Front Matter

The only official reprint authorized by The Royal Society of London Printed in U.S.A. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS, IN MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD. VOL. XLVII. For the Years 1751 and 1752. LONDON: Printed for C. DAVIS, PRINTER to the ROYAL SOCIETY, over-against Gray's-Inn-Gate in Holbourn. M.DCC.LIII. ADVERTISEMENT. The Committee appointed by the Royal Society to direct the publication of the Philosophical Transactions, take this opportunity to acquaint the public, that it fully appears, as well from the council-books and journals of the Society, as from the repeated declarations, which have been made in several former Transactions, that the printing of them was always, from time to time, the single act of the respective Secretaries, till this present XLVII. volume. And this information was thought the more necessary, not only as it has been the common opinion, that they were published by the authority, and under the direction, of the Society itself; but also, because several authors, both at home and abroad, have in their writings called them the Transactions of the Royal Society. Whereas in truth the Society, as a body, never did interest themselves any further in their publication, than by occasionally recommending the revival of them to some of their secretaries, when, from the particular circumstances of their affairs, the Transactions had happened for any length of time to be intermitted. And this seems principally to have been done with a view to satisfy the public, that their usual meetings were then continued for the improvement of knowledge, and benefit of mankind, the great ends of their first institution by the royal charters, and which they have ever since steadily pursued. But the Society being of late years greatly enlarged, and their communications more numerous, it was thought adviseable, that a Committee of their Members should be appointed to reconsider the papers read before them, and select out of them such, as they should judge most proper for publication in the future. ADVERTISEMENT. Transactions; which was accordingly done upon the 26 of March 1752. And the grounds of their choice are, and will continue to be, the importance or singularity of the subjects, or the advantageous manner of treating them; without pretending to answer for the certainty of the facts; or propriety of the reasonings, contained in the several papers so published, which must still rest on the credit or judgement of their respective authors. It is likewise necessary on this occasion to remark, that it is an established rule of the Society, to which they will always adhere, never to give their opinion, as a body, upon any subject, either of nature or art, that comes before them. And therefore the thanks, which are frequently proposed from the chair, to be given to the authors of such papers, as are read at their accustomed meetings, or to the persons, thro whose hands they receive them, are to be considered in no other light, than as a matter of civility, in return for the respect shewn to the Society by those communications. The like also is to be said with regard to the several projects, inventions, and curiosities of various kinds, which are often exhibited to the Society; the authors whereof, or those who exhibit them, frequently take the liberty to report, and even to certify in the public newspapers, that they have met with the highest applause and approbation. And therefore it is hoped, that no regard will hereafter be paid to such reports, and public notices, which in some instances have been too lightly credited, to the dishonour of the Society. I. A Letter from Mr. Wm. Smith to Mr. Robert Austen, concerning a Fire-ball, seen in the Air July 22. 1750. communicated to the Royal Society by the Rev. Wm. Stukeley, M. D. F.R.S. and Rector of St. George the Martyr, London, p. 1. II. An Account of the same Meteor, by Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S. in a Letter to M. Folkes, Esq; Pr. R. S. p. 3. III. Thermometrical Tables and Observations, in a Letter to John Pringle, M. D. & F. R. S. by John Stedman, M. D. p. 4. IV. A general Method for exhibiting the Value of an Algebraic Expression involving several Radical Quantities in an Infinite Series: Wherein Sir Isaac Newton's Theorem for involving a Binomial, with another of the same Author, relating to the Roots of Equations, are demonstrated. By T. Simpson, F. R. S. p. 20. V. A Letter from George Bayly, M. D. of Chichester, to Henry Pemberton, M. D. F. R. S. &c. of the Use of the Bark in the Small-pox, p. 27. CONTENTS. VI. A Method of making artificial Magnets without the Use of natural ones; communicated to the Royal Society by John Canton, M. A. & F. R. S. To which is prefixed the President's Report, p. 31. VII. Aurora Borealis, observata a Petro Gabrij, J. V. D. Phys. Astron. et Math. anni 1750, die 27 Februarii, Nov. St. Haga Com. p. 39. VIII. Some farther Observations on the Cancer major; communicated in a Letter to Mr. Kleine, Secretary of Dantzick, by Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. p. 40. IX. An Account of the Right Honourable Horace Walpole, Esq; drawn up by himself p. 43. X. Extract of the Observations made in Italy, by the Abbé Nollet, F. R. S. on the Grotta de Cani. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 48. XI. A Letter from the Rev. Patrick Murdocke, F. R. S. concerning the mean Motion of the Moon's Apogee, to the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, p. 62. XII. Experiments made on a great Number of living Animals, with the Poison of Lamas, and of Ticunas, by Mons. Herissant, Doctor of Physic, and F. R. S. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. p. 75. XIII. The Case of a Woman, from whom the Bones of a Fetus were extracted. By Mr. Thomas Debenham, Surgeon, at Debenham in Suffolk. Communicated by the Rev. Mr. J. Clubb, Vicar of that Parish, to William Battie, M. D. F. R. S. p. 92. XIV. CONTENTS. XIV. New Discoveries relating to the History of Coral, by Dr. Vitaliano Donati. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 95. XV. A Dissertation upon the Class of the Phoræ marine, by James Parsons, M. D. F. R. S. p. 109. XVI. An Account of an Iliac Passion, from a Palsy of the large Intestines; communicated to Dr. De Castro, F. R. S. Translated from the Latin by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 123. XVII. A Letter from the Secretary of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Sweden, to Cromwell Mortimer, M. D. & R. S. See concerning the Variation of the magnetic Needle, p. 126. XVIII. An Extract of a Letter, dated May 2. 1750. from Mr. Freeman at Naples, to the Right Honourable the Lady Mary Capel, relating to the Ruins of Herculaneum, p. 131. XIX. A Letter to the President, concerning the Hermaphrodite shewn in London. By James Parsons, M. D. F. R. S. p. 142. XX. An Account of a very small Monkey, communicated to Martin Folkes, Esq; LL.D. and President of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies, London. By James Parsons. M. D. F. R. S. p. 146. XXI. Extract of a Letter from Naples, concerning Herculaneum, containing an Account and Description of the Place, and what has been found in it p. 150. XXII. An Occultation of the Planet Venus by the Moon, in the Day-time, observed in Surrey-street, London, April 16. 1751. O. St. by Dr. John Bevis, p. 159. XXIII. CONTENTS. XXIII. An Account of a remarkable Appearance in the Moon, April 22. 1751. By James Short, F. R. S. p. 164. XXIV. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea-Garden, presented to the Royal Society by the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries for the Year 1750. pursuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet, Med. Reg. & Soc. Reg. nuper Praes, by John Wilmer, M D. clariss. Societat. Pharmaceut. Lond. Soc. Hort. Chelf. Praefect. et Praelect. Botanic. p. 166. XXV. Some Observations upon the Sex of Flowers, by W. Watson, F. R. S. occasioned by a Letter upon the same Subject, by Mr. Mylius of Berlin, p. 169. XXVI. Two Letters of Mr. John Harrison, of Cambridge in New England, to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. concerning a small Species of Wasps, p. 184. XXVII. A Letter from Dr. T. Coe, Physician at Chelmsford in Essex, to Dr. Cromwell Mortimer, Sec. R. S. concerning Mr. Bright, the fat Man at Malden in Essex, p. 188. XXVIII. The Effects of the Hyoscyamus albus, or white Henbane; in a Letter to Dr. John Pringle, F. R. S. from Dr. John Stedman, late Surgeon-Major to the Regiment of the Royal Grey Dragoons. p. 194. XXIX. The best Proportions for Steam-Engine Cylinders, of a given Content, consider'd. By Francis Blake, Esq; F. R. S. p. 197. XXX. Mr. John Bradley's Observation of the Occultation of Venus by the Moon; communicated by Mr. James Short, F. R. S. p. 201. XXXI. CONTENTS. XXXI. An Account of Mr. Benjamin Franklin's Treatise, lately published, intituled, Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia in America. By Wm. Watson, F. R. S. p. 202. XXXII. A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Hales, F. R. S. from Captain Henry Ellis, F. R. S. dated Jan. 7. 1750 51. at Cape Monte Africa, Ship Earl of Halifax. p. 211. XXXIII. Observations on the Roman Colonies and Stations in Cheshire and Lancashire. By Thomas Percival, Esq; communicated by Hugh Lord Willoughby of Parham, F. R. S. p. 216. XXXIV. An Account of Professor Winkler's Experiments relating to Odours passing through electrified Globes and Tubes, being the Extract and Translation from the Latin of Two Letters sent by that Gentleman to Cromwell Mortimer, M. D. Secretary of the Royal Society. With an Account of the Result of some Experiments made here with Globes and Tubes, transmitted from Leipsic by Mr. Winkler to the Royal Society, in order to verify the Facts before-mentioned. By Mr. W. Watson, F. R. S. p. 231. XXXV. An Account of the Bishop of London's Garden at Fulham. By Mr. William Watson, F. R. S. p. 241. XXXVI. An Account of an inverted Iris, observed on the Grafs in September, and another in October 1751, by Philip Carteret Webb, Esq; F. R. S. p. 248. XXXVII. Extracts of several Letters from John Huxham, M. D. of Plymouth, F. R. S. and Mr. Tripe, Surgeon, at Ashburton in Devonshire, concerning CONTENTS. concerning a Body found in a Vault in the Church of Staverton in that County: Communicated by Thomas Stack, M.D. F.R.S. p. 253. XXXVIII. Extract of a Letter from Professor Euler, of Berlin, to the Rev. Mr. Caspar Wetstein, Chaplain to her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales. p. 263. XXXIX. Extract of Two Letters from Dr. Alston, Bot. Prof. at Edinburgh, to Dr. Mortimer, Sec. R.S. The First dated 17 March, 1749; the Second, August 9, 1750. p. 265. XL. A new Trocart for the Puncture in the Hydrocephalus, and for other Evacuations, which are necessary to be made at different Times; by M. le Cat, F.R.S. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M.D. F.R.S. p. 267. XLI. Observations on the Effects of the Vitrum Antimonii ceratum, by Mons. Geoffroy, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and F.R.S. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M.D. F.R.S. p. 273. XLII. Extract of a Letter from John Browning, Esq.; of Barton-Hill near Bristol, to Mr. Henry Baker, F.R.S. concerning a Dwarf. p. 278. XLIII. A Letter from Mr. Rich. Dunthorne to the Rev. Dr. Long, F.R.S. Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge, and Lowndes's Professor of Astronomy and Geometry in that University, concerning Comets. p. 281. XLIV. A Letter from Mr. Franklin to Mr. Peter Collinson, F.R.S. concerning the Effects of Lightning. p. 289. XLV. Observations on fungous Excrescences of the Bladder; a cutting Forceps for extirpating these Excrescences; CONTENTS. Excrestences; and Canula's for treating these Diseases. By M. le Cat, F. R. S. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 292. XLVI. An Account of the Cinnamon-tree, by Mr. W. Watson, F. R. S. p. 301. XLVII. Observations and Experiments upon animal Bodies, digested in a philosophical Analysis, or Inquiry into the Cause of voluntary muscular Motion. By Charles Morton, M. D. F. R. S. p. 305. XLVIII. An Account of the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, from its first Beginning to the 28th of October 1751, in a Letter from Mr. Richard Supple, communicated by Mr. Benjamin Wilson, F. R. S. p. 315. XLIX. An Account of the Eclipse of the Moon which happened Nov. 21. 1751; observed by Mr. James Short, F. R. S. in Surrey-street. p. 317. L. A Letter from the Reverend Father Augustin Hallerstein, of the Society of Jesus, President of the Astronomical College at Pekin in China, to Dr. Mortimer, Sec. R. S. Translated from the Latin by Tho. Stack, M. D. & F. R. S. p. 319. LI. A Letter from Mons. Le Cat, F. R. S. to Dr. Mortimer, Sec. R. S. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 324. LII. An Account of the Effects of Lightning at Southmolton in Devonshire, by Joseph Palmer, Esq; p. 330. LIII. A Letter from Mr. James Dodson to Mr. John Robertson, F. R. S. concerning an Improvement of the Bills of Mortality. p. 333. CONTENTS. LIV. A Letter from Mons. Le Cat, M. D. First Surgeon at the Hotel Dieu at Rouen, Royal Professor and Demonstrator of Anatomy and Surgery, Member of the Royal Academy of Surgery at Paris, and of the Academies of Sciences at Paris, London, Madrid, and Rouen, to Dr. Mortimer, Secretary of the Royal Society, concerning the Dissection of a Rupture. Translated from the French by Tho. Stack, M. D. F. R. S. p. 341. LV. An Account of Dr. Bohadsch's Treatise, communicated to the Royal Society, intituled, Dissertatio philosophico-medica de utilitate electricationis in curandis morbis, printed at Prague 1751. Extracted and translated from the Latin by Mr. Wm. Watson, F. R. S. p. 345. LVI. An Account of an horizontal Top, invented by Mr. Serfon. By Mr. James Short, F. R. S. p. 352. LVII. Observations made in going up the Pic of Teneriffe. By Dr. Thomas Heberden; and communicated by William Heberden, M. D. F. R. S. p. 353. LVIII. Observations of the Weather in Madeira, made by Dr. Thomas Heberden; and communicated by William Heberden, M. D. F. R. S. p. 357. LIX. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Willem Van Hazen to Mr. Philip Miller, F. R. S. concerning the Quantity of Rain which fell at Leyden in the Year 1751. p. 360. LX. An Account of a double Child; communicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Willoughby of Parham, F. R. S. by Thomas Percival, Esq.; p. 360. LXI. CONTENTS. LXI. An Account of the Phenomena of Electricity in vacuo, with some Observations thereupon. By Mr. Wm. Watson, F. R. S. p. 362. LXII. A Letter from Dr. Bevis to Dr. De Castro, F. R. S. containing Extracts of Father Augustin Hallerstein's astronomical Observations made at Pekin in 1744. and 1747. p. 376. LXIII. Extracts of several Letters of Mordach Mackenzie, M. D. concerning the Plague at Constantinople, p. 384. LXIV. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea Garden, presented to the Royal Society by the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries for the Year 1751. pursuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. Med. Reg. & Soc. Reg. nuper Praes. By John Wilmer, M. D. clarissim. Societat. Pharmaceut. Londinens. Soc. Hort. Chelf. Praefect. & Praelect. Botan. p. 396. LXV. An Account of Dr. Bianchini's Recueil d'expériences faites à Venise sur le medicine electrique. By Mr. William Watson, F. R. S. p. 399. LXVI. The Case of the Operation of the Empyema, successfully performed by Mr. Joseph Warner, F. R. S. and Surgeon to Guy's Hospital. p. 407. LXVII. An Account of the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Oct. 1751. in a Letter to Sir Matthew Fetherston-Haugh, Bart. F. R. S. written at Naples Jan. 15. 1752. N. S. p. 409. LXVIII. An Account of an Hydrophoby. By Thomas Wilbraham, LL.D. F. R. S. p. 412. LXIX. A Letter from Mr. J. Smeaton to Mr. John Ellicott, F. R. S. concerning some Improvements made by himself in the Air-Pump, p. 415. LXX. CONTENTS. LXX. An Account of Aphyllon and Dentaria heptaphyllos of Clusius, omitted by Mr. Ray. By Mr. William Watson, F. R. S. p. 428. LXXI. An Account of a Machine for killing of Whales, propos'd by John Bond, M.D p. 429. LXXII. An Engine for raising Water by Fire; being an Improvement of Savery's Construction, to render it capable of working itself; invented by Mr. De Moura of Portugal, F. R. S. described by Mr. J. Smeaton. p. 436. LXXIII. A Letter from Dr. Parsons, F. R. S. to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. concerning the Shells of Crabs, p.*439. LXXIV. Spherical Trigonometry reduced to Plane. By Francis Blake, Esq.; F. R. S. p. 441. LXXV. An Account of a Manuscript Treatise, presented to the Royal Society, intituled, Traité du corail, contenant les nouvelles découvertes qu'on a fait sur le corail, les pores, madreporos, scharras, litophitons, éponges, et autres corps et productions, que la mer fournit, pour servir à l'histoire naturelle de la mer; that is to say, A Treatise upon Coral, and several other Productions furnished by the Sea, in order to illustrate the natural History thereof. By the Sieur de Peyssoncl, M. D. Correspondent of the Royal Acad. of Sciences of Paris, of that of Montpelier, and of that of Belles Lettres at Marselles; Physician-Botanist appointed by his most Christian Majesty in the Island of Guadalupe, and heretofore sent by the King to the Coasts of Barbary for Discoveries in Natural History. Extracted and translated from the French by Mr. William Watson, F. R. S. p. 445. LXXVI. CONTENTS. LXXVI. A Letter from Mr. Rich. Brooke Surgeon to James Parsons, M.D. Secretary to the Royal Society for foreign Correspondence, concerning Inoculation, p. 470. LXXVII. A Sequel of the Case of the Right Honourable Horace Walpole, Esq; relating to the Stone, since his first Account in April 1750, p. 472. LXXVIII. Part of a Letter from Mr. John Parker, an English Painter at Rome, to his Father at London, concerning the late Eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Communicated by Mr. Henry Baker, F.R.S., p. 474. LXXIX. The Case of a Piece of Bone, together with a Stone in the Bladder, successfully extracted by Mr. Joseph Warner, F.R.S. and Surgeon to Guy's Hospital, p. 475. LXXX. An Account of a Water-Spout, raised off the Land, in Deeping-Fen, Lincolnshire. By the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Ray, of Cowbit near Spalding, in that County; communicated to the Society at Spalding on the 7 of May 1752. by Maurice Johnson, Esq; and by him to the Royal Society, p. 477. LXXXI. A Description of Two Methods, by which the Irregularity of the Motion of a Clock, arising from the Influence of Heat and Cold upon the Rod of the Pendulum, may be prevented. By John Ellicot, F.R.S., p. 479. LXXXII. A Description of a new Tackle, or Combination of Pullies. By Mr. J. Smeaton, p. 494. LXXXIII. Extract of a Letter from Wm. Dixon, Esq; F.R.S. to Mr. W. Watson, F.R.S. from Loversall near Doncaster in Yorkshire, June 1. CONTENTS. I. 1752. concerning some vegetable Balls; with Remarks on them by Mr. Wm. Watson. p. 498. LXXXIV. A Letter from the Rev. William Henry, D.D. to the Right Honourable the Lord Cadogan, F.R.S. concerning the Copper Springs in the County of Wicklow in Ireland, p. 500. LXXXV. Extract of a Letter to Dr. Maty, F.R.S. from Geneva, concerning the Introduction and Success of Inoculation in that City, p. 503. LXXXVI. A Letter from James Parsons, M.D. F.R.S. to the Rev. Mr. Birch, Secr. R.S. concerning the Formation of Corals, Corallines, &c. p. 505. LXXXVII. A further Account of the late Plague at Constantinople, in a Letter of Dr. Mackenzie from thence, of the 23 of April 1752. to John Clephane, M.D. F.R.S. p. 514. LXXXVIII. A Letter of Mr. James Short, F.R.S. to the Royal Society, concerning the Inventor of the Contrivance in the Pendulum of a Clock, to prevent the Irregularities of its Motion by Heat and Cold, p. 517. LXXXIX. A Letter from Mr. Henry Eeles, to the Royal Society, concerning the Cause of Thunder, p. 524. XC. Extract of Two Letters of Thomas Hope, M.D. to John Clephane, M.D. F.R.S. concerning Monsieur Daviel's Method of couching a Cataract, p. 530. XCI. Letters of the Abbé Mazeas, F.R.S. to the Rev. Stephen Hales, D.D. F.R.S. concerning the Success of the late Experiments in France. Translated from the French by James Parsons, M.D. F.R.S. p. 534. CONTENTS. XCII. Extracts of Two Letters of the Abbé Nollet, F. R. S. to Mr. William Watson, F. R. S. relating to the extracting Electricity from the Clouds. Translated from the French, p. 553. XCIII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Mylius of Berlin, to Mr. W. Watson, F. R. S. upon the before-mentioned Subject; dated at Berlin, August 26. 1752. p. 559. XCIV. Mons. Faget's Remarks on the Use, &c. of the Styptic, purchased by his most Christian Majesty; communicated by James Theobald, Esq; F. R. S. p. 560. XCV. A Letter of Benjamin Franklin, Esq; to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. concerning an electrical Kite, p. 565. XCVI. A Letter of Mr. W. Watson, F. R. S. to the Koyal Society, concerning the electrical Experiments in England upon Thunder-Clouds, p. 567. XCVII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Brown, Apothecary, at Salisbury, to Mr. Wm. Watson, F. R. S. concerning the Success of Inoculation there, p. 570.