; but, from thence downwards, the cheeks
were darted off from the middle part, and pieces
taken out winding adant down the mad, and out of
the fir part many feet in length, and 6 and 7 inches
deep, and near the upper deck a piece as laige as the
body of a man, and 11 or 12 feet in length.

I imagine, that the vapour having infinuated ltfelf
into the rents and cracks of the mad, takes fire, and
expanding itfelf every way, is the occafion of pieces
of the mad being carried to the mod didant parts or
the fhip ; and, as a proof of this, the oak cheeks
above-mentioned, though extremely well fixed to
the middle part of the mad, which was of fir, by
fpikes and bolts, which were clinched, they having
fhrunk, and thereby having left the jointure a little
open, had made way for the vapour to infinuate lt-
felf, which might be the occafion, that the cheeks were
darted off at the lower part, and the rope, wherewith
they were woolded together to the middle part in
four different places, with 12 turns of 2 £ inch
rope in circumference, were burd all to pieces.

It

C 291 ]

It mud likewife be remarked, that the yards,
which lay in a horizontal pofition, were not touched
or hurt. Indeed they are always covered with lamp
black and tar, as the heels and heads of the mail:
are, and this frequently repeated ; yet they had many
and large rents in them ; but whether the matter,
which covered them, or their horizontal pofition, was
the reafon of their efcaping the thunder, is left to
the learned to determine. For in this fituation you
have nothing to do but to fit with your arms acrofs,
and compofe yourfelf in expectation of your fate.

I muft alfo take notice, that no part of the rigging
was hurt ; for although the middle part of the top-
gallant-mad, which was 18 feet long, and 9 inches
diameter, was entirely burfl: to pieces, and carried
away 3 yet the rigging, which furrounded the upper
part, was neither burnt, fcorclied, nor broke. Nei-
ther did it touch the caps on the mad heads, nor the
top, or round fcad'olding on the mad, and in this fhip
it was 18 feet broad ; and thefe as well as the yards
were covered with tar and lamp black, and made of
three inch deal.

I mud likewife take notice, that upon the upper
deck of the fhip are two convenient boxes built, di-
vided into two and into three parts, wherein are placed a
lamp, which burns in the night, and a compafs, where-
by the {hip is deered. One of thefe was placed very
near to the main-mad in the middle of the fhip, and
the other clofe to the mizzen-mad, and both the
lamps were burning at the time of the fil'd explo-
fion ; and immediately, upon orders given, all the
lights in the fhip were extinguifhed before the burd-
ing of the fecond clap ; the officers imagining the in-

P p 2 flammable

C 292 ]

flammable vapour might be attracted by the flame of
the lamp and fired thereby.

At the time- of the firft, I believe, there might
be more than fixty men upon deck, and fome of them
very near the maft at the very time of the clap.
Some of thefe were fiunned and beat down ; and
in their arms, where they thought themfelves hurt,
they had a numbnefs, which continued fome time,
but not any of them otherwife hurt. Luckily be-
fore the fecond, the men, who were upon the quarter
deck, in number about twenty, had time to retire under
the auning, which is a projection of the deck of the
cabin to fhelter from the fun or rain ; fo all efcaped
unhurt, though fufiiciently frighted. And indeed
the fecond ftafh was moft terrible, as it was an ex-
plofion of a great number of balls, which went oft
after each other, cracking like fhells, which conti-
nued for the fpace of half a minute j and from
which there was no retiring, as the door of the cabin
was fbut ; and I believe they might have fet the fhip
on fire, but for the great rain, which had fallen imme-
diately before this. After this time we were in no
more danger this night, the thunder being all paft
the fhip, lefs frequent, and not fo loud, and removing
by degrees to a greater diftance : and by day-light,
which is here a little after five, the fky was quite
cleared ; a fine day ; and the wind returned to the
S. E. quarter.

In thefe cafes of thunder there is not any precau-
tion taken farther, than flopping the upper part of
the pumps, becaufe they pierce all the decks even
to the outfide plank in the bottom of the fhip. If

[ 293 ]

in port the men are ordered under cover, and the
hatches are laid over and covered. The fcuttle to
the powder-room is well covered with wet fwabs,
and the pafiage fecured.

Before I end this account, I (hall give you the re-
lation of an accident from thunder at Batavia.

Anno 1746. A Dutch fhip, lying in the road of
Batavia, having taken leave of the governor, was
ready to depart for Bengal. The afternoon was
calm, and towards evening they had loofed their
fails, and lay ready to take up their anchor upon the
coming off of the wind from the land, which is
common every night. A black cloud was gathering
over the hills, and the wind brought it towards the
fhip : by the time the cloud and the wind reached
the fhip, a clap of thunder burft from it juft over
the fhip, and fet fire to the main-top-fail, which be-
ing very dry, burnt with great fury ; and this fet fire
to the rigging and mail. They immediately attempt-
ed to cut away the maft, but were hindered by the
falling of the rigging, which was burnt, from the
head of the maft. By degrees the fire communicated
to the other mafts, and obliged the people to defert
the fhip ; and afterwards it took hold of the body of
the fhip, and burning down to the powder, the
upper part of the hull blew up, and the bottom
part funk in the place, where fhe was at anchor.

Anno 1741. Bencoolen road on the S. W. fide
of the Ifland of Sumatra, Lat. 40 o' South.. There
lay here two fhips, one an European, the other a
country trading fhip, both belonging to the Eaft.

India.

C 29+ ]

India Company. Here, as well as in the freight of
Malacca, you have periodical winds, which blow for
fix months of the year from the fame quarter of the
horizon, and the other fix months from the oppofite
quarter ; and it is obfervahle, that thefe thunder-
fhowers and fqualls of wind ufually come contrary
to thefe ftated winds, which are calmed during the
thunder, but return to their conftant quarter as foon
as the thunder and rain are paid. If I recollect
aright, in the above year 1741, in June, the
weather was very hot and fultry, and the conftant
wind but very faint. The wind came after this from
the land, and almoft oppofite to the ufual point a very
faint air ; and the thunder was frequent and clofe to
the fhips, which lay near each other, but the fog
and rain prevented their feeing each other; but they
often trembled and fhook by the explolion of the
thunder. One of thefe claps burft upon the country
fhip, which by this time had her top-mafts ftruck;
that is, lowered down along the lower-mafts. This
clap carried away and burft to pieces all the part of
the lower-maft from where the yard is caried aloft to
within lix or leven feet of the upper deck. The maft
was wooldcd with ropes of 2 4 fize in different
places, which were burft afunder at every turn of
it ; and the maft all fhivered into fmall fplinters, and
moftly carried overboard. Here alfo the main-maft
was made of fir, and the part, which was fplit and
fhivered to pieces, was the part ufually coated with
turpentine mixed as before-faid with tallow or oil :
and the main-top-maft, which was made of a wood
of the country called teak, and is of a texture like
to oak, but ftronger, was untouched, notwithftanding
4 i t

[ 295 ]

it lay parallel, and touched the mad for the whole
length of the part carried away. Here the vapour
mud be very low, being wholly below the top, which
was unhurt, as was all the rigging and yards of this
particular mad. And from the upper deck of the
fhip to the top could not, in this diip, which was but
fmall, exceed 42 or 44 feet. And in this lad cafe
the explofion mud have been like gunpowder en-
deavouring to expand itfelf every way, becaufe the
top and top-mad, and rigging, which was above it,
funk perpendicularly down on the body of the fhip,
as did the top-mad alfo, which pierced the upper
deck, and dood upright. In this fhip there might be
at the time of the explofion feventy men upon deck,
and not one of them hurt ; which I imagine was
owing to the vapour being didant above the deck
more than the height of a man, as was apparent from
a remnant of the mad, which was not touched for
fix or feven feet immediately above the deck.

The relater was an eye-witnefs to both thefe acci-
dents. In this lad there remained a dinking vapour
for fome time; but in the fird cafe there was not
the lead fmell of fulphur, or any other thing.

Robert Veitch.

LII. A

[ 296 ]

LII. A Demonflr ation of the Second Rule in
the EJfay towards the Solution of a Pro-
blem in the DoElrme of Chances , publifhed
in the Philofophical Traiif actions, Vol. LIII.
Communicated by the Rev. Mr, Richard
Price, in a Letter to Mr, John Canton,
M.A.F.R.S .

Dear Sir, Nov. 26, 1764.

Read Dec. 6, T Send you the following Supplement to the

1 76+* JL ^[Jay 011 a Problem in the Doctrine of
Chances , hoping that you may not think it improper to
be communicated to the Royal Society. I Ihould not
have troubled you again in this way had I not found
that fome additions to my former papers were necelfary
in order to explain fome paflages in them, and particular-
ly what is hinted in the note at the end of the Appendix.
“ I have firft given the deduction of Mr. Bayes’s fe-
“ cond rule chiefly in his own words ; and then
11 added, as briefly as poffible, the demonftrations of
<c feveral propofitions, which feem to improve con-
“ fiderably the folution of the problem, and to throw
“ light on the nature of the curve by the quadrature
“ of which this folution is obtained.” Perhaps,
there is no reafon for being very anxious about pro-
ceeding to further improvements. It would, how-
ever, be very agreeable to me to fee a yet eafier and
nearer approximation to the value of the two leries’s
in the firfl: rule : but this I muft leave abler pcrlons
to feek, chufing now entirely to drop this lubjed.

The

- >

i

[ 297 }

The folution of the problem enquired after in the
papers I have fent you has, I think, been hitherto a
deflderatum in philofophy of fome confequence. To
this we are now in a great meafure helped by the
abilities and fkill of our late worthy friend /and
thus are furmfhed with a neceffary guide in deter-
mining the nature and proportions of unknown
caufes from their effeds, and an effedual guard
agamft one great danger to which philofophers are
iubjed ; 1 mean, the danger of founding conclufions
on an inefficient indudion, and of receiving juft
conclufions with more affiirance than the number of
experiments will warrant. I am, under a fenfe of
the value of your friendffiip, heartily yours,

Richard Price,

Q. q

Vol» LIV.

Art.

[ 298 ]

ART. i. If the curve A D H be divided into
two parts by the ordinate D h making A h to

H h as p is to q ; then taking a = — and b = - the

P + 1

ratio of the Area ADb to HO will be fJLi! *

P+ 1

p q*q-ixp'

1 +7TI x ?^ + 2X/> + 3x?a /> + 2X/> + 3x/> + 4x?3

p + 1 +

'4- tfc. For the feries * :_!+ — * LJLL —

p + 1 P + p + 2

4- ©V. in Prop.1 10. Art. 2. of the Effay, which ex-
press the ratio of A Cf to H O, becomes this feries

, s, — p A r — — • that is when

when x -=za —•> o — r — ,

Cf

[ 299 3

C j has moved till it coincides with D h and AC f
becomes A D b. In like manner, from Art. 3. in
the Effay, it appears that the ratio of H D h to H O is
P q + 1 — s

a

X I +

P <7

— y — _L.

q + 2 p ~

p p—l q

x 5+s x P

q + 1

4- &c.

From hence it follows that the ratio of the difference

p q

between AD/j and HD h to II O is<? b multiplied by

n

the difference between the feries

+■'

+

q X q — 1 X p':

P q + 2 q p -f 1 X p + 2 xp q 1 + 3 q

p + I ' p + I
4* &C.

and the feries

+

P x q

p X p — I X q:

£ + * ’ q+LXpq + 2p

4- &C,

}+IXj-|- 2 X^ q + 3 p

the former feries being to be fubffraded from the
latter, if H D b is greater than AD h, and vice verfa .

2. The ratio of any term in the former of the two
foregoing feries to that which next but one follows

the correfpondent term in the latter is *

pq + 2 p w p *i v p±± 3 P v p q v p q + 4-P

pxq x q p + q * Pq — q * pq+ 2 q pq — ^q

x OjtJ. x X t!=ll X tmt &c. taking

pq + 39 pq— 3? pq + ^q pq—\q &

twice as many terms and four over as there are units
in the number which expreffes the diftance of the
term in the former feries from its firff term j which

Qji 2 ratio

[ 3^0 ]

ratio if q be greater than />, it is evident inuft be
greater than the ratio of equality. Wherefore, if
from the fecond feries you fubftraft the two firft
terms which together are lefs than two, the remainder
islefs than the former feries j and of confequence, the
former feries fubftradted from the latter cannot leave
a remainder fo great as two. And therefore in this
cafe, that is, when q is greater than />, by the pre-
ceding article, the ratio, of HD/6 — A D h to H O

P ?

cannot be fo great as 2 a b .

n

4

3. The curve A D H being as before divided into
two parts AD b and HD£, let the ordinates C /
and F t be placed on each fide of D b and at the
fame diftance from it, and let 2; be the ratio of h /
or h t to A H. Then if yy x and r be relpedtively
the ratios of Cf A / and H/ to A H, by the nature

f q J

of the curve y = xr . But becaufe the ratio of
A b to A H is a, and that of h j to AH is zy the
ratio of A h — hf(—Af) to A H is tf—z. Where-
fore — zz=x. And in like manner b 4- z-=.r. But
p 9 1

y—xr, and^ is the ratio of Cf to AH. Where-
fore the ratio of C /to A H is p x And

in like manner the ratio of F/ to AH is X ^3 A

And confequently C) is to F / as is to

a -f z]f> X b —

^ y/ greater than ^>, a 4- X b — 2J7 is greater
tnan a — zF x and the ratio between them in^

creates as z increaies. For the hyperbolic logarithm

of

C 301 J

tsf that ratio taken as ufual, and then inftead of f
and q patting n a and nb becaufe a = — and h 1.

(Vid. Art. r.) you will find to be 2 n multiplied by

the feries — — - X 2’ + -~^zs I — x

3* a “ S*-4«* 1 n6 Xz ^

which logarithm when q is greater than />, and there-
fore b greater than a has all its terms pof.tive, and fo
much the greater as 2 is greater ; and therefore it is
the logarithm of a ratio greater than that of equality,
and which increafes as z increafes. 7

_5- By Art. 3. Ft is to C/as 3» is to

V + zl?~ And b>- Art. 4. 7/7V x i-rr^tis
greater than 7=3/ x. 7/3 ?, and the ratio between
them increafes as 2 increafes, if q is greater than
p. Wherefore, upon this fuppofition, alfo F t- is
greater than Cfi and the ratio^ between them ml
creafes as ^ or A /-and ^/increafes, and confequently
his will be true alfo concerning the -areas defcribed
by them. as their equal abfcilfes ht and hf increafe.
Wherefoi e, when q is greater than p, Dht F is
greater than D^/ C,. and the ratio between them in-
creafes as h f ~ h t increafes.

6. Becaufe Ah is to Hh as p is to q, when a is
greater than p H h is greater than A b. In H h thfre-
fore taking b l equal to A h, by the preceding Art.
fire part of the figure H Di which infills upon hi

of H *rfi A- P h’ and tlle ratio of 'hat part

D bt Ftt n tPn ^ b£ Sre!“er than ,he ratio «*
DA/FtoDA/C. Confequently, much more (q-

being greater, than p) the whole figure H D A is ,

greater c

[ 3°2 ]

greater than ADA, and the ratio of H D h to A D h
is greater than that of D h t F to D hf C.

7. When q is greater than p, 1

n z ] ?

z "\\n

n z2’

P f

than , _ ii.r x 1 + — r lefs than 1

is greater

X 1 -F

n z

7

For the fluxion of 1 — -

a Z*A»

P <1

* IS

n z --

n Z K N/ T — 1

""PI PI

1 and the fluxion of

P ? r 1

, _ x , + Ji-lj^becaufe /> + ?=«) is

? >f 1

z * x i 1 X 1 + — I Wherefore

77 * I * I

if as the flux-

is to 1 j

pq\ Y

X I +

to the

ion of the former multiplied by 1 —
fluxion of the latter multiplied by (1 — ~ *

n M N ” z jl 0J: From which

1 + — or) 1 — 7 + ? Pi

analogy, becaufe q is greater than p, it is plain that
x j 1. |b?| ’ varies at a greater rate in refpeft

yl ? ‘ v„

of its own magnitude than 1 L'ocs' ’

becaufe their fluxions as found out before have a ne-
gative fign before them, they both decreafe a,^-

C 3C3 3

creafes ; confequently, if they are ever equal, as z in-
creafes the latter muft be the largeft. But when 2:
— o they are each equal to 1. In like manner the
other part of this article appears. And hence, fince

— - and b = it is manifeft that a

a

X 1

p q

1 is greater than a — z\ x b -[-Is) and

lefs than a -]- z) xb
than p.

d , when q is greater

8. Suppofe now further that the curve RQW be
defcribed meeting the lines D h3 F t , ht produced in
r, a w, in fuch manner that F /, which is to C f

as a -J- z) x b — z\ to a — z\ X b (Vid. Art.

3.) fhall be to Q£as a ~]-z) X b — z\ to a b X
wherever the points t and f fall at equal

if

pq

diftances from h. And it is manifeft by the foregoing
Art. that muft always be greater than C f, and
lefs than F t. And of confequence the fame muft
be true concerning the areas defcribed by their mo-
tion while their equal abfciffes increafe. Wherefore
R h t QJs greater than D hfC, and lefs than D
ht F.

,p ■ - q

9. Since F / is to as a -j- z\ x b — z\ to

P-,-9

a b X 1

»* 55*3*

P

P q I

2. •

and a -Y z x b

z

(by

Art..

[ 3°+ ]

Art. 3.) exp reflex the ratio of to A H* the ratio

of Qj to A H mull be a £ x 1 — 1-LV and as

P q I

has been all along fuppofed z is the ratio of h t to
A H. Wherefore, by Squaring the curve R h t Q, it
will appear that the ratio of R h t Q^to H O is

a b X z —

ni z3

2-3 pq

I 2

+ -Z-X

n J 2 5

n

2 • 5 P'q% 4 X

X ; 3 ■ 7 -f- &c. which — ~ — ) is

2.7 piqi 1 V 2 p q /

P f v' 2 p q

a b X 7^7r X 2 — 3

77Z3 Z3

« — 2 ms z%

4- 2 « X 5 2 »

m9 z9

« — a my z1 n — 2 n — 4 n — 6

x — - X -1 X — - X X

3 « 7 2 n 3 « 4« 9

• 71^"

— &c. Which laft feries when — — = i, and con-

p q

lequently the ordinate Qj vanishes, becomes B —
B3 , Bl

-r

1 B5 B* — « 1 B* — a B7 ..

2px~ x _ ^ x 1 j x ^ A”

n

3 • 3B- - 5

taking B x .

10. If B*=~ the ratio of the whole figure

R Q_W h to H O is -^44? x a /x B — HZ~Z

* V « 3 " * ^

B* j g 5

— X — — GV. Now, (by Prop. io. Art. 4. of
the Effay) the ratio of A C F H to HO is

x

[ 3°5 ]

X -jp E being the coefficient of that term of the

binomial ci q- $ expanded in which occurs a 1? •
Wherefore, the ratio of RQW^ to A C F H is

» V n

Put G now for the coefficient of the middle term of

the fame binomial, and if p — q = A } E — G, ^

= 4- = b the area R QW h is equal to half ACFH;
for then Qj', F/, CJ are all equal, and confequently
the aieas RQW/6, HD b and AD/6. Wherefore, the

feries B- — is equal to ^Lul ^ — . But the

3 A n + i G

B 3

feries B y 4. ©V.^becaufe B2 — ^ does not alter

whatever p and q are, whilft their fum 11 remains the
fame. Wherefore, in all cafes, the ratio of R Q W h

to ACFH is^SX 4^ X 2".

n Cj

I r. By Prop. 1 o. Art. 4. of the Effiay, the ratio
of ACFH to HO* is — h— x p; and by Art. 9. the

ratio of R ht Qjo H O is abq X ^Zf x « * —
_ »-/ »

Z 3 « — 2 ;«5 Z5

3 + "77" x — 7“ &Cr Wherefore, the ratio of

* It is hoped that the imperfection of the figure all along re-
ferred to will be excufed. The lines R h and D b fhould appear

APnr?!?/ f/11 be found Prerently> that the curve line
j rr “10u d have been drawn from F and C convex to-
wards A H.

V ol. LIV. Rr Rbt

[ 3°6 ]

x-> t t • W “{■ I \/ 2. p q p« 7 ?

R£/Q to ACFH is X 7=^xEtf b xmz-

^ 72 v n

7/23 Z3

772 5 Z 5

2 72

X -*

■A OT 7 Zj7

, •: — r x x - X -f

^272^5 272 3 72 7 '

Likewife, by Art. io. the ratio of RQW h to

___ p q

V p q E a b

A C F H is

72

X 2. Wherefore the ra-

tio of R h t Q^to R QJW h i

is

72 + i
>y 72

i/‘

2 »

X G

y^m z

772 * Z3

+ 8V.

12. By Art. 2. 6. When q is greater than p, the
ratio of H D h — AD h to HO is leis than

P 7

2 a L. And by Prop. io. Art. 4. of the Effay, the

ratio of A C F H or H D b + A D h to H O is
— 1 v — . Wherefore, the fum of thefe two ratios,

72 + I * E

or the ratio of 2 HD/j to HO, is lefs than -

72+1

P 7

x-L_l_2 " b ; and the difference between them.

or the ratio of 2 A D h to H O is greater than
p 7

Wherefore, the ratio of 2 HD h
to 2 A D h, or that of H D h to A D b, is lefs than

that of — X i+— to " X “t- 2-4f" > which

72+1 E 1 72 72+1 & 72

P 7

is equal to the ratio of 1 X 2 E aff 4- ^ t0 1

p 7

lab

— 2

[ 3°7 ]

P 7

— 2 E a I? — - — 1 Li-. But the ratio of H D h to

n

AD hy by Art. 6. is greater than the ratio of D h t F
to D hfCy when q is greater than p. Wherefore,
much more when q is greater than p , the ratio of
D h £ F to D/6/C will be lefs than that of i 4-

f? p ?

2 E a*g + to i — 2 E iif. 1. And

becaufe, by Art. 8. R h t Q is a mean between
D h t F and D hj C, the ratio of D h t F to R h t Q_

pi

will be lefs than that of i -4- 2 E dbq + - — - — to

1 n

P 7

x — 2 E dff—UlL. And the ratio of D hfC

Pi 7

to R h t Q^_will be greater than that of i — 2 E a b

_ P 9
2 E a b

n

to i 2 E abq -\-

_ / ?

RULE II.

if nothing is known of an event but that it has
happened p times and failed q in p -j- q or n trials,
and q be greater than p ; and from hence I judge
that the probability of its happening in a tingle trial

lies between - and - 4- (if = — -> a =

n n ' ' 2 p n

b — E the coefficient of the term in which oc-
curs b when a -j- b\ is expanded, and £ —

n + r

n

2 p a T-x P,9 m3 z3

' X L a b x m z

✓ n

ri'-'l

X

OT5 Z5

R r 2

n — 2

[ 3°8 ]

2 n

2 n

- X

■4 m z

X

3„ - 4" my chance to be in

the right is greater than £, and lefs than Y X

i -f" 2 E b -f- — ■„ —

— F°r by Art. 11. com-

2 E jff —

f q 2 E a b

pared with the value of Y here fet down, the ratio
of R h t Qjo A C F H is Y. But by Art. 8. D h t F
is greater than R£/Q, and by Art. 12. the ratio

of D/6/F to Ri> / Qjs lefs than that of 1 2 E a b1

p q

2 E ab

4- to I

n

-Pi

T-, P,1 2 E a b ^ .

2 E a b . r rom whence

it is plain that the ratio of t)£/F to ACFH is

i42E^?4

2E*V

greater than E, and lefs than Y x

1 — 2E ati —

But, as appears from the 10th Proportion in theEffay,
the chance that the probability of the event lies between
P P

^-and 4 + z (that is, between the ratio of A h to

A H, and that of A t to A H) is the ratio of D ht F
to ACFH. Wherefore, the chance I am right in
my guefs is greater than Y and lefs than Y x

2Er/ b1

I 4- 2 E

2 E abq

r ? P >1 2

1 — 2 E a b — ~

E Sb*

In

[ 3°9 ]

In like manner, 2dly, the fame things fuppofed, if I
judge that the probability of the event lies between

z> my chance to be right is lefs than £,

^ and —

n n

and greater than £ x

2E a bq

i — 2 E ap bq — — - —

^ p 2E/^?

i 4- 2 E a b -)- — -

. This

is manifeft as the other cafe, becaufe D hfC is lefs
than R h t Q, but the ratio between them is greater

than that of i - 2 E a b1— - to 1 -f 2 E afb9-\-

r pf
2 E a b

•

n

3dly> other things fuppofed as before, p is
gi eater than y, and I judge the probability of

the event lies between ^ and — zy my chance

to be right is lefs than £, and greater than £ x

. But if I judge it lies be-

T-, P 2 E / /

i — 2 E a b —

n

P 7

, „ P 2 E a b1

I + 2 E a g + —

tween —and z} my chance is greater than £, and

lefs than £ x

. 1 P ,7 , 2 E aP b1

i +2 E a b

p ,q 2E//

1 — 2 E d b

And if p — y.

which

[ 3io ]

which ever of thefe ways I guefs, my chance
is £ exaCtly. This may be proved in the fame
manner with the foregoing cafes, where q is greater
than />, or may be proved from them by confidering
the happening and failing of an event, as the fame
with the failing and happening of its contrary.

4thly, Other things fuppofed the fame, whether q
be greater or lefs than />, and I judge that the proba-

f) P

bility of the event lies between — -\- z and z,

my chance is greater than — — - , and

* I+2E/*? + 2E«V

n

lefs than This is an evi-

I — 2 E a bq — 2E a b

n

dent corollary from the cafes already determined.
And here, if p — y, my chance is 2 £ exa&ly.

Thus far I have tranfcribed Mr. Bayes.

It appears, from the Appendix to the Eflay, that
the rule here demon ft rated, though of great ule,
does not give the required chance within limits fuf-
ficiently narrow. It is therefore neceftary to look out
for a contraction of thefe limits; and this, I think,
we fhall difcover by the help of the following de-
ductions ; which, for the fake of greater dinftinCtnefs,
1 fhall give as a continuation of the foregoing Ar-
ticles.

13. The

[ 31 1 ]

J3’ The ratio of the fluxion of t - ” ~ 2 lx to the

pq 1

fluxion of i -j-

n z

X

and the ratio of the fluxion of i

p — j

to the fluxion of i —

nZ zj a
P q 1

is i

n %

*■+3

f— i

I — nz

P q

This will immediately appear from Art. 7.

14* While z is increafing from nothing till ~

becomes equal to unity, thefe two ratios are* at
niit greater than the ratio of equality, and in-
creafe as z increafes, till they come to a maxi-
mum. Afterwards they decreafe untill they be
come firA equal to the ratio of equality, and then
lefs. > This is proved by finding the hyperbolic
logarithms of thefe ratios. The hyperbolic logarithm

of the firA is the feries - 1 Lz~± v „ „ ,

■ q P x 11 z -r

t P 1 n —

+ ~ 77

X

w 2 . q — I p — j

n3 23

JL £ i 1 P 1 » — 2

+~-

* 4

n* z

P

+

X

3

X

4

S

p — I

n% zs

• [ 312 ]

. ?— 1 , tzi. "~2 v
-r -6- + p* —p~px 6

-j- Gfc. The hyperbolic logarithm of the fecond

ratio is the feries q — - — — X n z — q——r (-

q P q

IH1 _L till _ 1H-2 x + &c. It will ap-

q 4 1 /> + p~ qz 4

pear from examining thefe two feriefes (y all along
fuppofed greater than p) that while z is fmall the
value of each of them is pofitive, and increafes as z
increafes till it becomes a maximum , after which it
decreafes till it becomes nothing, and after that ne-
gative ; which demonftrates this article.

15. The former of the two ratios in Art. 13. (q be-
ing greater than p') is at . firft, while z is increafing
from nothing, lefs than the fecond ratio j and does
not become equal to it, till fome time after both
ratios have been the greateft pofiible.

Upon confidering the two feriefes in the laft Art. it
will appear that the firft term of the firft feries is always
pofitive, the fecond negative, the third alfo negative,
after which the terms become alternately pofitive and
negative. On the other hand, it will appear that in the
fecond feries the two firft terms are always pofitive,
and all that follow negative. But as the feriefes con-
verge very faft when z is fmall, the fecond term
being negative in the firft leries and pofitive in the
fecond, has a greater effedt in making the firfi; feries-
lefs than the fecond, than can be compenfated for by
the terms being afterwards alternately negative and
j , pofitive

[ 3*3 ]

pofitive in the one, and all negative in the other. It
will further appear from confidering thefe feriefes, that
the firft muft continue lefs than the fecond ’till z be-
comes fo large as to make the fourth term equal to
the fecond, in which circumftances the two feriefes
are nearly equal. Afterwards, as z goes on to in-
creafe, the value of both leflens continually ; but the
fecond now decreafing failed:, as before it increafed
failed:, becomes firft nothing. After which, the
other feries becomes nothing j and after that* both
remain negative. From hence it is eafy to infer this
Article.

1 6. What has been now fhewn of the ratio of the

-p

72* Z 2

I -

P 9

i —

n z

P

- ~r

2 to the fluxion of i -j- ~| x
compared with the ratio of the fluxion of

X i -f- — 1 to the fluxion of i

9 1

I -

nz

P 9 1

nz z2

pq j" (or in the figure) to the fluxion of

a~+ ZY X 6 — z}7 ( orF t) compared with the ratio
of the fluxion of a—zYxf+£* (or C /) to the

fluxion of // X I - qf!'; or Q/, the latter quan-
tities being only the former multiplied by the com-

mon and permanent quantity <? b\ It appears,
therefoie, that if we conceive F t, Q t C f (Vid
Vol.LIV. SC ^ Fig.)

[3X4]

Fig.) to move with equal and uniform velocities,
from D b and R h along A H, in order to generate the
areas H D b, R W b, A D h j C/ will at fird not only
decreafe fader than Q^, and than F t j but the
ratio of the rate at which Qj decreafes to the rate
at which decreafes, will be greater than the ratio
of the rate at which decreafes to the rate at
which F t decreafes. It appears alfo that after fome
time, firft C f and and then Q^and F t will
come to decreafe equally ; after which, Qj will de-
creafe fader than Cf, and F t fader than Qt .

iy. The curves DFH, RQW, DC A, have
each of them a point of contrary dexure ; and the
value of z , or of the equal abfcifles at that point, is

in all three — L- — . This may be found in the

n 3 — • n 1 <

common manner, by putting the fecond fluxions of
the ordinates equal to nothing. In the Angle cafe,
when either p or q is equal to unity, one of thefe
points vanidies, or coincides with A or H.

iB. At the points of contrary flexure ( q be-
ing greater than p) the ratio of the fluxion of Qf_
to the fluxion of F t is a maximum ; and the fame
is true of the ratio of the fluxion of C / to the
fluxion of QY. This is found by making the
fluxions of the logarithms of thefe ratios, or of

A *

n z

— i

[ 3i5 ]

equal to nothing : which will give the value of z

equal t0 ^ or fame with the value of

z at the points or contrary flexure.

I3* P°ints °f contrary flexure, the ratio of

the fluxion of C f to the fluxion of Q is greatefl
m comparifon of the ratio of the fluxion of Q t to
the fluxion of F/. This is proved by finding the
value of z when the fluxion of the former ratio

divided by the latter, or of

. t

I —

2 2 *
n 2i

TTSf *

p 1 ' ~

’-—l

n — a

n z

I —

P 9

1/

p i

-.The

is nothing, which will {fill give z ~

^ ni — n

reafon, therefore, in the nature of the curve, which, as
the ordinates flow, keeps at firfl the excefs of Ft above
Q t lefs than the excefs of Cf/ above C operates

with its greatefl force at the points of contrary
flexure, J

20. The greatefl part of the area R QW h lies be-
tween Rtf, and the ordinate at the point of contrary
flexure. By Art. 1 1 the ratio of R£/Qto RQW/j jg

XGX“

*+ I A/ 2

7tl

+

2 m

X -

3 1 2 n - 5

&c- Subflitute here \! -r1- for z, and ■ ■■

* C trr n n V * K X H

lor G (K being the ratio of the quadrantal arc to

* This is always the true value of G j but it would be too
tedious to give the demonftration of this here*

S f 2,

tadius.

[ 3l6 ]

radius, and H the ratio whofe hyperbolic logarithm

* &c.) and the ratio of

is

12 n 360 n 3 ^

6 3

1260 n s

R/arQ^to RQW/j at the point of contrary flex-

ure, will be

n 4-1 .797884

= - X TJ

V nXVn — 1 **

n

n X n~ri n. n- a. « — 4 1 W. » - 2-« — 4. « — 6 __

2.5.4. ~il 2.37.8. i^T]3 2.3.4.9-16. ^71 4 “

Now when n is little, the value oi this exprefiion
will be confiderably greater than .6822. It ap-
proaches to this continually as n increafes ; and when
n is large, it may be taken for this exactly. Thus
when n = 6, this exprefiion is equal to .804.
When n = no, it is equal to .6903. If we would
know the ratio of R bt Q_to Pv Q^W h, when Cf
comes to decreafe no fafter in reipect of Q t, than
Q 7^ decreafes in refpedt of F t j that is, when the
excefs of above C j , is greateft in comparilon of
the excefs of F t above it may be found (by
putting the fourth term of the feries in the iq,h
Art. equal to the fecond term, and then finding the
value of z) to be about .8426, when n, p, and q
are confiderable 5 and in other cafes greater.

Coroll. ’Tis eafy to gather from hence that in
like manner the greateft part of the area A D H lies
between the two ordinates at the points of contrary

flexure -f* .

* Vid. the Second Rule in the Eftay, Phil. Tranf. Vol. LIII.

4 From this Article may be inferred a method of finding at
once, without any labour, whereabouts it is readable to
judecthe probability of an unknown event lies, about which a
given number of experiments have been made. For when

[ 317 ]

21. Rht QJs greater than the arithmetical mean
between D ht F and D h f C. This appears from the
latter part of Art. 19. for what is there proved of the
ordinates muft hold true of the contemporary areas
generated by them. And though beyond the points
at which the ratio of the decreafe of QX t0 the de-
creafe of F t comes to an equality with the ratio of
the decreafe of Q t_ to the decreafe of C f, the excefs
of F t above Qj begins to grow larger than before in
refped of the excefs of Qj above C /; yet as it ap-
pears from the laft article, that above five fixths of
the areas R Q^W h and A C F H are generated be-
fore the ordinates come to thefe points, and as alfo
beyond thefe points the faid ratios, ’till they become

neither p nor q are very fmall, or even not lefs than 10, it will
be nearly an equal chance, that the probability of the event lies

p V P q , P p q

between \-

n

and —

y in3, — an2, n

V !t3

It will be

2 n

p p q

the odds of two to one that it lies between “ + '

fL \/ 91

, p ^ f ?
and - — "y^===~==—

H. V n 3 — n 2

n ■ v' n 3 — n z

j and the odds of five to one that it lies

p V X p q

between - + , ■■ ~=-—,

n v ?! 3 — » 1

^ P_ zpq

Tl V n 3 — n 1

For in-

flance ; when p = 1000, q = 100,* there will be nearly unequal

i° 1

chance, that the probability .of the event lies between — + yy-

101 t 10 1

and ; two to one that it lies between — + and

11 ifc»3 11 Ji5

10 1 ... 10 1 .

— — and five to one that it lies between — + 5— and

11 115 II Ol

10

II

I

'8?

negative

[ 3*8 3

negative and for fome time afterwards, are but
fmall ; the effect produced before towards render- '
ing the excefs of DbtF above RA/Q always lefs
than the excefs of RA/Q^ above DA/C, will be
fuch as cannot be compenfated for afterwards.

. A further proof of this will appear from confider-
lng that even when R A t QJs increafed toRQW A
it is but little fhort of the arithmetical mean between
ADA and HD A. For from Art. n.and 20. it
may be inferred that the ratio of the whole area

R QJW A to this mean, or to is A x H,

which is never far from the ratio of equality but
when both p and q are of any confiderable magni-
tude, it is very nearly the ratio of equality For
example j when n — no, q = JOo, p — 10 ]t is
.9938.

22. The ratio of DA/F to RA/Q/s lefs than that of

1 "f* 2 ^ a b +—1± to one. For by Art. 12.
the ratio of DA^F to DA/C is lefs than that of

1+2E//4. ihZjL to 1 ~ 2 E a l? — 2 E a* b9

n

But by the laft Art. R h t QJs greater than the arith-
metical mean between V) htV and OhfC, and i is

exaaiy the arithmetical mean between i + 2 E ab ’

4- ? E and i — 2 E atf — 2 E . From

whence this Article is plain.

23. The

[ 3*9 ]

23. The ratio of T)ht¥ to ACFH is greater

P 9

than 2, and lefs than 2 x 1 4- 2 E a l? 4- 2 E a b •

n

For D h t F being greater than R ht Q, the ratio of
it to ACFH muff be greater than the ratio of
R^/Q_to ACFH, or greater than 2. Alfo ;
fince the ratio of R h t Q_to ACFH is equal to
2 y and the ratio of D £ ^ F to R £ / Qjs lefs than the

ratio of 1 4- 2 E atf 4- _ ,E_Jl to 1 y it follows that

1 n

the ratio compounded of the ratio of R<6/Q_to
ACFH, and of Dht¥ to R£/Q, that is, the ratio of

D/6/F to ACFH mud be lefs than 2 x i-j-2E/ 6

a E a $

- • •

71.

24. The ratio of D h t F ~\~ D h J C to A C F H
(that is, the chance for being right in judging that
the probability of an event perfectly unknown, which*
has happened p and failed q times in p q °r n trials,,

i> t>

lies fomewhere between — 4- z and — 2;) is*

a n J

greater than — , and lefs than 2 2.-

1+ 2 E a bq + aE / bq

The former part of this Art. -has been already proved,.
Art. 1-2. The latter part is evident from Art. 21.
For R ht QJpeing greater than the arithmetical mean'
between T)ht¥ and ’DhJ'C, 2 R Z7/ Q^jnufl be
greater than DhtF -j” D hf C ; and confequently

[ 320.]

the ratio of 2Ri) / Qjo A CFH, greater than the
ratio of D ht¥ + D hfC to A C F H *.

It will be eafily feen that this Article improves
conliderably the rule given in Art. 12. But we may
determine within {fill narrower limits whereabouts
the required chance muft lie, as will appear from the
following Articles.

25. If c and d Hand for any two fractions, when-
ever the fluxion of c x F t is greater than the fluxion
of d x Cf (Vid. fig.) f xF/-(-^xC /'will be
greater than Q t. For in the fame manner with Art.
6. it will appear that cxF^-j-^xC fis to Q/,

as the fluxion o f f x F/ x 1 4- — x 1 — — to-

I q q

gether with the fluxion 0 f JxC / xi — — X
P

1 -| to the fluxion of O t x 1 — — — — . Now

q P q

ft1 2J* i 2, #

lince 1 — — — is the arithmetical mean between

P 1

n z

+ /L Xj

TXI

11 z

n z

— and i — x 1 H ■, it is

q P q

plain, that were the fluxion of c x F t equal to the
fluxion of d x C f3 rxF t -\-d xC f would decreafe
in refpedt of its own magnitude at the fame rate with

i an(i> therefore, flnce at firfl: equal, they would al-
ways continue equal. But the fluxion of c x F t
being greater than the fluxion of d x Cf by fuppo-

fition, and (flnce q greater than) p 1 X 1 — — ,

* This Art. is true, whether p be greater or lefs than q.

2 following

[ 321 ]

alfo greater than i — x 1 4* ~~~> it follows that

P 9

the fluxion offXF/xi+7X i — — added

p q

to the fluxion of d X Cf x i — — x i -4- — is

P _ q

greater than thefe two fluxions multiplied by i - — .

and, therefore, greater, than the fluxion of \

nz zz

1 — jf > and> therefore, c x F t -\- d x Cf
greater than Qf.

26. It we fuppofe three continued arithmetical

means betwen Cf and F t (3—l + F *f c_/ + F f

3 F t 4. C f\ ^ ^

" 4 ) Qj will be greater than the fecond, and

lefs than the third, if p is greater than 1. That Q J
will be greater than the fecond has been already
proved ; and that it will be lefs than the third, will be
an immediate confequence from the laft Article, if

it can be fhewn that the fluxion of — — • is greater

C f

than the fluxion of This will appear in the

following manner. The ratio of the fluxion of

C/ to the fluxion of F ^ is by Art. 7. and 14.

1 -

n z

X I +

n z

q—I

1 +

n z

X 1

«""z| !

Q I

The hyperbolic logarithm

Vol. LIV.

T t

of

[ 322 ]

r .... I I I I

of this ratio is x 2 n z -z — -7

p q t> p 3

<73 X

2 n i z-

1 , 1 2 if 2,5

r* + ?x

&c

3 p* p' r 1 *' s'

This ratio by Art. 18. is greatefl at the point of con-
trary flexure, or when z — Subflitute this

for z in the feries, and it will become -

p q

2 \/'

P 9

I I 1,1

~ y~ P~ T,x

2 p

l Xq I

P* pi 3 x« — 1 11

&fc. which, therefore, exprefles the logarithm of the
ratio when greatefl, and will eaflly difcover it in
every cale. ’Tis apparent that the value of this
feries is greatefl when p is leafl in refpeft of q. Sup-
pofe then p — 2, and q infinite. In this cafe, the
value of the feries will be 1.072, and the num-
ber anfwering to this logarithm is not greater than
2.92. The fluxion, therefore, of C f when greatefl,
cannot be three times the contemporary fluxion of
F t ; from whence it follows that the fluxion of

2^— * muft be Greater than the fluxion of — - .

4 4

It is eafy to fee how thefe demonftrations are to be
varied when q is lefs than p , and how in this cafe fimilar
conclufions may be drawn. Or, the fame conclu-
lions will in this cafe immediately appear, by changing
p into q and q into p , which will not make any differ-
ence in the demonftrations.

In the manner fpecified in this Article we may al-
ways find within certain limits how near the value of
Qj comes to the arithmetical mean between F t and
C f which limits grow narrower and narrower, as
4 p and

[ 323 ]'

P and q are taken larger, or their ratio comes
nearer to that of equality, ’till at laid, when p and <j
are either very great or equal, coincides with
this mean. Thus, if either p or q is not lefs than
30; that is, in all cafes, where it is not practicable
without great difficulty to find the required chance
exaCtly by the firft rule, Q J will be greater than the
fourth, and lefs than the fifth of feven arithmetical
means between C f and Ft.

27. The arithmetical means mentioned in the lafi:
Article may be conceived as ordinates defcribing areas
at the fame time with Qjf ; and what has been
proved concerning them is true alfo of the areas
defcribed by them compared with R b i Q.

28. If either p or q is greater than 1, the true chance
that the probability of an unknown event which has
happened p times and failed q in p + q or n trials,

fibould lie fomewhere between —4 - z and ~

n 1 71

— z is lefs than 2 X, and greater than X -4-
XX 1 — 2 E a bl — 2 Fab'

— . If either p or q is

I 1? P 1 % i TT ^ l3

1 — E ci b — j- E ci b

greater than 10, this chance is lefs than 2 X, and

X X 1 — 2 E a bq — 2 E a b

Pii

greater than X

1 4- 4. E + E arb

a n

This

T t 2

[ 324 ]

This is eafily proved in the fame manner with Art. *
12, 23, 24..

That it may appear how far what has been now
demon ftrated improves the lolution of the prefent
problem, let us take the fifth cafe mentioned in the
Appendix to theEfiay, and enquire what reafon there
is for judging that the probability of an event concern-
ing which nothing is known, but that it has happen-
ed 100 times and failed 1000 times in 1100 trials,

lies between ^ -f- — and — — . The fecond

H 1 I 10 II IIO

rule as given in Art. 12. informs us, that the chance*

for this mud lie between .6512, (or the odds of 186

to 100) and .7700, (or the odds of 334 to 100). But

from the laft Art. it will appear that the required

chance in this cafe muft lie between 2 E, and

P t~> P 1%

I — E a b — 2 E a b

2 + 2 X

i -j- 4 o- IL a $ -j- E a l?

IO n

or.

between

.6748 and .70 57 ; that is, between the odds of 239
to 100, and 207 to 100.

In all cafes when 2; is fmall, and alfo whenever
the difparity between p and q is not great 2 £ is almoft
exactly the true chance required. And I have reafon
to think, that even in all other cafes, 2 £ gives the

* In the Appendix, this chance, as difcovered by Mr. Eayes’s
fecond rule, is given wrong, in confequence of making m1 equal

n 3 _ „ 3

to — , whereas it fhould have been taken equal to

P 9 ip q

as appears from Article 8.

true

[ 325 ]

true chance nearer than within the limits now deter-
mined. But not to purfue this fubjedt any further;
I (hall only add that the value of 2 Z may be always
calculated very nearly, and without great difficulty ;

for the approximations to the value of E a b\ and

of the feries » - * 4. r!—l x — , &c. *

3 2 n 5

given in the Effay, are fufficiently accurate in all cafes
where it is neceffiary to ufe them.

* In the expreflion for this laft approximation there is an
error of the prefs which fhould be corrected ; for the fign be-
fore the fourth term Ihould be — and not + .

LIII. An

[ 326 ]

LI II. An Account of a remarkable Meteor feen
^/Oxford, March 5, 1764. In a Letter
to the Rev. fhomas Birch, D. D . Se-
cretary to the Royal Society , from the Rev.
John Swinton, B. D . R R. S. Member
of the Academy degli Apatifti at Florence,
and of the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona
m Tufcany.

Good Sir,

Read Dec. 6, O M I N G out of Chrift-Church
176 common-room into the great qua-
drangle, on Monday, March 5th, 1764, about yh
30' P. M. I obferved, with fome furprize, a general
brightnefs in the air, much fuperior to that of the
full moon^ though the heavens were then in fome
meafure overcaft, and the moon only three days old.
This unufual and very remarkable illuftration of the
atmofphere continued the whole evening, though
nothing farther meriting any particular regard (at leafl
nothing that I either faw or heard of) for two or three
hours occurred. But throwing up my bedchamber
fafh, a little before eleven o’clock, I unexpectedly
difeovered a mod glorious and exceedingly refplendent
white [Tab, XVIIL] column in the fouthern part of
the hetnifphere, which in luftre furpafled every thing
of the fame kind that I had ever feen before. The
bafe of this column feemed to be between twenty
and thirty degrees diftant from the horizon, and was
many degrees broad. The meteor afeended gradu-
ally near thirty degrees, palling to the S. of the

zenith-

C S27 ]

zenith. It was much narrower at the vertex than
the bafe, and confequently approached fomewhat to-
wards a pyramidal form. It remained a few minutes
in a fixed and permanent date, after it had arrived
at its greateft altitude, and was completely formed.
About i ih 1 5' P. M. it grew fainter, and much Iefs
vivid ; and there then darted from it towards the W.
feveral whitifh rays and corufcations. At nh 20' the
lucid column was barely vifible, declining apparently
fouthward, and foon after totally difappeared. I
went to bed at 1 ih 30' P. M. when the atmofphere
was covered with the fame kind of luminous
vapour, that before the formation of the bright Co-
loffean pillar had appeared ; and, in the Southern part
of the hemifphere, diverfified by undulations of
fhining matter, that exhibited a mod beautiful and
agreeable fcene.

It may not be improper here to remark, that a
meteor, called an Aurora Borealis , was feen at Lifbon,
according to * one of the public papers, the very fame
night. It is faid to have laded about four hours, and
to have engaged the attention of the philofophers
there. As from the fimilarity of certain circum-
dances it might have been denominated an Aurora
Borealis , though appearing in the fouthern part of
the heavens, as that I obferved actually did j a more
particular and didindt account of this phenomenon
might poffibly enable us to determine, with fome de-
gree of probability, whether or no it was the lame
with that by me here fo imperfectly defcribed.
Could the identity of thefe meteors be clearly evinced,
or indeed rendered probable, feveral curious corolla-
* Lloyd’s Evening Pojl.

ries,

[ 328 ]

ries, relative to the altitude, motion, velocity, &c-
and even the very nature itfelf, of that I had fo trans-
ient a view of, might perhaps be deducible from it.

Inftances of Aurora Auflrales , at lead: in our part
of the world, are immenfely rare. At prefent that
obferved by John Martyn, M. D. F. R. S. and Pro-
fefTor of Botany in the Univerfity of Cambridge,
only occurs. The account of this very uncommon
appearance, tranfmitted by that ingenious gentleman
to the Royal Society, and published by them in the
Philojbpbical Pranfattiom *, highly merits the atten-
tion of the curious meteorologist. This phenome-
non, feen by him, January 23, 1749-50, and that
of which I now fend you fo imperfect a defcription
in feveral refjpects pretty well agreed ; but in others,
which it would be Superfluous even to touch upon
here, almoft totally differed. Some of the •J* public
papers informed us, that an extraordinary pheno-
menon was obferved in the air at London, the pre-
ceding night, viz. March 4, 1764 ; which in a few
particulars refembled that of which I have taken the
liberty to communicate to you a Short account in this
letter, but in the reft thofe two meteors were difli-
milar enough. Perhaps thefe Aurora Aujirales may
Some time or other hereafter be more frequent than
hitherto they have been, and by certain new circum-
stances attending them farther elucidate the theory of
this Species of meteors ; the true caufe of which, not-
withstanding the labours and refearches of feveral

* Philof. Tranfafl. Vol. XL VI. p. 319.

f The St. James’s Chronicle , Lfc. N° 468.

2

learned

[ 329 ]

learned men, feems not yet to be perfe&Iy known,
I am, with all poffible confederation and efteem,

SIR,

Your much obliged,

and mofl obedient fervant,

Chrift-Church, Oxon. John Swinton.

Aug. 22, 1764. -J

LIV. ExtraB of a Letter from Mr . John
Horfley, Fourth Mate on board the Glattoa
Eaft-India Ship , to the Rev . Mr . Nevil
Mafkelyne, F. R. S. dated Batavia, Nov.
16, 1763, giving an Account of his

ObfervationSy at Seay for finding out the
Longitude by the Moon .

Dear Sir ;

Read Dec. 1 3, "CT O U was fo good as to exprefs a
j76+* defire of hearing from me, by

every opportunity, during the time of my voyage j a
requeft that I fhall always comply with, with a great
deal of pleafure.

I have the misfortune to inform you of our having
lod: our paffage to China, the original occafion of
which was our late departure from England. We
Vol. LIV. U u arrived

[ 33° ]

arrived at Bencoolen July 29, where we were de-
tained till the 13th of September. We found the
winds drong fet againd us in the China feas, which
obliged us to bear away for this place.

I (hall now give you an account of the obferva-
tions I have made, fince I have been out, and the
fuccefs attending them.

We failed from Spithead March the 8th, 1763 ;
the 19th I had four obfervations of the didance of
the Moon from the Sun ; by taking the medium the
longitude agreed exactly with that by account. The
2 ift I had another obfervation,. and, the fame day,
faw the iiland of Madeira, the body of which, ac-
cording to this and the former obfervations (they
agreeing exactly) I made to lie 170 i8/ wed: of Lon-
don, which differs only 18 minutes from what it is
laid down in the chart. The fuccefs I met with in
this fird attempt gave me great fatisfa&ion, and made
me continue my obfervations regularly to the idand
of St. Paul’s, which we made July 5. The day be-
fore I had three obfervations of the didance of the
Moon from the Sun. July the 5th, the body of the
iiland bearing by the azimuth compafs S. 27° W.
didance fix leagues, the fky remarkably clear and fine,
and the dfip having hardly any motion, circumdances
all in my favour, I took nine obfervations of the didance
of the Moon from the Sun, the captain and chief
mate affiding me in taking the altitudes. I divided
them into three fetts, and worked from the medium of
every three ; by which I made the longitude of the
fffip as follows, 75° 1 5^, 750 25', 740 40'. The
three obfervations, I took the day before, made the
longitude of the fhip 740 38' and 73° 32' which

brought

f 331 ]

brought forward to the noon of July the 5th made

75° 4 S' an^ 74° 39' • Taking, the medium of the
whole five fetts I made the longitude of the fhip at
noon 750 8' 48" eaft of London. Subtracting from
thence the diff erence of longitude, the bearings and
diftance of the ifland gave = 8' 37" weft, I made
the longitude of St. Paul’s 750 o' u" eaft of Lon-
don, and 58° o' 11" from the Cape of Good Hope.
By my account kept from an obfervation taken June
the 1 8th, I made it73°3 5' eaft of London, and
5 6° 35' from the Cape, which differs i° 25' from
what I make the true longitude : moft of the ac-
counts on board were between two -and three degrees
to the weftward of mine. The longitude of this
ifland having never been determined by any other
method than the runs of fhips to the Cape, there
are hardly any two charts or books that lay it down
alike, they differing from 710 to 740 in their ac-
counts, which made me put little dependance upon
any of them.

On our arrival at Bencoolen I took three obferva-
tion s of the diftance of the Moon from the Sun, in
the road, by which I made Fort Marlborough to lie
in 103° 50' 45" eaft of London.

I was on fhore five or fix days in hopes of getting
fome obfervations of Jupiter’s Satellites, but was dis-
appointed by the cloudinefs of the nights ; fo that I
got nothing for my pains but a fever, which had nigh
coft me my life, terminating at laft in an intermiting
one, which has continued with me ever fince, nei-
ther does it feem to have any inclination to leave me
at prefen t.

U u 2

I have

[ 332 ]

I have laved all the obfervations I have made, and
the work of them, which I fhould have fent you a
complete copy of, if I had been well enough to have
tranicribed them.

I am,

Yours,

John Horiley.

“ Mr, Horfley, whofe fkill and diligence are bet-
44 ter evinced by his own account than by any enco-
“ miums I can give them, made ufe of a quadrant
" made by Mr. Bird, and my Britifh Mariner’s
41 Guide, for determining the longitude of the fhip
“ at fea.

• N. Mafkelyne.

LV. A?i Accoimt of a remarkable Meteor
feen at Oxford, April 23, 1764. In a
Fetter to the Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D.
Secretary to the Royal Society, from the
Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Mem-
ber of the Academy degli Apatifti at Flo-
rence, and of the Etrufcan Acadet?iy of
Cortona in Tufcany.

Good Sir ;

Read Dec. 1 3, TT AV I N G taken a turn on the Parks,
jt~l or Public Univerfity-walk here, on
Monday April 23, 1764, towards the decline of the
afternoon ■, I made a vifit to a friend in town, with

whom

[ 333 ]

whom I have now and then an article of bufinefs to
tranfad. Upon my return home, about 8h ioy P. M.
looking over the houfes oppofite to Alban-Hall j I
obierved a very remarkable kind of light, forming
the reprefentation of an exceeding bright crepufcu-
lum, or expanded body of vapour, which diffufed
itfelf over all the northern part of the hemifphere
that prefented itfelf to my view. This I looked upon
as a prelude to an Aurora Borealis , in fome form or
other. But as fuch appearances are pretty common
here, efpecially of late years, I then paid no great at-
tention to it. About 8h 55', not thinking of what I
had feen, I threw up my fafh, and accidentally caff my.
eye towards the N. W. where, to my very great fur-
prize, I difcovered a luminous arch, [Tab. XIX.];
extending itfelf to the oppofite part of the heavens,,
fomewhat refemblingan Iris , but of a bright white co-
lour. I then went out into the ftreet, traverfed part
of the town, and found the arch both in the N. W„
and S. E. to be nearly terminated by the horizon
fo that it feemed to be almoft perfectly femicircular,
and confequently in a manner to biffed; the hemi-
fphere, when completely formed. The meteor was
not exadly ered, but afcended obliquely, declining
a little to the N. of the zenith. It was extremely,
narrow, in breadth fcarce exceeding two degrees.
It’s edges towards the S. E. were not fo well
defined, but fomewhat jagged and unequal. From
9h to 9h 1 it exhibited a moft vivid refplendent
whitenefs, fuch as, I believe, was hardly ever ob-
ferved before. During that term, the. phenomenon
feemed altogether fixed and permanent, without in-
creafe cr diminution, without any apparent motion

[ 33+ ]

of the whole, and indeed almod without the lead
external variation. An internal undulating motion of
the particles condituting the white luminous matter of
the arch was neverthelefs difcernible, from the firft
to the lad moment of it’s exigence. No dars were
vilible through the vapour itfelf, but two or three
appeared at a fmall didance from it. Thefe, how*
ever, were much obfcured by the interpolition of
fome thin whitilh clouds, with which that part of
the atmofphere was at this time covered. Not the
fainted: traces of a proper Aurora Borealis , either
before the fird appearance, during the continuance,
or after the extinction of the meteor, were to be feen.
Several young people were viewing it, when I went
into the dreet ; who feemed, according to cudom,
not a little alarmed at fo unufual a fight. One of
them told me, that the arch began to be form-
ed about a quarter before nine. In other parts of the
city this wonderful phenomenon was likewife ob*
ferved, both by townfmen and members of the Uni-
verfity, not without fome degree of adonilhment and
furprize. A little pad nine o’clock the extremities of
the arch grew faint, as did foon after the whole body
of the luminous vapour itfelf. About 9h 2o/ the
fummit, or highed part, of the arch, a few degrees
to the N. of the zenith, only remained ; which con-
tinued gradually decreafing ’till gh 27', when the
whole totally difappeared.

With regard to the weather, the morning of the
23d was dark and lowring ; but the remainder of
the day, from 1011 45' A. M. to fun-fet, was bright
and clear, though cold out of the fun. The wind
’till fix P. M. was northerly, and blew pretty frefh,

I but

[ 335 ]

but then came about to the N. W. From that time
to Sh i 5' P. M. it gradually decreafed, and was fuc-
ceeded by almod a perfect calm, the lead- breath of
air being then fcarce perceptible. During the conti-
nuance of the meteor, this calm remained j and after
the extinction of it, the weather was considerably
milder than before. The 24th was a warmer day
than any we had had fince the month commenced,,
the fun irradiating us from morning ’till evening with
his Salutary rays. The whole hemifphere and the
horizon this evening were clear and Serene, the fir-*
mament being but flightly interfperfed with thin
whitifh clouds. That part of it near the horizon
was tinged with a mod beautiful red colour. The
fun, jud before he emerged out of our hemifphere,.
perfectly refembled a globe of fire.

I have not yet been able to meet with an indance
of a Similar phenomenon in any phyfiological papers,
published before the year 1750. But accounts of two
or three meteors Somewhat refembling that above de-
scribed, in our Philvfophical ‘Tranfaciions *, then oc-
curred. However, that of the 23d of April, 1764*
differed from one cf thefe in it’s extent, as well as
the inconfiderable breadth of the zone forming the
arch, and the bifteCtion of the hemifphere. From
the others it was Sufficiently didinguifhed by it’s mod
vivid refplendent whitenefs, without any diort, white,
vibrating columns attached to it ; especially, as it
was neither preceded, attended, nor followed by
any dreaming luminous rays, or corufcations. I
cannot help therefore considering this as a lingular

* Philofaphi. Tmnfaft, Vol. XLVI. p. 345, 346, 347, 648,

649-

fort

[ 336 ]

fort of phenomenon, never hitherto honoured with
an adequate defcription. If it fhould appear to the
Royal Society in the fame light, they will excufe the
trouble given on this occalion by,

S I R,

Your much obliged,

and mod obedient,
humble fervant,

Chrift-Church, Oxon.

Aug. 29, 1764. John Swinton.

LVI. Some Remarks upon the Equation of
\ Time , and the true Manner of cotnputing
it . By Nevil Mafkelync, A \ M. Fellow

of Trinity College, Cambridge, and

F. R. S.

Read Dec. 13, HE S E remarks were wrote above

I a twelve-month ago, and would
have been then communicated to the Royal Society,
had not my voyage to Barbados prevented it. Since
my return from thence, I find part of the miftakes
here pointed out acknowledged and corrected by
M. Delalande, in his Treatife of Aftronomy lately
publilhed, to whom I remember to have communi-
cated my ideas on the fubjecd, when he was in
England. Neverthelefs, as the eiror arifing from

taking

C 337 ]

taking the equation of the equino&ial points into
the account dill remains uncorrecded by him i and
as I flatter myfelf, that what is faid here may tend to
fet the whole matter in a clear light, I apprehend
the publication of thefe remarks may flill be proper.

The French Almanack, called the Connoiflance des
Mouvements Celedes, hath been defervedly edeem-
ed by adronomers, as the moft complete publication
of its kind. Its prefent learned editor M. Delalande
hath rendered its ufe more extenfive by making the
calculations from the lateft and mod approved tables,
and alfo adding fuch explanations of them, as, at
the fame time, lay open before his readers the mod
confiderable improvements of modern adronomy.
Neverthelefs, as the bed mathematicians are not in-
fallible, fo I have reafon to think I have difcovered
fome errors in M. Delalande’s method of computing
the equation of time in this ephemeris, or, which
comes to the fame thing, the mean time, at the in-
dent of apparent noon.

M. Delalande fays, page of the Connoidance for
1760, which he repeats in the publications of other
years, that, “to calculate exactly thedifference between
“ mean and true time (that is to fay the equation of
cc time) at the indant of apparent noon, the fum of
<c the equation of the fun’s centre, the difference
{C between his longitude and right afcendon, the lunar
“ equation, the equations of Jupiter and Venus, and
tc that of the preceffon of the equinoxes, with their
“ proper figns, mud be converted into mean folar time.

He adds, that it was impodible, before this time,
e< to obtain the equation of time exactly; jd, becaufe
“ hitherto no account has been made of the four
Vol. LIV. X x « little

[ 338 ]

(t little equations, the fum of which may produce
“ above three feconds of time; 2dly, becaule it has
“ been the practice to convert the equation of the
“ fun’s centre, and the difference between his right
<c afcenfion and longitude into time of the Primum
« Mobile, inftead of converting them into mean
“ folar time, which, fays he, may produce an error
“ of two feconds and a half ; 3dly, becaufe the
<c equation of the fun’s centre was not known ex-
“ adly before, every minute of which anfwers to
“ four feconds in the equation of time.

I readily agree with M. Delalande, that the equa-
tion of time could not be had foexadly formerly, as
it may now, when we have a much more exad
theory of the lun, and are lately made acquainted
with new equations of his motion. I cannot, how-
ever, affent to his pofition, that the equation of the
equinodial points is to be taken into this account,
together with the other equations, fince this is not an
inequality in the fun’s motion, but arifes from a mo-
tion of the equator itfelf ; yet of fuch a kind as can-
not accelerate or retard the coming of the fun, or
any ftar lying within the tropics, to the meridian, by
above a quarter of a fecond of time. . This will,
perhaps, appear in a good meafure plain, if it be
coniidered, that the diurnal motion of the earth
round its axis is neither accelerated nor retarded by
the adion of the fun and moon in producing the pre-
ceffion of the equinoxes, and variations of the incli-
nation of the earth’s axis to the ecliptic. The effed
of thefe adions is, that the terreftrial pole, each day,
defcribes a fmall arc of a circle about the centre of

the earth, in the plane of a celeftial meridian palling

through

2

[ 339 ]

through the fun or moon, or rather one between
both; and, confquently, the equator of the earth
has its motion in its own plane neither accelerated
nor retarded, but obtains a new motion, wnofe axis
is one of its own diameters. This is the true origin,
as well of the minuter and periodical nutations, as
of the regular and perpetual motion of the earth’s
axis about the pole of the ecliptic, obferved in all
ages, on which the continual preceflion of the
equinoxes depends.

But, to illuflrate more fully the point in queflion,
let P, fee fig. reprefen t the north pole of the
celeflial equator, which fuppofe to be tranflated, in
any certain time, from P to Q, through the fmall
ipace P Q, upon the meridian P D, by the adtions
of the fun and moon ; let A be the equinodlial point
of aries, and S the fun or flar. It is evident, that,
as the rotation of the earth round its axis is no way
affedled, the tranflation of the celeflial pole from P
to Qjilong the arch P Q, of the celeflial meridian
P D, will occafion no alteration in the time of any
given meridian of the earth coming to the fixt ce-
leflial meridian P D, nor confequently in the time of
the fun or flars, when lying in this meridian, ap-
pearing to pafs the meridian of the given place ;
contrary to what lhould follow from the method of
computing the equation of time, ufed in the Con -
noiffance des Mouvements Celefles ; according to
which, as long as the equation of the equinoxes is
any thing, the equation of time mufl be affedted
thereby, and confequently the abfolute time of the
fun’s palling the meridian.

X X 2

But,

[ 3+o ]

But, if the fun or ftar lie not in the celeflial meri-
dian P D, but in fome other meridian P S, at S,
then the fpherical angle S P D is the diftance of the
fun from the meridian P D, when the pole is at P,
and S QJD is his diftance from the fame meridian,
when the pole is tranflated to Q^ Let P T, QJT,
meeting in T, be tangents of the meridians P S,
QJ3, in P and Qj T QJD being the external angle
of the rectilineal triangle T P Q, the angle P T Q^_
is — T QJD —TP D = SQD — SPD, and,
therefore, is a meafure of the alteration of the time
of any meridian of the earth’s coming to the fun at
S, produced by the tranflation of the pole from P to
Q^ Now the fine of P T Qjs to the fine of T P Q,
as P Qjo T Qj whence, calling the radius unity,
and taking P Q, on account of its fmallnefs, — the
fine of P Q, and the angle P T Q_~ the fine of

PTQ.we have P T Q^= p Q- x ggT p Q-—the

tranflation of the pole x the fine of the right af-
cenfion of the fun or ftar reckoned from the meri-
dian in which the pole moves, -f- the tangent of the
polar diflance, or, which is the fame thing, x the
tangent of the declination. Therefore, as P Q,
ariflng from the nutation of the earth’s axis, never
exceeds q" JL, the greateft value of P T Q, for the
fun can never exceed 9" 4. x tangent of 23 .1 the
fun’s greatefl declination, — 4", 1 which antwers to
about 4 of afecond of time: and fo much, and no more,
may the fun come fooner or later to the meridian,
on account of the nutation of the earth’s axis :
whereas, if the equation of the equinoxes was to be
applied diredfly in the computation, according to

M. Delalande’s

[ 34i ]

M. Delalande’s method, it would fometimes, namely
when at its maximum of 18", produce nearly 1 i.
fecond of time.

But, tho’ this demonftration may be admitted to be
juft, yet it may perhaps be afked, wherein lay the fault
of the method of computation here cenfured, and
whether the time of the fun’s coming to the meri-
dian is not regulated by his right afcenfion ? It may
alfo be thought requisite, that the true manner of
computing the equation of time, from the fun’s
right afcenlion, fhould be fhewn.

Firft, let ft be obferved, that when the pole is at
P, A is the equinoctial point, and, when the pole
is tranflated to Q, fome other point B is the equi-
noctial point : therefore the fun’s mean right afcen-
fion U P A is reckoned from A, and his apparent
right afcenfion B QJ>, computed from his longitude,
corrected by the equation of the equinoxes A B, or
B S, is reckoned from another point B. Now the
equation of time is proportional to the difference be-
tween the fun’s mean and true right afcenfion, both
reckoned from the fame point ; fo that if the fun’s
mean right afcenfion is reckoned ffrom A, his apparent
right afcenfion, in this cafe, fhould be reckoned from
A too; or if the apparent right afcenfion is reckoned,
more properly, from the apparent right equinox B,
his mean right afcenfion, for this purpofe, fhould be
reckoned from B likewife. For it is plain, from
what has been faid above, that no fmall motion of
the pole P can at all affeCt the abfolute time of a
ftar in the equator’s coming to the meridian of any
place ; for, the tangent Qj then becoming infinite,
the angle P T Qj/anifhes ; therefore the mean equi-
nox

[ 342 ]

nox A will come to the meridian at the fame inftant
Oi abfolute time, as if the pole had not been
tranflated from P to Qj and the difference of time
between the lun S coming to the meridian, and a
fiidfitious fun U, fuppofed to move uniformly in the
equator, with a motion equal to the fun’s mean mo-
tion in longitude, or the equation of time will be there-
fore meafured by A Q^S ' — > A P U, the difference of
their right afcenfions reckoned from the fame point
A. It will alfo, by the like reafoning, be meafured
by B ^ B P U, the difference of their right afcen-

fions reckoned from the fame point B ; for B being
the equinox, when the pole is at Q, the abfolute
time of the point B palling the meridian of any
place will remain the fame as if the pole had conti-
nued at P j whence the propofition eafily follows, in
like manner as above.

It may be now proper to fhew how the equation
of time, as affected by the nutation of the earth’s
axis, ought to be computed. This may be done two
ways. The « firfl follows from what has been julf
“ laid down : correct the mean right afcenfion of
“ the fun U P A, by the precefhon of the equinoxes
“ in right afcenfion APB (which is always to the

preceffion in longitude B A, as cofine of the obli-
“ quity of the ecliptic, to the radius, or as 12 to
“ 13 nearly) the difference of the fun’s mean right
“ alcenfion thus corredf ed B P U, and the fun’s appa-
“ rent afcenfion B QS, turned into time, is the true
“ equation of time.”

Otherwife the effedt of the nutation of the earth’s
axis upon the equation of time, if thought defend-
ing notice, as it can never exceed 1. of a fecond of

time,

[ 3+3 ]

time, might be computed from the angle PTOv
= P Q^x fine of TPD-r TQ, which, luppofing
the nutation of the pole to be performed in a circle,
whofe radius is 8" , or a mean between the two con-
jugate femi-axes of the ellipfis, in which it really
moves, is — W' x tangent of the fun’s declination
X cofine of the difference of fun’s right afcenfion,
and the longitude of the moon’s afcending node.

But this is not the only miflake in the computa-
tion of the equation of time in the Connoiffance des
Mouvements Celeftes, though it may exceed one
lecond of time. M. Delalande fays that the fum of
the equation of the fun’s centre, the difference be-
tween his longitude and right afcenfion, and the
fum of the four little equations, muff be converted
into mean folar time, in order to find the equation
of time; and adds, that no exadt equation table
could be had, before this time, for three reafons,
one of which is, that it has always been the practice
to convert the equation of the fun’s centre and the
difference between his longitude and right afcenfion
into time of the Primum Mobile, inftead of mean
folar time, which, fays he, may produce an error
of 2 4- feconds.

Now I muff here freely own, that as I could not,
without fome reludlance, and only from the fulled
proof, allow all the mathematicians and aftronomers,
before this time, to have been miftaken in the man-
ner of converting the quantities above-mentioned
into time, fo I can find no reafon to conclude fo
from what has been cited above: on the contrary,
from a full confideration of the fubjedt, I apprehend
the method hitherto ufed by the mathematicians to

be

C 344 ]

be juft, and that the author has himfelf fallen Into an
equal miftake with that of which he accufes them.

But, in order to fet this matter in a clearer light,
it will be firft neceffary to conlider motion and time,
relatively to each other ; tor, except this be done, it
will be impoflible to underftand any thing precife
from converting a certain number of minutes and
feconds into mean folar time, or time of the Primum
Mobile.

There are three different kinds of time ufed by
aftronomers, fidereal time, apparent folar time, and
mean folar time. The interval between the tranfit
of the firft of Aries acrofs the meridian one day, and
its return to it the next day, is called a fidereal day,
which is divided into 24 equal parts or hours, and
the hours into minutes, &c. This time is fhewn by
a clock regulated to agree with the tranlit of the ftars
acrofs the meridian. The interval between the
tranfit of the fun acrofs the meridian one day, and
Ins tranfit the next day, is called an apparent folar
day, which is divided into hours, minutes, Q3c. of
apparent time. The folar day, it is manifeft, and
its hours, minutes, & fc. are of different lengths, at
different times of the year : on account of which
inequality, a good clock, which keeps equal time,
cannot long agree with the lun’s motion, which is
unequal. Therefore, aftronomers have deviled an
imaginary time, called mean -folar time ; which is
what would be pointed out by the fun, if his motion
in right afcenfion from day to day was uniform, or,
in other words, it is what would be pointed out by a
fi&itious fun or planet fuppofed to move uniformly
in the equator, with a motion equal to the mean
A motion

[ 345 ]

motion of the fun in longitude, its diftance from the
firft point of Aries (meaning hereby the mean equi-
nox) being always equal to the mean longitude of
the fun : and as apparent noon is the inftant of the
true fun’s coming to the meridian, fo mean noon is
the inftant at which this fi&itious planet would come
to the meridian. The interval between its coming to
the meridian on any two fucceftive days is a mean
folar day, which is divided into hours, minutes, &c,
of mean folar time ; all which it is manifeft will pre-
ferve the fame length at all times of the year.

The equation of time, at the inftant of apparent
noon, or of the fun’s pafling the meridian, being
equal to the difference between mean time and 12
hours, is alfo equal to the interval between the mean
and true fun’s pafting the meridian expreffed in mean
folar time : to find which, we have the diftance of
the mean fun from the meridian, at the inftant of
apparent noon, equal to the difference between the
fun’s apparent and mean right afcenfton (both reckoned
either from the mean or apparent equinox) which
may be called the equation of right afcenfion. The
queftion, therefore, comes to this, How many mi-
nutes and feconds of mean folar time doth the mean
fun take to move this diftance up to or from the
meridian ? Aftronomers hitherto have allowed 1 mi-
nute of time to every 1 5 minutes of right afcenfion,
and fo in proportion ; and, I apprehend, juftly too;
for does not the mean fun, in returning to the me-
ridian, defcribe 360° about the pole in 24 hours of
mean folar time ; whence it is plain, that his depar-
ture from the meridian is at the rate of 150 to 1
hour, and 15' to 1 minute of mean folar time.

Vol. LIV. Y y Therefore

[ 346 ]

Therefore aftronomers have not converted the equa-
tion of right afcenfion into time according to the
motion of the Primum Mobile j for, the equation of
time being mean folar time, and the motion of the
Primum Mobile being compleated in 23 H. 56 M.
4 S. of mean folar time, therefore 15 motion or
the Primum Mobile does not anfwer to 1 hour of
mean folar time (though it does to 1 hour of fidereal
time) but to the 24th part of 23 H. 56 M. 4 S. or
59 M. 50 4 S. And it appears, that the equation of
time in the Connoifiance des Mouvements Celeftes
has been computed in this manner, and the table in
the 79th page of the Connoiftance for 1761 has been
made ufe of, entitled, “ A table to convert into de-
<c grees the time of a clock regulated according to the
“ mean motion of the lun.” 1 he degrees of this ta-
ble are evidently degrees of the Primum Mobile,

1 hour of mean folar time giving 15 2' 27,8 ,
which anfwers to the motion of the ftars from the
me idian, but not to the mean motion of the fun from
thence, which is 15 to 1 hour of mean folar time:
whence it appears, that this writer hath evidently
fell into the miftake of taking motion or (pace of the
Primum Mobile, inftead of the mean motion of the
fun from the 'meridian ; an equal miftake to that of
which he erroneoufly fuppofes former mathemati-
cians to have been guilty, in computing the equation
of time. So that the equation of time in this ephe-
meris, beftdcs the miftake arifing from the taking
in the equation of the equinoctial points into the
account, is conftantly too fmall in the proportion of
24 hours to 23 H. 56 M. 4 S. or ot 366 to 3l)5,> or
too fmall by 1 fecond upon every 6 minutes ol the

equation

4

[ 347 1

equation of time : and the miftake of 2 L feconds,
which was fuppofed to be found in the old manner
of reducing the equation of right afcenfion into time,
really takes place in this new method ; which, added
to i fecond of time, arifing from the miftake in
taking the preceflion of the equinoxes into the ac-
count, produces 3 4- feconds, an error which, I ap-
prehend, the aftronomical equation tables ufed ftnce
Mr. Flamftead’s time have but rarely exceeded.

To fome, who are not well acquainted with the
prefent improved ftate of aftronomy, the difference
in queftion may feem a matter of indifference, and
too trifling for notice. But, if truth is the objecft; of
all our enquiries, why fhould we wilfully go beflde it
in the fmalleft matters ? And is it not a juftice due
to paft aftronomers, to whom we owe the founda-
tions of all our knowledge, to vindicate them even
from the fmalleft cenfure, which they do not appear
to deferve ? At the fame time, I flatter myfelf, that
the learned editor of the Connoiflance des Mouvements
Celeftes, and alfo the friends of the late illuftrious Abbe
de la Caille, who, I believe, was inadvertently the
firft author of this miftake, will take no offence at my
endeavouring to clear up a point, which they, doubt-
lefs for want of having given fufficient. attention to,
feem to have miftaken : lince, truth being the com-
mon objedl of all our purfuits, we ought candidly
to accept as well the affiftance we receive from each
other for bringing us into the right road, when we
happen to have ftrayed from it, as for helping us
forward on our journey.

The Figure referred to in p. 339. Jhoukl be Tab. XX.

Y y 2 LVII. JJiro-

[ 348 ]

9

LVII. Agronomical Obfervatiom made at
the IJland of St, Helena, by Nevil Mafke-
lyne, M. A, Fellow of Trinity College,
Cambridge, and F. R. S,

t o

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
The Earl of MORTON, President,

AND

The Fellows of the Royal Society,

the

Following Obfervations made, when I was employed,
by their Appointment, at St. HELENA,

ARE

Mod refpe&fully prefented, by,

His Lordfhip’s,

And the Royal Society’s,

Mod: obedient.

Humble Servant,

Nevil Mafkelyne.

T II E

[ 349 ]

Read Dec. 20, i-6 t,r“ g ' H E following obfervations
and ja.i 20,176 . were taken with a reflecting

telefcope, of two teet focal length, made by Mr.
Short (of a fimilar (ize and conftrudtion to thofe ufed
in the obfervaiion of the Tranfit of Venus, by him-
felf at Saville Houfe, by Mr. Green at Greenwich,
and by Melf. Mafon and Dixon at the Cape of Good
Hope), with an equal altitude inftrument made by
Mr, Bird, and a clock, with a gridiron pendulum,
made by Mr. Shelton, an account of whofe going,
at Greenwich, before my departure for St. Helena,
and immediately upon my arrival there, is contained
in Phil.Tranf. Vol. LII. Part II. Page 434. and the
difference of gravity between thofe two places thence
deduced.

The almoff continual cloudinefs of the fkies, at the
Ifland of St. Helena, renders it a very inconvenient
place for the making of affronomical obfervations,
which I had the mortification to experience in lofing
the fight of the exit of the planet Venus, from the
fun’s difc, on the 6th of June 1761, to obferve which
was the primary motive of my going thither. I
fhould have thought myfelf, in a great meafure,
compenfated for this mifchance, if I had been enabled,
by the help of the ten foot fedlor, provided me at
the expence of the Royal Society, either to prove or
difprove the exiftence of a fenfible annual parallax
of the ftar Sirius, fome reafons for the probability of
which I laid before the Royal Society, in a paper fince
publiflied in Phil. Tranf. Vol. LI. P. II. p. 889, and, at

the

[ 35° ]

the fame time, offered a propofal tor the di/covery
of the fame, by obfervations of the zenith didance
of that dar, to be made at the ifland of St. Helena.
But, unfortunately, when I came to let up the fedor
there (which, through the tardinefs of the workman
in finifhing it, I had not had an opportunity of
proving, as I had wifhed, before my departure from
England) I loon found a ftrange irregularity in the
obferved zenith didances of the dars, amounting to
io, 20, and fometimes even 30 feconds. After
having fatisfied myfelf, by various trials, that theie
great differences in the obfervations did not arile from
any bending of the tube of the telelcope, which
conditutes the radius of the indrument, or from any
lcofenefs in the objed-glafs, or indability of the
wooden three-legged Hand, which fupports the fedor ,
I, at lad, found the caufe of error to lie, where I
had lead fufpeded it, in the imperfedion of the
fufpenfion of the plumb-line (which is a fine diver
wire) from the neck of the central pin; for, upon
taking the loop of the plumb-line off the pin, and
putting on again, after turning it half round, or
putting on a new one, 1 found the plumb-line
would apply itfelf to a different part of the limb of
the fedor, commonly by 10, and frequently by 20
feconds. This experiment, with the fame event, I
had the honour of exhibiting before a committee of
the Royal Society, for their fatisfadion, as to the
caufe of the failure of my intended obfervations,
September n, 1762, at the Britifh Mufeum.

The irregularities in quedion evidently arofe from
the fridion of the loop of the plumb-line againd the

neck of the central pin ; a fault, to which mod of

the

[ 35 1 ]

the fedors, made before mine, have probably been
liable. Indeed the fault became more glaring here,
by the workman’s having made the diametei of
the neck of the central pin fo large as Ag-th of an
inch ; but that the errors cannot be entirely removed
by leffening the neck of the pin, I can affert from
my own experience, having caufed a pin to be made
with the neck only TVth of an inch in diameter (and
beyond that it cannot well be reduced) by which I
ffcill found an irregularity in the fufpenfion of the
plumb-line, to the amount of 3", a quantity, though
feemingly fmall, yet of great confequence in the nice
obfervations to which this inftrument is geneially
applied, and which it is capable of taking to a pio-
digious exadnefs, when the fufpenfion of the plumb-
line is accurately provided for. Mr. Biid has con-
trived one of fix foot length, for fettling the limits
between Pennfilvania and Maryland, in which the
plumb-line is adjufted fo as to pafs over againft, and
bifletf: a fmall point at the centre of the inftru-

ment. _ . .

I cannot, on this occafion, omit remarking that the

late learned Abbe de la Caille s fedor, with which
he made his principal obfervations, from fome of
which I inferred the probability of an annual par-
- allax of Sirius, feems to have had a like fault with
nay fedor, as may be inferred not only from the
differences in the obfervations themfelves, but alfo
from the brief account of the fufpenfion of that in-
ftrument, contained in a letter with which I have
been favoured by M. Delalande from 1 aiis, an extrad
of which I prefented to the Royal Society. Vide
Phil. Tranf. Vol. LII. Part 2. Page 607.

Let

[ 352 ]

Let me obferve alfo, that the 9 foot fedtor, made
in London by Mr. Graham, with which the gentle-
men of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris
meafured a degree of the meridian, at the polar
circle, and afterwards a degree between Paris and
Amiens, had, at the time of their making thole ob-
fervations with it, the fufpenfion of the plumb-line
contrived after the fame manner as mine (whatever
alterations may have fince been made in it) as ap-
pears from M. De Maupertuis’s minute and accurate
defcription of the faid inftrument, in his account of
the meafure of the degree of the meridian between
Paris and Amiens : for he there fays, that the part of
the central pin, on which the loop of the plumb-
line was hung, refembled the meeting of two oppo-
fite cones at their points j which is an exadt defcrip-
tion of the form of the neck of the central pin of
my fe&or. But, though this capital defedt in the
fufpenfion of the plumb-line of my inftrument
(which I could not corredf, at St. Helena, for want
of workmen and tools) prevented me from deciding
the queftion concerning the annual parallax of Sirius ;
yet, as 1 am confcious, the want of fuccefs did not
arife from any fault of mine, I (hall endeavour to
confole myfelf for my difappointment, by the reflexion,
that I may, at ieaft, have contributed fomething to
the benefit of aftronomy, by having difcovered, by
my experiments, the imperfedtion of the above-
mentioned method of fufpenfion of the plumb-line
in fedtors, which no one ever fufpedted before, and
fo may be the means of preventing any more in-
ftruments of this kind being conftrudted in the like

faulty

[ 353 ]

faulty manner, and confequently any future aftrono-
mers being deceived in their obfervations.

There dill remained one objedt worthy of atten-
tion, which 1 had alio propofed to the Royal Society,
and received their encouragement to proceed in it.
This was the obfervation of the horary parallaxes of
the moon, by the difference of right afcenfion in
time between the moon’s enlightened limb, and ftars
near her parallel of declination : a kind of obferva-
tion never before made to my knowledge, by any
adronomer, in a latitude fo near to the equator, as
St. Helena, which, by determining the mean hori-
zontal parallax in that latitude, infers al fo, by a pro-
portion, which will come out lenfibly the fame upon
any probable hypothefis of the figure of the earth,
the mean equatorial parallax, which hath never yet
been deduced in any manner fo nearly diredt.

For the purpofe of making thefe obfervations, I
was provided with a polar axis, fuitable to the la-
titude of the place, on which my reflecting telefc pe
was mounted, and a particular additional eye-piece,
having fine lilver wires lfretched in the focus of
the neared eye-glafs. The cell containing the
wires being moveable round about, by means of
a fcrew, it was eafy to caule any ftar near the moon’s
parallel of declination to run exadtly along one of
the wires, which may be called the directing wire,
from the centre to the extremity of the field of the
telefcope. The exact infiants of the ftars pafling
three wires placed perpendicular to the former, which
may be called the horary wires, reprefenting fmall
portions of horary circles, were noted by the clock
Vol. LIV. Z z to

[ 354 ]

to the exa&nefs of -1th of a fecond of time j as were
alio the inftants of the moon’s enlightened limb
pading the fame wires. It is manifeil that the
difference of time, obferved by the clock, between
the ftar and the moon’s limb paffing the horary
wires, reduced to fidereal time, and from thence into
parts of the equator, is the apparent difference of
right afcenfion between the ftar and the moon’s limb
palling the horary wires. The fame obfervations re-
peated after an interval of fome hours gave the pre-
fent difference of right afcenfion between the ftar and
the moon’s limb; whence the moon’s apparent mo-
tion in right afcenfion, or the difference of thefe dif-
ferences is known ; which fubftra£ted from the
moon’s motion in right afcenfion, in the given inter-
val of time, owing to her proper motion in her
orbit, computed, in the moft exadt manner, from
the beft tables, leaves the remainder for the change
of the moon’s parallax in right afcenfion between
the two times of obfervation ; the ratio of which to
the horizontal parallax at that time being alfo com-
puted, the horizontal parallax of the moon is known :
and confequently, by the help of a proportion bor-
rowed from the tables, the mean horizontal paral-
lax of the moon in the latitude where the obferva-
tions are made. The mean horizontal parallax be-
ing deduced in this manner from a great many ob-
fervations on different nights, the mean of all the
refults may be taken, as approaching very near to
the truth : for the advantage is fo great from taking
a mean of a great number of aftronomical obferva-
tions, that any degree of exa&nefs required, may

[ 355 ]

be thereby obtained, provided they are not liable to
any confiant and uniform caufe of error : as has
been clearly (hewn by my late worthy and learned
friend Mr. Thomas Simpfon, Phil. Tranf. Vol.
XLIX. Part I. Page 82 ; and alfo in his Mifcellaneous
Tract, Page 64. Therefore I cannot but think,
that, from a confiderable number of fuch obftrva-
tions, the mean horizontal parallax, and thence the
mean equatorial parallax of the moon might be de-
duced certainly to a tingle fecond, or ever nearer if
required.

In hopes of attaining fuch a degree of exadtnefs,

I endeavoured to multiply my obfervations as much
as poffible : yet, through the great cloudinefs of the
ifland, could not obtain more than three nights com-
plete obfervations. If thefe fhould appear too few to
attain the exadtnefs propofed, yet they may contri-
bute, in a good mealure, thereto. Plowever, 1 have
fince had an opportunity, during my refidence at
the ifland of Barbadoes, in the latitude of 130 north,
which 30 degrees nearer the line than St. Helena,
to repeat thefe obfervations to a very great number,
from which, I doubt not, the mean equatorial par-
allax of the moon may be accurately determined.

I (hall here defire to remark, that, if the like ob-
fervations were repeated in different latitudes, they
would probably afford the bed means yet propofed
for afcertaining the true figure of the earth ; as they
would determine the ratio of the diameters of the
parallels of latitude to each other, the horary par-
allaxes being proportional thereto : and, after all
the experiments and obfervations that have been made

Z z 2 on

[ 356 ]

on this fubjedt, we fhall probably, at laft, be in-
debted to obfervations of the moon’s parallax for the
bed determination of it: for though the earth affords
but a fmall bafe at the moon, yet, by repeating
thefe trials, and comparing their refults, we may
hope to attain that degree of exadtnefs, which we
could never expedt from fewer obfervations.

As I look upon the fpecies of obfervations here
fpoken of to be of very important ufe for the im-
provement of aftronomy and geography, and as fuch
defire to recommend the practice of them, efpecially
to thofe who may have occafion to vifit countries of
diftant latitudes; I fhall briefly mention fuch further
particulars, which the experience I have had, and
my attention have fuggefted to me, the obfervance
of which may conduce to the greater accuracy, as
well of the obfervations, as of the confequences to be
deduced from them.

I apprehend the ufe of a polar axis to be very ne-
ceflary for rightly managing the telefcope, as well
for finding what ftar it is proper to compare the
moon with, as for -preferving the pofition of the
wires unvaried, after their adjuflment. A very
nice and exadt polar axis is not requifite ; but a cheap
one, and fuch an one as may eafily be provided, will
fuffice. Mine was formed by a brafs focket, making
an angle with the horizontal top of the ftand equal
to 1 6° or the latitude of the place, receiving the
brafs cylindrical fupport of the telefcope, inftead of
the perpendicular focket of the common ftand : and
the telefcope was firmly confined in the focket bv
a pointed fcrew which pafled through one fide of

the

C 357 ]

the focket into fome of the holes, wich were drilled
in the fupport of the telefcope.

The polar axis may be fet near enough to the di-
rection of the meridian, by a magnetic needle, allow-
ing for the variation ; or, even by the light, pro-
vided the walls of the obfervatory be built nearly
north and fouth. This being done, and the direct-
ing wire being brought into fuch a pofition, that the
ftar may run exaCtly along it from the centre to
the extremity of the field of the telefcope ; then if
the fcrews of the rack work be turned, and the ftar
be brought back to the interfeCtion of the wires, it
will be found to run exaCtly along the directing wire
again ; and this I generally found would be the cafe,
even for a very confiderable fpace of time, though
the ftar had, in the mean time, advanced a confi-
derable way from eaft to weft by the diurnal rota-
tion ; fo that it is not always neceffary to re-adjuft
the wires after each fett of obfervations, though it
may be proper to examine whether they require it
or not. Hence it follows, .that there can be no
danger of difturbing the pofition of the wires after
their adjultment, by bringing the ftar back to the
entrance of the telefcope, in order to oblerve its
palfage acrofs all the horary wires.

Sometimes it fo happens that a proper ftar cannot
be found that precedes the moon, to compare her
with ; in fuch a cafe, the obferver muff compare her
with a ftar following her, and adjuft the wires by
making fome bright point of the moon run along
the directing wire, which is a more exaCt method than
by making the directing wire a tangent to the moon’s

north

[ 358 ]

north or fouth limb. Here, indeed, the directing
wire cannot reprefent a parallel to the equator, on
account of the moon’s continual change of decli-
nation, bat will make a fmall angle therewith ;
which may be computed, and the obfervations cor-
rected accordingly. But the correction may be ealier
made, as follows, let a exprefs the moon’s apparent
angular motion about the pole of the world in four
minutes ot time, being the difference of her proper
motion in right afcenfion, and the change of her par-
allax in right afcenfion: d her apparent motion and
declination in the fame time, h the difference of the
apparent declination of the moon, and that of the
flar, r the radius, and c the cofine of the moon or
ffar s declination ; the correction to be applied to the
moon s right afcenfion, or the difference of right

afcenfion of the moon and ftar is h x - X — . If

a c 1

the moon is approaching the ftar’s parallel of decli-
nation, fhe will come to the horary wire relatively
too late for the ftar, and her right afcenfion, deduced
immediately from that of the ftar, will be too great,
and muft be diminished by the correction here men-
tioned ; but, if the moon is receding from the ftar’s
parallel of declination, fhe will come to the horary
wire relatively too foon for the ftar, and her right
afcenfion, immediately deduced from that of the
ftar, will be too fmall, and muft be increafed by the
above-mentioned correction.

There is another attention, which the nice ob-
ferver will not think too trifling for his notice, name-
ly, to examine whether the wires of his telefcope

are

[ 3S9 ]

are placed at exaft right angles to each other (which
they feldom are) and, if they are not, what the
quantity of deviation is, in order to make an al-
lowance for it in the reduction of the obfervations.
This may be tried feveral ways. I examined the
wires of my telefcope at Barbados, by a gieat many
obfervations of the difference of right aicenfion of
ftars, which differed confiderably from each other
in declination, namely Ardurus, and the little fiar
accompanying it, and the virgin s fpike, and a fmall
flar preceding it j fir ft with the wires in the common
pofition, and next when turned a quarter round,
makincr the middle horary wire ferve as a directing
wire • for, if the wires do not cut each other at light
angle’s, the difference of right afcenfion of the
ftars will come out too much one way, and as much
too little the other way, and half the difference will
be the corredion in this cafe, whence it may be in-
ferred in all other cafes. Or, the angle of the de-
viation of the wires from a right angle being hence
found the correction of the difference of light

afcenfion of the moon and ftar, is to the difference
of their apparent declination ; as the fine of the angle
of the deviation of the wires is, to the cofine of the

moon or ftar’s declination. .

I have determined the deviation of the wires of
the telefcope, which I ufed at St. Helena, by com-
paring them with a right angle, formed by two
Elver Vires on a brafs plate, fixed up in a window at
the diftance of 30 feet from the telefcope The
extent of the compaffes, with which the tnterfeaing
arches were ftruck, for finding the perpendicular

[ 360 ]

1 ines on the plate, being no lefs than /even inches,
thofe wires may be fuppofed to differ infenfibly from
a rig it angle to each other. The telefcope beincr
adjulled for feeing them diftindtly, I brought thal
wire of the telelcope, which in celeftial obferva-
tions reprefented a parallel of declination, to be ex-
actly parallel to one of the wires on the plate, with
the fmalleff interval pofiible; and, at the fame time,
made the middle perpendicular, or horary wire, to
pafs through the interfeftion of both the wires* in
the window: when I plainly difcerned, that the wires
of the telefcope were not exadtly perpendicular to
each other, the fuperior angle to the right being ma-
nifestly acute, and the fuperior one to the left obtufe.
This I further verified by applying the acute angle
to the left hand fuperior angle of the plate, turnin'*
the wires in the telefcope a quarter round, from right
to left, by the lerew adapted for this purpofe, when
the fame difference appeared as before. This proved
alio that the wires on the plate made exadt right
angles with each other; otherwile the acute angle
of the wires of the telefcope could not have ap-
peared to differ equally from both of them. To
find the exact difference of the angle made by the
wires from a right angle, I had a third wire placed
exadtly parallel to one of the former on the plate at
the distance of ^!_th of an inch ; when by applying
the angle of the wires of the telefcope to the right
angle on the plate, the deviation of the former from
the latter appeared to be equal to half the interval
of the parallel wires at the extremity of the field
of view ; but the femi-diameter of the field of the
leleicope at the diltance of the wires in the window

being

[ 36r 3

being; meafured — — th of an inch; whence the angle

of deviation of the wires, from a right angle, is 21
minutes. But, by a mean of 1 1 trials, the quantity
of the deviation came out 28'' JL, the extreme refults
being 21' and 36'. This is the deviation of the
fouth part of the middle horary wire, from a perpendi-
cularity, to the directing wire towards the eaft, in the
obfervations at St. Helena ; a ftar, that paffed fouth
of the centre of the telefcope, coming to the ho-
rary wire too foon, and a ftar that paffed north of the
centre coming later to the horary wire than it ought
to do.

In order to determine whether the two other ho-
rary wires were parallel to the middle one, or, if
not, what angle they made with it, I compared the
tranfit of 13 ftars acrofs the three horary wires, with
thofe of as many more ftars differing confiderably
in declination from the former, all obferved at St.
Helena; and from the differences of right afcenfion
at the feveral wires, after making an allowance for
the convergence of the meridians, which however is
not 2 I found the fouth part of the firft or eaftern
wire to deviate from a parallelifm with the middle
one towards the weft by </, 8, and the weftern wire
to deviate towards the eaft by 5^,4 ; hence it appears
that the fouth parts of the eaftern, middle, and weftern
horary wire differed from a perpendicularity to the di-
recting wire towards the eaft, in the obfervation of
St. Helena, by 18^7, 28' .1, and 34', the mean devi-
ation of all the three being 27' or only 1 4- different
from that of the middle horary wire. This quan-
tity of the mean deviation of the wires is alfo con-
Vol. L1V. A a a firmed

[ 36a ]

firmed by a comparifon of fix differences of right
afcenfion of flars obferved at St. Helena, with the
fame obferved, at my defire, fince my return, at the
Royal Obfervatory, by the tranfit inftrument, which
gives 27' .L, agreeing exactly with what has been here
found in a more certain manner.

Sometimes, in making thefe obfervations, it fo
happened, that feveral fiars lay near the moon’s par-
allel of declination ; when I obferved all of them,
that came within the field of the telefcope ; as well
to obviate the hazard of miffing to obferve the right
ftar again after an interval of feveral hours, as to ob-
tain a greater number of comparifons of the moon’s
motions in right afcenfion, and fo reduce the un-
avoidable errors of the obfervations as much as
poffible.

It may be proper to remark, that the mod con-
venient time for making thefe obfervations, is when
the moon is flationary at her greateft declinations ;
when ffie may be compared with the fame ftar, with
a telefcope having a moderate field of view, for
feveral hours. The change of the moon’s parallax
in declination is then alone to be feared ; but if the
obfervations are made nearly at the fame diftance from
the meridian, both on the weftern and eaftern fide,
the parallax returning to the fame quantity, will oc-
cafion no difficulty. Sometimes, when the moon
is not exactly at, but only near, her greateft declina-
tion, by obferving her on the proper fide of the me-
ridian, the effeCt of parallax may be found to be con-
trary to, and confequently counteract, her change of
declination arifing from her proper motion.

Through

[ 363 3

Through the great cloudinefs of the fkies at St.
Helena, I could obferve the moon only one night,
namely January 8, 1762, near her limits of decli-
nation ; on the other nights, I endeavoured to com.
pare her with as many flars as came within the field
of the telefcope, trufling to determine afterwards the
difference of right afeenfion of the flars, with which
(he was compared in the former and latter obferva-
tions of the fame night. This defign I have fince
completed, by procuring a great many tranfits of
thefe flars, to be obferved on the meridian, at the
Royal Obfervatory, in the latter end of the year
1762, and beginning of the year 1763; many alfo
1 made there myfelf. An account of them is given
at the end of the other obfervations.

An ufeful remark here offers itfelf to our notice j
that the moon’s parallax may be very well deter-
mined, in a fixed obfervatory, at any period of her
declination, by obferving the difference of right afeen-
fion of her limb, and any flar near her parallel, at a
confiderable diflance from the meridian, either to
the eaft or wefl, with the parallactic telefcope, and
alfo on the meridian with the tranfit inflrument.

But, in purfuing this method, the parallactic
telefcope ought to be nearly of equal goodnefs with
the tranfit telefcope ; elfe the moon s diameter might
appear greater by fome feconds through one and the
other, and confequently the parallax fo deduced
would not be exadt. It is true, that, by a proper
method of comparing the obfervations, this fmall
error might be obviated, though the telefcopes dif-
fered ever fo much in the degree of diflindtnefs,
namely, by taking a mean of the refults found by

A a a 2 the

[ 364 ]

the obfervations in the firft and Iaft half of the
moon, or on the eaflern and weflern Tides of the
mendian; for it is manifeft the errors would be of
contrary tendency in tbefe different cafes.

. may ^erve the more to recommend the prac-
tice of thefe obfervations to affronomers, I think it
proper to mention, that I feldom failed of finding
fome proper ffar or ffars near the moon, of fuffi-
cient brightnefs, to compare her with, even when
there were none fuch marked down in any catalogue,
or any chaits: the number of zodiacal ffars proper
foi comparing the moon and planets with in a te-
lefcope, and not inferted in any printed catalogue,

ieeming much to exceed the number of thofe marked
down.

I have but one more remark to add on this fub-
jedt, that, as it is neceflary to know nearly the appa-
lent difference of declination of the moon’s centre, and
the ffars obferved, in order to corre& the obfervations
for the deviation of the wires, and the moon’s change
of declination, fo this may moff readily and conve-
niently be done by fome oblique wires fixed in the
focus of the eye-glafs of the telefcope, as I had in
that I ufed at Barbadoes. Not having fuch a contri-
vance adapted to the telefcope I ufed at St. Helena,

I always effimated by my eye how many minutes
each lfar, and alfo the moon’s centre, paffed north
or fouth of the dire&ing wire, which I had an
eafy method of doing, by comparing their di-
flance from the dire&ing wire, with the interval be-
tween the directing wire, and one of the two wires
if retched parallel to it, at the exad diffance of 10
minutes on each fide. In this manner the numbers

fet

C 365 ]

fet down by the fides of mod; of the obfervations were
deduced, ex pr effing the number of minutes whicn
the ftars pafied north or fouth of the moon s centre.
They may be depended on to a minute, or two at moil,
which is fufficientfor the reduction of the obfervations.

To make the foregoing account of the method of
obferving the moon’s horary parallaxes more clear, let
AD BE, Tab. XXI. fig. i. reprefent the cell contain-
ing the filver wires flretched in the focus of the
neared eye-glafs of the telefcope, of which A B is
the directing wire, M N, D E, OP, three wires
perpendicular to A B reprefenting portions of horary
circles j and, F G, H I, two other wires parallel to
the directing wire A B, at the equal diflances, C Q,
C R, on each fide, equal to io minutes. The femi-
diameter of the field of the telefcope C A is 1.4
minutes ; A is the eaftern fide of the field of view,
B the weftern, D the fouthern, and E the northern
fide. In order to adjaft the wire AB parallel to the
equator, fo that M N, D E, O P, may reprefent
horary circles, the ftar, whofe difference of right
afcenfion from the moon is to be obferved, is brought
by means of the fcrews to the interfedtion of the
wires A B, D E, at the centre of the telefcope C,
and when the ftar is near palling out of the telefcope
at B, the cell AD BE is turned round, by means of
a fcrew, till the Ear is again brought upon, and
biffedted by the wire A B ; this being done, if the
fcrew be turned to make the teleicope follow the ftar
towards the weft, and the ftar be again brought to
the interfedlion of the wires at C, it will be generally
found to run exadtly along the wire C B, biffedled
by it all the way from C to B ; which is then a proof

that the wire A B is rightly adjufted ; but, if the ftar

runs

[ 366 ]

runs not exa&ly along the wire A B, the pofition of
that wire muft be altered a little, till the ftar runs
exactly along it from the centre C, to the extremity
of the field of the telefcope at B. Then turn the
fcrew to carry back the ftar from B a little to the
eaft of the firft or eaftern wire M N, and obferve
the exadt minute, fecond, and quarter of a fecond,
of the ftars palling the three horary wires M N, D E,
O P j the telefcope remaining unmoved and undi-
fturbed, obferve, in like manner, the tranfit of the
moon’s enlightened limb acrofs the fame wires, whe-
ther Ihe pafs fouth of the liar, as along the line S T,
or north of the fame, as along to the line U V ; and
the obfervation is completed. The like obfervation
being repeated, after an interval of feveral hours, we
fhall have the apparent motion of the moon in right
afcenfion in this time ; whence the moon’s horary,
and thence her horizontal parallax may be com-
puted.

If the moon precedes the flar, and the wire AB is
adjufted by making fome bright point in the moon
run along it, and W X is fuppofed to be the true par-
allel of declination, it is manifeft that the ftar will
pafs the horary wire at a , to the fouth of the centre
of the telefcope fooner, and to the north of the
centre of the telefcope later, than it pafles the true
horary circle Y Z at e, by the time it takes to defcribe
a e parallel to W X. Let C L be the apparent motion
of the bright point of the moon, in four minutes of
time; draw K L perpendicular to W X produced,
and C K is the apparent motion reduced to a parallel
of the equator in four minutes, and K L the appa-
rent motion in declination in the fame time ; and,
4 the

L 367 3

the right-angled triangles a e C, K C L being fimi-
lar, ae is to e C, as K L to C K ; but the error of %
the right afcenfion anfwering to a e is to a e, as ra-
dius to the cofine of the liar’s declination ; and C K,
is to the moon’s apparent angular motion about the
pole, in four minutes, as coline of moon s apparent
declination, to radius. Whence, by compofition of
ratio’s, and by equality, the correction of the moon s
right afcenfion is to e E the apparent difference of
declination of the moon and flar, in a compound
ratio of the moon’s apparent motion, in declination
in four minutes, to her apparent motion about the
pole in the fame time, and of the fquare of the ra-
dius, to the produCt of the cofines of the ftars and
moon’s apparent declinations.

Further it appears from the fcheme, that the
moon comes later to C than to the horary circle paffing
through the point of the wire (a) cut by a flar be-
tween C and D, whofe parallel of declination fhe is
approaching, and that fhe comes fooner to C than to
the horary circle palling through the point of the
wire (a) cut by a flar between C and E, whofe
parallel of declination fhe is receding from, by the
time the flar takes to defcribe a e ; and, therefore,
the right afcenfion of the moon deduced immediately
from that of the flar mud be too great in the fir ft
cafe, and too little in the fecond cafe, by the fpace
a e meafured upon the flar s parallel of declination.

Laflly, to explain the manner of examining the
deviation of the wires, from a perpendicular to each
other, by obfervations of the liars ; let A B, fig. 2.
reprefent the direCling , and E D the middle horary
wire, deviating from C F, fuppofed perpendicular

to

[ 368 ]

to A3, by the fmall angle DCF. Let any ftar be
made to run along the wire A B, from A to B, any
other ftar following it will pafs the wire D E, at K
fooner, than the horary circle F G at L, by the time
of its defcribing the fmall fpace L K, and confe-
quently the difference of right afcenfion will appear
too little j now let the wires be turned a quarter
round, that the wires A B, DE, may change places,
D coming into the place of A, and E into that of
B, which is done by making the fir ft ftar run along
the wire D E, from C to E. Now the wire A B,
deviating from C I perpendicular to D E, by the angle
B C I, the fecond ftar will pafs the wire BC at N,
later than the horary circle I C at M, by the time it
takes to defcribe the fpace M N — LK; and con-
fequently the difference of right afcenfion of the two
ftars will appear as much too great, as it before ap-
peared too little, when the wires were adjufted in
their ufual pofition : and half the difference will be
the corre&ion in this cafe, to be added to the firft,
or fubtra&ed from the fecond difference of right
afcenfion ; whence the correction may be eafily in-
ferred for all other obfervations.

Celestial

[ 369 3

Celestial Observations*

Eclipfe of the Moon, May 18, 1761.

Appt Time.

H ,

✓ /

48 38 Penumbra plainly entered upon the Moon’s difc.
56 23 Beginning of the Eclipfe.

19 16 Shadow begins to touch Kepler.

37 8 Shadow biffedts Manilius.

40 8 Shadow begins to1 touch Julius Caefar.

10 39 23 Emerfion out of total darknefs.

11 46 52 End of the Eclipfe.

7

7

7

7

7

Immerfions and Emerfions of Jupiter’s Satellites, obferved
at the Obfervatory on the Alarum Hill.

1761

Day of the Month.

D July 20
$ July 22

g Au
V. Au

g- 5 j

g- 27

Appt Time

H

1 7

12

44 31
12 29

Imm. 1 Sat. The Moon near Jupiter.
~ Jlmm. 1 Sat.

14 49 50I3 Sat. almoft immerg’d. Then clouds.
14 50 30^3 Sat. certainly immerg’d.

16 o 40 Imm. 1 Sat.

11 13 56(Emerf. 4 Sat.

Vol. LIV.

Bbb

Ira-

[ 370 ]

Immerfions and Emerfions of Jupiter’s Satellites, obferved

in James’s Valley.

1 761.

Day of the Month

h 061. 10
if 061. 15

? 061. 1 6

D Nov. 9

if Nov. 11
D Nov. 23
T? Nov. 28 <

O Nov. 29

G Dec. 6 |
1 762.

O Ja n. 10

Apparent Time.

H

//

12 48 38

13 36 10

10 3 40

10 3 45

8 19 54

12 40 19

12 9 C2

7 39 18
7 39 13
10 817

10 10 13

7 9 48

9 43 36
9 43 33

7 37 42

Em. 2 Sat.

Em. i Sat.

Em. 3 Sat.

'Ditto by Mr. Mafon (who ar-
rived here to-day from the
Cape of Good Hope) with
a two foot refle6Iing telefcope.
Em. 1 Sat. lnftantaneous both
to myfelf and Mr. Mafon,
exa6tly at the fame fecond,
in different houfes. Air very
clear, and Satellite increafed
its light very faft.

Em. 2 Sat. by Mr. Mafon. I
miffed the inftant of Emer-
fion by moving the (land of
my telefcope. Air very clear.
Em. 1 Sat.

Imm. 3 Sat. Air a little hazy.
Ditto by Mr. Mafon.

3 Sat. had not em. Then clouds.

| Ditto plainly out, though not
t near arriv’d to its full luftre.

2 Sat. had emerg’d. Its light
was fo weak, it probably
i had not been out above 15
L feconds.

Em. 2 Sat.

Ditto by Mr. Mafon.

i

Imm. 3 Sat.

N. B. This mark (:) affixed to any obfervation lignifies that it is a little

uncertain.

Objcrvatiom

C 371 ]

Obfer 'nations of the difference of right afcenjion , by
time , between the moon s enlightened limb and Jlars ,
taken by the help of the parallaSlic wires adapted to
the refledling telefcope ; defigned for determining the
horary parallaxes of the moon. They may alfo
Jerve to deduce the longitude of the place.

V- Sept. 3. Compared the moon’s weflern and preceding limb,
with u Librae in right afcenfion, at the Obfervatory on the
Alarum Hill. The times are by the clock, which is 12 fe-
conds too flow for l'ldereal time, and keep the rate of going
of fidereal time, exactly. The flar puffed fouth of the moon’s
centre.

jlft hor. w.

2d her. w.

3d hor. w.

D ’s I.imb at middle wire.
Apparent Time.

H / //

H

/ n

/ //

/ //

a Librae

17

42. 9

42 23

42 37

D ’s VV . Limb

*7

43 45

43 59^

44 13 1

6 52 49

« Librae

18

2 10

2 24

2 38

5 ’s W. Limb

18

4 h

4 287

4 42-1-

7 23

a. Librae

18

16 3

16 17

16 31

D ’s W. Limb

18

1 8 274

18 42

18 56

7 27 26

a. Librae

1823 6

23 20

2 3 34

5 ’s W. Limb

i8|25 41-

2 5 55

26 9 +

7 34 38

Thurfday September, 24. 1 removed the clock down to James’s
Valley, and keeping the fame length of the pendulum as before,
fixed it up ftrongly againfl the wall of a houfe, in an upper
room, whence I could make my obfervations through openings
made in the roof of the houfe. I fixed the equal altitude inflru-
ment, for regulating the clock, againfl a flrong pofl, let deep
into the ground, in a little room eight foot fquare, built for this
purpofe, in a convenient open place, at a little diflance from

B b b 2 the

[ 372 ]

the houfe where the clock was. When I obferved the fun's
equal altitudes, I firft adjufted the inftrument ; then I went to
the room where the clock was, and fet my watch, having a
fecond hand, exaftly with it; then I returned to the equal alti-
tude inftrument, and obferved the paflage of the fun’s limb acrofs
the horizontal wires of the inftrument, according to the time
fhewn by the watch ; and, immediately after the obfervation,
went again to the clock, and compared the watch with it, noting
how much it had got or loft, whence the obfervations were ea-
fily reduced to the time of the clock.

ifOa. 8

D ’s W. L.
£ Capricorni

H

::!

1 Wire

j //

34 2

Clouds

2 Wire

/ //
34 17
36 304

3Wire

/ //

34 3^
Clouds

Apparent Time

H / //

10 45 14
Star io'N.ofM.

7? Oft. 10

D ’s W. L.
* Aquarii

14

14

19 57
24 57

20 12-
25 11

20' 25
25 244

13 23 7

Oftober 8th and io,h the clock got 7", 3 upon 24 hours in one.
revolution of the fixed ftars.

The foregoing obfervations were all made with the telefcope
placed upon the common ftand, without the polar axis. The
obfervations of December 4th, that follow, were made witln
the telefcope fixed upon a new and heavier ftand, which was
rendered more fteady, by two broad feet refting upon feveral
of the boards at once. The focket for receiving the telefcope
was cut obliquely in the ftand, fo that it had partly the efieft
of a polar axis.

Oftober 28th, I took down the clock, packed it up, and fent it
on board a veflel going to the Cape of Good Hope, to return
again foon, committing it to the care of Mr. Jeremiah Dixon,
who had obferved the tranfit of Venus over the fun at the Cape.
He took his paflage on board the faid veflel, in order to fet the
clock up at the Cape of Good Hope, and examine the difference
of its going between that place and St. Helena, for determin-
ing the proportion of the force of gravity at thofe two places.

The fame day Mr. Mafon fixed his clock up, for my ufe,
againft a large mafly poft, let deep into the ground, near the
equal altitude inftrument, at the little Obfervatory. This clock
was made by Mr. John Ellicott, F. R. S.

7 I ftill

4

[ 373 ]

I ftill continued, for Come time, to make my observations in
the upper room, as before. For this purpofe I fixed up a little
clock there, which may be called a journeyman, or fecondary
clock, having a pendulum Twinging leconds, which after being
well adiufted, would keep time very regularly for feveral hours.
It had only a minute and fecond hands, and {truck every minute
exadlv as the fecond hand came to fixty, which, was very con-
venient for the counting of feconds ; more efpecially. in the
obfervations made with the parallaftic telefcope it being im-
proper, on account of the inftability of the floor, to get up
from one’s feat, or to alter the pofition of the body confidently
even to catch the fecond, till thofe obfervations were completed..
I reduced the times to that of the obfervatory clock by means,
of my watch, with the fecond hand. The little clock, as well
as the larger clock, which I fent with Mr Dixon to the Cape
of Good Hope, was made by Mr. John Shelton.

? December 4th, I compared the moon s weftein limb with
the three * of Aquarius, with refpeft to right afeenfion, and
obferved her occult to the fouthern one. Jhe time is fet down
according to the little clock, and the difference between that
and the obfervatory clock is fet down by the fide ; the latter loL
5o feconds upon 24 hours, in one revolution of the fixed ftars,
and the little clock kept very nearly the late of flder,p *im .
In thefe obfervations the diredting wire was adjuiUd by t

liars..

1 Wire

[ 374 ]

D ’s W. Limb
3d + Aquarii

1 Wire

2 Wire

3 Wire

Lit. clock
flow, thjn
obf. clock

S’s L. at mid.
Wire by obferva
tory dock.

Apct Time

H / „

/ //

/ //

/ //

H , „

H / //

2321 0

23 23 32

21 1 34
23 46-

21 27
23 59—

8. 4

23 29 1 )\

7 19 5

D ’s W. Limb
3d -4 Aquar.

23 38 31

23 40 46

38 45
40 59 J

38 59
4i 13

8. 4

23 46 49

• 7 35 34

I) ’s W. Limb
3d 4- Aquar.

0 47 17
0 48 18

47 31-

48 32

47 44

48 45^

8. 0

0 55 3i

8 45 6

I) ’s W. Limb
3d * Aquar.

0 58 0

0 58 50

58 15-

59 3^

58 28

59 ‘7

8. 0

1. 6. 1 5

8 55 48

2d + Aquar.

D ’s W. Limb

1 4 io

1 4 30

4 24
Clouds

4 37
4 58 +

8. 0

1 12 44

9217

J ’s W. Limb
3d -4 Aquar.

1 '7 33
Clouds

J7 47
18 134

18 1

Clouds

7 59

1 25 46

9 i5 17

2d 4 Aquar.

3) ’s W. Limb

1 25 7i
1 25 54

25 21 \

26 8

25 35

26 22

7 59

1 34 7

9 23 37

ift 4 Aquar.

2d 4 Aquar.

]) ’s W. Limb

1 31 27

1 33 33
1 34 30

3» 40

33 47

34 44

31 54
34 0
34 58

7 58

1 42 42

9 32 10

1 ft 4 Aquar.

2d 4 Aquar.

D ’s W. Limb

1 45 31*-
1 47 37
1 48 53 4

45 45?
47 52
49 7 *

45 59'2

48 5 +

49 21

7 58

1 57 5

9 46 31

] ft 4 Aquar.

E ’s W. Limb

1 58 57

2 2 374

59 11
2 52

59 244
3 54

7 57

2 10 49

to 013

1 ft 4 Aquar.

D ’s W. Limb

2 9 16

2 13 it

9 30
13 25

9 43
i3 39

7 57

2 21 22

11 10 45

1 ft 4 Aquar.

2d 4 Aquar.

]) ’s W. Limb

2 20 64-

Clouds
2 24 17

20 20
22 26

24 31 *

20 334

Clouds
24 45

7 56

2 32 27

10 21 48

At

[ 375 ]

At 23 H. 49 M. 48 S. by little clock, or 23 H. 57 M. 51 S.
by obfervatory clock, which is 7 47 34 S. apparent

time, the 3d * of Aquarius vanifhed inftantaneoufly, clouds
coming over the moon at the fame time. Therefore it remains
a little" dubious, whether this was the very inftant of the ftar’s
occultation by the moon, or whether it was obfeured by the
clouds, though I rather fuppofe the former from the manner of
its vanifhing, and alfo becaufe when the clouds cleared away
prefently the ftar was gone.

December 4th, by equal altitudes, the fun palled the meridian
at 16 H. 9 M. 11,3 s. and December 5th at 16 H. 1 2 M. 33,4 s.
by the obfervatory clock, whence the obferved times are eaiily
reduced to apparent time, as above.

Finding the above obfervations of December 4th (though they
may be depended on to half a fecond of time) to be ft ill incom-
moded by a fmall trembling of the telefcope, owing to its rett-
ing on a floor ; I determined, for the future, to make thefe ob-
fervations, at the little obfervatory, on the ground, which I
caufed to be altered, to make it more convenient for this pur-
pofe. Here I conftantly made ufe of the polar axis, which I
found to afford conttderable advantages with refpedt to the faci-
lity and exadtnefs of making the obfervations.

5 January 8th 1762. Compared the moon’s weftern limb,
with feveral ftars, with refpea to right afcenfion, at the little
obfervatory. The four ftars, with which the moon was com-
pared, are diftinguifhed by letters, according to the order of
their right afcenfion.

1 ft Wire

[ 376 ]

i ft Wire

2d Wire

3d Wire

Stars North or South of
]) ’s centre

])*s Limh at
Mid. Wire

Apparent Time

H / //

/ //

/ //

*

H ' "

a

2 48 30—

48 45

49 0

13 IN.

d

Clouds

55 53 +

55 48 +

4 x" N.

e

5 56 10 +

56 25 +

Clouds

15 X N*

5

2 57 3

57 18

Clouds

8 41 58

a

3 16 32

*7

1 7 22 +

14 + N.

b

3 1 9 I2—

19 27

19 42 +

22 N.

c

3 22 38

22 53 +

Clouds

1 3 t N'

D

3 26 16

26 32

K>

O'

4-

9 ii 8

a

4 22 38—

22 53—

23 8 —

12 N.

b

4 24 57

2 5 13—

25 274

u) N.

c

4 Clouds

28 39

28 54

ii^N.

e

4 30 18

Clouds

30 48—

I2“N.

D

4 33 55

34 Hi

34 27

10 18 38

a

4 52 44—

S2 59

53 H

/

b

4 Clouds

55 19

55 34

b 7 N. of a

D

5 4 54:

5 9-

Clouds

10 49 3i a

e

5 15 9

Clouds

15 39 '

D

5 20 44

20 20

20 35 x

11 4 40

*

5 3° 52

3i 7*

31 22 \

*

a

5 33 i5

33 30

33 45

20 circ. of S. ^

a

5 57 39

57 54 +

58 9 -f-

6*N.

b

5 59 59 +

O I4i

13 t N.

c

6 3 25 4

3 40 4

3 55 *■

6 : n.

€

6 5 20

5 35

5 50

7 iV N.

D

6 1 1 44

12 0 —

12 15

11 56 12

*

6 18 18+

18 34

18 49

a

6 20 43

20 58

21 13

20 cir. S. of ^

b

623 2

Clouds

23 32 *

13 4 S. of ditto

c

6 2b 28 -{-

26 4 3 I

26 59

21 4 S. of ditto

€

6 28 23

28 38 -f

>8 53“

19 4 S. of ditto

e

7 55 56

56 1 1 \

56 26 +

10 S.

8 5 56

6 12

6 27

13 5° 9

T? January

[ 377 ]

January 9. Compared D ’s weftern limb with three ftars.
^ Adjufted the dire&ing wire by a bright point in the moon.

1 ft Wire

2d Wire

>d Wire

Stars N. or S. of
J) ’s centre

D’s Limb at
Mid. Wire

H , „

/ //

/ //

/

Apparent Time
H ' "

D L.

1 *

2 *

3 59 42

4
4

59 58
17 cir.
19 42

0 13J

10 cir. S.
1 N.

9 41 8

3*

4 23 ro

23 26 —

li 40i

nf s.

January 9. from equal altitudes, the fun palled the meridian
at 18 H. 17M. 29 S. and January 10, at 18 H. 20M. 50,6 s.
per clock, which lofes 59 S. upon the rate of fidereal time in
one revolution of the fixed ftars : therefore the fun may be com-
puted to have paft the meridian, January 8, at 18H. 14 M.

7 s*

5

February 3

a

b

D

4 49 31
4 5°

4 53 23’J-

49 45 i
17
53 59

50 0

32

53 54—

r The minute
J following obfei
L been 50 M. to

rot noted, but from
-vations muft have
middle wire.

7 44 28

b

D

5 0 6|
5 3 42

0 21
3 57

0 36—'

4 12 1

7 54 44

?

D

*

February 5

5 0 °s
5

0 16

0 31!
10 13

6 N.

7 42 52

D

*

5 44 I2i
5 52 40

44 28^
52 55

44 44—
53 10

5N.

8 26 56

5

*

5 57 7—

6 5124-

57 23
5 27 x

57 38
5 43

8 39 48

D

*

V

6 22 24
6

ol. LIV.

22 39
3° 3

22 55
30 18
C c c

9 5 0
1 ft Wire

1 ft Wire

[ 378 ]

' i ft Wire

2d Wire

3d Wire

Stars N. or S. of
]) 's centre

D’s Limb at
Mid. Wire

H / //

/ //

/ //

/

Apparent Time
H , „

G

February 7

3)

g

i

l

6 36 5

6

6 58 48

6 59 49 +

7 1 24

36 20
51 I cir.

0 . 4

36 35
59

7 N.
12 N.
12 S.

9 10 29

D

7 24 4—
7

24 19
39 cir.

24 34

13 S.

3 5 S.

9 58 20

l

7 48 2

48 17

48 32

i 1

827

2 22

2 36 +

5|S.

-

D

a

b

c

9 7 10

9

9

7 25

7 40
16 1 +

18 20
18 32

10 S.

ii 41 8

h

k

9 26 3

9

26 171

26 32

2 7 46

7 i s-

l

in

n

9

9

9 32 18

28 38—

32 15
32 32

28 52-c
32 46t

8 A N.

0

9 36 42

36 57 +

37 11 +

6 S.

P

9 38 29

38 43 1

38 58 +

6 N.

<1

9 42 27 +

42 42

42 5&i

5 I N.

D

10 9 38^

9 5 3^

10 9 —

12 43 26

c

f

k

l

10 18 51
10
10
10

19 6
26 32

28 21

29 27

19 20 +

14 N.

0

22 N.

7

10 43 16

43 31

43 46

18 4 N.

i

D

m

ro 51 344
10 57 8—

5 * 49*
57 23

52 4 +

13 3 N.

r3 25 15

f

( 1

7 J7 +

7 32

9iN.

i ft Wire

[ 379 3

x Wire

2 Wire

3 Wire

Stars N. or S. of
D ’s centre

D ’s Limb at
Mid. Wire

Apparent Time

H / /,

/ //

/ //

/

H , „

5

12 22 10

22 25 +

22 40 +

14 55 36

d

12 29 16

29 31 —

29 45 +

12 TTT S.

D

12 36 17 +

36 32i

36 48—

15 9 44

d

12 42 54i

43 9

43 24—

9 +0 S.

e

1 2

44 9—

44 23^

12 S.

D

12 53 10

53 26-

53 40 +

15 26 31

d

12 59 13—

59 27

59 4i*

e

13 012

0 27 —

0 41

l

13 7 27

7 42

7 57

15 4° 45

d

13 12 5?i

13 i3

13 28

5

13 21 32

21 48 —

22 3

15 54 48

e

*3

27 48 +

3 s-

S

February 9

D

3 59 42

59 58

0 13 1

6 26 26

4

17 cir.

1 1 S.

4

19 42

1 N.

4 23 10

23 26—

23 40^

1 1 S.

The obfervations from February 3d were made with my own
clock, with which Mr. Dixon returned from the Cape of Good
Hope December 30th, 1761, after examining the going of it
there. He found it to get there 36,6 feconds upon fidereal time
in one revolution of the fixed ftars, or 29,3 feconds per day
more than it got at St. Helena with the fame length of pendu-
lum : but I propofe to give a more particular account of thefe,
and fome other experiments then made by Air. Dixon at the
Cape, fome other opportunity.

From equal altitudes, the fun pafled the meridian, January
30th, at 20h 51' 8" \ ; February 5th, at 2ih 16' 5", 6 ; and
February 7th, at 2ih 24' 17", 7. Hence the dock appears to

C c c 2 have

[ 3^0 ]

have got at the rate of 6", 3 upon fidereal time in 24 hours.
By the fetting of four ftars behind the hill, obferved with the
telefcope of the equal altitude inftrument, January 29th, and
again February 7th and 8th (after the manner defcribed by Mr.
Mafon in his account of the going of Mr. Ellicott’s clock de-
termined by him and myfelf in this manner, Phil. Tranf.
Vol. LII. Part II. Page 534.) the clock appeared to get 6", 25
upon fidereal time in one revolution of the ftars, which agrees
exa£Uy with the former determination by the fun’s equal alti-
tudes. In like manner, I always found the going of the clock,
determined by thefe two different methods, would come out as
nearly the fame as the equal altitudes of the fun could be de-
pended upon, that is to fay, to a fecond, even from the obferva-
tions of two fucceflive days.

I muft not pafs by this occafion, without taking notice of
fome remarks, which Mr. Short paffes on my method of ex-
amining the going of the clock, by obferving ftars fetting be-
hind a hill, with the telefcope of the equal altitude inftrument ;
(vide Mr. Short’s account of Mr. Mafon’s paper concerning the
going of Mr. Ellicott’s clock at St. Helena. Phil. Tranf.
Vol. LII. Part II. Page 540). Mr. Short reprefents Mr. Mafon,
as faying in his paper, that I propofed making ufe of the equal
altitude inftrument to determine the regularity of the motion of
Mr. Ellicott’s clock, by obferving the vanifhing of the ftars out
of the field of the telefcope, an expreffion not contained in Mr.
Mafon’s paper, who is only fpeaking of our obferving ftars
fetting behind a hill, at the diftance of a quarter of a mile, in
the fame part of the field of the equal altitude inftrument. Had
we proceeded in the method fuppofed in the remarks, no doubt
the obfervations would have been liable to confiderable inac-
curacy : but as we ufed the telefcope of the equal altitude in-
ftrument, only to aflift the fight in obferving the ftars fetting
behind the hill, we were liable to no other error than what might
arife from the fmall alterations of the inftrument, ariftng from
the changes of heat and cold, moifture and drinefs, feen from
the diftance of the top of the hill, which will eafily be allowed
to be quite infenfible. And, indeed, how otherwise could the
obfervations, contained in Mr. Mafon’s paper, agree fo well to-
gether as they do ? A circumftance alone fufficient to create a
iufpicion of the obje&ion being ill grounded. The reafon of
Mr. Mafon and myfelf always obferving the ftars to vanifti be-
hind the hill, in the fame part of the field of the telefcope (that

is,

[381]

is, very near its centre) was, in order to keep the object glafs
at the fame height ; though this being lefs than an inch in
diameter, and confequently fubtending lefs than 13" from the
top of the hill, there could not have been a fecond of time dif-
ference, whether the ftars had been obferved to vanifh behind
the hill, either in the upper or lower part of the field of
view.

Mr. Short alfo remarks, that no inference can be formed with
refpeft to the different forces of gravity, in different latitudes,
from experiments made with clocks, becaufe the fame clock, fet
up on different fides of the fame room, will be found to differ
con fide rably from ltfelf. I readily allow that, if clocks are fixed
up in a flight manner, or againft common wainfcots, the expe-
riments made with them cannot be depended upon. Neverthe-
lefs it does not appear, but that when they are fixed in a fiimei
manner, they may be depended upon near enough to be of a
coniiderable ufe in phyfical enquiries : which I have reafon to
think from the many experiments I have tried with the Royal
Society’s clock, made by Mr. John Shelton, which I propofe to
give a particular account of at fome other opoitunity.

Obfervations of the Sun’s fetting in the Sea..

At the Obfervatoty at the Alarum-Houfe, which, by careful
menfuration, I found to be elevated 1983 feet above the. level
of the fea. Therefore the height of the eye is 1988 feet.

1761

June 14
June 16

July 18

July 30

App1 Time

H / //

5 39 5^
5- 39- 1 :

I 5 39 34

I. 5 42 8

5 44 21 :

O ’s upper limb fet in the fea.

O’s upper limb fet. A little cloudy.

O ’s L. L. fet in the fea, certain to 2 or 3 S.
O ’s U. L. fet in the fea, certain to k S.
O’s U. L, fet in the lea. A little cloudy.

The

[ 3§2 ]

The like Obfervations made in James’s-Valley, near the

Sea-fide.

1761

Nov. 16

Dec.

Dec.

*7

{

'5

App‘ Time

H / „

6 2 3 42

25 22

26 21
2 9 24
32 10

Dec. 16

{

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

O ’s L. L. fet
O ’s centre fet
G’s U.L. fet
O *s L. L. fet
O ’s U. L. fet

}

Height of eye above
the fea 16 feet.

Height of eye above
the fea 1 5 feet.

O ’s U. L. fet, thro’ a fmall apperture
in a cloud. The height of eye
above the fea 15 feet.

29 24 © ’s L. L. fet 1 Height of eye abo

30 524 © s centre fet > 5 - ■>

32 20 i O ’s U. L. fet J

32 ni

•{

the fea 15 feet.

# Auguft

5th

Appc Time

H / „

5- 6. 7

f A ftar 6th magn. in Pifces, at centre of equal
1 altitude inftrument.

5. 6.32

Jupiter’s centre at the horizontal wire.

5 7 «

Jupiter’s centre at the vertical wire.

The telefcope remained fixed during thefe
obfervations.

Again.

17 3i 3°

The ftar at the vertical wire.

17 31 46

The ftar at the horizontal wire.

17 32 11

Jupiter’s centre at the horizontal wire.

1 7 32 31

Jupiter’s centre at the vertical wire.

Here alfo the telefcope remained fixed during
the obfervations.

5 Auguft 19th. Found the little ftar, which is 14" N. of
/? Scorpii, to precede it one fecornl of time, by my paralladic
2 wires

[ 383 ]

wires, with my watch, which makes four beats in a fecond of
time. If any thing the difference was fomething more than a
fecond of time : the little ftar may therefore be fuppofed to precede
(3 Scorpii 17" in right afcenfion. By obfervations made with the
10 foot ledor on feveral nights, while /3 Scorpii and the little ftar
were pafting the field of the telefcope, I found the little ftar to
be exadtly 14" N. of (3 Scorpii in declination. For June 24
the difference was 12", 5. July 21, 13", 6. July 22, I4,/j7*
July 23, 1 s", 3 : Au gulf 14, 12", 9. Auguft 17, 14", 8. .

The bright ftar in the foot of the Centaur, marked a. in the
catalogues, when viewed through a telefcope, becomes divided
into two flats, one of which is about the fecond, and the othei
about the fourth magnitude. They were both obferved by the
Abbe de la Caille. I found their diftance, by the divided objed
glafs micrometer fitted to the refleding telefcope, to be 15" or
16". But it. is, in a manner, impoffible to meafure the diftance
of two ftars very accurately with this micrometer, for being
fimilar lucid objeds, when they are brought very near each other,
their light will be confounded together before they exadly
coincide.

The larger Magellanic cloud, viewed through a telefcope, ex-
hibits a few ftars which then appear feparated to a confiaerable
diftance from each other. Their being fo few in number, and
fo thinly fcattered, is the reafon of this phaenomenon appearing
fo very faint.

The lefs Magellanic cloud, viewed through a telefcope, exhi-
bits a very remarkable lucid nebula, with fome tolerable bright
ftars furrounding it. The nebula appears nearly circular, about
3' in diameter.

Tranfits

Tranfits of ftars, with which the moon was compared, February 7, 1762, at
St. Helena, taken upon the meridian, at the Royal Obfervatory, in the be-
ginning ot the year 1763, for afcertaining the exa& difference of their right
afcenfion. Vide page 363.

January 16

1

Wire

2

Wire

3 Wire

4

Wire

5

Wire

/

//

/

//

H

/

//

/

//

/

//

a

52

52

8

53

3i

54

21

c

54

41

55

20 +

8

55

59 +

58

d

57

17

57

56

35

59

14

e

57

38

58

16-'

58

56

59

35

0

131

h

2

42::

3

21 ::

9

4

1 :

f

6

4

44

l

5

40 +

6

20

59

7

38 i

0

9

*3

39 :

7

19

5

'9

44 +

9

20

231

21

3

2r

i4l

I of Cancer

*, of the Lion

Note, the clock gets five feconds per day upon fidereal time.

March

c

h

i

l

m

7

52 39 8 53 18 53 57

9 1 19 1 58*

2 42
4 18
7 34

17 43- 18 22

Clock lofes one fecond and an half per day.

54 36

4 57
8 14
19 1

March 7

a

c

d

e

h

l

<1

5i 59

50 10

51 37 +

54 34t

55 33 \

2 58
17 2

8 50 49 +
53 i7

55 13^

56 14

9 1 >7t
3 37

17 41

51 29

53 56 +

55 52?

56 52 2

4 17

l8 21

56 31

57 3i

4 55 £

1 9 0

March 8

a

8

51 27

c

5i 57

52 37

53 J5

d

53 54

54 32?

55 12

55 5i

56 29t

e

54 54

55 33

56 12

56 5f

57 29l

i

0 41

920

2 39

3 J8

l

4 15 +

4 53

7

16 21

17 0

*7 39*

18 19

18 57 \

1 Wire

[ 3^5 ]

i Wire

2 Wire

3

Wire

4 Wire

5 Wire

/

//

/

//

H

/

//

/

//

/

//

March

9

a

+9

28

50

7

8

50

45^

5i

25

.V*

c

5i

55 +

52

34

53

I3—

d

53

524

54

31

55

10

55

49

56

27

e

54

52?

55

31

56

10

56

49

57

28

f

9

0

41

h

1

H +

1

55 :

l

2

541

3

34

4

*3*

4

52

n

7

3°

0

16

10

54 :

1 1

34 ••

18

q

20—

16

59

17

38

18

17 +

56

March

12

a

8

5i

52

52

31

c

52

23

53

2

8

53

4i

54

20*

d

54

59

55

38

56

i6i

e

55

59

56

39

57

17

57

55

S

9

2

5

l

26 —

18

5

19

7

*7

9

6

18

45

19

24

March

*3

a

50

33—

8

5i

12

5i

5i +

52

3° 5

c

52

22

53

0-*.

53

40

d

54

>9

54

57 +

55

36*

56

*5 1

e

55

I Q

57

56

.37*

'7

15 +

c 7

Marcn

*5

c*

8

51

1 1

:>*

50

29

c

52

21

53

0 +

53

39

d

55

57

56 36

e

16

56

57

57

1

46

17

25

9

18

4 +

18

44

*9

22-f

Cloc

c lofes 4 fecond per day.

April

t

a

8

50

54

5i

33

c

52

5

52

43

53

22

58

d

54

1

54

40

55

19

55

e

55

1

55

40

59

J9

56 58

g

48 i:

59

25

9

1

7

i

0

1

27

2

7

7

16

28

*7

74

9

1 7

47

18

26

*9

5*

Clock lofes ^ fecond per day.

N. B. By a mean of feveral tranfits of liars obferved about this time, as well as by
the foregoing obfervations, it appears that the intervals of the four firft wires are ex-
actly equal, and that the interval of the two laft wires is fmaller than the others by
_*-th part, which anfwers to A-th of a fecond of time in the tranfits of the above liars.

>aVoL. LIV, Ddd By

[ 386 ]

Bv feveral transits over the meridian, obferved at the Royal
Obfervatory, at the latter end of the year 1762 and^ beginning
of 1763, the firft or the preceding ftar of the three +’s of Aqua-
rius (with all which I compared the moon, December 4, 1761,
at St.' Helena) preceded the fecond or fubfequent one 2'.7'f,U of
time in right afcenfion, and the third or laft 3'. 9", 70 and the
fecond preceded the third i.V',59 all according to the time of
a clock regulated to agree with the diurnal revolution of the
ftars.

LVIII. An Account of an extraordinary
Difeafe among the Indians, in the Ifands of
Nantucket and Marthu s Vineyard, in
New England. In a Letter from Andrevv
Oliver, Efq\ Secretary of his Mdjejly s
Province of MafTachufett’s Bay, to Ifrael
Mauduit, EJq\ F. R . S.

Bofton, 26 Odt. 1764.

SIR,

Read Dec. 20, ^Considering your connexions, both
>764* as a member of the Royal Society,

and of the Society for propagating the gofpel among
the Indians, I tranfmit you an account of an un-
common ficknefs, which prevailed the lad year at the
iilands of Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, which
lie about fix or feven leagues from each othei, and
the latter about four or five leagues didant liom the
Indian plantation at Mafhpee on the Continent, where
it did not make its appearance at all. As I had my
account from the Englifh minider, and from the
phyfician at Nantucket, and from the focicty’s mii-

fionary

[ 387 ]

fionary at the Vineyard, of each of whom I made
the moft fcrupulous inquiry, you may depend on
the truth of it.

About the beginning of Auguft, 1763, when the
licknefs began at Nantucket, the whole number of
Indians belonging to that ifland was 358: of thefe,
258 had the diftemper betwixt that time and the
20th of February following, 36 only of whom re-
covered : of the 100, who efcaped the diftemper, 34
were converfant with the lick, eight dwelt leparate,
18 were at fea, and 40 lived in Englifli families.
The phylician informs me, that the blood and juices
appeared to be highly putrid, and that the difeafe was
attended with a violent inflammatory fever, which
carried them oflf in about five days. The feafon was
uncommonly moift and cold, and the diftemper be-
gan originally among them ; but having once made
its appearance feems to have been propagated by con-
tagion ; although fome efcaped it, who were expofed
to the infedtion.

The diftemper made its appearance at Martha's
Vineyard the beginning of December, 1763- It
went through every family, into which it came, not
one efcaping it : fifty-two Indians had it, 39 of whom
died ; thofe, who recovered, were chiefly of the
younger fort.

The appearance of the diftemper was much the
fame in both thefe iflands; it carried them off in
each, in five or fix days. What is ftili more re-
markable than even the great mortality of the di-
ftemper is, that not one Englifli perfon had it in
either of the iflands, although the Englifli greatly
exceed in numbers 5 and that fome perlons in one

D d d 2 family

C 388 3 .. .. .....

family, who were of a mixt breed, half Dutch and
half Indian, and one in another family, half Indian
and half Negro, had the diftemper, and all recol-
vered ; and that no perfon at all died of it, but fuch
as were intirely of Indian blood. From hence it was
called the Indian Sicknefs.

There had been a great fcarcity of corn among
the Indians the preceding winter : this, • together

with the cold moift feafon, have been aftigned by
fome as the caufes of the diftemper among them.
Thefe circumftances, it is true, may have difpofed
them to a morbid habit, but do not account for its
peculiarity to the Indians : the Englifti breathed the
fame air, and fuffered in fome meafure in the fcarcity,
with the Indians ; they yet efcaped the ficknefs. I
do not fee therefore, but that the Sudor Anglicus,
which heretofore affedted the Englifti only, and this
late Indian ficknefs, muft be clafted together among
the Arcana of Providence.

I am,

»

S I R,

Your moft obedient

Humble fervant,

Andrew Oliver.

LIX.

IV

[ 389 ]

LIX. Agronomical Obfervations made at the
JJland ^Barbados ; at Willoughby Fort ;

N and at the Obfervatory on Conftitution
Hill, both adjoinmg to Bridge Town. By
Nevil Mafkelyne, A. M. Fellow of Tri-
nity College, Cambridge, and F. R. S.

[Read December 20, 1 76^4.]

N. B. All the obfervations of the firft fatellite of Jupiter were
made with a two foot refledfor made by Mr. Bird, having
an aperture of 3 -rer inches in diameter, except where
they are marked as made with my 18 inch refledtor made
by Mr. Short, having an aperture of four inches and an.
half in diameter. And the eclipfes of the other fatellites
were all cbferved with the 18 inch telefcope, except a few
marked as made with Mr. Bird’s two foot refledtor. The la-
titude of Willoughby Fort is 13.0 5' N. and that of the Ob-
fervatory 13.0 5/ 15" N. This agrees with the latitude I ob-
ferved when our fhip came to anchor at our firft arrival in
Carlifle Bay, which, carefully calculated, and reduced to St.
Michael’s Church, gives 13.0 5/ 30" for its latitude. The
Obfervatory is about 200 yards due eaft of the church, and
Willoughby Fort is about 1 600 feet diftant from the lame,,
bearing S. W, So that the Obfervatory is about 15" of lon-
gitude, or 1" of time to the eaft of Willoughby Fort. The.
latitudes of Willoughby Fort and the Obfervatory, fet down
above, refult from altitudes of the fun taken with a bafon of
quick-filver by the brafs Hadley’s fextant made by Mr. Bird,
being calculated from them, and the apparent time known
from equal altitudes of the fun taken with the ea^ual altitude
inftrument..

At

k- -

1763
Nov.
G 13

? 18

0 20
<? 22

% 24

Dec.

V- 1.

£ 6
% 8
% 15.

1? 17
5 21

if 22
T? 24

1764
Jan.

* 7

* 9

1 16
3 18

[ 390 ]

App‘ Time.

H

15 5 38
5 44 4i

13 21 15:
16 57 20:
1 1 26 6

13 52 29

7 46 0:

[ 12 10 45
l 17 21 4::

r 10 24 55

1 11 46 35
f 12 59 46
1 i3 37 9

8 5 46:

14 12

f 15 28 35
l j5 35 35-

9 56 20

At Willoughby Fort.

Immerfion of ift Satellite of Jupiter,
f o fet totally, or his upper limb fet in the fea, height of my
1 eye above the fea about 10 foot.

Imm. 2 Sat. of Jupiter. Air hazy and moon-fhine.

Imm. 1 Sat. of Jupiter through thin clouds.

Imm. 1 Sat. of Jupiter.
f Emerfion of + Cancri four magn, from the moon’s daik limb,
l dubious to 5", by taking my eye off the telefcope for 10"

Emerf. 2 Sat. of Jupit. \ 18 inch ( a^vwi'fenfibk diftance from

Jupiter's body.

f Imm. i Sat. of Jupit. 18 inch telefcope, magnifies 170.
< Air hazy ; yet the fatellite was feparate from the body
b of Jupiter.

Emerf. 3 Sat. of Jupit. 18 inch magnifies, 170.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupit. low towards the horizon. 1 8 inch telefcope.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupit. J mag. 170 L
Emerf. 2 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupiter. Air hazy. .

( A (mail telefcopic ftar preceded Jupiter’s centre 1/ 34" in right!
I afeenfion, and was 7" N.of the fame in declination.
Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

j Emerf. 2 Sat. of Jupiter. 2 foot telefcope. Almoft touches
l the 1 Sat. at the emerfion.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

6

13

39

43:

f 8

7

20

8

3i

18

. 10

2

8

{ 9

59

38

l 12

37

59

1 9

47

46

l 12

0

*3

At the Observatory.

f Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter. Air a little hazy, but Jupiter
l fufficiently blight.

Emerf. 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

{A telefcopic ftar (inferted in Senex’s map of the Zodiac) inij
the line of the moon’s horns produced, and ^ a minute diftant
from moon’s fouth horn.

Emerf. of 2 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. of 2 Sat. of Jupiter.

Imm. of 3 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. ot 3 Sat. of Jupiter.

Appl

App1 Time

✓

H

10 59 28

11 23 iB

11 52 36
6 20 51

7 54

8

7 54 44

3 5 3

13 48 46

8 30 42

7

7

7

9

9

1 1

7
9
1 1

6

7

7

9

5

2

21

24

49

9

56

13

1 7
4i
26

36

26

12

43

46

49

22;

15

7

29

18

28
1 1

29
5°

[ 391 ]

■l

8.

J7-

3°

46

% Leonis (which was occulted by the D this night 1
in Europe) precedes D ’s (ubfequent limb in right l .
afcenfion by the paralladtic wires of my 18 inch | 2"

telefcope. J

Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter. Emerg’d inftantaneouily.

[ Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter. A good obfervation ; though only
1 40' after fun fet, fufficiently dark.

A ftar 6.7 rnagn. in Aries, in line of 5 ’s horns, produced 1 S..
of D ’s fouth horn. Certain to 10".

Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter. . , ...

\ Occupation of l Leonis 6 magn. by D s bright limb, certain

1 to 5". Full moon this day. _ o ,

The Virgin’s fpike precedes 5 ’s fubfequent limb j 1 51 11
in right afcenfion by paralla&ic wires. _ J 1 57 33

Ditto by tranfit inftrument upon the meridian _ 2 55 26

n/ B. The Virgin’s fpike was occulted by the D this night in Europe.

f Internal contact of one of Jupiter’s fatellites, with his eaft.
| limb at its entrance upon his body.

Sat. difappears. Suppofe it has been vifible 36" upon his body,.
Emerf. of 3 Sat. of Jupiter.

Antares follows D ’s fubfequent limb in right afcenfion gy ,0//-
by paralla&ic wires of 18 inch telefcope. J

Emerf. of 1 Sat. of Jupiter.

Emerf. of 2 Sat. of Jupiter. Air very dear.

Emerf. of c Pleiadum from the D ’s bright limb, certain to 10

55

4^

28"

26.

(S Tauri, 2 magn. precedes D ’s preceding limb in j i.c

right afcenfion by paralladtic wires. J 2

Occupation ot v Gemini 5 magn. by J s dark limb.

Emerf. of ditto from D ’s bright limb, certain to io".
Occupation of 2 v Cancri by D ’s dark limb.

Occupation of 3 v Cancri by 5 s dark limb.

Occupation of o- Leonis 4.5 magn. by ]) s daik limb.
Beginning of the eclipfe of the D .

Shadow at middle of Mount TEtna.

Shadow of the middle of Mount Hercules.

End of the eclipfe. _ A.

N. B. I obferved the beginning and end with aa opera gUfs of Dollond s condru

[ 39* ]

17^4-

April

? 6
? 13
O 15

May
Tf 10

June

Sf 6

V 14

» 9

n 12

Aug.

App* Time

H

/

//

8

28

1 1

8

33

30

13

2

32

13

48

48

7

>9

J7

7 7 47

f 7 4

l ^ 53 33

11 13 14

9 51 56
13 22 27
8 39 n
10 31 23

G 5

9 1 28

? 10

| 7 4i 43

Emerf. of 3 Sat. of Jupiter.

3 Sat. arrived to its greateft brigbtnefs.

1mm. of (3 Virginis into D ’s dark limb.

Emerf. of ditto from 2 ’s bright limb, certain to 10".
The Virgin’s fpike precedes 2 ’s preceding limb in
right afcenfion by parallactic wires.

N. B. It was occulted this night in Europe.

Imm. of <7 Leonis 4.5 magn. into 2 ’s dark limb.

Imm. of x Leonis 4.5 magn. into 2 ’s dark limb.
Emerf. of ditto from 2 ’s bright limb. Certain to 5".
t Sagittarii 4 magn. precedes 2 ’s fubfequent 1 0

limb in right afcenfion by parallaCtic wires. J

Antares follows 2 ’s preceding limb in right afcen- 1 3.0

fion by paralladtic wires. J 1

r Sagittarii 4. magn. prec. 2 ’s prec. limb in right 1 6
afcenfion by parallactic wires. J 7

8/ 46"

8/ 48"

32 0

33
9 *9

Occultation of v Scorpii 3 magn. by 2 ’s dark limb.

{Occultation of % Capricorni 6 magn. by -2 ’s dark limb, but
which was fo near to being full, that the ftar feemed to va-
nifh in the illuminated arch terminating light and darknefs.

Befides the above obfervations, I have taken a great many of the difference of right
afcenfion between the 2 ’s enlightened limb and proper flars (which I have not yet re-
duced) by means of parallaCtic wires in the focus of my 18 inch reflecting telefcope ; from
which, after making the requifite calculations, I make no doubt of being able to deduce
the moon’s horizontal parallax in that latitude, and thence, by proportion, the equato-
rial parallax of the moon with great exaCtnefs, which has never been done yet in fo direct
a manner.

LX. Remarks

C 393 ]

J i

LX. Farther Remarks upon M. PAbbe Bai>
thelemy’s Memoir on the Phoenician Let-
ters, containing his RefleSlions on certain
Phoenician Monutnents, and the Alpha-
bets refulting fro?n them. In a Let-
ter to the Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D .
Secretary to the Royal Society, from the Rev.
John Svvinton, B. D. F. R. S. Member
of the Academy degli Apatifti at Florence,
and of the Etrufcan Academy of Cortona
in Tufcany.

Reverend Sir,

Read Dec. 13, >r L’Abbe Barthelemy’s memoir
1/6 4‘ 1V1. on *he Phoenician letters has

again, with very large additions, been juft (1) commu-
nicated to the learned world. Some at leaft of thofe
additions have been made, as there is exceeding good
reafon to believe, if not very lately, feveral years af-
ter the memoir itfelf was read. This, as M. l’Abbe
is faid to be the ftrft antiquary in France, and muft
undoubtedly have a great influence over the members
of that illuftrious body which he has fo long adorned,
cannot well fail of being confidered by many people
as a confirmation of the fufpicion for fome time

(1) Memoires cle Litterature , tires dcs Rcfi fires 13 c. Tom.
XXX. p. 405-426. A Paris, 1764.

Vol. LIV. E e e entertained

[ 394 ]

entertained in feveral parts of Europe, and hinted
at by me in (2) a former paper. It will therefore
enable us to -account for the late publication of a
piece, whichfeems to have been cried up by M.l’ Abbe’s
admirers as one (3) of the mod valuable literary pro-
ductions of the prefent age. What degree of atten-
tion to this performance from the lovers of antiquity
is really due, I fhali not at prefent take upon me to
decide. My fentiments of it, however, if not yet
diffidently known, from the following fhort addi-
tional remarks, fubmitted with the utmod deference
to the fuperior judgment of the Royal Society, will
very clearly appear.

I j :

M. l’Abbe dill alTerts, that NIV, tzora, or tzvra,
in the fird line of the Maltefe-Phoenician infcription,
[Tab. XXII.] denotes the city of Tyre. To which
I fhall only beg leave to reply, that this aflertion is ut-
terly repugnant to the tedimony of the Tyrian coins ;
which condantly exhibit the word “IV, t$zor, or
tzvr, as the name of that city. This is a faCt ex-
prefly allowed by (4) M. l’Abbe himfelf, though he
produces it in fupport of the notion here advanced]}
with which it mud, even at fird fight, be conlidered
as altogether incompatible.

To the fird letter of the next word he dill like-
wife attributes the power of He, (5) and confequently
affirms that word to be TOH, hoc votvm, this vow.

(2) Pbilofoph. Tranf. Vol. L. Par. II. p. 799. Lond. 1759.

(3) Journ. des Spavans, Decembre 1760. p. 348. M. de
Guign. De /’ Orig. des Chin . p. 60. A Paris, 176c*

(4) Memoir . de Litter . t*?c, ubi fup, p. 409,

(5} Ibid. p. 410, 413.

But

TbiloJ'.Tranf. Vol.U\r.TAB.XXE. /J-Stjq-

t

[ 395 ]

Bat as the abfurdity of this notion was clearly demon-
ftrated in my former remarks, to which no reply has
yet been made, I (hall take no farther notice of it
here.

We are alfo told by this learned (6) author, that
the firfl: word of the fecond line was either or
with the Nun and Aleph fo clofely connected
as to form a kind of monogram ; the fainted; traces
of which are, however, fcarcely, if at all, to be feen.

That the word cut originally in the ftone was
my, fecervnt, in my former remarks (7),

I have rendered fufficiently clear. And that the two
elements Nun and Aleph fhould be fo confined as to
occupy a fpace barely fufficient for one of them, will
not be readily admitted by any perfon moderately
acquainted with the manner of writing obferved in
the later Phoenician inferiptions. But to wave all
other confiderations relative to the point in view, that
the verb here is expreffed in the third perfon plural,
the laft word of the infeription, O3"0% benedicat
iis, feems evidently to prove. ’Tis worthy obfer-
vation, that M. l’Abbe reprefents Count Caylus's
copy of the infeription as much fuperior in point
of accuracy to Father Gori’s ; and yet, in determin-
ing, or rather attempting to determine, the form
of the laft letter of ray, he apparently prefers
the latter to the former. For he adduces Father
Gori’s copy in fupport, or rather confirmation, of
the other. But fuch conduct as this, in M. 1’ Abbes
fituation, is to me no great matter of furprize. It
is plainly intended to ferve a favourite hypothefis,
which cannot be eafily maintained.

(6) Memoir, de Litter. &c. ubi fup. p, 410.

(7) See above, p. 126,127.

E e e 2

With

[ 396 ]

With regard to the proper name abda-

sar, or abdasar vs, I can by no means believe it

to be the fame with abdastartvs. That thofo

« ■ - * * ■ ■

two words had not the fame origin, feems to me, at
firft fight, felf-evident. This is likewile confirmed
(8) by a writer of great erudition. But the ac-
count I have (9) already given of the Phoenician
name abdasar, lupported by the bed

authorities, will, I flatter mylelf, fet this matter in
the cleared light.

(10) I formerly obferved, that aserimor, ase-
rimar, or aserim-hammar, was probably com-
pofed of aserim, or aserym, AIEPTMOS, the name
of one of the kings of Tyre, according to Menander
Epheflus, and TJ, mar, or rather non, hammar,
ipse dominvs. But M. 1’Abbe, (n) in the piece
before me, takes it to be perfectly equivalent to
the word ASEPYMOS itfelf ; the Greeks feeming
to him to have terminated in OS the Phoenician pro-
per names ending in OP, as the other natives of Greece
did feveral words uled by the Lacedaemonians of the
fame termination. To which 1 fhall beg leave to re-
ply, that the Greek dialed: of the Lacedaemonians
was widely different from the Phoenician tongue ;
and confequently that all arguments drawn from
their fuppofed agreement, or affinity, mud be falla-
cious and inconclulive. Nor will the compofition of
the name “)0“aiDX, or norrcnDN, aserim-
hammar, viz. "OTTO NS ASHERAH-MAR, LV-

(8) Matth. Hiller. Onima/I. Sacr. p. 590. Tubjngoe, 1706,

(9) See above, p. 127, 128.

(10) See above, p.129.

(nj Mem, de Litter . ubi Cup. p, 410, 41 1.

CVS

. [ 397 ]

cvs do min vs, which he exhibits to our view, afford
a proper degree of fatisfa&ion to any rational perfon
ingaged in fuch philological inquiries. Farther, it is ob-
vious to every fmatterer in the Greek language, that
in the words eipumos, abaaitaptos, aseptmos:,

BAAEAZAP02, BAAEZfIPOS, &C. HIROMVS, ABDAS-
TARTVS, ASERYMVS, B ALE AZ AR VS, BADEZORVS,

See. handed down to us by Jofephus ( 1 2), from Menan-
der Ephefius, 0£ is no part of the Phoenician names,
but only a Greek termination fuperadded to them.
The word aserimar therefore, or aserimor,
would have become, when adopted by a Greek,
ASEPIMAPOS, or ASEPTMIIPOS, not ASEPTMOS, as
M. l’Abbe has been pleafed to affert. So the Tyrian,
or Phoenician, proper name OTH, hiram, or hirom,
as it occurs in Scripture, (1 King. ix. 12.) is rendered
by the Septuagint and Jofephus, after Menander Ephe-
fius, ElPiiMOS, HiROMvs. But the moil driking in-
dances, or rather thofe diredtly in point, are
BAAEAZAPOS, BAAEZHPOI, or BALEAZAR, BaDE-
zor, when dripped of their Greek termination;
with which aserimar, or aserimor, does mod
perfectly agree. This amounts to the dronged pre-
fumption, that M. TAbbe s notion of the compobtion
of that name is deditute of every fupport. Hence we
may fairly conclude, that the account by me formerly
given of the condiment parts of this word was dridtly
agreeable to truth ; and confequently that the fourth
element was Mem, and not He, as I then incon-
tedably proved.

(12) Menand.
p. 1043.

Ephef. apud Jofeph, Cant. /plan. Lib. I.

With

C 398 ]

With refped to the four firft letters of the third
line, “ they form a difficulty, fays (13) this celebrated
“ writer, embaraffing enough. The two lad give
li the word p, ben, filivs, son j but this word
“ here ought to be read in the plural number. Was
<c not the plural number fometimes pointed out
<c amongft the Phoenicians by the addition of an He
and a Nun, in the fame manner as the Chaldees
t{ had an Aleph added to the beginning and the end
“ of this word alfo in the fingular ? Or rather did
“ not the two letters, He , Nuu, forming the pro-
noun j(1, is, ille, give us to underdand, that
ft Abdadar and Aderemor were brothers only by
cc adoption ? I dare not decide in this matter, and
“ fhall content myfelf with obferving, that the dif-
“ ficulty regards only the language of the Phoeni-
cc cians, of which we are totally ignorant, and bv
<c no means the powers of the letters, which have
“ been fufficiently edablifhed in this memoir.”

Here ’tis obvious, at fird fight, that M. 1’ Abbe
is not only embaraffed, but feems adually to fink
under the weight of the difficulty he has himfelf pro-
poied ; as of this, notwithdanding his uncommon
fagacity and penetration, he has not been able to
fupply his readers with an adequate folution. For 1.
The word pjn cannot be of the plural number, as he
fuppofes, or rather politively aderts } both the cor-
relpondent Greek and the tenor of the infcription,
unlefs I am greatly 'deceived, being utterly repug-
nant to fuch a fuppofition. 2. The Chaldee term
he mentions being of the fingular number, and ab-
folutely didimilar to the pretended Phoenician word,

(13) Mem. de Litter, ubi fup. p 41 j.

pan i

[ 399 ]

pin ; the adduction of it feems altogether imperti-
nent, on the prefent occafion. 3. The pronoun pi
is equivalent to the Latin earvm, not is, ille, as
M. l’Abbe is pleafed to affirm ; and being a fuffix,
or affix, adheres to the end, not the beginning, of a
word. But if it ffiould be taken for a feparate
pronoun, it anfwers to the Latin ill^, not is, ille,
as it is rendered by M. l’Abbe. That Abdafar and
Aferimar therefore were brothers only by adoption,
is a chimerical notion, void of even the lead ffiadow
of rational proof. 4. He in effedt declares the dif-
ficulty to be infoluble, when he owns himfelf inca-
pable of deciding in this matter. 5. He makes the
fame declaration, when he affierts the difficulty to
regard only the Phoenician language; which he affirms
to be utterly unknown, though both he and M. de
Guignes have in exprefs terms affirmed it to be al-
moft intirely the fame with the Syriac, and he has
himfelf attempted to explain feveral infcriptions in
it. Nor will it in the lead avail him to refer the
difficulty to the Phoenician tongue, or rather our
ignorance of that tongue. For he undertook the in-
terpretation of the whole infcription he has here fo
minutely confidered, in order to deduce a Phoenician
alphabet from it ; and unlefs he has, in fome meafure
at lead, effedted this, how can he take upon him to
afcertain the powers of the letters of which his alphabet
is compofed ? I would therefore, in my turn, beg leave
to afk him the following quedion. Is it not more
ingenuous, more liberal, and more worthy M.TAbbe
Barthelemy’s (14) exalted merit, to retradt an errour

(14) y°urn‘ des Sfavans, Aout 1760. p. 277. (1).
2

than

C 400 ]

than to perfift in it ? To give up a point than to at-
>. tempt the defence of it, when he feems even to
look upon it himfelf as altogether indefenfible ?

The laft word but one of the infcription M. l’Abbe
reprefents by the Hebrew characters oSpyOHD,
taking the fecond letter for He. He has likewife
given us a pretty good account of oSpyO, the latter
part of it ; but has only juft mentioned the particle
HD, formed of the two firft letters. And in this he
has, perhaps, aCted prudently enough. For none of
the fignifications of that particle, at leaft none that
I can find, will accord with the fenfe of that part of
the infcription in which it occurs ; whereas if we
fuppofe the fecond element to be Mem^ as I am fully
perfuaded it is, every difficulty will immediately va-
nifh. This I have clearly demonftrated in my for-
mer remarks. I muft beg leave farther to obferve,
as pertinent to the prefent occafion, that as a variety
of winds will give a variety of directions to a fhip’s
motion, any navigation effected by different winds
may be termed crooked, any voyage performed by
their affiftance oblique. So that we cannot infer
from either of M. l’Abbe’s tranflations of the word in
queftion, that the two Tyrians mentioned in our
infcription were thrown upon the iftand of Malta
by a tempeft, as this learned author has been pleafed
to aftert. The latter of thofe tranflations was owing,
as he informs us, to “ the favour of certain fuppo-
“ fitions, which, for brevity’s fake, he has l'up-
“ prefied.”

From what has been faid it appears, that the cha-
racter denominated He by M. l’Abbe, and by me
Mem , is an objeCt of fomc importance, with regard
to the explication of this infcription. If it be taken

for

L 4-or ]

for the former element, two or tiu^C the.

monument are fo involved that they are Scarce, if at
all, intelligible ; if for the latter, the fenfe runs
throughout unembaraffed, confident, and clear. Nor
does this character differ more from that allowed to
(land for Mem , by M. l’Abbe, than do feveral of the
acknowledged fomewhat different forms of Mem
from one another. A draught of it, however, feems
not to have been yet publilhed, by M. l’Abbe, that
can be abfolutely depended upon. For in the copy he
firff communicated to the learned world, represented
by him as a tranfeript perfectly agreeing with the
original, this character approaches a little nearer to
his figure of Mem than it does in the firff plate of
of the memoir before me, and confequently the
latter feems a little more favourable to his hypothefis.
Whether this minute alteration, which is too incon-
fiderable to affedt the point in queftion, ought to be
attributed to the inattention or incapacity of the en-
graver, or to fome other caufe, I fhall not take upon
me to decide. How that matter really ftands is beft
known to M. l’Abbe.

“ But the power of the letter He'\ fays M. l’Abbd,
“ is fixed by other examples which I fhall foon
“ produce.” Now that a charadter reprefenting He
does not occur in the monument under confidera-
tion, has already, I flatter myfelf, been rendered
fufficiently clear; whether or no it is to be met
with on any of the coins produced in the paper
before me, by M. l’Abbe, comes therefore next to
be-confidered here.

Vol. LIV.

Fff

* \
. A4

IL

E ] .

* **■',' * > / 4 4 » * - ^ j * *• r • \ * . • ', ( |

II.

*

My explications of the firft, fecond, and fixth me-
dals in M. 1’ Abbe’s plate of coins may be feen in a
fmall Latin diffiertation, put to the prefs at Oxford,
in 1753. That of the lixth, however, which is a
medal of Laodicea, muff be owned to be incom-
plete ; the four laft letters of the infcription having
been defaced on my coin, by the injuries of time.
Nor am I intirely latisfied with M. FAbbe's inter-
pretation of the latter part of this infcription, as it
leems very forced and unnatural, and even con-
trary to the faith of hiftory. Nay, it feems not
perfectly to pleafe M. l’Abbe himfelf, as he has
not abfolutely fettled the power of one of the letters
of which it is compofed ; but contents himfelf with
(15) obferving, “ that this flight difficulty will
“ hereafter be removed by other monuments.” His
interpretation of the infcription exhibited by the coin
of Sidon, which he makes coeval with the reign
of Antiochus IV. is likewife liable to exception, as will
appear to every one moderately verled in this branch
of literature, who examines it with proper attention.
The other two pieces of Sidon prefent nothing very
remarkable to our view. One of them has never-
thelefs handed down to us the very character averted
by me to reprefent Txade, but taken by M. l’Abbe
Barthelemy for Thau , immediately preceding certain
numeral characters, which have been fully explained
in one of my former papers, on the reverfes of le-
veral Sidonian coins.

(1.5) Mem, de Litter, ubi.fup. p. 417.

Now

C 403 ]

Now the letter He does not appear 011 any of thefe
medals, and confequently nothing can be inferred
from any of them in favour of the form of that ele-
ment contended for by M. l’Abbe. On one of thofe
coins, however, faid by this learned antiquary to have
been (truck at Marathus, but which in reality ought
not to be attributed to that city, now in my poffeffion,
the very fame character occurs, with the power of
Mem , that M. l’Abbe exhibits on two of the medals
of Menas as occupying the place of He. My ex-
plication of this coin, which I then took to belong
to Marathus, was printed here, in 1753. But I af-
terwards obferved, that the Phoenician infcription on
this medal confided of four letters, arm the lad of
which was Beth ; and that on all the (imilar medals,
or draughts of them, which I had feen, four cha-
racters likewife appeared, the fourth of which was
either Beth or manifedly a part of that element,
not Ajin or Ain, as M. l’Abbe, without any manner of
foundation, feems to imagine. Hence I concluded,
that thefe pieces could never have been druck at
r-nD, MARATH, or marathus, and therefore
fcrupled not a moment to explode my former opi-
nion. To this I was farther excited by the nume-
ral characters in the exergues of two of them, at
prefent a part of my fmall collection of Phcenician
coins ; which, if I am not greatly midaken, clearly
point out the years of Rome 748 and 749. But
about that time Marathus was either in ruins or in-
tirely razed, and the territory appertaining to it
occupied by the Aradians, according to Strabo (16).

(16) Strab. Geograph. Lib. XVI. p. 753. Luteti# Paii-
fiorum, 1620.

I therefore

Ff f 2

L 4^ 4* 1

I therefore cancelled that part of my fmall work
in which the interpretation of the infcriptiorr, pre-
ferved by one of theie Phoenician medals, was con-
tained. The cancelled partis, however, drill in my
hands.

Of the Sicilian medals in M. l’Abbe’s plate four are
to be attributed to one city, .and two to two others.
Of the latter M. I’Abbe aliigns one to Imachara, and •
the other to Carthage j with what truth, I ihali not
take upon tne at prelent to decide. But that a per-
lon fo juftly celebrated for his knowledge of antrent-
medals, particularly Punic and Phoenician medals, as
is M. l’Abbe, diould fird aferibe the former to I know
not what Cadra Caecilia, or Cadra Julia, and after-
wards to Panormus, now Palermo, is to me, I mud
confefs, real matter of furprize. For the Punic name
on thefe coins is evidently r"WTJ, mahhanoth,
mehnoth, or, as Hheth is fometimes diveded of
even the force of an afpirate (17), menoth; which
apparently anfwers to the Greek MHNAI, and the
Latin men^e, the name of a city in Sicily, called
Meneo by Cluverius ( 1 8 ), feveral of whofe medals
adorn the cabinets of the curious at this day. Nay, one
of the Punic coins of Menae publidied by M. l’Abbe,
though without any explication of the Punic infcrip-
tion, an dconfequently without fufficient proof of the
point in view, has been expredy attributed to Men®, or
Meneo, by Goltzius (19). An accurate defcription
of a medal of Menae, together with a complete in-
terpretation of the Punic infcription it exhibits, may

(17) Bochart. Phal. Lib, I. c. i.

(18) Phil. Cluver. Sicil. Antiq. Lib. II. c. ix. p. 339.

(19) Hubertus Goltzius, in Num. Sicil. Tab.XIL num. 5,6.

be

[ 4°5 ]

be fe.cn in the Latin diflertation (20) above re-
ferred to, which it would be fuperfluous to touch
upon here.

With regard to the Punic element taken for He by
M. 1’Abbe, on two Siculo-Punic coins, he feems to
give up in one part of his memoir the form of it fo
warmly by him contended for in another. For he>
exprefly allows, that this character on one of thei
Siculo-Punic medals exhibiting it may reprefent Mem,'
as well as He. From whence- we may infer, that
the correfpondent letter on the other, as the word to'
which this character belongs is on both medals the>
fame, may likewife, with no fmail appearance of
truth, be taken for Mem; and confequently that, ac-
cording to M. 1’ Abbe, the letter He may be fuppofed
never in reality to have exifted on either of thofe
Siculo-Punic coins.

’Tis obfervable, that on one of the coins of Mense;
in M. l’Abbe’s plate, the words n£HH m?, vrbs
NovAr, feem to appear ; and that the firfl: element of
this infcription, if the draught of it here may be de-
pended upon, is the Koph of nearly the Chaldee form.
I ' have, however, a Punic medal in my collection*
(fee Tab. XXI.) with the old Phoenician Koppa
on the reverfe, and the names of two Sicilian ci-
ties, in Punic characters, never hitherto publilhed.
A galeated head, with a fprig of laurel before
it, on one fide, prefents itfelf to our view ; and
the triquetra, or fymbol of Sicily, with a human
face in the middle of it, appears on the reverfe,

(20) Swint. De Num. qutbufd . Samaritan. & Phaemc.
Dtffert. Oxon. 1753.

attended

2

[ 4° 6 ]

attended by the words magel, camic, the Punic
names of two Sicilian towns. The latter of thefe
was the camicvs (21) of Diodorus Siculus and
Herodotus, and the former the macella, or
magella, from whence the magellini of
Pliny (22), of Dio (23) and Polybius (24). The
letters of the infcription are drawn from the left
hand to the right, contrary to the ufual Punic man-
ner of writing. But fuch accidental miltakes of the
moneyers as this are fometimes vifible on antient
coins. This valuable medal, which formerly had a
* place in Lord Winchelfea’s noble collection, corrects
the famous Bochart, with refpeCt to the origin of
the name camicvs ; and has prefervcd an unufual
Punic form of Lamed , agreeingwith a Samaritan (25)
one of the fame element, as well as a figure of Ghimel ,
that not feldom occurs on the Siculo-Punic coins.
Some may, however, confider this medal as of Greek
extraction ; the third letter fo nearly refembling
Lambda , and the antient Sicilian Greeks, on certain
occafions, having uled the Phoenician Koppa upon
their coins, as appears from the medals of Syracufe.
But as the Me?n is plainly Punic, or Phoenician, and
both the Greek terminations wanting here, I can by
no means prevail upon myfelf to fubferibe to fuch
an opinion.

(21) Died. Sic. Lib. IV. & XXIII. Herodot. Lib. VII.

(22) Plin. Nat. Hiji. Lib. HI. c. viii.

(23) Dio in Excerpt, apud Porphyrogennct. p. 637.

(24) Polyb. Lib. I. p. 24.

(25) Numifrn. Antiq. lAc. a Thom. Pemb. & Mont. Gomcr,
.Com, Collett, P. ii. T. 85. num. 5.

As

[ 4° 7 ]

As the Carthaginians therefore ufcd, on certain
occafions, the old Phoenician Koppa , or one of the
earlieft forms of Koph ; we may from thence con-
clude, that the character (26) on a Punic coin by
me long ago explained, fo fimilar to that form, muft
undoubtedly be taken for the fame element, as I
theii mod clearly evinced. Nor has either M. l’Abbe,
or any other French writer, hitherto overthrown this
notion 5 though it has been called in quedion, if
not denied (2 7), by M. Peilerin. Nay, it has
been, in a manner, adopted fo me months fince, in
the Journal des Scava?is , (28) and even by M.

l’Abbe himfelf, in the (29) celebrated memoir that
is the objedt of my attention here.

It has been juft oblerved, that the Lamed on the
Sicilian coin lad defcnbed is of an unufual form.
Give me leave to add, that another of my Punic
medals druck in Sicily has preferved a form of that
letter, fomewhat more dmilar to the correfpondent
character in the alphabet deduced by M. 1’Abbe
from feveral Siculo-Punic coins. This medal has on
one fide the head of Jupiter, and on the reverfe
two ears of corn, attended by the Punic infcription
ALICA, or HALICAH, the AAIKTAI, Or HALICY2E,
of (30) Diodorus Siculus, fituated between Entella
and Lilybaeum, according to (31) Cellarius. . The

(26) De Num. quibufd. Samaritan. Lf Phasnic. &c. DiJ/ert. \
p. 86, 87. Oxon. 1750.

(27) Recueil de Mcdailles de Peuples & de <Villes)

Tom. III. p. 141, 142, a Paris, 1763.

(28) Journ . des Sfavans , Aout p. 280.

(29) Mem. de Litter, ubi fup. p.414.

(30) Diod. Sic. Lib. XIV. c. 25.

(31) Chrift. Cellar. Geograpb, Ant. Lib. II. c. 12.

coin r

[ 4° 8 3

coin has not hitherto been publiihed, I believe, by
any author whatfoever.

Amongft my Siculo-Punic coins there is likewife
one with the letters Hheth and Beth , on the reverfe.
Thofe elements undoubtedly form part of the word
nSdH, hibla, or hybla, the Punic name of a
town, or- rather three towns, of Sicily, according to
Bochart. That a- mint was ereded in one of them,
at lead, from an antient medal, with the words
YBAAE METAAAE imprefled upon it, may be cer-
tainly inferred. The Greek cities of Sicily not fel-
dom exhibited on their money only part of their
names, as we learn from (32) feveral of the Greek
Sicilian coins ; and that the towns there under the
dominion of Carthage did the fame, we have all the
reafon in the world to believe.

Another medal alfo appears in my little cabinet
with the character reprelenting Hheth only, on
the reverfe. That charader may be taken for the
initial letter of the Punic proper name N'Ssn, hibla,
or hybla ; and may indicate this piece to have been
ftruck in the city lo called, as well as the former.
Indances of fuch initial letters as this pretty frequently
occur, on feveral of the (33) Greek Sicilian coins.

Two of my fmall Carthaginian medals have pre-
lerved the letter Ghimel , on their reverfes, of the
ufual Punic or Phoenician form. This feems to be

(32) Erafm. Froel. in Notit. Elmentar. Numifm. pafT. Filippo
Parut:. in La Sicil. deferit. con Medagl. & c. palT. In Roma, 1649.
Vid. etiam Hubertum Goltzium, in Sicil. Numifm. pall'. Ant-
verpiac, 1617.

(33) Erafm. Froel. in Notit. Elcmcntar. Numifm. p. 83.
■Vieiuue, Pragae, 6c Tcrgefti, 1758. Parut. et Goltz. ubi fup.

the

Fbilof.Tnmf. Yol. JJY TAB.YXIKjv.40p.

The J ^urmcumAIphahet, deduced

The Siculo-Piimc Alphabet, deduced

from die Cit\e&riT/fcrift?on.i\
deeper/.

from my Ca r thaginian or Sicilian Coins.

^ f' \ — Alepjv

y fa y fs f . .-A leph

<)C>$9$3 ^-dBelh

^ 7^.. — Beth

"] /| 'j 'j 'J Ghimel

J\ 'J 'J y ...Ghimel

q Cj 7Jnleth

^ q T)alet7v

He

T£e

Vau

^ ... Vau

1 Zain

Zain

ft A/ W ft $ I I W Het7i

§ ft

Ted

Ted

sfy'mfd m rnre\rrr....jod

Jod

y y </._ .<*?*,

V -.-Cajod

n S 4 4 Tamed

A [ / Tamed

Y/f^Ajy^j ^....Jfem

p p-l ^ Afern

> y> ^ ^ - dNizn,

4 .JViuv

~Z-[-- T>aniech

Scnnerh

O O & ...Ajin or Ain

O U O Ajin orAirv

JPe

Fe

f Y Tzade

^ .... Tzade

^....JKopTv

V -Tofo/v

C\ q C) C| I{edc7i

C\ Cj. ..Teach

Lu \Lj Yu Scfun or Sirt

Sc7un

'fb-btt’tt' l1 Thau

A f) ~fl - Thau

—

J.Myndtfc.

Tbilof.TrajLf. Vol.ZUr TABJDUII. p 409.

Sicuxo-Punic Coins .

[ 409 ]

the initial letter of gela, the name of a town of
Sicily, with feveral of whole (34) coins the cabinets
of the curious are adorned.

Another of my Punic medals, druck in Sicily,
prefents to our view the two elements AleJ)h and
Beth. Thefe plainly point at the abac^na of

(35) Ptolemy> an antient town of Sicily; many re-
mains of which, according to Cluverius, were fome
time fince to be feen.

One of the Siculo-Punic coins in my fmall col-
lection has handed down to us two alphabetic cha-
racters, the powers of which are not yet, perhaps,
fufficiently known. The fecond of them, however,
from the great refemblance it bears to the form of
that element in the Maltefe infcription, we may ven-
ture to pronounce Tdzade ; and the fil'd, according to
M. l’Abbe Barthelemy, occupies the place of Aleph.
I am neverthelefs rather inclined to believe, that it
ought to be taken for Koph. This fee-ms to appear
from the draughts of feveral coins, publifhed by

(36) writers of good authority, as well as from the
concurring fentiments of thofe writers themfelves.
If this notion ihould hereafter be adopted by the
learned, the medal may be fuppofed t,o have been
emitted from the mint at Catana, as Tzade fometimes
in power anfwers to the Latin T ; but if M. l’Abbe’s
opinion fihould be held more confonant to truth,

(34) Proel* Parut. Sc Goltz. ubi fup.

(35) Ptol. Geograph. Lib. III. c. 4. Phil. Cluver. Sid!. Ant.
p. 386.

(36) Veron. Illujlrat. Par. Terz. cap. fett. p. 258, 259. In
Verona, 1732. Ridolfin. Venut. in Saggi di DiJJ'ertaz. decade-
tnich. pubblicamente lette nella Nvbii. Aceadem. Etrufc. dell' antichijji -
ma Citta di Cortona, p. 35. In Roma, 1735. Parut. Lalta-
no L Sec.

Vox.. LIV. G g g from

C 410 ]

from that at AiTorus, the fame element being like-
wife not feldom equivalent to the Latin S. On ano-
ther of my Siculo-Punic medals, that letter fome-
what refembles the Kappa of the Greeks. Ad-
mitting^ the fecond element to be Tzade, as I am
fully convinced it is, both assorvs and catana
may, with (37) great propriety, be confidered as Punic
proper names.

For the farther illuftration of what has been here
advanced, it may not be improper to exhibit draughts
of the Sicilian medals juft delcribed, as well as of
feveral others, now in my pofteffion, adorned with
Punic characters. From thefe (Tab. XXIII.), at
firft light, will be deducible a Siculo-Punic alphabet
[Tab. XXIV.] j which, though incomplete, may,
perhaps, not prove unacceptable to the learned.

Before I conclude my remarks on the Siculo-Punic
coins, publifhed by M. l’Abbe, l muft beg leave to
repeat, that only two of them, which were ftruck
at Menae,. are produced, in order to evince the
reality of his form of He and that he has himfelf
allovved this character, on one of thofe medals,
(which conceffion will likewife extend to that on the
other, as has been already obferved) to be as pro-
perly expreffive of Mem as of He. I fay, his form
of He ; becaufe I cannot help taking the character he
denominates He for Mem , as it fo nearly refembles
the common and ufual form of that element, and
as the fenfe it communicates even here, fuppofing it
Mem, is fo perfectly confonant to the tenor of fuch
infcriptions. This will be readily admitted by every

(37) Val. Schind. Lex, Pentaglot. p. 113, u4 ,641.
Hanoviae, 1612.

one

[ AH ]

one not totally unacquainted with the medallic fciencc,
and not an intire ftranger to the firft principles of
oriental literature. For rUHO DjpO, ex popvlo

MENENIO, A POPVLO MENEN10, POPVLO MENENIO,

(fcil. cvsvs, vet percvssvs, nvmmvs) is certainly
altogether as proper as P13no oyn, ipse popvlvs

MENENIVS, (Icil. CVDIT, Vel PERCV.SSIT, NVMMVM)
if not really much more fo. That s. c. i. e. sena-

TVS CONSVLTO, D. D. i. e. DECRETO DECVRIONVM,
EX D. D. i. e. EX DECRETO DECVRIONVM, &C. llOt

feldom occur on antient coins, is a point too well
known, (38) even to fmatterers in antiquity, to be
difputed amongfl: the learned.

III.

As my Latin diflertation upon the fecond Citiean
infcription, of which I have already given a Latin
tranflation, inferted in the Marmora (39) Oxoni-
£nsia, is almoft ready for the prefs; I might eafily
excufe myfelf, at prefent, from taking any notice
of M. l’Abbe’s pretended explication of that infer ip-,
tion. But as this, in conjunction with his attempt
to interpret the fourth, is undoubtedly by far the
moft exceptionable (40) part of his whole per-
formance, fince he feems totally to have miftaken
the fenfe of both inferiptions j I (hall beg leave to

(38) Lud. Debiel, e Soc. Jef. in Utilit. Rei Nutnar . Veter.
p. 99, 100, 1 1 2, &c. Viennae Auftri®, 1733.

(39) Marmor. Oxen. Par. Secund. Tab. III. p. 7. Oxonii,

*76 3-

(40) Memoir, dt Litter, ubi lup. p. 421, 422, 423.

G g g 2 fubmit

[ 412 ]

fubmit to the conftderation of the Royal Society
the following fhort ftridtures upon it, referving to
myfelf the liberty of being more explicit and parti-
cular on this head in my future diflertation.

1. With regard to the fecond Citiean infcription,
the third letter of the firft word is not Mem, but
Capb i as moft: evidently appears from the autograph
itfelf, now in the pofteffion of the Univerftty of
Oxford. Farther, that DJtf. ought to be rendered
dormiam, dorm i o, or jaceo, as M. l’Abbe af-
ferts, had that been the firft: word of the infcription,
as mod; certainly it is not, we fhall fcarce be. able
to learn from any lexicographer.

2. The fixth word of the firft: line is Hhur , Chur ,
or Hur, not Chad , as M. l’Abbe feems to imagine ;
the laft letter of that word being manifeftly Rejch ,
and fufficiently diftinguifhed by its length from
Dalethy which occurs twice in the beginning of this
line.

3. The term cannot bear a relation to any

particular city, town, or country, as our learned an-
tiquary is pleafed to fuppofe j becaufe this would
imply, that the fepulchral infcription had only a fingle
perfon for its objed. But this notion is intirely over-
thrown by the word in the fecond line, and

7VJ, in the third ; both of which are evidently plu-
rals in conftru&ion, and confequently cannot refer
to lefs than two particular perfons. Befides, as the
moft antient infcriptions were probably the fhorteft:
and moft: limple, the age of the monument itlelf
feems to announce a duality of perfons at leaft to have
been pointed at by the infcription.

I can

[ 4i3 ]

4. I can at prefent fee no reafon why M. 1 Abbe
fhould fuppofe this infeription to run in the firft per-
fon, rather than the third. Perhaps he will th^
the Maltefe infeription, as by him explained, affords
us a remarkable inftance of fuch an uncommon mode,
of expreflion. But this, I humbly, conceive, is no
reafon at all; becaufe in one particular infeription
fome peculiarities may appear, as is often the cate,
that in others do not occur. Befides, the p oft u ate
he begs, or rather affumes, will, I am perfuaded,
not be fo readily granted him by the learned.

r M. l’Abbe has added a fiditious Schin to the
beginning of the fecond line, not the famteft traces,
of which are difcernible- on the ftone. Nay, that
Schin could never have been there, is. felf-evident, at
firft fight, from the very face of the mlcriptiom
6. The word obltt, pax, formed, according to
M. l’Abbe, of the fiiditious Schin and the. two hilt
letters of the fecond line, was molt certainly never
a part of this infeription.

7 He fuppofes an hiatus in the fecond line, and
another in the third ; whereas not a Angle letter is
wanting in the infeription, nor any of the words lo
effaced as to be rendered illegible, by the injuries of

8. For the words mfi> DU,

«n. 3C&. which clearly prefent themfelves

to our view in the infeription, he has taken th

berty to infert mm WN%

Z±?V, without the leaft ftaadow of a reaioi

for fud/ Jr arbitrary infertion; feveral of his le ters

being purely imaginary, and not the famteft. tra

them having ever exifted on the ftone. T^c

[ 4*4 ]

9* The name tam, or, as he corruptly writes it,
tham, is taken by him for only part of a word j
whereas it is a perfect and complete proper name, as
moft clearly appears from the face of the infcrip-
tion, and from lome antient writers of good autho-
rity, who will hereafter be referred to in thefe
remarks.

io. He has not tranllated the words mn> 03,
tidjs‘7, ’no, ; i&s, cbyhy >nra ddo, oSy, though
they form lb confiderable a part of this monument ;
and though a tranllation of them is fo eflentially ne-
• ceflary, in order to arrive at a true interpretation of
the infcription.

In confirmation of what has been here advanced,
I [hall beg leave to fubjoin a fhort and concife ex-
plication of this infcription; which, I flatter myfelf,
will not be found very remote from truth, as it is
confonant to the faith of hiflory, and fupported by
two or three Greek authors of very confiderable note
amongft the learned.

It may, however, be previoufly requifite to ob-
ferve, that the plate hereunto annexed [Tab. XXV.]
exhibits the nioft perfect reprefentation of this mo-
nument, both with regard to the magnitude of the
ftone, and the forms and fize of the letters, that can
poflibly be communicated to the learned world. As
the copy therefore now prefented to the public is the'
relult of a frefh and molt careful examination of the
autograph itfelf, and by me, fince the publication of
the Marmora Oxoniensia, immediately deduced
fiom it ; this may be confidercd as the mod accurate
tranfeript of our Citiean infcription, in all refpeds,
that has hitherto appeared.

2

i. The

The- OxforcL-Citiean Inscription .

Fbilof. Trcmf. Vol.LRr.TAB.XXV.p.414.

X % \ % \..Ahph-

9 <J 9 9 9

...Beth-

GhimeL

q tr q~ -

... Daldh /
He
Van
Zai/v

Y\ VA ft

..Beth

Teth-

'Ti' oy ^

/ 1 1

...Caph

k 4 L h—Jjatru^
y y y y... Jlem-

lj L Lj. Nun

"fye. Samech

0 0 B 0 Ajin-ar Ain

Fe

y Tzade-

ICoph

Fetch,

to JVAwi

yt jl p 1'hau

C 4*5 ]

I. The fir ft word, anac, or onec, feems

to have denoted the hme thing in Syriac (41) and
Phoenician that ONYH did in Greek, and onyx in
Latin. Butthe fame fpeciesof marble was denominated
both onyx and ALABASTRiTES,as we (42) learn from
Pliny, and other good authors. It cannot therefore
well be doubted, but that “ptf, anac, or onec,
here may cither be tranflated llridlly and literally /
alabastrites, or be rendered with fuffieient pro-
priety by the more general term marmor. The
Cyprian Hone itfelf, on which the infcription has
been preferved, being a fine white alabafter, or per-
fect alabastrites, puts the point here infilled on
almoll beyond difpute.

2.1 have already given fo full and particular
an account of the fecond word ‘iDJ'TOib which is a
Phoenician proper name of a man, in my former re-
marks, (43) that it would be intirely fuperfluous
and unnecelfary to take any notice of it here.

3. That the third word, p,; ben, which occurs
afterwards in the firfl line, is equivalent to the Latin
filivs, I have (44), in a former work, rendered
incontellably clear.

(41 ) Johan. Buxtorf. Lex. Chaldaic, & Syriac, p. 25. Bailie®,
1622.

("42) Plin. -Nat. Hifi. Lib. XXXVI. c. 7, 8. Lib. XXXVII.
c. 5,6. Hor. Carm. Lib. IV. od. 12. Martial. Epigram. . Lib.
VII. ep. 93. Dioi'corid. Lib. V. c. 153. Ifdor. Lib. XVI.
c., 15.

(43) See above, p. 127, *28.

(44) Infcript. Cit. p. 22. Oxon. 1750,

4

4. The

[ 4l6 ]

4. The fourth word, DDD"T^, abdesvsim, or
abdesasim, is another Phoenician proper name of
a man, not to be met with in any antient author.
If we read it abdesvsim, it anfwers to the Latin

SERVVS, or CVLTOR, EQVORVM ; if ABDESASIM,
(45) tO REGENTIVM (viz. DEORVM Mundum RE-
gentivm) cvltor, or servvs. The latter feems
to be by far the mod eligible ledtion. Which if
we admit, it will feem to follow, that the Phoenician
term CDDD, sasim, was fometimes at lead; equiva-
lent to dii, svperi, or rather dii Mundum re-
gentes, amongd the Latins.

5. The fixth word, hhvr, or hvr, is alfo
a Phoenician, as well as a (46) Biblical Hebrew,
mafculine proper name. The ftrft letter, Hheth ,
here is of a pretty unufual form. I have another
Phoenician infcription, never hitherto publidied, with
the very fame character in it ; of which, if God
grants me life and health, I intend to communicate
an interpretation to the learned world.

.6. The feventh term nDSfO, from yy, ought to
be rendered in Latin lapis (47) sepvlchr alis. It
feems to begin a new fentence, and to be intirely de-
tached from the preceding words. The genuine

✓ /

( 4*5 ) ^ id* Gol. Lcx~ .Arabic* in voc« five DN'D,

rexit pro arpitrio. Sam. Bochart. Hierozoic. p. 16.
Franequcrae, 1690. Jo. Leonhard. Reckenherg. Lex. Hebr.
p. 1072. Jenae, 1749.

(46) Matth. Hiller. Otiomajl. Sacr. p. 99, 789. Tubiiigae,
1706.

(47) Leonhard. Reckenherg. ubi fup. p. 690. Jenae, 1749.
Ctiriftian. Stccki Clav. Ling. Sanfl. Vet, Tcjt. p. 470. Jci ie,
,727*

iignifi-

[ 4-i 7 ]

fignification of this word is conlonant enough to the
tenor of the infcription, which will not admit the
ftnfe afiigned it by M. l’Abbe. The figure of the
lzade , which is. a very uncommon one, occurs in
the medited infcription I hope hereafter to explain.

7. The eighth word, 2±>, lem£, or lemeb, is
probably another Phoenician proper name. That it
was ufed as a proper name in Syria, from Jofephus
is (48) abundantly clear. It occurs alfo as the pro-
per name of a man in Feftus. The fubflantive p,
ben, filivs, does not follow 1?±>, lemb, with the
father s name, according to the manner of writing
not infrequently feen in the Phoenician infcriptions.
But other indances of fuch an omiffion (49) as
this have been obferved, on feveral of the antieat
ftones found in the ruins of Citium.

8. The verb next prefents itfelf to our view,
and ought to be rendered vixit, according to the
Hebrew lexicographers. A fuppreffion of the rela-
tive pronoun *")2W, qvi, is obfervable here. But
fuch ellipfes as this were antiently not uncommon,
according to Noldius (50).

9. The following character, though in a manner
the fame with the Citiean form of Jod , is likewife
fomewhat fimilar to the Palmyrene numeral cha-
racter reprefenting twenty, (51) and not diili-

(.48) Jofeph. dntiquit. 'Judaic.. Lib. XIII. c. 15. p. 599.
Ed. Hudfon. Oxon. 1720. Sex. Pomp. Fell. Lib. XVI. p. 455.
Amftelodami, 1699.

(49) Infcript. Cit. 17, 21, 23, &c.

(50) Chriftian. Mold. Concordant. Particular. Ebrao-Cbald.
p. 102. Jenfe, 1734.

(51) Pbilokph. Tranf Vol. XLVIII. Tab, XXIV. Infcript.

III.

Vol. LIV. Hhh milar

[ 4*8 ]

milar to one of the equipollent characters ufed (52)
at Sidon. As the word vixit, therefore ma-
nifedly requires a numeral, I have taken the liberty
to tranflate this twenty. The learned world may
expedt a farther account of this numeral in my fu-
ture didertation.

10. The next character diffidently refembles (53)
the Palmyrene form of Schiti, on a Parthian coin by
me formerly explained, as well as in the Palmyrene
alphabet. It may therefore pafs for that element,
though it is fomewhat longer; efpecially, as the
Syrians were neighbours to the Phoenicians, and the
letter Schin here begins a word fo confonant to the
tenor of this part of the infcription. That word is
apparently njW, which comes very appofitely after
anew »n» vixit viginti, or rather q^vi vixit
viginti. As it appears here in contraction, it is
a lingular ; but mull neverthelefs be trandated annos,
the genius of the Phoenician language in this re-
fpedt being probably the fame with that of the
Hebrew. The Aleph is to be confidered as a mater
lefiionis, in the term before me ; the letters Aleph ,
Vau, Jod, (54) not infrequently occupying the places
of vowels amongd the earlier Hebrews, and confe-
quently, as there is great reafon to believe, amongd
the Phoenicians alfo. But of this more hereafter.

1 1 . The Phoenician fubdantive chy, as in He-
brew, is undoubtedly equivalent to secvj.vm, zeter-
NITAS, DVRATIO HOMINIBVS ABSCONDITA, &TC.

(52) Philofoph. Tranf. Vol. L. Tab. XXXIT. p. 805.

(53) Philofoph. Tranf. Vol. XLIX. Tab. XVIII. p. 593.

(54) Campeg. Vitring. Obftrvat. Sacr. p. 186.

It

C 419 ]

It frequently occurs, both in a limited and unlimited
fenfe, in the Old Teftament; and accommodates
itfelf, according to (55) Guffetius, to the nature of
the fubjeft to which it is applied. Which if we ad-
mit, when applied to men, it mull denote the term
or period of human life. And in this fignificatien it
(56) fometimes may be met with in holy writ, as it
manifestly is in our infcription. The Vau here, in
conformity to the Phoenician cuftom, is fuppreffed.
But for a farther account of this word, recourfe may
be had to the learned Sontagius, in (57) his dilfer-
tation upon the terms chty and QV, printed at Aitorf,
in 1695.

1 2. The Hebrew noun D1JOD, from whence ODJOD-
and is deduced from the (58) verb sjo,

dolvit. By the extrulion of the two quiefcent let-
ters, Jlleph and V au> the fubftantive becomes
(the fame in pronunciation with DlfOD) as it appears
in our infcription. Nor is it to be wondered at, that,
before the invention of the vowel-points, the qui-
efcent letters fhould have fometimes been fupprefled,
as they had in reality no power at all. Inftances of
fuch a fyncope, or extrufion, as that here obferved,
are not feldom found in the facred writings of the
Old Teftament. And that this was really the cafe
with regard to the word 3DQ, the Chaldee term

.(55) Jacob. Gullet. Comment . Ling. Ebraic . p. 1160, 1161.
Lipfiae, 1743.

(56) Psal. LXXXIX. 1. CXIX. 44. h alib.

(57) Chriftoph. Sontag. in Divert, de D^W periodica & DP
■zterno, Altorfii, 1695.

(58) Leonhard. Reckenberg. ubi fup, p. y^,

H h h 2 *03,

C 420 ]

N33, (59) agreeing perfectly in fignification with it,
feems inconteftably to prove.

From what has been advanced we may conclude,
that the Phoenician words DUD oty, on our ftone*
are equivalent to secvli, or vit^r, dolor is, i. e’.
vital infelicifer acta-;, as I have taken the li-.
berty to render them here.

13. The next word is ’Jinj, descendentes, or
rather descendvnt, the verb svnt being fuppreffed,
as amongft the Hebrews it frequently happened to
be. The radix of this participle is rim, d,escen-,
dit, a verb well enough known to the Hebrews,
but fiequently ufed by the Chaldees; who generally(
applied to it the fignification of the verb *n% as it
prevailed amongft the Hebrews, according to (60).
Buxtorf. It muft be remarked, that tt'l2,C2byb
ought to be deemed the fame expreftion as

the word cbyb having had different po-.
fitions antiently afhgned (61) it in a fentence byf
the Hebrews, and therefore undoubtedly by the'
Phoenicians. In the Chaldee feveral paftages fimilar,
to this part of our infcription are to be found.
So *^»n> SICVT DESCENDENTES IN F0-.

veam fepulchri, occurs, in Prov. i. 12. '11112,

DESCENDENTES AD MARE, in IsAI. xlii. IO. And
in Psal. cxliii. 7. we meet with NfiTQp no.DIX
Wtt Op, CVM DESCENDENTIBVS IN FOVEAM SEFVL-

(59) Johan. Buxtorf. F. Lex. Chald. Talm. & Rabbin .
p. 1 00 1. Bafileae, 1639.

(60) Johan. Buxtorf. F. Lex. Cbald. Talm. & Rabbin.
P< I33°-

(61) F. Mar. de Calafi. Concordant. Sacror. Biblior. Htlraiior.

m voc. P* 592-602. Lond. 1747.

I

CHR7;

[ 421 ]

CHRii which Teems to be a phrafe of the very fame
import in Chaldee that the kSd Wti, dbscen-
dentes funt, or rather descendvnt, in carce-
rem, of our infcription is in Phoenician. The par-
ticiple being in conlfrudtion here, may, how-

ever, be confidered either as a Chaldee, Hebrew,
or Phoenician word. As for the terms EZ&yS*
in jETERNVM carcerem, they are To obvious and
clear that they, require no farther difcufiion in this
place.

14. . The two following words, fyjxS ’DD, with
the three preceding, form the third fentence, or
part of the infcription. The drft of them,
deduced from mo, mori, emori, and in con-
ftrudlion, is a participle converted into a noun,
and may be tranflated mortvi, or rather occisi,
here. In this latter fenfe it occurs, in Isai. xxii. 2 s
•It may alfo be rendered homines, or viri insignes,
according to Cocceius. But the former Teems to be
the mod; obvious and natural fignification. The fe-
cond of thefe words, rV2tib, is undoubtedly the name
of Amathus, a celebrated city of Cyprus, that was
governed by it’s own princes for a confiderable pe-
riod of time. The particle ^ points out the genitive
cafe in our infcription,. as it does in the proper names

py1?, LETZIDON, Tjb, LETZOR, Or LETZVR, OU‘

the Tyrian and Sidonian coins. The fame thing
may fometimes be . laid of this particle, when the
word immediately preceding it is in condxudtion,
(62) as we find manifeftly to be the cafe here;
From the infcription before me it appears, that the
Phoenician name., of Amathus was amatii,

(62) Vid. Reckfiibcrg. ubi fup. p. 82S,

not

[ 422 ]

not non, hamath, or chamath, as it has been
written by Bochart (63).

151 The next word, C3, apparently to be de-
duced from the obfolete verb 03, altvm est,
elevatvm est, &c. in the infinitive mood CD,
from whence nO0, excelsvm, may with fufficient
propriety be interpreted monvmentvm sepvlchra-
le j as f— Id, a word of the fame origin, has actu-
ally been interpreted by (64) Schindler and Clodius.
Farther, C3 may be confidered as no other term
than the Syriac CD, svggestvm, tribvnal (65),
tvmvlvs, 6cc. the excifion of *Jod being common,
as in py, for p% and CTO, for OW*', amongft
the Phoenicians. Nor is the fignification afligned
DD here more confonant to the true import of the
radix, from whence it is derived, than to the tenor
of that part of the infcription to which it belongs.

16. 1 hat the Phoenicians wrote the Plebrew word
J"TVD, strvctvra, or rather strvctvra ordi-
nata, mn, and in conftruCtion mfi, cannot
well be denied ; fince m’D was no other (66) term
than pipi, or “lft, and it was common with the
Phoenicians to expunge Jod> as has been juft ob-
feived. 1 he verb fubftantive, in conformity to the
Hebrew and Phoenician cuftom, has been apparently
fuppreffed here.

(63) Sam, Bochart. Chan. Lib. I. c. 3.

(64) Val. Schind. Lex Pentaglot. p. 171. Hanovia?, 1612.
Jo. Chrift. Clod. Lex. Hebraic. Sele£i. p. 72. Lipfiae, 1744.

(65) Johan. Buxtorf. Lex. Chaldaic. & Syriac, p. <54 Ba-
fileae, 1622.

(66) Reckenberg. ubi fup. p. 598, 1563.

17. For

r 423 t

17. For ITS the Carthaginians wrote j-ft, with-
out yod, as we learn from the Punic infcription ex-
plained in (67) a former paper. And that the Phoe-
nicians wrote this word in the fame manner, confi-
dering their frequent omiffion of Jod, I fee not the
lead reafon to doubt. The Ethiopians in this term
mod: certainly never made ufe of that element. In
our infcription it is to be therefore confidered as equi-
valent to DOM VS, GENS, FAMILIA, &C. in which
fignification it not feldom occurs j fometimes being
applied to a whole family, and at other times to a
part of a family only, in the (68) facred writings of
the Old Tedament. The three lad; words of the
infcription, -]StTDy p DNTl, tami filii abdeme-
leci, are fo intirely clear of all difficulties, and fo
obvious to every one in the lead acquainted with an-
tient hidory, and oriental literature, that it would
be fuperduous to expatiate upon them here.

It may, however, not be improper to remark, that
the ufe of the proper name abd’almalec, the
fame with abdemelec, was retained by the Arabs
long after the fird appearance of our infcription. For
the Khalif Abd’almalec, who fucceeded Merwan I.
above half a century after the death of Mohammed,
departed this life (69) in the year of the Hejra 86,
or of Christ 705. Nay, ’tis more than probable,
that the fame name prevails amongd the Arabs even
at this day.

(67) Pbilof. Tranf Vol. LIII. p.,275, 276.

(68) Reckenberg. ubi fup. p. 130.

(69) A1 Makin, Greg. Abu’l Faraj, Eutycb. Ifm. Abu’lfed.
Etm A1 Athir, aliicjue fcriptor. Arab.

x8. If

[ 424 ]

1 8. If what has been here advanced ftiould meet
with the approbation of the Royal Society, the fol-
lowing Latin and Englifti verfions of this infcrip-
tion, which has fo well efcaped the injuries of time,
may not prove unacceptable to the learned.

Tmyn— -in p DDDnny p notnny
N'7D tz)hy^ ♦nro— nna cn^y ntw. n *»n no1?
-pinny p cwn nn mn Dn-nn^ to

Marmor Abdasari filii Abdesasimi filii
Hhvri — Lapis sepvlchralis Lembi (vel Le-

MEBl) qvi VIXIT VICENOS ANNOS SECVLI DO-
LORIS (l. e. AiTATIS five VITiE INFELICITER

ACT A:) DESCENDVNT INAiTERNVM IN CARCE-

R e M lepulchri mortvi hi Amathvntis (leu
potius occisi hi Amathvsii) — Monvmentvm
strvctvra eft domvs (vel familia*) Tam.i

FILII AbdEMELECI. '

The marble (or marble tomb-stone) of
Abdasar the son of Abdesasim the son
OF Hhur (or Hur)— The sepulchral stone
0i' Lemb ^or Lemeb) who lived twenty
fears in trouble and sorrow — Thefe
Amathusians who were slain are gone

or ever jo i he prison of the grave The

monument was erected by the house of
i am vs (or Tam) the son of Abdemelec.

Hence it feems to appear, that the names of two
Amathulians, probably of the firft dirtindtion, one
of whom was unfortunate enough, have been handed

down

t 42s 3

down to us, and perhaps to all fucceeding ages, fcy
this fepulchral infcription.

19. It mud: be farther obferved, that this curious
monument conlifts of four Ihort periods ; every one
of which may, in fome refpedt, be taken for a com-
plete infcription. But this is a property it has in
common with other fimilar remains of antiquity.
Thus the Sigean infcription (70) is compofed of
four fuch periods, and three are exhibited by the
Punic (71) infcription that in a former paper I have
attempted to explain.

20. I have hinted above, that the infcription be-
fore me is come down to us perfect and incorrupt ;
not fo much as one of its letters having been either
loft, or greatly damaged, by the injuries of time.
To which I fhall now beg leave to add, that the
words formed of thefe letters are, for the moft part,
diftinguifhed from one another by points, placed be-
tween them ; which muft, in a good meafure at leaft,
afcertain the ledtion here, and of courfe greatly fa-
cilitate the explication. The Etrufcans fometimes fe-
parated their words from one another by two points,
and fometimes by a Angle one only, as we learn
from the Etrufcan infcriptions on the celebrated
tables of Gubbio, and others published by Sig. Gori,
in (72) the learned work referred to, which may be
considered as a noble repofitory of all kinds of
Etrufcan antiquities. The earlier Greeks alfo ufed
the firft kind of interp unction, as we learn from the

(70) Chilli. Antiqultat. AJiat. p. 30, 31. Lond. 1728.

(71) Philo f Tran/. Vol. LIII. p. 279.

(72I Anton. Francifc. Gor. Muj \ Etrufc. Vol. I. II. palT.
Florentine, 1737. & Vol. III. paff. Florentine, 1743.

Vol. UV. lii ‘Si gean.

[ 426 ]

Sigean, (73) Teian, and other antient infcriptions..
That they likewife applied three points for the repa-
ration of their words, on (74) lome occafions, tho’
more rarely, as well as the Etrufcans, is not unknown,
to thofe who have been converfant with the antiqui-
ties of thele nations. I muft farther obferve, that
this minute kind of mark, though generally termed
a point, was originally of a triangular form; as may
be inferred both from our Citiean infeription, in
which fome of the minute black triangles plainly,
appear, and one at lead: of thofe preferved by the
tables of Gubbio (75), of . which fo accurate a
tranfeript has been communicated by Sig. Gon to.
the learned world. That thefe points are a. certain
indication of a pretty remote antiquity, is by the mod
competent judges of luch matters (76) readily al-.
lowed. How far therefore this interpun&ion and.
antient hiftory may confpire, in order to fettle the
age of the monument under confideration here, I an\
next to inquire.

Abdemon, the Citiean, one of the Periian (77)
monarch’s friends, having been expelled Salamine.
by Euagoras, that prince meditated the reduction of

(73) Chilli. Antiquitat. Afial. p. 6, 14, 97, 98. Paul.
M. Paciaud. Monument. Peloponnef. 207, 2C9— 21 3, 2 1 8. Rom**

1761.

(74) Muf Veronenf. p. 407. Veronas,
Gor. Muf.Etrufc . Vol. ill. P. IIP

1749. Anton. Francifc.
T. XVL Florentine,

(75) Anton. Francifc. Gpr. Muf, Etrufc. Vol. I. Prolegorn,
p. 55. Florentiae, 1737.

(76) Vid, Chifli. Antiquitat. Ajiat. p. 3,^ 6, 14, 97.

(77) Theopompus in Excerptis Photii, Cod. CLXXVI.
lufcript. Cit. p. 24—28. Oxon. 1750. Diod. Sic. Bibl. Hi/1.
Lib. XVL p. 447. Ifocrat. Evag. p. 282.

C 427 ]

the whole iiland of Cyprus ; in which, within the
courfe of a few years, he made a very confiderable
progrefs. This alarming the Amathufians, Citieans,
and Solians, governed then, as it diould feem, by
their own princes, they (78) made the proper
difpofitions for oppofing his ambitious defigns. But
not believing themfelves able alone to cope with him,
they applied to the Perfian (79) court for adidance.
Artaxerxes Mnemon, who then fat upon the Perfian
throne, was alfo himfelf become jealous of the grow-
ing power of Euagoras, and therefore readily entered
into an alliance with the three confederated cities
againft him. To this he was farther excited by the
murder of Agyris, king of Amathus, and one of
his mod: faithful allies, of which Euagoras (80) was
accufed ; and by the engagement the three Cyprian
dates had entered into, to put the whole iiland, if
poihble, into his hands. In order therefore to cruih
Euagoras at once, Artaxerxes fent an army of 300,000
men, under the command of Orontes, one of his
fons-in-law, to invade Cyprus (81), in the third year
of the ninety-eighth Olympiad, or the year before
Chrid 386. This formidable army was attended by
a deet of above 300 (82) fail, of which Gaus, the

(78) Diod. Sic. ubi Tup. p. 447.

(79) Id. ibid.

(80) Id. ibid.

(81) Diod. Sic. ubi fup. Lib. XV. p. 458.

(82) Id. ibid. The Phoenician. name tam feems to have
been written by the Greeks TAMOS, as it is exhibited by a
MS. of Thucydides, in the French king’s library; and not
TAMOS, as we find it written in other manufcripts of that author.
This is rendered not a little probable, at leaf in my opinion, by
the Oxford-Citiean infcription.

Vid. Thucydid. Ds Bell. Pelopcnnef. Lib. VIII. c. 87. p. 557.
Edit. Dukcr. AmRelaedami, 1731.

I i i 7. fon

[ 428 ]

fon of Tamus, or, as the Phoenicians wrote and
pronounced the word, Tam, probably the tam of
our infcription, was (83) admiral. This Tamus
is faid to have been born at Memphis, and confe-
quenetly by birth to have been an Egyptian, though
he was probably of Phoenician extraction. Being a
perfon of great valour, and uncommon fkill in ma-
ritime affairs, he flrft lerved Tiffaphernes as a naval
officer ; but was afterwards imployed by Cyrus, who
rebelled again ft his brother Artaxerxes, and was
killed in the battle (84) of Cunaxa, as chief com-
mander of his fleet. He alfo had been appointed
governor of onia by that prince. Tamus was trea-
cheroully cut off, with all his family, except his fon
Gaus, now the Perfian admiral, who ftaid behind
in Afia, by Plammitichus, king of Egypt (83),
about fourteen years before. Euagoras’s fleet of 200
fail was defeated near Citium (86) by Gaus, the fon
of Tamus, or Tam, with the lols of moft of his
fhips; though Euagoras had, before this naval en-
gagement, gained a (87) confiderable advantage over
a part of the combined army of Perfians, Amathu-
flans, Citieans, and Solians, almoft immediately af-
ter the defcent bad been made. From this fhort
narrative, extracted from writers of the heft repu-
tation and authority, are naturally deducible the fol-
lowing obfervations.

(83) Id. ibid.

(84) Xenoph. De Cyr. Expedit. p. 89. Oxon. I 735. Plutarch,
in Artxtxcrx. p. 1014, 1015. Lutetise Parifiorum, 1624.

(85) Diod. Sic. Bibl. Hiji. Lib. XIV. p. 415.

(8b) Diod. Sic. Bibl. Hiji. Lib. XV. j\ 4 qo, 460.

(87) Idem ibid.

j . Tamus

r

r-

A

Ttitof Ti'UJif Vol. LIV Tab. XXJI p 42 g

Three of the C^mOhfcnptiojis Mu/lrated here . p . 429, 432^c

nj

y

^7^3 7

N” 4//>y/

Ny, zyy t^T/!

[ 429 ]

1. Tamus,. or Tam, probably the tam of our
infcription, admiral of a Perfian fleet, and governor
of Ionia, was cut off by Pfammitichus, king of
Egypt, together with his whole family, except his
fon Gaus, about fourteen years before the commence-
ment of the Cyprian war.

2. Gaus, the fon of Tamus, or Tam, admiral to
Cyrus, who was killed on the plains of Cunaxa, actu-
ally commanded the Perfian fleet, and defeated that
of* Euagoras, near Citium, in the beginning of
that war.

3. Part of the combined army of Perfians, Ama-
thufians, Citieans, and Solians, was routed by Eua-
goras, a little before the naval engagement.

4. From what has been (88) intimated by Dio-
dorus Siculus we may infer, that this aCtion cer-
tainly happened at no great diftance from Citium *
as the battle by fea was fought near that place, and
as the fleet and army muft have aCted in concert,,
both at the debarkation of the troops, and for fome
time after that event.

5. It muft therefore be allowed probable, that the
two Amathufians mentioned in our inlcription, who
feem to have been perfons of diftinCtion, were killed
either in the aforefaid aftion, in the naval engage-
ment that immediately followed, or in fome other,
affair that happened much about the fame time.

6. The monument recorded by our infcription was
probably ereCfed by lome of Gaus s family, who
might call themfeives the houfe of Tamus, his fa-
ther, feveral inftances of fuch an appellation occurring

(88j Diod. Sic. ubi fup. p. 459, 460.

* in

[ 4-3° ]

in antient hiftory. This might have happened after
Gaiis’s death, which was about two years poftericrr
to the commencement of the Cyprian expedition.
The ere&ion of it certainly ought not to be attri-
buted to Tamus’s daughter, as fome may perhaps
pretend ; all that admiral’s family, except Gaus,
having been cut off with him, (89) by Pfammiti-
chus, king of Egypt, fourteen years before.

7. From the preceding narrative we may infer,
that antient hiflory, particularly that of Diodorus
Siculus, from whence it is chiefly extracted, and our
infcription mutually ftrengthen and fupport each
other.

8. Hence it feems pretty clearly to appear, that
the death of Abdafar and Lemb, or Lemeb, the
event commemorated by our infcription, preceded
the commencement of the Chriftian aera 386 years;
and confequently that this infcription is coeval with
thole, found likewife in the ruins of Citium, by me
lome years fince explained.

Many things relative to this infcription, for want
of room, I am obliged at prefent to fuperfede; but
thefe, as well as leveral other points flightly touched
upon here, may perhaps meet with a more particular
difculfion, in another piece upon the fame fubjedt ;
which, if God grants me life and health, will foon
be communicated to the learned world.

As the autograph of the fourth infcription [Tab.
XXVI.] does not now exift, having been deftroyed by
Bekir,bafhawof Cyprus, about the year 1749; we can-
not arrive at any degree of certainty, in relation to the

(89) Diod. Sic. Bibl. HiJl . Lib. XIV. p. 415.

1

charadlers

[ 43 1 ]

characters of which it was originally compofed. Of
thofe, however, exhibited by the tranfcripts only the
laft of the firft line and the laft of the infcription.
feem to have deviated from their primitive forms..
The laft character of the firft line I can by no means
take for He, as M. l’Abbe Barthelemy fuppofes it to.
be, fince it fcarce bears a remote refemblance even,
to his pretended new form of that element. Befides,
M. l’Abbe has in effeCt given up this new form, by
allowing that on the coins of Menae it may be taken
for Mem. Nor can l'uch an uncouth proper name
as n.ONJONH, tharaame, with three Alephs in it,
and two together in the middle of it, I believe, be
found in the whole circle of Hebrew, Syriac, or
Phoenician antiquity. I fhould therefore rather
call it 'Thau, one form of which it greatly refembles,
if part of the curve behind be confidered as an ac-
cidental addition ; which might eafily have been
made, in the courfe of fo many ages. With regard
to. the laft letter of the infcription, this feems to be
purely adventitious, and of a recent date. For Dr.,
Porter’s accurate copy of this infcription, taken upon
the fpot, which the late Rev. George Drake, M. A.,
and Fellow of Balliol College, received of Charles
Gray, Efq; Member of Parliament for Colchefter,
and gave to the Univerfity of Oxford, exhibits a.
character refembling the modern form of Schin ,
though made in a very bungling irregular manner..
In fhort it preients to our view not the lead appearance
of antiquity. Nay, it feems to have been formed
upon the ruins of a Nun , the upper part or which
is plainly vifible in this character. 1 would there-
fore. with the permiftion of the critics, read toe

* ' A 1 A

[ 432 1

laft word of this infcription pn, cheren, cherin,'
KEPIN, or KEPTNj which if we admit, together
with what has been advanced, relative to the preceding
dubious character, we may readily propofe to the
confideration of the learned world the following in*
terpretation.

rr„w nhnh
fJTD ~pD
pn m

DVCTOR A M ATHVNTI S

REX CITII

PRINCEPS CERYNI^E.

In the fir ft word of the fecond line I fuppofe an
apocope of the letter Caph, on account of the fol-
lowing one ; fomething analagous to this having
been obferved, as not unufual amongft the Phoeni-
cians, by the learned Bochart, in the origin he af-
ligns the name melcarthvs. Nor has M. 1’Abbe
himfelf difapproved of M. Bochart’s notion. If the
liberty of making this and the other flight alterations
fhould be indulged me, and I think it would be no
unreafonable indulgence, the infcription would be
illuftrated by (90) Diodorus Siculus j feem to prove
that the Cerynians joined the Citieans, Amathuflans,
and Solians, in the Cyprian war, though (forming
then, perhaps, a much more inconfiderable /bate than
any of the others) they are not mentioned by that
hiftorian ; and appear to be coeval with the Citiean

(90) Diod. Sic. ubi Cup. Lib, XIX. p. 703, 705, 715, &c.

infcriptions,

C 433 3

infcriptions, that have been already explained. A
ftrong prefumption this of the propriety, not to fay
neceflity, of thofe alterations ! Nor can I allow the
laft letter of the fecond line to be Lamed> as M.
1 Abbe has been pleafed to aflert, it being in both
the copies brought from Cyprus apparently Nun.
That the firft element of the third line was originally
Kopl: , that fome words are wanting in the latter part
of the monument, and that this part imported was
buriedinthemonth See. are notions l'o extremely
lingular, however efpoufed by M. l’Abbe, fo intirely
unfupported, both by reafon and authority, that it
would be fuperfluous to enter upon a difeuffion of
them. But as I have long lince largely expatiated
upon this (91) infeription, I lhall drop all far-
ther particulars relative to it here, and content my-
felf with referring the lovers of Phoenician anti-
quities to the piece wherein a full and copious ex-
plication of it (though I there took for He and
Tzade the characters reprefenting Jod and Thau) may
be found.

IV.

Before I conclude this memoir, it may not be im-
proper to illuftrate two more of the Citiean inferip-
tions [Tab. XXVI.], that have hitherto efcaped the at-
tention of the learned. Nor will this, I flatter myfelf,
be deemed altogether foreign to the prefent fubjedl
as thole inferiptions may probably throw fome add!

(91) Infcript. Cit.five
p„ 15, 16. Oxon. 1753.

Vol. LIV.

in bin. al. infcript. Phcen. & c. ton} eft .

Kkt tional

Kkk

v»»

' [ 434 ]

tional light upon part of the preceding remarks, and
more clearly evince a point of confiderable import-
ance, with regard to the true explication of the
Oxford infcription, that has been manifeftly oppofed

by M. l’Abbe. ^ . ....

i. The twenty-firft of the Citiean mfcriptions,

which confffts only of the two words 7n {OOiO, or
^hn IDtSN1?, had probably loft a Lamed, before the
autograph itfelf was deftroyed ; unlefs we will fuppofe
the Phoenicians of Cyprus, when it firft appeared, to
have ufed even the participle pahul itfelf of the radix
^n, or SSn, in the contracted form. The original
Phoenician is equivalent to the Latin amamono

INTERFECTO, AMAMONO in acie INTER1ECTO, OT

amamoni in praelio confossi, fcil. lapis fepulchra-
lis, i. e. the grave-ftone of amamon killed in
war j which feems to imply, that this Amamon,
who was probably an officer of fome note, fell in the
affair that happened between a part of the combined
army of Perffans and Phoenicians and a body of
Euagoras’s troops (92) near Citium, foon after
the commencement of the Cyprian war. Whence
we may infer, that this infcription is coeval with
thofe 1 have already endeavoured to explain j that it
points, clearly enough, at the fame event ; and con-
fequently that it brings a frefh acceflion of ftrength
both to my opinion of the age of thofe monuments,
and alfo to the authority of Diodorus Siculus himfelf
in the point before us.

As for the Phoenician proper name amamon, I
have formerly expatiated fo (93) largely upon it, .

(92) Dlod. Sic. Bibl. Hi ft. Lib. XV. p. 459* 4^°*

1(93) Infer ipt. Cit. p. 20, 21, 22. Oxon. 1 75°*

that

[ 435 1

that nothing farther relative to this word will be ex-
pected from me here. The figure of the H.Ixtht
according to Dr. Porter’s tranfeript, not a little re-
fembles the unufual form of the fame element as
prefented three times by the Oxford— Cidean mar-
ble to our view.

2. The twenty- third Citiean infeription is form-
ed of fix words, five of which are evidently
proper names. They are ranged in four lines,
and may be reprefented by Hebrew characters
thus.

crp-i rovD

yj w’dk

-\xb “iDtn

LAPIS sEPVLCHRALIS RECIMI
ASI AV JE AB

DASARI LAR

IL JB RECAT JE

The fifth letter of the fecond line, which feems
to have been intended for V yu, is pretty much de-
formed. This appears from Dr. Porter’s accurate
copy of the infeription. The original itfelf does not
now exift. I take this character to have reprefented
(94) Van, becaufe it fomewhat refembles the iTolic
JAivamma, which anfwered to that element. The
minute {trait line preceding the firft word is evi-
dently an accidental blemiih, and therefore cannot
be confidered as a letter. This, from its fize
(04.) Chifh. Antiquitat. Afiat. p. 17, 19. Load. 1728.

, K k k 2

and

[ 436 ]

and pofition, as well as from the term that imme-
diately follows it, is inconteftably clear. The two
words forming the fir ft line of the infcription are
apparently HDVD, lapis sepvlchralis re-

CIMT, THE TOMB-STONE OF REKIM, Or REKEM,

the latter of which is (95) a Biblical proper name.
The third of the proper names preferved by this
infcription, abdasar, occurs on the Oxford and
Maltcfe ftones, and has been already explained ;
but the others I remember not elfewhere to have
feen, nor are they, as I apprehend, to be met with
in any antient author. The perfons that bore them
were probably killed in the a&ion near Citium,
mentioned by Diodorus Siculus, referred to on a
fimilar occafion in thefe remarks, and buried in one
grave. That atftion, as I have formerly obferved,
preceded the commencement of the Chriftian aera
about 386 years.

The fubftantive in the beginning of a fen-

tence, immediately preceding the proper name of a
man, not followed by the term p, ben, son, and
the father’s name, appears in this fepulchral infcrip-
tion, that has more than one perfon for its objecft.
This word alfo occurs, attended by the very fame
circumftances, in the firft line of our Oxford infcrip-
tion. Now in the Citiean monument before me it
is undoubtedly equivalent to the Latin lapis sepvl-
chralis, and the Englifh tomb-stone. Why
then fhould it not have the fame fignification afftgned
it in the other ? Moft certainly it fhould. Can any
thing therefore be more forced and unnatural than
M. l’Abbe Barthelemy’s notion of this term in the

f95) Num, XXXI. 8.

2

Oxford

[ 437 ]

Oxford infcription, when he makes it to refer to I
know not what obfcure town called Tfabeth, the
fainteft traces of which are not to be met with in «
any antient writer? A notion this void of the lead:',
appearance of authority, . and deftitute of the very •
fhadow of a reafon for its fupport !

The twenty-third Citiean infcription is alfo re- -
markable for the exhibition of a very antient form j
of Kcphy and of a pretty unufual one of Dzade, re-
fembling the character that reprefented the fame ele- -
ment amongft the Palmyrenes. This likewife fome-
times appears upon the Phoenician (96) coins. The
figure of Vau here feems by fome accident to have been
deformed, before the autograph was deffroyed. It
neverthelefs bears a fort of rude refemblance to the
fEolic Digamma , which (97) owed its origin to this
letter. As it has deviated, however, confiderably from
the primitive character, cut at firfl in the done j I have
not afligned it a place in the Phoenician alphabet, de-
duced from the infcriptions found amongft the ruins
of Citium, and now attending thefe remarks.

Thus have I finilhed my remarks upon M. l’Abbe
Barthelemy’s reflections on certain Phoenician mo-
numents, and the alphabets refulting from them ; and
endeavoured to redtify fome miftakes, that occur in
this celebrated performance. How far I have fuc-
ceeded in my defign the learned world, with candour
and impartiality, will decide. I have alfo attempted
to explain four of the Citiean infcriptions, in the
courfe of thefe: remarks j and hope the explications

(96) Joan. Baptift. Biancoft, De Antiq. Hebraor . (A Gracor .
Lit. p. 32. Bononias, 1748.

(97) Chifh. ubi fup.

given,

C 438 ]

given, even upon the moft critical examination, will not
be found very remote from truth. The alphabets
deduced from thefe infcriptions and the Siculo-Pu-
nic coins, illuftrated here, will, I flatter myfelf, not
a little facilitate the interpretation of other fimiiar
remains of antiquity. Nor will M. 1 Abbe, for whole
fuperior merit I have a real efteem, find the lead
reafon to complain of any illiberal treatment in
this memoir. For as on the one hand, ever averfe to
flattery, I have delivered my fentiments with a be-
coming freedom, when I thought myfelf obliged to
differ from him s fo on the other, notwithftanding
the provocations received from certain authors, I have
ftudioufly endeavoured to avoid every thing that
might feem to have the leaft tendency to a diminu-
tion of his character, as well as all undue warmth and
afperity of expreflion. Noram 1 confcious of having
mifreprefented him in any one particular. Tiuth
(lands in no need of fuch fupports, nay it utterly
difclaims them ; and truth is confidered as the foie
objedt in view here by,

S I R,

Your much obliged.

And moft obedient,

Humble fervant,

Chrift-Church, Oxon.

Nov. 24, 1764.

John Svvinton.

INDEX.

A N

INDEX

TO THE

Fifty-Fourth VOLUME

OF THE

Philofophical Tranfaclions.

For the Year 1764.

A.

a Bdalmalick, a Phoenician word. Its import, p.
/l 423.

Abdefuffim , a Phoenician word. Its import, p. 416.
Ailments nervous, how affixed by handling metals, p.
23.— By fmells, 16. Thefe effefts now remedied, 18.

20.

Ain, a Phoenician letter remarkt on, p. 395.

Aleph, a Phoenician letter. Its genuine form, p. 124.
Remarks on, 134.

Alphabet , Phoenician remarks on, p. 24. 134* 393-
Alpinus , Profper. A defence of his veracity, p. 9^

INDEX.

America , a defcription of the American Armadilla, p.
57. Of the Cicada, p. 65. Fiery Meteors feen there,
185. See Connefiicut , Cicada , Jamaica , Martinico ,
Meteors , Newfoundland , Philadelphia.

Anak, a Phoenician word. Its import, p. 415.

Approximation , an eafy rule of for computing the diftance
.of the Moon from a Zodiacal Star, by the Rev. Nevil
'Mafkeline, A. M. and F..R. S. p. 274.

Armadilla American. See America.

AJlhrna , an account of an unufual appearance on open-
ing the body, of one who died of that difeafe, by
W. Watfon, M. D. F. R. S. p. 239. His cafe des-
cribed, ibid. The date of his lungs after death, 241.
Thecaufes of the difeafe in that cafe inveftigated, 243.

AJlronomers , the different waies of accounting time, in ule
among them, p. 344.

Agronomical obfervations. See Ohfervations Agronomical.

Aurora Auftralis , how rare, p. 3 1 8.

Borealis , a defcription of a curious one feen at

Warfaw, p. 98. — Another feen at Lifbcn, 32 7.

B.

Bam , a Phoenician word. Its import, p.422.

Barthelemi l’Abbe’s, memoir on the Phoenician letters re-
markt on by the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S.
p. 1 19. — His explication of a Phoenician infcription,
remarkt on by the fame hand, 132. — Further remarks
on the fame fubjedt, by the fame hand, 393.

Batavia road in the Eaft Indies. An account of the effedbs
of lightening upon fhips there, p. 293.

Belemnite , aFofil. An account of it, p. 38. Two kinds
of it particularifed, 40. Its fhel 1 how formed and
enlarged, 44. How different from oyfters '&c, 4-5.
Flow changed by fire, 50. What properties it has
when calcined, ibid.

Ben, a Phoenician word. Its import, p. 415,

Ben

INDEX.

'Ben Coden road in the Eaft Indies. An account of the
efteCls of lightening there, p. 293.

Bergman lorbern, his letter containing experiments on
eledlricity, p. 84.

Beth and Heth, Phoenician letters remarkt on, p. 408.

Bevzs, Mr. his obfervation of an eclipfe of the moon,
}7 March, 1764, p. 107.

Bith , a Phoenician word. Its import, p. 423.

Bl/fs, Nathaniel Rev. M. A. Savilian Profefibr of Mathe-
matics at Oxford. His obfervations on the eclipfe of
the fun, Ap. 1, 1764. p. 141

Borlafe , William, M. A. and F. R. S. Plis account of
the quantity of rain fallen at Mountfbay in Cornwall,
p. 59. And of the weather there, ibid.

Briftol , a remarkable tide there, p. 83.

Butler , Mr. the fequel of his cafe from Vol. L. of thefe
tranfadlions, p. 15.

C.

Caille , Abbe de la, his fedlor confidered, p. 351.

Calandrini , Mr. his queftions relative to an apparatus for
preventing the effects of lightning, p. 202. Thofe
queftions anfwered by Dodtor Watfon, 203.

Cambridge in New England, a fiery Meteor feen there, p. 188.

Canton , J. his letter concerning artificial lightning, p.
208. His experiments relative to the compreffibility
of water and other fluids, 261.

Carinivet , Mr. his quadrant deferibed, p. 163.

Cedar , its tar how ufeful in embalming, p. 12.

Gerujfa , effedts of in nervous diforders, p. 17.

Chances , fecond rule of, publifhed in Vol. LIII. of thefe
Tranfadlions demenftrated, p. 296. Some dedudlions
from thence, for the further perfedtion of the dodtrine
of chances, 310.

Characters , numeral Phoenician on certain coins explained,
p. 136. The inference to be from thence made, 137.
Vol, LI V. L 1 1 Chatham ,

INDEX.

Chatham , a folar eclipfe obferved there, Ap. i, 1763..

P‘ 1 71,

Cicada , of North America defcribed, p. 65. Its firfl ap-
pearance, ibid. How generated, 66, 67. General re-
marks upon it, 68.

Citian infcriptions. See Infcriptions.

Citium. See Infcriptions.

Clocks , experiments upon them, p. 349. Why ufelefs as
to fettling the different forces of gravity in different
latitudes, p. 381.

Cochineal Polilh, defcribed by Dodor Wolf, of Warfaw,
p. 91. The Polifh Cochineal infed defcribed, 92. The
method of dieing in Poland with that commodity, 93.
How the colour thus given may be improved, 94. A
further account of this material, 95.

Coins antient Etrufcan two, obfervations upon them by
the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. p. 99. Their
antiquity how vifible, 100. The weight of one of
them, 1 01. The weight of the other, 102. The
form of the letters confidered, 103. The value of
thefe Coins how determined, 104. Their antiquity ad-
jufted, 105.

Laodicean, p. 402.

■ Phoenician, p. 136.

Sicilian, p. 404.

Siculo-Punic, p. 408.

Cold , an unulual degree of, obferved in Bed ford fit ire, Ap.
1 2, 1 764, by Mr. Howard, p. 1 18.

Collinfon , Mr. F. R. S. his remarks on the Cicada of North

America, p. 65.

Comet , a table of the places of that which appeared in
1764, as obferved at Paris by Mr. Ch. Mefner, Affro-
nomer at the Depot, of the plans of the marine of
France, p. 151.

Comprejfibility , of water and other fluids, p. 261: Why

not fuch as might be fuppofed, 262.

Conic Sedions. See Sections Conic .

4

Conjugate ,

INDEX.

Conjugate Hyperbola. See Hyperbola.

Connecticut in North America, a fiery meteor feen there,

p. 189. .

Connoljfance* des mouvements celeftes, a French almanack
To called, remarkt on, p. 337- See Belalande.
Conjiantinople , an account of a peftilence there, by Mr.
Mordach M’Kenzie, p. 69. How cured in the hoi-

pitals there, 79.

Crane , a defcription of one both new and late, p. 2,4.
An eftimation of its powers, 25. How it is to be
workt, 26.

Curves , divers properties of, demonflrated, p. 298.
Cyprus , an ifiand invaded by the Perfians, p. 426. An
enquiry into the time of this invafion, 429. 430.

D.

Declination,- of the magnetic needle, more accurately

obferved by a new inftrument, p. 8 7. ^

Be la Lande , Mr. his method of computing the equation
of time remarkt on, p. 337. His radica error, ,340-
BelavaU Edward, Efquire, his account of the effete of
lightning on St. Brides Church Fleet-ftreet, 1 June

Bihden Captain ^ his account of the fize of conductors, for
preventing the bad effedls of lightning in lrginia, p.
243. Why that pra&ice was adopted there, ibid.
Biodorus Siculus, his account of the invafion of Cyprus,

by the Perfians, p.426. r e .

Bun, , Samuel, Mr. his obfervation of an eclipfe of the
moon, 17 March 1764, p. n?.-1 Of the fun, 1 Ap.
1764, p. 1 1 4.

E.

Earth , her diftance from the moon how found, p. 29-
What her diftance from the moon would be, n me

L 1 1 2 and

INDEX.

and the moon were both unmoveable, 32. The
ratio of the quantity of her matter to that of the
moon how found, 33. Remarks on this Theory, 34.
Eajl Indies , the effeds of lightning on three fhips there,
by Mr. Veicht, p. 284. See Bencoolen , St. George.
Eclipfes. — Of the moon, March 17, 1764. Obferved by
Mr. Bevis, p. 107. By Mr. Dun, 117. By Mr.
Mayer, 167. By Mr. Mafkeline, 369.

Of the fun 1, Ap. 1764. Obferved in Clerken-

vvell, 105. In Surry-ftreet, 107. At Liverpool, 108.
By Mr. Bevis, 105. By Mr. Blifs, 141. By Mr.
Dun, 1 14. By Mr. Raper, 150. By Mr. Mayer,
169. By Mr. Murray,. 171. By Jefuites at Rome,
254-

Eddyfione lighthoufe, why fecure from the efFeds of
lightning, p. 250.

Elajlicity of the air, how different from that of water and
other fluids, p. 262.

Electricity, experiments of, in a letter from a Swedifh
gentleman, p. 84. When pofitive and when negative,
85. How varied by circumftances, 86. More expe-
riments relative to it, 87.

Embalming, obfervations on the materials ufed in embalm-
ing, p. 12. Thtr refult of divers experiments made
on thofe materials, 13.

Engines of any fort, their force how eftimated, p. 25.
Equation of the time of noon, ufefulnefs of in correding
aftronomical obfervations, p. 278. The beft manner of
computing it, 336. How affeded by the nutation of
the earth’s axis, 392.

EjJ'ex-Jlreet , an account of the effeds of lightning there,
* 235. 237, 238.

Etrufcans , how they feparated their words, p. 425'.
Evagoras , King of Salamene. His fleet when defeated,
by the Per flans, p. 426.

Events contingent, probabilities of, how calculated, p. 307.
Further dedudrons towards pcrfcding the rule for cal-
culating

r O

INDEX.

culating them, 310. A method for readily difcovering
where the probability lies, 316. A further improve-
ment of that rule, 320.

F.

F<eful<e, what city it was, and where fituated, p. 104. 106.

Felton , Mr. F. R. S. concerning a fingular fpecies of
wafps and locufts, p. 53.

Fergufon James, F. R. S. the defcription of a fafe and eafy
crane conftructed by him, p. 24. Of a hygrometer
invented by him, 259.

Fire , how noxious to perfons ill of the plague, p. 80.

Flood , and ebb, the fun’s force to produce it, compared
with his force at the earth’s center, p. 36. And with
the lunar force, ibid.

FoJJils , curious obfervations on, p. 39. See Behnnite.

Friftions, how different kinds of, produce different forts
of electricity, p. 85.

G. .

Ganglions of the nerves. Their ufes by James Johnftone,
M. D. p. 177, A particular defcription of them, 178.
Their probable ufes, 179. How this doCtrine is lup-
ported, 1 8 1- The errors of anatomifts upon this fub-
je£t, 183.

Graham , Mr. his fedtor animadverted on, p. 352.

Gravity , law of, how inveftigated by Sir Ifaac Newton,
p. 29. How univerfal amongft all the great bodies of
fyftem, 30. Why the different forces of gravity, in
different latitudes, cannot be fettled by clocks, 38

H.

Hadley , John, his letter concerning a mummy, infpefled
at London, p. 1,

Halley

INDEX.

Halley Dodtor, his obfervations of the latitude, and longi-
tude of St. Helena, p. 153. Why thefe obfervations
are not to be depended on, ibid.

He and Mem, two Phoenician letters. Remarks on them,
p. 125. 130. 394. 399. 401.

Heberden , W. M. D. his account of the effects of light-
ning, p. 198.

Hemlock , extracts of obfervations on them, by Michael
Morris, M. D. F. R. S. p. 172. How different fome
of thefe from others, 174. Flow uncertain where their
virtues refide, 176.

Hernia , an account of one in the urinal bladder, by Mr.
Pott, F. R. S. p. 61. A particular defeription of it, 62.
How an incifion into it was made, 63. And how
cured, 64.

Heth and Beth, two Phoenician letters remark t on, p.
416.

Hirjl , Mr. his obfervations at Fort St. George, p. 155.

Hornfiy Thomas, M. A. Savilian Profeffor of Aftronomy,
at Oxford, his obfervation of the fun’s horizontal diame-
ter, p. 148. His account of the fun’s eclipfe, 1 Ap.
1764. 145.

Horjley , Mr. John, his method of finding the Longitude at
Sea, p. 329. By what inftrument his obfervations were

made, 332.

Howard , John Efquire, F. R. S. his account of an ex-
traordinary degree of cold in Bed ford fh ire, p. 1 1 8.

Hygrometer , a defeription of one invented by James Fer-
gufon, F. R. S. p. 259. How it may be mended,
260.

Hyperbolas conjugate. New properties of polygones, def-
cribed wi'hin them demonftrated by Mr. Waring, p.
1 94*

.Hyperboloides conjugate. Properties of folids, deferibed
within them never before obferved, p. 197.

I. Jaculator ,

INDEX.

I.

Jaculator , a fiifh fo called, very particularly defcribed by
Albert Schloffer, M. D. F. R. S. p. .89 By Lin-

naeus, 90.

Jamaica , a lingular fpecies of wafps found there, p. 53.
A particular defcription of them, 54.

Indians , an extraordinary difeafe among them, defcribed in
a letter from Mr. Oliver, Secretary of the Province of
MafTachufets Bay, p. 386. How caufed, 388.

Infcriptions Citian, p. 41 1. 433.

JohnJtone James, M. D. his eBay on the ganglions of the
nerves, p. 177. See Ganglions.

Iron , effects of lightning upon it. See Lightning.

Jupiter , emerfions and immerfions of his fatellites, obfer-
ved at Alarm Hill St. Helena, p. 369. In St. James’s
Valley there, 370.

K.

Kcph, a Phoenician letter. Its figure, p. 134. Its form
in the earlier times, 139. How its antient form was-
prefer.ved, 140. 405.409. 433..

L.

Ly a Phoenician particle. Its import, p.421.

Lamatha , a Phoenician word, meaning of, p. 421.

Lamedy a Phoenician letter, animadverted on, p. 407.

Lampblack , power of to preferve things covered by it front
lightning, p. 289.

Language Phoenician, .how nearly the fame with the Hebrew,
p. 134. What languages are mixed with it, ibid.

Lawrence , Thomas, M. D. his letter on the effe&sof light-
ning, 18 June 1764, p. 235.

Lemb , a Phoenician word. Its meaning, p. 417.

Letters ,

INDEX.

Letters Phoenician, remarks upon them, p. 119. How
J ike the ar.tient Samaritan, 120. An alphabetical table
of them, 135.

Levant , why the plague is fo frequent there, p. 76.

Lightning , effay on by W. Heberden, M. D. and F. R. S.
p. 198. By Mr. Calandrini, 201. By Dodtor Watfon,
209. By Dodtor Laurence, 225. By Edward Delavai
Efquire, F. R. S. 227. By Mr. Wilfon, 246. By.

Mr. Veicht, 284 How the effedts of an apparatus,

to prevent it may be made vifible, 225. — How it adts
on buildings, p. 232. How prevented by a condudtor
of a fufficient fize, 233. Flow it adts on fome perfons,
237. How like the eledtrical fluid, 247. Bad effedts
of too fmall condudtors, ibid. Why condudtors fhould
not end in a point at the top, 249. How large thofe
condudtors are in Virginia, 253. See Martinico , Vir-
ginia.

Linnaus , his defeription of a fifli called Jaculator , p. 90.

IJfhon , a defeription of an aurora borealis feen there, p.
327-

Locujl. See Cicada.

London , an obfervation of an eclipfe of the moon there,
p. 107. Another, 1 1 7. — Of the fun there, 1 Ap.
1764. 107. Another 114. Another, 1 1 7..

Accounts of the effedts of lightning there, 209.

235*

Longitude , how found at Sea, according to Mr. Horfley,
p. 327.

M.

Macah , a Phoenician word, import of, p. 419.

Madrafs. See St. George.

Magazines of powder. See Powder magazines.

Matianolh , a Phoenician word, import ol, p. 404.

Malta , a Phoenician infeription there coniidered, p. 119.
An explication of that infeription, 132. An analyfis

of

I N £> £ X,

of it, 133. Verfions of it, 424. 438; Its age fettled,
426.

Martinico , effefts of lightning there, p. 251.

Mafkelync Mr. his obfervations at St. Helena remarkt on,
p. 153. How he fettled the horizontal parallax of the
fun there, 154. His rules for computing the effects
of refraction and parallax, 163. — For computing the
diftance of the moon from a ftar, 274. His account
of divers trials for finding the longitude at Sea, 332.
His remarks upon Mr. Delalandes doCtrlne of the
equation of time, 336. His obfervations at St. Helena*
349. In the Weft Indies, 389.

Mathi , a Phoenician word explained, p. 421.

Mayer , Chriftian, S. I. his account of the late Tranfit of
Venus, p. 163. His letter relative to the lunar eclipfe*
17 March 1765, 165. His account of the folar eclipfe*
1 Ap. 1764, 169.

Mekenz're , Mr. his account of the plague at Conftanti-
nople, p. 69. See Confiantinople.

Medals Punic, 407, 408.

• Sicilian draughts of, p. 410.

Sidonian remarkt on, p. 137.

Mem , and He, two Phoenician letters, where and how
miftaken for each other, p. 125. 129. 403. 410. 431.

Mefner , Charles, his table of the places of the comet, 1764,
p. 15 1.

Metals and Paints, the effedls of handling them in ner-
vous cafes, p. 1 6. 22.

Meteors Fiery, an account of feveral feen in North Ame-
rica, p. 185. Their relative velocity with that of the
earth, 186. A further account of more meteors, 188,
A remarkable one feen at Oxford, 32 6. Another 332.
how different from the reft, 335.

Mezibath , a Phoenician word explained, p. 416.

Moon , her diftance from the earth and parallax how found,
p. 29. A calculation of that diftance, 30. How this
eftimate is encreafed, 32. The ratio of the moons
Vol. LIV. M m m quantity

INDEX.

quantity of matter, to that of the earth how exa&Iy
found, 33. Remarks upon this theory, 34. The ratio of
the force of gravity to the earths attractive power over
the moon, 35 — Her force in raifing tides, compared with
the like power of the fun, 36. — Her equatorial diameter
as feen in the fun during aneclipfe, 143. Her diameter
taken during a folar edipfe, by the College of Jefuits at
Rome, 256. Her diameter taken when not in con-
junction with the fun, 257. A rule for nearly finding
her diftance from a zodiacal ffar, 274. How the Lon-
gitude is to be found out by her at Sea, 329. How
her parallax is to be alcertained in a fixed obfervatory,
363. How her horary parallax is to be found, 371.

. Eclipfes of obferved, 107 117. 161. 369.

Morris , Michael, M. D. his obfervations upon different
extracts of hemlock, p. 172.

Mummy , an account of one infpeCted at London, p. r.
How much injured by time, 3. Second covering of
dcfcribed, 5. Its filliting, 6. Its thorax, 7. Its
power of preserving roots, 8. Its cavities how filled
up, 11. The principal matter ufed, and what, 12.
How different in different mummies, 14.

Murdoch , Mr. D. D. and F. R. S. his letter concerning
the moon’s diftance and parallax, p. 29.

N.

Nahathi , a Phoenician word, meaning of, p. 420.

Needle , Magnetic. See Declination.

Nerves , their ufes how unknown, p. 183. See Gang-
lions.

Nervous^ diforders. See Ailments Nervous.

Newfoundland , fiery metors feen there, p. 19. An ac-
count of the late tranfic of Venus oblerved there, by
Mr. Wenthorpe, p. 279. See Venus , IVenthorpe.

Newton , Sir Ifaac, his method of inveftigating the law of
gravitation, p. 29.

1 Oaks%

INDEX.

Oaks , obfervations upon them with refpeCt to lightning,
p. 253.

Obelijk , of St. Bride’s Church, the operations and progrefs
of lightning there, p. 215.

Obfervations aftronomical, how beft corrected, p. 278.
33b. 342.

• made at St. Helena, 349. In the Weft Indies,

389. See Moon , Sun, Stars.

Oliver , Andrew, Efquire, Secretary at MafTachufets Bay,
his letter concerning an extraordinary difeafe among the
Indians, p. 386.

Oxford , an eclipfe of the fun, 1 Ap. 1 764, obferved there,
145. A remarkable meteor feen there, 326. Another,

332. How diffimilar from other phenomena of that
lort, 335.

P.

Paints , and metals, effects of handling them in fome
cafes, p. 16.

Parallax of the moon, how determined, p. 29. How to
be corrected, 263.— How the apparent diftance of the
moon from a ftar is contracted, or augmented by her
parallax, p. 268. A rule to compute this contraction
or augmentation, ibid. A demonftration of this rule,
269. Remarks upon that and another rule relative to
refraCtion, 270. How the operations purfuant to thefe
rules are to be corrected, 271. A demonftration of
the juftnefs of the rule for correcting thefe operations,

2 72,

, - of the fun affumed by Mr. Murdoch, p. 37. A

Supplement to Mr. Pingre’s memoir, on that lubject,
152. His parallax from the obfervations at St. Helena,
154. From thofe at Madrafs, 155* From ^at at the
Ifle of France, 159. According to Mr. Short, 283.

Penfilvania , an account of the Penfilvanian Cicada, p. 65.
See Philadelphia.

M m m 2 Per fans.

INDEX.

Perfians , their invafion of Cyprus, p. 426.

Pejtilence. See Plague.

Petechia purple, how removed, p. 18.

Phcenicia, See Alphabet Phcenician.

Philadelphia , the apparatus there ufed to prefer ve sedifices
from lightning, p. 203. How improvable, 204. Where
the apparatus ought to end, 205. 209. 220.

Pingre Monfieur, a lupplement to his memoir on the funs
parallax, p. 152. Why his obfervations fent from
Lifbon differ from thofe in his memoir, 159.

Pitch , its ufe in preferving mummies, p. n. Experi-
ments and obfervations upon it, p. 13.

Plague , a letter about it from Mr. M’Kenzie, M. D. p. 69.
How gradually it proceeds, 70. How often it may
attack the fame perfon, 72. Why fo frequent in the
Levant, 73. I he uiual procefs of this diftemper, 74.
How it fir ft fhows itfelf, 75. When it ufually ceafes, 77.
How cured, 78. Prefervatives againft it, 80. A hiftory
of Plagues from 1748, to 1761, 82.

Plants , a catalogue of the fifty prefented to the Royal So-
ciety, by the Company of Apothecaries, A. D. 1763,
P- 137*

Plat , Jofhua, his account of the Belemnite, p. 38.

Polygones , fome new properties of them difeovered, p.
194.

Pot , Mr. F. R. S. his account of a hernia found in the
urinal bladder, p. 6r — -Of the (tone found there, 63.

Powder magazines, how preferved from the efleds of
lightning, p. 205.

Price Richard, his letter concerning the do&rine of chances,
p. 296.

Probabilities , of unknown events. See Events Unknown.

Pyramids , royal in Egypt. A defeription of a mummy
taken out of them, and infpedted at London, p. 3.

R. Rain,

INDEX.

R.

Rain , quantity of fallen at Mountbay in Cornwall, as ob-
ferved by the Rev. W. Borlafe, M. A. and F. R. S.
p. 59-

Rafer , Matthew, F. R. S. his obfervations on the eclipfe
of the fun, i Ap. 1764. p. 150.

Ratios fluxional, divers new conclufions concerning them
obferved, p. 3 1 1.

Reaumur , Mr. his account of the formation of the fhells of
fnails, p. 43.

Reeve , Mr. his obfervations relative to the moon’s equato-
rial diameter, as feen in the fun, p. 143.

—-His obfervations relative to the fun’s horizontal dia-
meter, p. 143.

Refraction , effe&s of, in varying the apparent diftance of
the moon from the fun, or other hxt ftar, p. 263. A
rule to compute thefe effects, 264. The foundation of
that rule explained, 265. A demonftration of the truth
the rule, 266. A remark on that demonftration, 267.
See Parallax.

Refti, a Phoenician letter, remarkt on, p. 412.

Romans , their cuftom of impreffing marks upon their
coins whence derived, p. 104.

Rome , an eclipfe of the fun, 1 Ap. 1764* obferved there
by a College of Jefuits, p. 254.

Rofemary, how ufed about Mummies, p. 9.

Rumowjki , Mr. his agronomical obfervations at Siberia,,
p. 156.

« . L < l »' Jli.y \j * , U tiVI *

s.

Schlojfer , Albert, M. D. F. R. S. his defcription of a fifh
called Jaculator, p. 89. ■

Sea, obfervations upon the fun letting in the Sea, p*

381.. ,

SeCkcns,

INDEX.

Seftions, Conic, fome new properties in them difcovered
by Edward Waring, M. A. F. R. S. p. 193. New
difcoveries relative to Polygones infcribed within them,
194.

Seflors , aftronomical inftruments fo called. Their imper-
fections, p. 350.

Seligni , Mr. his obfervations at the Ifle of France remarkt
on, p. 158.

Shenatb , a Phoenician word. Its import, p. 418.

Ships, an account of the effects of lightning on them in
the Eaft Indies, p. 284.

Short , Mr. his account of the fun’s parallax, p. 283. His
remarks upon Mr. Mafkeline’s method of making ce-
leftia! obfervations, confidered by Mr. Mafkeline, 380.

Siberia , agronomical obfervations made there by Mr.
Rutnowfki, p. 156.

Smyrna , why the plague is fo frequent there, p. 76.

Snails , their fhells how formed according to Mr. Reau
mur, p. 43.

Solids , new properties of demonftrated, p. 196.

Spar , what it feems to be, p. 41.

Stars, their right afcenfions how exactly found, p. 384.

St. Brides Steeple, Fleet-ftreet, a curious account of the
efreCts of lightning upon that fteeple, by DoCtor Watfon,
p. 209. The firft attack and progrefs of the lightning,
210. Where it ftopt, 21 1. The damage where done,
212. A particular defcription of the fteeple, 215. A
detail of the damage it fuffered, 217. The caufe of
this misfortune enquired into, 219.

Steeples, why they fhould not be without an apparatus,
for preventing the effects of lightning, p. 221.

St. George Fort at Madrafs. Its latitude and longitude eaft-
ward of Pondichery, p. 155.

St. Helena, its longitude weft of the Royal Obfervatory at
Paris fettled, p 153. The tranfit of venus obferved
there, ibid. How unfit that place is for aftronomical
obfervations, 349. Mr. Mafkeline’s obfervations there,

ibid.

INDEX.

ibid. Eclipffcs of Jupiter’s fatellites obferved there
369. - -

St. Johns , in Newfoundland. The tranfit of Venus ob-
ferved there, 279. The obfervation how made, 280.
Latitude of St. John’s fettled, 282.

St. Paul's Church London, in what danger from lightning,
p. 222. How that danger is to be prevented, ibid.
223.

Sun , his parallax confidered, p. 35. His force to produce
flood and ebb, 36. The ratio of his force on the earth
to the force of gravity, 37. His horizontal diameter
obferved by Mr. Reeve, 143. By Mr. Hornfby, 148.
By Mr. Mayer, 170. By the Jefuits at Rome,
254.

Eclipfe of 1 Ap. 1764, obferved at Clerkenwell, p.

105. In Surry-ftreet, 107. At Liverpool, 108. By
Mr. Dun, 1 14. By Mr. Blifs, 141. By Mr. Hornfby,
145. By Mr. Raper, 150. By Mr. Mayer, 160.
Mr. Murray, 171. By the College of Jefuites at
Rome, 254. Set Parallax.

Sweden, a new inftrument invented there, for afeertaining
the declination of the needle, p. 87.

Swinton , John, Rev. B. D. F. R. S. his explanation of
fome antient Etrufcan Coins, p. 99. His remarks upon
M. L’Abbe Barthelemy’s memoir, on the Phoenician
letters, 119. His defeription of a remarkable meteor
feen at Oxford, 326. His further remarks upon M.
L’Abbe Barthelemi’s memoir, 393.

Syria , the antient language of that country, how mixtwith
Phoenician, p. 133.

T.

\ Tham , the name of a famous Perfian Admiral, p. 428.
P'hau, a Phoenician letter, how mutilated by time, p*
122. What letter it has a refemblance of, 135.

Phur or Hur, a Phoenician word, Its import, p. irb.

cTidesi

INDEX.

T ides*, the moon’s force in raifing them, compared with
that of the fun, p. 35. A remarkable one at BriftoJ,

83‘

Tucker Jofiah, D. D. his letter concerning a tide at Briftol,
P- 83-

j tzade, a Phoenician letter. The variety of its forms,
P- *35-

V.

Veicht Robert, his account of the effects of lightning, upon
three ihips in the Ealt Indies, p. 284.

Venus , her tranfit over the fun, 6 June 1761. A fupple-
ment to Mr. Pingre, account ot that tranfit publiihed
in a former Volume of tins work, p. 152. An ac-
count of that tranfit by Chriftian Mayer, 163. From
Mr. Winthrop, Newfoundland, 279. Mr. Winth-
rop’s account remarkt on, 282.

Virginia , the fize of the conductors in that Province, for
preventing the effedts of lightning, p. 253. Why
that practice was adopted there, ibid.

W.

Waring Edward, M. A. F. R. S. his difcoveries of new
properties in conic fedtions, p. 193.

IV afps, a fingular fpecies of them minutely defcribed,
P- 53-

W ater and other fluids, compreffibility of, proved by J.
Canton, M. A. F. R. S. p. 261. Their elafticity how
different from that of air, 262.

tVatfon^ W. M.D. F. R.S. his defcription of the American
Armadilla, p. 57. His anfwer to M. Calandrinis
queftions, relative to an apparatus for preventing the
effedts of lightning, 203. His account of the diflcdtion
or an afthmatic perfon, 239,

Wilfin,

INDEX.

jVilfofi) B. F. R. S. his letter on the effedts of lightning,
p. 247.

Winthrop , John, Efquire, his account of feveral fiery
meteors Fen in North America, p. 185. His letter
concerning the longitude, 2 77. His thoughts on the
equation of the time of noon, 278. His account of
thetranfitof Venus, 6 June 1761, 279.

Wires paralladtic, their uies in obferving the horary par-
allaxes of the moon, 371.

THE

, ' ’ - si c ■

END OF V O JU > LIV.

. .1 00

■

. V ILt

V

ERRATA.

A T ^

P. 33. 1. 2. read thus: T~ --—l X — \T X * &c.

x+il AT+l)

14. read reckoned.

r3 x3

18. for read —

x 3 X1

36. II. from the bottom , to 8 put to 5.

99. ult .for greatly deformed, read fomewhat deformed.

Vol. LIV. N n n

1

.

t c: I't ..ill I 7’; 1 K-./J

; jj:, i. ' ... : 2 . j; ; ;•> o :* i l *o .j

ERRATA in VOL. LIII.

P. 14.0. lin. 15. from bottom, f or M. De la Caille’s, read M. De la

Caille’s Ephemerides. . .. , „

241. 1. 394. from bottom, for ecliptic orbs, read elliptic orbits.

245- 1* 9- from b°ttmi for lines conjunction, read times of
conjunction.

i77*/or r“03nD, read

292. 1. 8 .for any relation, read any peculiar relation.

* 4

24ColorCard C rAX.COm