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. LX. For the Year 1770. LONDON: Printed for LOCKYER DAVIS, Printer to the Royal Society, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXXI. 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. LX. I. An Account of a Journey to Mount Etna, in a Letter from the Honourable William Hamilton, His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Naples, to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. p. 1 II. A Letter from Philip Carteret, Esquire, Captain of the Swallow Sloop, to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. on the Inhabitants of the Coast of Patagonia. p. 20 III. A Letter on a Camelopardalis found about the Cape of Good Hope, from Capt. Carteret to Mathew Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. p. 27 IV. Experiments in Support of the Uses ascribed to Ganglions of the Nerves, in Philosophical Transactions, Vol. LIV. and Vol. LVII. by James Johnstone, M. D. p. 30 V. An Account of a new Species of the Manis, or Scaly Lizard, extracted from the German Relations of of the Danish Royal Missionaries in the East Indies, of the Year 1765, published at Hall, in Saxony, by Dr. Hampe, F. R. S. p. 36 VI. An Account of the Result of some Attempts made to ascertain the Temperature of the Sea in great Depths, near the Coasts of Lapland and Norway; as also some Anecdotes, collected in the former: By Charles Douglas, Esquire, F. R. S. then Captain of his Majesty's Ship the Emerald, Anno 1769. p. 39 VII De modo marmoris albi producendi; Dissertatio epistolaris Domino Maty, Societatis Regiae Londi- nensis Secretario, inscripta; auctore R. E. Raspe, Sereniss. Hass. Landgravio a Consiliis, S. Reg. Sodali. p. 47 VIII. Account of a very remarkable young Musician. In a Letter from the Honourable Daines Barrington, F. R. S. to Mathew Maty, M.D. Sec. R.S. p. 54 IX. A Determination of the exact Moments of Time when the Planet Venus was at external and internal Contact with the Sun's Limb, in the Transits of June 6th, 1761, and June 3d, 1769. By Samuel Dunn. p. 65 X. An Account of some Improvements made in a new Wheel Barometer, invented by Keane Fitz Gerald, Esquire, F. R. S. In a Letter to Charles Morton, M. D. Sec. R. S. p. 74. XI. Some Observations upon an inedited Greek Coin of Philistis, Queen of Syracuse, Malta, and Gozo, who has been passed over in Silence by all the ancient Writers. In a Letter to Mathew Maty, M.D. Sec. R. S. from the Rev. John Swinton. B. D. F. R. S. Custos Archivorum of the University of Oxford, Member of the Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. p. 80 XII. A Letter from Mr. Thomas Woolcomb, Surgeon, to the late Doctor Huxham, F. R. S. on the Case of a Boy, who died of a Gun-shot Wound, and communicated by the Rev. J. Cor. Huxham, M.D. F.R.S. p. 94 XIII. Journal of a Voyage, made by Order of the Royal Society, to Churchill River, on the North West Coast of Hudson's Bay; of thirteen Months Residence in that Country; and of the Voyage back to England; in the Years 1768 and 1769: By William Wales. p. 100 XIV. Observations on the State of the Air, Winds, Weather, &c. made at Prince of Wales's Fort, on the North West Coast of Hudson's Bay, in the Years 1768 and 1769: By Joseph Dymond and William Wales. p. 137 XV. An Account of some very perfect and uncommon Specimens of Spongæ from the Coast of Italy: in a Letter to James West, Esquire, President of the Royal Society; from John Strange, Esquire, F. R. S. p. 179 XVI. A Letter from Captain Davies to John Ellis, Esquire, F. R. S. on a Method of preparing Birds for Preservation. p. 184 XVII. A Letter to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, F. R. S. giving an Account of the Appearance of Lightning on a Conductor fixed from the Summit of the Mainmast of a Ship, down to the Water: By Capt. J. L. Winn. p. 188 XVIII. An Investigation of the lateral Explosion, and of the Electricity communicated to the electrical Circuit, Circuit, in a Discharge: By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S. p. 192 XIX. Experiments and Observations on Charcoal: By the Same. p. 211 XX. Meteorological Observations for 1769, made at Bridgewater in Somersetshire: Communicated by Dr. Jeremiah Milles, Dean of Exeter and F.R.S. p. 228 XXI. Meteorological Observations at Ludgvan in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, 1769: By William Borlase, D.D. F.R.S. Communicated by the Same. p. 230 XXII. A Letter to Dr. William Watson, F.R.S. giving some Account of the Manna Tree, and of the Tarantula: By Dominico Cirillo, M.D. Professor of Natural History at the University of Naples. p. 233 XXIII. Observations made at Dinapoor, June 4, 1769, on the Planet Venus, when passing over the Sun's Disk, with three different Quadrants, and a two Foot reflecting Telescope: Communicated to the Royal Society, by the Court of Directors of the East India Company. p. 239 XXIV. Directions for making a Machine for finding the Roots of Equations universally, with the Manner of using it: By the Rev. Mr. Rowning, to John Bevis, M.D. F.R.S. p. 240 * XXIII. On the late Transit of Venus: By Nathan Pigott, Esquire, to Dr. Bevis, F.R.S. p. 257 * XXIV. Observations on the proper Method of calculating the Values of Reversions depending on Survivorships: By Richard Price, D.D. F.R.S. p. 268 XXV. De CONTENTS. XXV. De Atmosphera Electrica Joannis Baptistae Beccariae, R. S. S. ex Scholis Piis, ad Regiam Londinensem Societatem Libellus. p. 277 XXVI. Four Letters from Mr. T. S. Kuckhan, to the President and Members of the Royal Society; on the Preservation of dead Birds. p. 302 XXVII. Description of the blunt-headed Cachalot: By James Robertson, Esq; of Edinburgh. Communicated by Thomas Pennant, Esq; F. R. S. p. 321 XXVIII. Experiments and Observations on various Phenomena attending the Solution of Salts: By R. Watson, A. M. F. R. S. Fellow of Trinity College, and Professor of Chemistry, in the University of Cambridge. p. 325 XXIX. An Account of an Occultation of the Star ζ Tauri by the Moon, observed at Leicester: By the Rev. Mr. Ludlam, in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal. p. 355 XXX. Extract of a Letter from John Winthrop, Esq; F. R. S. Hollisian Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, at Cambridge, N. England; to B. Franklin, LL.D. F. R. S. Dated Sept. 6, 1769. p. 358 XXXI. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Mallet, of Geneva, to Dr. Bevis, F. R. S. p. 363 XXXII. Experiments on the Blood, with some Remarks on its morbid Appearances: By Mr. William Hewson, F. R. S. p. 368 XXXIII. On the Degree of Heat which coagulates the Lymph, and the Serum of the Blood; with an Enquiry into the Causes of the inflammatory Crust, or Size, as it is called: By the Same. p. 384 Vol. LX. XXXIV. Fur- CONTENTS. XXXIV. Further Remarks on the Properties of the Coagulated Lymph; on the stopping of Hemorrhages; and on the Effects of Cold upon the Blood: By the Same p. 398 XXXV. Account of some Bones found in the Rock of Gibraltar, in a Letter from John Boddington, Esq; to Dr. William Hunter, F.R.S. with some Remarks from Dr. Hunter, in a Letter to Dr. Matthew Maty, M.D. Sec. R.S. p. 414 * XXXVI. Difficulties in the Newtonian Theory of Light, considered and removed: By the Rev. S. Horsley, LL.B. F.R.S. p. 417 XXXVI. Some new Theorems for computing the Areas of certain Curve Lines: By Mr. John Landen, F.R.S. p. 441 XXXVII. Extract of two Letters from the late Capt. Alexander Rose, of the 52d Regiment, to Dr. Murdoch, F.R.S. p. 444 XXXVIII. Extract of a Letter from Mr. John Latham, Surgeon and Midwife, at Dartford in Kent, to Mr. Warner, Fellow of the Royal Society, and Senior Surgeon to Guy's Hospital. Communicated to the Royal Society by Mr. Warner. p. 451 XXXIX. Astronomical Observations made at Cavan, near Strabane, in the County of Donegal, Ireland, by Appointment of the Royal Society: By Mr. Charles Mason. p. 454 XL. A Letter from M. Pingré, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, to the Rev. Mr. Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal, F.R.S. p. 497 XLI. Observations of Immersions and Emerisions of Jupiter's first Satellite, made at Funchal, in Madeira, with a reflecting Telescope of 18 Inches Focus, made XLII. Account of the Transit of Mercury, observed at Norriton, in Pennsylvania Nov. 9, 1769, agreeable to an Appointment of the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for promoting useful Knowledge: By William Smith, D.D. Provost of the College of Philadelphia; John Lukens, Esq; Surveyor General of the Province of Pennsylvania; David Rittenhouse, A.M. and Mr. Owen Biddle. Communicated by Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. and President of the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. XLIII. A Letter to James West, Esq; President of the Royal Society, containing the Investigations of twenty Cases of Compound Interest: By J. Robertson, Lib. R.S. XLIV. A Copy of a Letter from John Ellis, Esq; F.R.S. to Dr. Linnæus, F.R.S. &c. with the Figure and Characters of that elegant American Evergreen-tree, called by the Gardeners, the Loblolly Bay, taken from Blossoms blown near London, and shewing that it is not an Hibiscus, as Mr. Millar calls it; nor an Hypericum, as Dr. Linnæus supposes it, but an entire news Genus, to which Mr. Ellis gives the Name of Gordonia. XLV. The Copy of a Letter from John Ellis, Esq; F.R.S. to Mr. William Aiton, Gardener to her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, at Kew, on a new Species of Illicium Linnæi, or Starry Aniseed Tree, lately discovered in West Florida. XLVI. An Account of a very remarkable Meteor seen at Oxford. 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. 532 XLVII. A Letter from Richard Price, D. D. F. R. S. to Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S. on the Effect of the Aberration of Venus during the last Transit over the Sun. p. 536 XLVIII. 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 Praes: By William Hudson, Societatis Regiae & clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Soc. Hort. Chelsean. Praefectus et Praelector Botanicus. p. 541 XLIX. A Short Account of the Observations of the late Transit of Venus, made in California, by Order of his Catholic Majesty; communicated by his Excellency Prince Masserano, Ambassador from the Spanish Court, and F. R. S. p. 549 L. Extract of a Letter, dated Paris, Dec. 17, 1770, to Mr. Magalhaens from Mr. Bourriot, containing a short Account of the late Abbé Chappe's Observation of the Transit of Venus in California. Translated by Dr. Bevis, F. R. S. p. 551 PRESENTS MADE TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY In the YEAR 1770; WITH The NAMES of the DONORS. Donors Names. | Presents made. --- | --- Jan. 32. Soc. of Dilettanti | Jonian Antiquities Fol. Mr. Jamard | Print of an antient Greek Inscription Mr. Baniere | Recherehes sur la theorie de la Musique 8° Eufra. Zanoti | Theorie de la Musique 4° Feb. 1. Archbp. of York | De Cometa Anni 1769 A Piece of the Rock of Gibraltar, containing petrified Bones 15. Peter Ortefchi | Giornale de Medicina Tom. V. 4° Hon. Daines Barrington | The Sea Eagle from the Western Isles A Hare, which changes its coat in Winter to White The black billed Awk The black Gwillemot The female Goatsucker The Father Lasher The brown Whistlefish Feb. | Donors Names | Presents made | |------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Feb. 15. Hon Daines Barrington | The spotted Blenny | | | The spotted Goby | | | The Gwiniad and Athorine | | | Specimen Physico-Chemicum de Digefore Papin | | Feb. 22. Palatine Academy | Historia et Commentationes Academiae Electoralis Scientiarum & elegantiorum | | | Literarum Theodoro Palatinae Vol.I. | | | Directions for bringing over seeds and plants from the East Indies, &c. | | March 8. Soc. of Antiquaries | A mezzotinto print of Dr. Lyttelton, late bishop of Carlisle | | Mr. Hielmsterne | Prof. Hell's observations of the late transit of Venus, taken at Wardhus | | 15. Hon. Daines Barrington | Five birds, viz. the Gwillemot | | | The Awke | | | The ring tailed Hawk female of the Hen Harrier | | | The lesser Gwillemot | | | The black billed Awk | | 29. Mr. James Ferguson | A print called the Astronomical Time keeper | | Mr. J. Miller | No I. of set of botanical prints and their explanations | | April 5. Board of Longitude | Theoria Lunae Tobiae Mayer | | | Ejusdem Tabulae motuum Solis et Luna, &c. | | 26. Prof. Delius | A funeral Oration upon the late Dr. Trew, F.R.S. & Pr. Ac. Cur. Nat. | | | J. M. F. Bergius de Tabe Feftinata | | | J. Ch. Schoenfeld, de uteri fabrica controv. | | | Chr. Gu. Haag, de methodo Medendi, &c. | | | Joan Reufs de Secretionibus | | John Fothergill, M. D. | Some account of the late Peter Collinfon, F. R. S. | | John Caverhill, M. D. | A Treatise on the cause and cure of the Gout | | May 3. Mr. Rivet | Experiments on the cause of heat in living animals | | Rev. Mr. Rowning | The Autumnal Equinox ascertained | | Mr. Benj. West | A Machine for finding the Roots of Equations universally | | | Observations of the transit of Venus 1769 at Providence, New England | Donors Names. May 17. Rev. J. Coram Huxham, M. A. Mr. Kuckahn 24. Lord Baltimore Donald Monro, M.D. Mr. Kuckhan June 14. A watchmaker at Rouen 21. Mr. Robert Erskine 28. M. De Horne Nov. 8. Peter Buissiere, Esq.; Mr. William Wales Daniel Peter Layard, M.D. Rev. Samuel Horsley, LL.B. Edward Waring, M.D. Mr. Charles Hutton John Smith, M.D. Mr. John Aikin D. Joseph Liefganig Mr. Grosley Mr. Sage Christopher Mayer Tuberville Needham, Esq; Memoire sur la Maladie des Bêtes à Cornes D. Steph. de Stengel Fr. Chr. Meuschen Presents made. A Portrait of the late Dr. Huxham, F. R. S. A group of butterflies preserved in a glazed case Gaudia Poetica, in Lat. Eng. & Fr. 4° A Treatise on mineral waters, 2 Vol. 8° A group of birds and flies finely preserved in a glazed case Construction for a Pendulum to a clock A Dissertation on rivers and tides 8° Examen des principales methodes d'administer le merc. pour la guerison des mal. vener. 8° Portrait of Paul Buissiere, Esq; F. R. S. Several forms of pyrites, with ores, talcs, fungi, sparris, and copper, from Hudson's Bay Clays, ochre, felenites and crystals of alum, from the chalybeat spring on Somerham heath in the county of Huntingdon Pergei Inclinationum Restit. Lib. II. Meditationes Algebraice 4° A Treatise of mensuration both in theory and practice 4° Choir gaur, or the grand orrery of the antient Druids, called Stonehenge 4° Cases in surgery, with remarks 8° Dimensio graduum Meridiani Viennensis et Hungarici 4° Londres, 3 Tom. 12° Lettre à M. Buffon sur la mine de plomb blanche christallisée 4° Expofitio de Transitu Veneris ante discum Solis 4° Nouvelle methode pour lever une carte générale exacte de toute la Russie 8° Pantometrum Paceccianum, seu instrum. nov. pro elicienda ex una statione dist. loci inacceffa 4° Catal. syft. d'un Cab. de coquillages et crustacées de M. Arnold Leers 8° Nov. Donors Names. Nov. 8. Fr. Chr. Meuschen. Presents made. Cat. syst. d'une Coll. de coquillages &c. de Michel Oudaan 8° Catal. de curios. nat. de coquil. mineraux, &c. 8° Cat. Musci Dishoeckiani 8° Schediatura Prob. de summo officio Archi. Admir. S. Ro. Imp. 8° Dec. 6. Lord Baltimore Soc. of Antiquaries Matthew Raper, Esq; John Wilkes, Esq; Richard Eyre, D. D. Mr. William Bowyer Anthelmus Charcot Mr. J. Reinhold Forster Arthur Young, Esq; Gaudia Poetica 4° Dissertations, Vol. I. 4° Tabula Astronomiae, by Gael Morris 4° Three Letters in the Persian language wrote by Mr. Biffom to one of the Nabobs A calculus extracted, after death, from a child, brother to the Doctor. Mr. William Clarke's Connexion of Roman, Saxon, and English Coins 4° Lex naturae unica, seu de attractione ad impulsionem revocata 4° Travels into North America by Peter Kalm, Vol. I. 8° A course of Experimental Agriculture, 2 Vols. 8°