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. LVII. PART I. For the Year 1767. LONDON: Printed for L. DAVIS and C. REYMER'S, Printers to the ROYAL SOCIETY, against Gray's-Inn Gate, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXVIII. 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. CON- CONTENTS TO VOL. LVII. I. A Monstrous human Fœtus, having neither Head, Heart, Lungs, Stomach, Spleen, Pancreas, Liver, nor Kidneys. By Claude Nicholas Le Cat, M.D. Professor and Demonstrator Royal in Anatomy and Surgery, perpetual Secretary to the Academy of Sciences at Rouen, F.R.S. &c. Translated from the French, by Michael Underwood, Surgeon to the British Lying-in Hospital in London. p. 1. II. A Letter to Dr. Watson, F.R.S. containing a Description of three Substances mentioned by the Arabian Physicians, in a Paper sent from Aleppo, and translated from the Arabic, by Mr. J. Channing, Apothecary. p. 21. III. A general Investigation of the Nature of the Curve, formed by the Shade of a prolate Spheroid, upon a Plane standing at right Angles to the Axis of the Shadow, in a Letter to the Royal Society, by Mr. George Witchell, F.R.S. p. 28. IV. An IV. An Attempt to account for the Universal Deluge, by Edward King, Esq; of Lincoln's-Inn, F. R. S. V. An Attempt to Account for the Formation of Spars and Crystals. By Edward King, Esq; of Lincoln's-Inn, F. R. S. VI. Experiments with Camphire, by Mr. Alexander, Surgeon in Edinburgh. VII. A Description of a very remarkable Aquatick Insect, found in a Ditch of Standing Water near Norwich, in the Spring of the Year 1762. By Edward King, Esq; of Lincoln's-Inn, F. R. S. VIII. An Account of the very tall Men, seen near the Streights of Magellan, in the Year 1764, by the Equipage of the Dolphin Man of War, under the Command of the Honourable Commodore Byron; in a Letter from Mr. Charles Clarke, Officer on board the said Ship, to M. Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. IX. A Letter from Mr. William Sharp, Surgeon to Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, to James Parsons, M. D. F. R. S. containing an Account of a new invented Instrument for fractured Legs. X. Account of a locked Jaw, and Paralysis, cured by Electricity, by Dr. Edward Spry of Totness; in a Letter to Charles Morton, M. D. Sec, R. S. XI. Experiments on Rathbone-Place Waters. By the Hon. Henry Cavendish, F. R. S. XII. Description of a Meteor seen at Oxford, October 12, 1766. In a Letter to Charles Morton, M. D. Sec. R. S. from the Reverend John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Member of the Academy CONTENTS. Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona, in Tuscany. p. 108. XIII. Some Observations on Swarms of Gnats, particularly one seen at Oxford, August 20, 1766. In a Letter to Charles Morton, M. D. Sec. R. S. from the Rev. John Swinton, B. D. F. R. S. Member of the Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. p. 111. XIV. A Description of the Andrachne, with its Botanical Characters: By G. D. Ehret, F. R. S. p. 114. XV. History of a Fetus born with a very imperfect Brain: To which is subjoined a Supplement of the Essay on the Use of Ganglions, published in Philos. Trans. for 1764: By James Johnston, M. D. p. 118. XVI. Cogitata de Cometis, Authore Johanne Winthrop, Apud Cantab. Nov. Ang. Math. & Phil. Prof. Hollifiano, R. S. S. Communicated by Benjamin Franklin, L L. D. F. R. S. p. 132. XVII. Some Attempts to ascertain the utmost Extent of the Knowledge of the Ancients in the East Indies: By Mr. John Caverhill. p. 155. XVIII. A Computation of the Distance of the Sun from the Earth. By S. Horsley, L L. B. Rector of Saint Mary, Newington, in Surrey, F. R. S. p. 179. XIX. Description of an improved Apparatus for performing Electrical Experiments, in which the Electrical Power is increased, the Operator entirely secured from receiving any accidental Shocks, and the whole whole rendered more convenient for Experiments than heretofore: By C. L. Epinasse, F. R. S. p. 186. XX. Two Letters from the Honourable William Hamilton, His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Naples, to the Earl of Morton, President of the Royal Society, containing an Account of the last Eruption of Mount Vesuvius. p. 192. XXI. Extract of a Letter from John Howard, Esq; F. R. S. to William Watson, M. D. F. R. S. giving some Observations on the Heat of the Waters at Bath. p. 201. XXII. Observations on the Heat of the Bath and Bristol Waters, by Mr. John Canton, A. M. F. R. S. p. 203. XXIII. A Letter to Dr. William Watson, F. R. S. from the Honourable Daines Barrington, F. R. S. on some particular Fish found in Wales. p. 204. XXIV. An Observation of an Eclipse of the Sun at the Island of Newfoundland, August 5, 1766, by Mr. James Cook, with the Longitude of the Place of Observation deduced from it: Communicated by J. Bevis, M. D. F. R. S. p. 215. XXV. Letter to Mr. Dacosta, Librarian, &c. to the Royal Society, from Mr. William Martin; containing an Extract of a Letter from his Son Fleming Martin, Esq; chief Engineer at Bengal, on the Heat of the Climate. p. 217. XXVI. Experiments on the Peruvian Bark, by Thomas Percival, M. D. F. R. S. p. 221. XXVII. An Inquiry into the probable Parallax, and Magnitude of the fixed Stars, from the Quantity of Light which they afford us, and the particular Circumstances CONTENTS. XXVIII. Thermometrical Observations at Derby, by Mr. John Whitehurst: Communicated by Charles Morton, M.D. Sec. R.S. p. 265. XXIX. An Attempt to interpret the Legend and Inscription of a very curious Phœnician Medal, never hitherto explained. In a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Morton, President of the Royal Society, from the Reverend John Swinton, B.D. F.R.S. Member of the Academy degli Apatisti at Florence, and of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona in Tuscany. p. 266. XXX. Remarks on the very different Accounts that have been given of the Fæcundity of Fishes, with fresh Observations on that Subject: By Mr. Thomas Harmer: Communicated by Samuel Clarke, Esquire, F.R.S. p. 280. XXXI. An Account of a Hydro-enterocele, appearing like an Hydro-sarcocele, and ending in the Death of the Patient, in which the Intestine had passed from the Hernial Sac, into that of the Hydrocele, by which the Strangulation was formed: Communicated by M. Le Cat, F.R.S. &c. In a Letter to Charles Morton, M.D. Sec. R.S. Translated by J.O. Justamond, Surgeon. p. 293. XXXII. Novorum quorundam in re Electrica Experimentorum Specimen, quod Regiae Londinensi Societati mittebat Die 26 Aprilis, 1766, Joannes Baptista Beccaria, ex Scholis Piis, R.S. Soc. Communicated by M. Maty, M.D. Sec. R.S. p. 297. XXXIII. Specimen Historiae Naturalis Volgentis. Auctore J.R. Forster. p. 312. Vol. LVII. XXXIV. De Problemate quodam Algebraico, deque Evolutione Mechanicæ cujusdam Curvæ inter infinitas hypermechanicas, quæ determinatae æquationi satisfaciunt. Auctore Pio Fantoni, Mathematico Bononiensi. Communicated by Sir Horace Mann, His Majesty's Envoy at Florence. p. 358. XXXV. A Memoir concerning the most advantageous Construction of Water-wheels, &c. by Mr. Mallet of Geneva: Communicated by M. Maty, M. D. Sec. R. S. Translated from the French, by J. Bevis, M. D. R. S. S. p. 372. XXXVI. A new Method of constructing Sun-Dials, for any given Latitude, without the Assistance of Dialing Scales or Logarithmic Calculations. By James Ferguson, F. R. S. p. 389. XXXVII. On the Formation of Islands. By Alexander Dalrymple, Esquire: Communicated by C. Morton, M. D. S. R. S. p. 394. XXXVIII. An Attempt to determine the Height of the Sun’s Atmosphere from the Height of the Solar Spots above the Sun’s Surface: In a Letter to Mr. John Ellicot, F. R. S. from the Reverend M. Horsley, F. R. S. p. 398. XXXIX. Observations of the Sun’s Eclipse, 16th of August, 1765, taken at Caën in Normandy. By Nathaniel Pigott, Esquire, of Whitton, in Middlesex: Communicated by J. Bevis, M. D. F. R. S. p. 402. XL. Extract of a Letter from John Ellis, Esquire, F. R. S. to Dr. Linnæus, of Upsal, F. R. S. on the Animal Nature of the Genus of Zoophytes called Corallina p. 404. XLI. An Account of the Actinia Sociata, or clustered Animal Flower, lately found on the Sea-Coasts of the new-ccded Islands: In a Letter from John Ellis, Esquire, F. R. S. to the Right Honourable the Earl of Hillsborough, F. R. S. p. 428. XLII. A Letter from Edward Wortley Montagu, Esquire, F. R. S. to William Watson, M. D. F. R. S. containing some new Observations on what is called Pompey's Pillar, in Egypt. p. 438. XLIII. Part of a Letter from W. Watson, M. D. F. R. S. to John Huxham, M. D. F. R. S. at Plymouth, giving some Account of the late cold Weather. Dated London, 14th February, 1767. p. 443. XLIV. Description of an Electrometer invented by Mr. Lane; with an Account of some Experiments made by him with it: In a Letter to Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S. p. 451. XLV. Of the Increase and Mortality of the Inhabi- tants of the Island of Madeira: By Dr. Thomas Heberden, F. R. S. p. 461. XLVI. An Account of some very large Fossil Teeth, found in North America, and described by Peter Collinson, F. R. S. p. 464. XLVII. Sequel to the foregoing Account of the large Fossil Teeth: By P. Collinson, F. R. S. p. 468. XLVIII. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea Garden, presented to the Royal Society by the wor- shipful Company of Apothecaries, for the Year 1766, pursuant to the Direction of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. Med. Reg. et Soc. Reg. nuper Praes: By William Hudson, Societatis Regiae & clarissimae Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Soc. Hort. Chelsean. Praefectus & Praelector Botanic. p. 470. XLIX. An XLIX. An Account of some neutral Salts made with vegetable Acids, and with the Salt of Amber; which shews that vegetable Acids differ from one another; and that the Salt of Amber is an Acid of a particular Kind, and not the same with that of Sea Salt, or of Vitriol, as alledged by many chemical Authors. By Donald Monro, M. D. Physician to His Majesty's Army, and to Saint George's Hospital, F. R. S. L. Experiments on the Distillation of Acids, volatile Alcalies, &c. shewing how they may be condensed without Loss, and how thereby we may avoid disagreeable and noxious Fumes: In a Letter from Mr. Peter Woulfe, F. R. S. to John Ellis, Esquire, F. R. S. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS, IN MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD. VOL. LVII. PART II. For the Year 1767. LONDON: Printed for L. Davis and C. Reymer's, Printers to the Royal Society, against Gray's-Inn Gate, in Holbourn. M.DCC.LXVIII.