Front Matter

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS, IN MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD. VOL. LIII. For the Year 1763. LONDON: Printed for L. Davis and C. Reymers, Printers to the Royal Society, against Gray's-Inn Gate, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXIV. 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 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 the Forty-seventh 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 ADVERTISEMENT. should judge most proper for publication in the future Transactions; 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 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 judgment 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, through 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. CONTENTS TO VOL. LIII. I. An Account of the Sun's Distance from the Earth, deduced from Mr. Short's Observations relating to the horizontal Parallax of the Sun: In a Letter from Peter Daval, Esq; V. P. of R. S. to James Barrow, Esq; V. P. of R. S. page 1 II. Observatio cometæ, qui mensæ Maio, A. 1759 apparuit, facta Hagæ-Comit. à Petro Gabry, I. V. D. Societatis Reg. Scientiar. Socio, et commercio Literar. cum Academ. Scientiar. Parisiensi et Reg. Societ. Gotting. juncto: Communicated by Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Costa, Librarian of the Royal Society. p. 3 III. Observatio cuiusdam Meteorii igniti instar Chasmatis, facta Hagae-Comit. d. 21 Decemb. 1758. Nov. St. à Petro Gabry, I. V. D. Socio Reg. Societat. Scientiar. Londin. et commercio Literarum cum Acad. Reg. Scientiar. Parisiensi et Societ. Reg. Scient. Gottingensi juncto. Communicated by Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Costa, Librarian of the R. S. p. 5 IV. An Account of a remarkable decrease of the River Eden, in Cumberland: In a Letter to Charles Lord Bishop of Carlisle, F. R. S. from William Milbourne, Esq; p. 7 V. An CONTENTS. V. An Account of the Rain fallen in a Foot-square at Norwich, by Mr. William Arderon, F. R. S. Communicated by H. Baker, F. R. S. p. 9. VI. Observations upon the Effects of Electricity applied to a Tetanus, or Muscular Rigidity, of four Months Continuance. In a Letter to the Royal Society. By William Watson, M. D. F. R. S. Member of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Madrid, and Physician to the Foundling Hospital. p. 10. VII. An Account of the late mild Weather in Cornwall, of the Quantity of Rain fallen there in the Year 1762: In a Letter from the Rev. William Borlase, M. A. F. R. S. to Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S. p. 27. VIII. A Delineation of the Transit of Venus expected in the Year 1769, by Mr. James Ferguson. p. 30. XI. An Account of an Appulse of the Moon to the Planet Jupiter, observed at Chelsea, by Mr. Samuel Dunn. p. 31. X. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea Garden, presented to the Royal Society by the worshipful Company of Apothecaries, for the Year 1762, pursuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet, Med. Reg. et Soc. Reg. nuper Praeses; by John Wilmer, M. D. clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Soc. Hort. Chelsean. Praefectus et Praelector Botanic. p. 32. XI. Observations made by Mr. John Bartram, at Pennsylvania, on the Yellowish Wasp of that Country: In a Letter to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. p. 37. XII. An Account of the Plague at Aleppo: In a Letter to the Rev. Charles Lyttelton, LL. D. Dean of Exeter CONTENTS. Exeter, now Lord Bishop of Carlisle, and F. R. S. from the Reverend Mr. Thomas Dawes, Chaplain to the Factory at Aleppo. p. 39. XIII. Observations on Sand Iron: In a Letter from Mr. Henry Horne, to Mr. John Ellicot, F. R. S. p. 48. XIV. Extract of a Letter from Simon Peter Pallas, M. D. of Berlin, to Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Costa, Librarian to the Royal Society, relating to the State of the Cold there last Winter, dated Feb. 12, 1763. p. 62. XV. An Account of a remarkable Darkness at Detroit, in America: In a Letter from the Rev. Mr. James Stirling, to Mr. John Duncan: communicated by Samuel Mead, Esq; F. R. S. p. 63. XVI. An Account of a remarkable Marine Insect: In a Letter of Mr. Andrew Peter Du Pont, to Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Costa, Librarian to the R. S. p. 57. XVII. A Letter from Monsieur Wargentin, Secretary to the Royal Academy of Sciences in Sweden, to Mr. John Ellicot, F. R. S. relating to the late Transit of Venus. p. 59. XVIII. Remarks on the Censure of Mercator's Chart, in a posthumous Work of Mr. West, of Exeter: In a Letter to Thomas Birch, D. D. Secretary to the Royal Society, from Mr. Samuel Dunn. p. 66. XIX. A Defence of Mercator's Chart against the Censure of the late Mr. West of Exeter: In a Letter to Charles Morton, M. D. Secret. R. S. from Mr. William Mountaine, F. R. S. p. 69. XXI. An Account of a Species of Ophris, supposed to be the Plant, which is mentioned by Gronovius in the Flora CONTENTS. Flora Virginica, p. 185, under the Name of Ophris Scapo nudo foliis radicalibus ovato-oblongis, dimidi Scapi longitudine: By George Dionysius Ehret, F. R. S. p. 81. XXXII. New Experiments in Electricity: In a Letter from Mr. Ebenezer Kinnersley, to Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S. p. 84. XXXIII. Observations in Electricity and on a Thunderstorm: In a Letter from Mr. Torbern Bergman, to Mr. Benjamin Wilson, F. R. S. Acad. Reg. Upsal. Soc. p. 97 XXIV. Remarks on Swallows on the Rhine: In a Letter from Mr. Achard, in Privy-Garden, to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. p. 101. XXV. The Properties of the mechanic Powers demonstrated, with some Observations on the Methods that have been commonly used for that Purpose: in a Letter from Hugh Hamilton, D. D. F. R. S. and Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, to Matthew Raper, Esq; F. R. S. p. 103. XXVI. An Account of some subterraneous Apartments, with Etruscan Inscriptions and Paintings discovered at Civita Turchino in Italy: Communicated from Joseph Wilcox, Esq; F. S. A. by Charles Morton, M. D. S. R. S. p. 127. XXVII. An Account of a new Peruvian Plant, lately introduced into the English Gardens; the several Characters of which differ from all the Genera hitherto described; Presented to the Royal Society by George Dionysius Ehret, F. R. S. p. 130. XXVIII. Observations on two Antient Roman Inscriptions discovered at Netherby in Cumberland: In a Letter to the Right Rev. Charles Lord Bishop of Carlisle, F. R. S. from the Reverend John Taylor, L. L. D. CONTENTS. L.L.D. Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln. p. 133. XXIX. A Method of lessening the Quantity of Friction in Engines, by Keane Fitzgerald, Esq; F.R.S. p. 139. XXIX. The Difference of Longitude between the Royal Observatories of Greenwich and Paris, determined by the Observations of the Transits of Mercury over the Sun in the Years 1723, 1736, 1743, and 1753: By James Short, M.A. F.R.S. p. 185. XXX. An Account of a remarkable Fish, taken in King-Road, near Bristol: In a Letter from Mr. James Ferguson, to Thomas Birch, D.D. Secret. R.S. p. 170. XXXI. Rules and Examples for limiting the Cases in which the Rays of refracted Light may be reunited into a colourless Pencil: In a Letter from P. Murdoch, M.A. and F.R.S. to Robert Symmer, Esq; F.R.S. Jan. 3, 1763. p. 173. XXXII. An Account of the Success of the Bark of the Willow in the Cure of Agues. In a Letter to the Right Honourable George Earl of Macclesfield, President of R.S. from the Rev. Mr. Edmund Stone, of Chipping-Norton in Oxfordshire. p. 195. XXXIII. An Account of an Earthquake in Siberia: In a Letter from Mons. Weymarn to Dr. Mounsey, Principal Physician of the Emperor of Russia, F.R.S. Translated from the French. Communicated by Mr. Henry Baker, F.R.S. p. 201. XXXIV. Roman Inscriptions at Tunis in Africa, copied about the Year 1730, by Dr. Carilos, a Native of Madrid, then Physician to the Bey of Tunis, commu- CONTENTS. communicated by John Locke, Esq; F. R. S. p. 211. XXXV. A Letter from Mr. George Edwards, F. R. S. to Thomas Birch D. D. Secret. R. S. concerning an Observation made by him in Opticks. p. 229. XXXVI. Two remarkable Cases in Surgery, by Mr. Francis Geach, Surgeon in Plymouth. Communicated by John Huxham, M. D. F. R. S. p. 231. XXXVII. An Account of a new Die from the Berries of a Weed in South Carolina: In a Letter from Mr. Moses Lindo, dated at Charles Town, September 2, 1763, to Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Costa, Librarian of the Royal Society. p. 238 XXXVIII. An Account of the Eclipse of the Sun, April 1, 1764: In a Letter to the Right Honourable George Earl of Macclesfield, Pref. R. S. from Mr. James Ferguson, F. R. S. p. 240 XXXIX. An Account of an Earthquake at Chattigaoon: Translated from the Persian by Mr. Edward Gulston, in the Service of the Honourable East India Company, and communicated by him to the Reverend Mr. Hirst. p. 251 XL. An Account of an Earthquake in the East Indies, of two Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, observed at Calcutta: In a Letter to the Reverend Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Reverend William Hirst, M. A. F. R. S. p. 256 XLI. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Edward Gulston, at Chittigong, to Major John Carnac, at Calcutta. p. 263 XLII. An Account of the Earthquakes that have been felt in the Province of Islamabad, with the Damages attending CONTENTS. attending them, from the 2d to the 19th of April, 1762: Translated from the Persian, and communicated to Henry Vansittart, Esq; President and Governor of Fort William in Bengal, by Mr. Verelst, Chief of the Hon. East India Company's Affairs at Islamabad. p. 265 XLIII. A Letter from the late Reverend Mr. Thomas Bayes, F. R. S. to John Canton, M. A. and F. R. S. p. 269 XLIV. An Account of the Insect called the Vegetable Fly, by William Watson, M. D. F. R: S. p. 271 XLV. An Attempt to explain a Punic Inscription, lately discovered in the Island of Malta. In a Letter to the Reverend Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Reverend John Swinton, B. D. of Christ-Church, Oxon. F. R. S. and Member of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. p. 274 XLVI. Problems by Edward Waring, M. A. and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, F. R. S. p. 294 XLVII. Second Paper concerning the Parallax of the Sun determined from the Observations of the late Transit of Venus, in which this Subject is treated of more at length, and the Quantity of the Parallax more fully ascertained. By James Short, M. A. and F. R. S. p. 300 XLVIII. An Account of a Case, in which Green Hemlock was applied: In a Letter to the Rt. Hon. Hugh Lord Willoughby of Parham, V. P. of the R. S. by Mr. Josiah Colebrook, F. R. S. p. 346 XLIX. An Account of a remarkable Meteor: In a Letter to the Reverend Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret. of R. S. from Mr. Samuel Dunn. p. 351 CONTENTS. L. An Account of a Blow upon the Heart, and of its Effects: By Mark Akenside, M. D. F. R. S. and Physician to Her Majesty. p. 353 LI. Ratio conficiendi Nitrum in Podolia: Authore Wolf, M. D. communicated by Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S. p. 356 LII. An Essay towards solving a Problem in the Doctrine of Chances. By the late Rev. Mr. Bayes, F. R. S. communicated by Mr. Price, in a Letter to John Canton, A. M. F. R. S. p. 370 LIII. An Account of the Sea Pen, or Pennatula Phosphorea of Linnæus; likewise a Description of a new Species of Sea Pen, found on the Coast of South-Carolina, with Observations on Sea-Pens in general. In a Letter to the Honourable Coote Molesworth, Esq; M. D. and F. R. S. from John Ellis, Esq; F. R. S. and Member of the Royal Academy at Upsal. p. 419 LIV. A Letter from Mr. B. Wilson, F. R. S. and Member of the Royal Academy at Upsal, to Mr. Æpinus, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, and Member of the Academies of Berlin, Stockholm, and Erfurth. p. 436 LV. A Discourse on the Parallax of the Sun. By the Rev. Thomas Hornsby, M. A. Savilian Professor of Astronomy in the University of Oxford, and F. R. S. p. 467 LVI. A Discourse on the Locus for three and four Lines celebrated among the ancient Geometers, by H. Pemberton, M. D. F.R.S. Lond. et R.A. Berol. S. In a Letter to the Reverend Thomas Birch, D. D. Secretary to the Royal Society. p. 498