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. LIX. For the Year 1769. LONDON: Printed for LOCKYER DAVIS, Printer to the Royal Society, near Gray's-Inn Gate, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXX. 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 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. LIX. I. A Letter from Mr. J. Moult to Dr. Percival, of Manchester, F. R. S. containing a new Manner of preparing Salep. p. 1 II. Brevis Narratio de Structura et Effectu Speculorum causticorum parabolicorum à defuncto Dno Hoesen Dresdae elaboratorum, quae nunc à Dno Ehrard, sub Arce Dresdensi habitante, possidentur. Auëtore Dno Wolfe, M. D. p. 4 III. An extraordinary Case of three Pins swallowed by a Girl, and discharged at her shoulder. In a Letter to Frank Nicholls, M. D. F. R. S. from Dr. Lysons, of Gloucester. p. 9 IV. A Letter from the Honourable William Hamilton, his Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary at Naples, to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. containing some farther Particulars on Mount Vesuvius, and other Volcanos in the Neighbourhood. p. 18 V. A Letter to Dr. William Watson, F. R. S. from the Honourable Daines Barrington, F. R. S. on the Trees which are supposed to be indigenous in Great Britain. p. 23 VI. An Account of a Case in which the upper Head of the Os Humeri was sawed off, a large Portion of the Bone afterwards exfoliated, and yet the entire Motion of the Limb was preserved. By Mr. White, Surgeon, at Manchester. Communicated by Mr. Watson, F. R. S. p. 39 VII. Letters from the Reverend Dr. William Borlase, F. R. S. Rector of Ludgvan in Cornwall, to Charles Morton, M. D. F. R. S. and from Mr. Rosewarne, of Truro, to Dr. Borlase; giving an Account of a Specimen of Native Tin found in Cornwall, and now deposited in the Museum of the Royal Society. p. 47 VIII. An Account of an Essay on the Origin of a natural Paper, found near the City of Cortona in Tuscany. In a Letter from John Strange, Esq; F. R. S. to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. p. 50 IX. Experiments on the lateral Force of Electrical Explosions. By Joseph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. p. 57 X. Various Experiments on the Force of Electrical Explosions. By Joseph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. p. 63 XI. Abstract of a Letter from Stephen De Visme, Esquire, at Canton, in China, to Henry Baker, Esquire, F. R. S. containing an Account of an Earthquake at Macao, and a short Description of a singular Species of Monkeys without Tails, found in in the interior Part of Bengal. Communicated by Mr. Baker. XII. A Letter from Mr. John Robertson, Lib. R. S. to James West, Esq; President of the Royal Society; containing the Demonstration of a Law of Motion, in the Case of a Body deflected by two Forces tending constantly to two fixed Points. XIII. A Letter from the Reverend Mr. William Paxton, Rector of Buckland Brewer, in the County of Devon, to Dr. Milles, Dean of Exeter, F. R. S. and Pr. S. A. XIV. Abstract from a Meteorological Register kept at the Royal Hospital near Plymouth, during the Year 1768. By W. Farr, M. D. Communicated by W. Watson, M. D. F. R. S. XV. An Account of a remarkable Aurora Borealis, observed at the Observatory of the Marine at Paris, by M. Messier, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and F. R. S. Translated by J. Bevis, M. D. F. R. S. XVI. Observations on the Expectations of Lives, the Increase of Mankind, the Influence of great Towns on Population, and particularly the State of London with respect to Healthfulness and Number of Inhabitants. In a Letter from Mr. Richard Price, F. R. S. to Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, LL.D. and F. R. S. XVII. Dissertatio epistolaris de Ossibus et Dentibus Elephantum, aliarumque Belluarum in America Septentrionali, aliisque borealibus Regionibus obviis; qua indigenarum Belluarum esse ostenditur. Auctore R. E. Raspe, Serenissimo Hassiarum Landgravio à Consiliis, et R. S. S. XVIII. Obser- XVIII. Observations on a particular Manner of Encrease in the Animalcula of vegetable Infusions, with the Discovery of an indissoluble Salt arising from Hemp-seed put into Water till it becomes putrid. By John Ellis, Esquire, F.R.S. p. 138 XIX. On the Computation of the Sun's Distance from the Earth, by the Theory of Gravity: In a Letter to Mathew Maty, M.D. Sec. R.S. from the Rev. Mr. Horsley, F.R.S. p. 153 XX. Meteorological Observations for 1768, made at Bridgwater in Somersetshire, and at Ludgvan in Mount's-Bay, Cornwall. Communicated by Dr. Jeremiah Milles, Dean of Exeter, and F.R.S. p. 155 XXI. Proposal of a Method for securing the Cathedral of St. Paul's from Damage by Lightning; in consequence of a Letter from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's to James Welt, Esquire, Pr. R.S. p. 160 XXII. Observation of the late Transit of Venus; In a Letter to James Burrow, Esquire, V.P.R.S. By Mr. James Horsfall, F.R.S. p. 170 XXIII. An Account of the Observations of the Transit of Venus and of the Eclipse of the Sun, made at Shirburn Castle and at Oxford. By the Reverend Thomas Hornsby, M.A. F.R.S. and Savilian Professor of Astronomy in the University of Oxford. p. 172 XXIV. Venus observed upon the Sun at Oxford, June 3, 1769: By Samuel Horsley, LL.B. Rector of St. Mary, Newington, in Surrey, F.R.S. p. 183 XXV. Observations of the last Transit of Venus, and of the Eclipse of the Sun the next Day; made XXVI. A Letter to the Astronomer Royal from John Canton, M.A.F.R.S. containing his Observations of the Transit of Venus, June 3, 1769, and of the Eclipse of the Sun the next Morning. XXVII. An Account of several sepulchral Inscriptions and Figures in Bas-relief, discovered, in 1755, at Bonn, in Lower Germany. In a Letter to James West, Esquire, Pr. R. S. from John Strange, Esquire, F.R.S. XXVIII. An Account of the Lymphatic System in Amphibious Animals. By Mr. William Hewson, Lecturer in Anatomy: In a Letter to William Hunter, M.D.F.R.S. and by him communicated to the Society. XXIX. An Account of the Lymphatic System in Fish. By the same. XXX. A Letter from Mr. Lane, Apothecary, in Aldersgate-street, to the Honourable Henry Cavendish, F.R.S. on the Solubility of Iron in simple Water, by the Intervention of fixed Air. XXXI. Account of several Phænomena observed during the Ingress of Venus into the Solar Disc. By the Reverend W. Hirst, F.R.S. in a Letter to the Astronomer Royal. XXXII. Observations made at Leicester on the Transit of Venus over the Sun, June 3, 1769. By the Reverend Mr. Ludlam, Vicar of Norton, near Leicester. XXXIII. A Letter from John Hope, M. D. F. R. S. Professor of Physic and Botany in the University of Edinburgh, to William Watson, M. D. F. R. S. on a rare Plant found in the Isle of Skye. p. 241 XXXIV. Astronomical Observations made by Samuel Holland, Esquire, Surveyor-General of Lands for the Northern District of North-America; and others of his Party. Communicated by the Astronomer Royal. p. 247 XXXV. Observations made on the Island of Hammerfest, for the Royal Society. By Jeremiah Dixon. p. 253 XXXVI. Astronomical Observations made at the North Cape, for the Royal Society. By Mr. Bayley. p. 262 XXXVII. An Account of an Observation of the Transit of Venus, made at the Isle Coudre near Quebec. In a Letter to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal, from Mr. Thomas Wright, Deputy Surveyor of the Northern District of America. p. 273 XXXVIII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. B. Gooch, Surgeon, of Shottisham, near Norwich, to Mr. Joseph Warner, F. R. S. and Surgeon to Guy's Hospital. Communicated to the Royal Society by Mr. Warner. p. 281 XXXIX. Observatio ingressus Veneris in Solem, 3 die Junii, 1769, habita Gryphiswaldiae, ab Andr. Mayer, Prof. Reg. Communicated by Mr. John Ellicott, F. R. S. p. 284 XL. Obser- XL. Observation of a Solar Eclipse the 4th of June, 1769, at the Observatory at Aushorpe, near Leeds, in the County of York. By J. Smeaton, F.R.S. p. 286 XLI. Account of the Transit of Venus over the Sun's Disc, as observed at Norriton, in the County of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania, June 3, 1769. By William Smith, D.D. Provost of the College of Philadelphia; John Lukens, Esquire, Surveyor General of Pennsylvania; David Kittenhouse, A.M. of Norriton; and John Sellers, Esquire, one of the Representatives in Assembly for Chester County; the Committee appointed for that Observation, by the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for promoting useful Knowledge. Communicated to the said Society, in Behalf, and by Direction, of the Committee, by Doctor Smith; and to the Royal Society of London, by Nevil Maskelyne, B.D. Astronomer Royal. p. 289 XLII. Observationes Transitus Veneris per Discum Solis, die 3 Junii, 1769, habita in Suecia, et Societati Regiae Londinensi communicatae à Petro Wargentin, ejusdem Societatis Sodali, et Academiæ Regiae Scient. Stockholmensis Secretario. Communicated by Mr. John Ellicott, F.R.S. p. 327 XLIII. Observations of the Transit of Venus over the Sun, contained in a Letter to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal, from Dr. Alexander Wilson, Professor of Astronomy in the University of Glasgow. p. 333 XLIV. An Account of the late Transit of Venus, observed at Hawkhill, near Edinburgh. In a Letter to the Astronomer Royal, from James Lind, M. D. at Edinburgh. To which are added, some Remarks by the Astronomer Royal; and further Particulars relative to the Observations communicated in other Letters. XLV. Observations of the Transit of Venus, and other Astronomical Observations, made at Gibraltar; contained in a Letter to the Astronomer Royal from Lieutenant Jardine. XLVI. Observations of the Transit of Venus over the Sun, June 3, 1769. In a Letter to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, F. R. S. Astronomer Royal, from John Winthrop, Esquire, F. R. S. Hollisian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, in New-England. XLVII. Of the different Quantities of Rain, which appear to fall, at different Heights, over the same Spot of Ground. By William Heberden, M. D. F. R. S. XLVIII. An Account of an Observation of an Eclipse of the Moon, made at Hawkhill, near Edinburgh. In a Letter to the Astronomer Royal, from James Lind, M. D. XLIX. An Account of Two Auroræ Boreales observed at Oxford. In Two Letters to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. from the Reverend John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Custos Archivorum of the University of Oxford, Member of the Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. L. Observations of the Transit of Venus on June 3, 1769, and the Eclipse of the Sun on the following Day, made at Paris, and other Places. Extracted from Letters addressed from M. De la Lande, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, and F. R. S. to the Astronomer Royal; and from a Letter addressed from M. Messier to Mr. Magalhaens. p. 374 LI. Transit of Venus over the Sun, observed June 3, 1769, by Alexander Aubert, in Austin Friars, London, three Seconds of Time East of St. Paul's, with a Cassegrain Reflector of J. Short, having a Metal Speculum of two Feet focal Length, and magnifying about 110 Times. p. 378 LII. Some Account of an Oil, transmitted by Mr. George Brownrigg, of North Carolina. By William Watson, M. D. R. S. S. p. 379 LIII. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea Garden, presented to the Royal Society by the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, for the Year 1767, pursuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. Med. Reg. et Soc. Reg. nuper Praeses: By William Hudson, Societatis Regiae & clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Soc. Hort. Chelsean. Praefectus et Praelector Botanicus. p. 384 LIV. A Description of the Lymphatics of the Urethra and Neck of the Bladder. By Henry Watson, Surgeon to the Westminster Hospital, and F.R.S. p. 392 LV. Eclipses of Jupiter's First Satellite, the Eclipse of the Moon, and Occultations of Fixed Stars by the Moon. Observed at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, in the Year 1769. Communicated by the Astronomer Royal. p. 399 LVl. Eclipses LVI. Eclipses of Jupiter's First Satellite, with an Eighteen Inch Reflector of Mr. Short's. Observed by Dr. Wilson at the Glasgow Observatory. p. 402 LVII. Extract of a Letter to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal, from Mr. Benedict Ferner, F.R.S. Dated Stockholm, June 9, 1769. Translated from the French. p. 404 LVIII. Observations of the Transit of Venus over the Sun, on June 3, 1769, and the Eclipse of the Sun the next Morning; made at East Dereham in Norfolk, by the Reverend Francis Wollaston, F.R.S. Extracted from some Letters addressed to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, F.R.S. and Astronomer Royal. p. 407 LIX Observations of the Transit of Venus over the Sun, June 3, 1769; made by Mr. Owen Biddle and Mr. Joel Bayley, at Lewestown, in Pennsylvania. Communicated by Benjamin Franklin, LL.D.F.R.S. p. 414 LX. Observations of the Transit of Venus over the Sun, made at the Round Tower in Windsor Castle, June 3, 1769. By Daniel Harris, Master of the Royal Mathematical School in Christ's Hospital, and F.R.S. In a Letter to the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, B.D.F.R.S. and Astronomer Royal. p. 422 LXI. An Attempt to elucidate two Samnite Coins, never before fully explained. In a Letter to Mathew Maty, M.D. Sec. R.S. from the Reverend John Swinton, B.D.F.R.S. Custos Archivorum of the University of Oxford, Member of the Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. p. 432 LXII. Ob- LXII. Observation of the Transit of Venus, on June 3, 1769. In a Letter from John Leeds, Esquire, Surveyor General of the Province of Maryland, to John Bevis, M. D. F. R. S. p. 444 LXIII. Experiments to prove that the Luminousness of the Sea arises from the Putrefaction of its Animal Substances. By John Canton, M. A. and F. R. S. p. 446 LXIV. A Series of Astronomical Observations made at the Observatory of the Marine at Paris, to wit, 1°. Observations of Jupiter's Satellites in the Years 1767 and 1768. 2°. Observations on the Shadows of Jupiter's Satellites. 3°. On the Variation of the Belts on the Disc of that Planet. 4°. Observation of a Spot on the Disc of the Third Satellite. 5°. Observation of the Belts of Saturn. 6°. Observation of the Moon's Passage over the Pleiades, in 1767. 7°. Observation of a partial Eclipse of the Moon, January 3, and of a total one, December 23, 1768. 8°. Observations of Two Aurorae Boreales, August 6, and December 5, of the same Year. By M. Messier, Astronomer of the Marine, F. R. S. and of the Academies of Holland and Italy. p. 454 LXV. Astronomical Observations made by Order of the Royal Society, at Prince of Wales's Fort, on the North-west Coast of Hudson's Bay. By William Wales and Joseph Dymond. p. 467 LXVI. Extract from the Journals of the Royal Society, June 23, 1768, respecting a Letter addressed to the Society by a Member of the House of Jesuits at Pekin in China; by Charles Morton, M. D. Sec. CONTENTS. Sec. R. S. and Fellow of the Imperial Acad. Natur. Curios. et Petropol. and of the Royal Academy of Gottingen. p. 489 LXVII. Observations of the Transit of Mercury, October 25, 1743. In a Letter to Professor Bliss, late Astronomer Royal, and F. R. S. from John Winthrop, F. R. S. Professor of Astronomy in Cambridge, New England. p. 505 LXVIII. A Method of working the Object Glasses of Refracting Telescopes truly spherical. By the late Mr. James Short, F. R. S. p. 507 PRESENTS MADE TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY In the YEAR 1769; WITH The NAMES of the DONORS. Donors Names. Presents made. Jan. 12. R. Acad. Stockholm. Acta Literaria Sueciae, 1767, 8° D. Car. Linnæi Equit. Systema naturæ, Vol. 3. 8° D. J. Got.Wallerii, M.D. Metallurgia 8° Marq. de Condorcet De Systemat. Minerallogiæ 8° Jan. 19. Sir Wm. Browne, M. D. Essai d'Analyfe, Tom. 1. 4° Feb. 2. B. Franklin, L L. D. Anti-Bolinbrokius 4° Experiments and Observations on Electricity 4° D. J. Alb. Schloßer, M.D. De Lacerta Amboinensi 4° Feb. 9. Sir Wm. Browne, M. D. Anti-Bolinbrokii pars altera 4° D. Pet. Gabrii Observationes Meteorologicae, 1768, 4° Feb. 16. J. Strange, Esq; Lettera sopra l'origine della carta naturale de Cortona 6° Wm. Borlase, D. D. A Specimen of native Tin, from Cornwall Vol. LIX. Feb. Donors Names. Feb. 23. D. P. Pauli Frisi D. Rogeri Boecowich March 16. D Lazari Spallanzani Turberville Needham, Esq; April 13. Mr. Rivett Hon. Wm. Hamilton Mr. Robert Hughes Ch. S. Schumaker April 17. Sir Jos. Reynolds May 4. Mr. de Campagne May 25. Mr. J. Stedman June 1. Soc. of Antiquaries June 8. R. Ac. Scienc. Parif. Edward Montagu, Esq; Hon. Wm. Hamilton Nov. 9. Ac. Imp. Petrop. Mr. Du Hamel de Monceau D. Morand R. Ac. Stockholm Mr. Em. Swedenborg D. P. J. Bergius, M.D. D. A. M. Lorgna D. M. Le Roy, M.D. Prefects made. De gravitate universali corporum 4° Dissertationes V. ad Dioptricam 4° Nouvelles recherches sur les découvertes Microscopiques, 2 Tomes 8° Recherches Metaphysiques & Physiques 8° The Time of the Autumnal Equinox found by Arithmetic 8° A transparent Painting, representing the late Eruption of Mount Vesuvius; with many Specimens of Salts and Sulphurs from Vesuvius and Saltaterra Divers Specimens of Stones, Urns, &c. Egyptian A Print of the Transit of Venus, 1769 Discourse at the Opening of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture 4° Principes d'un bon Government, 3 Tomes 8° Physiological Essays and Observations 8° Two Prints, Views of Hampton-Court Histoire & Memoires pour 1764 4° An original Portrait of Mr. Abraham Demoivre A Mushroom Stone from Italy Novi Commentarii, Tom. 10 & 11 4° Traité de la Corderie perfectionnée 4° Opuscules de Chirurgie 4° Acta Literaria Sueciae, 1768, 8° Delitiae Sapientiae 4° De Unione mentis & Corporis 4° Doctrine of the new Church 8° Descriptiones plantarum novae ex Capite Bonae Spei 8° Fabrika et uti principali della squadra 4° Discorso dalle inondazioni dell' Adige 4° De quibusdam Maximis & Minimis 4° Memoires & observations de Medecin, 1 par. 8° Donors Names. Nov. 9. D. M. Le Roy, M. D. D. C. Bonnet Mr. Chatelax Ac. R. S. Berlin Mrs. Miles Mr. Kaye Nov. 16. Board of Longitude John Ellis, Esq; Dec. 7. Mr. Mallet Dec. 21. R. Ac. Scienc. Paris. Prefers made. De Aquarum Mineralium natura et usu 8° La Palingenesie Philosophique, 2 Tom. 8v° Essai sur l'union de la Poésie & de la Musique 8° Histoire & Memoires, 23 Tom. 4° A large Collection of the Papers of the Hon. R. Boyle A Collection of Moths and Flies from the Mosquito Shore Nautical Almanack for 1770 8° A Tiger's Skin from West-Florida Observations of the Transit of 1769, made at Ponoï in Lapland Histoire & Memoires, pour 1765 4° PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS, IN MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD. VOL. LIX. PART II. For the Year 1769. LONDON: Printed for LOCKYER DAVIS, Printer to the ROYAL SOCIETY, near Gray's-Inn Gate, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXX.