Part 1

Transcriber’s Note

Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. The Errata of the original edition have been corrected. Other changes made can be found at the end of the book. Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows:

[Sidenotes] _italic_ +spaced font+

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies, _and_ Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS, IN MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD.

VOL. L. +PART I.+ For the Year 1757.

_LONDON._

Printed for +L. DAVIS+ and +C. REYMERS+, Printers to the +ROYAL SOCIETY+, against _Gray’s-Inn Gate_, in _Holbourn_.

M.DCC.LVIII.

THE CONTENTS TO PART I. VOLUME L.

I. _AN Account of the Earthquake felt in_ New England, _and the neighbouring Parts of_ America, _on the 18th of_ November _1755. In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. by Mr. Professor_ Winthrop, _of_ Cambridge _in_ New England. Page 1.

II. _The strange Effects of some effervescent Mixtures; in a Letter from Dr._ James Mounsey, _Physician of the_ Russian _Army, and F.R.S. to Mr._ Henry Baker, _F.R.S. Communicated by Mr._ Baker. p. 19.

III. _Extract of a Letter of_ J. Wall, _M.D. to the Rev. Dr._ Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter, _and F.R.S. concerning the good Effects of_ Malverne _Waters in_ Worcestershire. p. 23.

IV. _An Account of the_ Carlsbad _Mineral Waters in_ Bohemia: _In a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. by the Rev._ Jeremiah Milles, _D.D. F.R.S._ p. 25.

V. _An Essay towards ascertaining the specific Gravity of living Men. By_ Mr. John Robertson, _F.R.S._ p. 30.

VI. _An Instance of the Gut_ Ileum, _cut thro’ by a Knife, successfully treated by Mr._ Peter Travers, _Surgeon, at_ Lisbon. _Communicated by_ John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 35.

VII. _An Account of a Visitation of the leprous Persons in the Isle of_ Guadaloupe: _In a Letter to Mons._ Damonville, _Counsellor and Assistant-Judge at_ Martinico, _and in the Office of King’s Physician at_ Guadaloupe. _By_ John Andrew Peyssonel, _M.D. F.R.S. Translated from the_ French. p. 38.

VIII. _An Account of the late Discoveries of Antiquities at_ Herculaneum; _in an Extract of a Letter from_ Camillo Paderni, _Keeper of the_ Herculanean Museum, _and F.R.S. to_ Thomas Hollis, _Esq; dated_ Naples, Dec. 16, 1756. p. 49.

IX. _An Account of some Trees discovered underground on the Shore at_ Mount’s-Bay _in_ Cornwall: _In a Letter from the Rev. Mr._ William Borlase, _F.R.S. to the Rev. Dr._ Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter. p. 51.

X. _Experiments on applying the Rev. Dr._ Hales’_s Method of distilling Salt-water to the Steam-Engine. By_ Keane Fitzgerald, _Esq; F.R.S._ p. 53.

XI. _Extract of a Letter of Mr._ Abraham Trembley, _F.R.S. to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. Translated from the_ French. p. 58.

XII. _A brief Botanical and Medical History of the_ Solanum Lethale, Bella-donna, _or_ Deadly Nightshade, _by Mr._ Richard Pulteney. _Communicated by Mr._ William Watson, _F.R.S._ p. 62.

XIII. _An Account of some of the Antiquities discovered at_ Herculaneum, &c. _In a Letter to_ Thomas Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. By_ John Nixon, _A.M. F.R.S._ p. 88.

XIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm of Thunder and Lightning, in the Parishes of_ Looe _and_ Lanreath, _in the County of_ Cornwall, _on the 27th Day of_ June _1756. Communicated to the Rev._ Jeremiah Milles, _D.D. F.R.S. in two Letters, one from the Rev. Mr._ Dyer, _Minister of_ Looe, _and the other from the Rev. Mr._ Milles, _Vicar of_ Duloe, _in_ Cornwall. p. 104.

XV. _An Account of the Peat-pit near_ Newbury _in_ Berkshire; _in an Extract of a Letter from_ John Collet, _M.D. to the Right Reverend_ Richard _Lord Bishop of_ Ossory, _F.R.S._ p. 109.

XVI. _An Account of the Alterations making in the_ Pantheon _at_ Rome: _In an Extract of a Letter from_ Rome _to_ Thomas Hollis, _Esq; Communicated by_ John Ward, _LL.D. R.S. Vice-Præs._ p. 115.

XVII. _An Account of a new medicinal Well, lately discovered near_ Moffat, _in_ Annandale, _in the County of_ Dumfries. _By Mr._ John Walker, _of_ Borgue-house _near_ Kirkudbright _in_ Scotland. p. 115.

XVIII. _An Account of the State of the Thermometer at the_ Hague _on the 9th of_ January _1757. Extracted from a Letter of Mr._ Abraham Trembley, _F.R.S. to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S._ p. 148.

XIX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William Lewis, _M.B. F.R.S. Paper_ V. ibid.

XX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William Lewis, _M.B. F.R.S. Paper_ VI. p. 156.

XXI. _An Account of the Temple of_ Serapis _at_ Pozzuoli _in the Kingdom of_ Naples: _In a Letter to_ John Ward, _LL.D. and R.S. Vice-Præs. by the Rev._ John Nixon, _M.A. F.R.S._ p. 166.

XXII. _Some Remarks on a_ Parthian _Coin with a_ Greek _and_ Parthian _Legend, never before published. In a Letter from the Rev._ John Swinton, _M.A. of_ Christ-Church, Oxon, _F.R.S. to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S._ p. 175.

XXIII. _An Account of a Red Coral from the_ East-Indies, _of a very singular Kind: In a Letter from Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to Mr._ Peter Collinson, _F.R.S._ p. 189.

XXIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm at_ Wigton _in_ Cumberland. _Communicated by Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ p. 194.

XXV. _An Account of the Effects of Lightning upon the Steeple and Church of_ Lestwithiel, Cornwall; _in a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. By Mr._ John Smeaton, _F.R.S._ p. 198.

XXVI. _An Account of the Case of the late Right Honourable_ Horace _Lord_ Walpole; _being a Sequel to his own Account published in the_ Philosophical Transactions, _Vol._ xlvii. _p._ 43 _and_ 472. p. 205.

_Postscript to Dr._ Whytt_’s Observations on Lord_ Walpole_’s Case_. p. 385.

XXVII. _An Account of the Virtues of Soap in dissolving the Stone, in the Case of the Rev. Mr._ Matthew Simpson. _Communicated by_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 221.

XXVIII. _An Account of the Impressions of Plants on the Slates of Coals: In a Letter to the Right Honorable_ George _Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. from Mr._ Emanuel Mendes da Costa, _F.R.S._ p. 228.

XXIX. _A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from_ Chelsea Garden, _presented to the_ Royal Society _by the worshipful Company of Apothecaries, for the Year_ 1756, _pursuant to the Direction of Sir_ Hans Sloane, _Baronet, Med. Reg. & Soc. nuper Præses, by_ John Wilmer, _M.D. clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Socius, Hort._ Chels. _Præfect. & Prælector Botan._ p. 236.

XXX. _Remarks on the Opinion of_ Henry Eeles, _Esq; concerning the Ascent of Vapour, published in the_ Philosoph. Transact. _Vol._ xlix. _Part_ i. _p._ 124. _By_ Erasmus Darwin, _M.D. Communicated by Mr._ William Watson, _F.R.S._ p. 240.

XXXI. _An Account of a new-discovered Species of the Snipe or Tringa: In a Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from Mr._ Geo. Edwards, _Librarian of the College of Physicians_. p. 255.

XXXII. _Observationes de Corallinis, iisque insidentibus Polypis, aliisque Animalculis Marinis: Quas Regiæ Societati Londinensi offert_ Job Baster, _Med. Doct. Acad. Cæsar. Reg. Societ. Lond. & Scient. Holland. Socius._ p. 258.

XXXIII. _Remarks on Dr._ Job Baster’s Observationes de Corallinis, &c. _In a Letter to the Right Hon._ George _Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. from Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S._ p. 280.

XXXIV. _An Account of an extraordinary Operation performed in the Dock-Yard at_ Portsmouth: _Drawn up by Mr._ John Robertson, _F.R.S._ p. 288.

XXXV. _Observations on an Evening, or rather Nocturnal, Solar_ Iris. _By Mr._ George Edwards, _Librarian of the College of Physicians_. p. 293.

XXXVI. _The Effects of the_ Opuntia, _or Prickly Pear, and of the_ Indigo _Plant, in colouring the Juices of living Animals. Communicated by_ H. Baker, _F.R.S._ p. 296.

XXXVII. _An Account of an extrordinary Shower of black Dust, that fell in the Island of_ Zetland _20th_ October 1755. _In a Letter from Sir_ Andrew Mitchell, _of_ Westshore, _Bart. to_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 297.

XXXVIII. _A Description of some Thermometers for particular Uses. By the Right Honourable the Lord_ Charles Cavendish, _V.P.R.S._ p. 300.

XXXIX. _Observationes Anatomico-Medicæ de Monstro bicorporeo Virgineo A. 1701. die 26_ Oct. _in_ Pannonia, _infra_ Comaromium, _in Possessione_ Szony, _quondam Quiritum_ Bregetione, _in lucem edito, atque A. 1723. die 23_ Febr. Posonii _in Cœnobio Monialium_ S. Ursulæ _morte functo ibidemque sepulto. Authore_ Justo Johanne Torkos, _M.D. Soc. Regalis Socio._ p. 311.

XL. _Observations on the Origin and Use of the Lymphatic Vessels of Animals: Being an Extract from the_ Gulstonian _Lectures, read in the Theatre of the College of Physicians of_ London, _in_ June 1755. _By_ Mark Akenside, _M.D. Fellow of the College of Physicians, and of the Royal Society_. p. 322.

XLI. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President, the_ Council, _and_ Fellows, _of the_ Royal Society, _concerning the Variation of the Magnetic Needle; with a Sett of Tables annexed, which exhibit the Result of upwards of Fifty Thousand Observations, in Six periodic Reviews, from the Year 1700 to the Year 1756, both inclusive; and are adapted to every Five Degrees of Latitude and Longitude in the more frequented Oceans. By_ William Mountaine _and_ James Dodson, _Fellows of the Royal Society_. p. 329.

XLII. _An account of some extraordinary Tumors upon the Head of a labouring Man, now in_ St. Bartholomew’s _Hospital. By_ James Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 350.

XLIII. _An Extract of the Register of the Parish of_ Great Shefford, _near_ Lamborne, _in_ Berkshire, _for Ten Years: With Observations on the same: In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from the Rev. Mr._ Richard Foster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford. p. 356.

XLIV. _A remarkable Case of an Aneurism, or Disease of the principal Artery of the Thigh, occasioned by a Fall. To which is prefixed a short Account of the Uncertainty of the distinguishing Symptoms of this Disease. By_ Jos. Warner, _F.R.S. and Surgeon to_ Guy’s Hospital. p. 363.

XLV. _Farther Experiments for increasing the Quantity of Steam in a Fire-Engine. By_ Keane Fitz-Gerald, _Esq; F.R.S._ p. 370.

XLVI. _Observatio Eclipsis Lunæ Die 27_ Martii, _Ann. 1755. habita Ulissipone in Domo Patrum Congregationis Oratorii à_ Joanne Chevalier _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Regiæque_ Parisiensis _Scientiarum Academiæ correspondente_. p. 374.

XLVII. _Eclipsis Lunæ Die_ 4 Februarii, _Ann._ 1757. _habita Ulissipone à_ Joanne Chevalier _Presbytero Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Regiæque Scientiarum_ Parisiensis _Acadaemiæ correspondente, et a_ Theodoro de Almeida _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, ac Physicæ publico Professore_ p. 376.

_Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ a_ Joanne Chevalier, _&c._ p. 377.

XLVIII. _Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ à_ Joanne Chevalier, _Presbytere Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæque_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Anno_ 1757. p. 378.

XLIX. _A remarkable Case of the Efficacy of the Bark in a Mortification: In a Letter to_ William Watson, _M.D. F.R.S. from Mr._ Richard Grindall, _Surgeon to the_ London _Hospital_. p. 379.

L. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S. inclosing Two Papers communicated to him by_ Robert Whytt, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 383.

1. _Some Observations on the lithontriptic Virtue of the_ Carlsbad _Waters, Lime-water, and Soap: In Letter to Dr._ John Pringle, _F.R.S. from Dr._ Robert Whytt, _F.R.S. and Professor of Medicine in the University of_ Edinburgh. p. 386.

2. _An Instance of the Electrical Virtue in the Cure of a Palsy. By Mr._ Patrick Brydone. p. 392.

LI. _An Account of some fossil Fruits, and other Bodies, found in the Island of_ Shepey. _By_ James Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 396.

LII. _Observations on the Comet, that appeared in the Months of_ September _and_ October 1757, _made at the Royal Observatory by_ Ja. Bradley, _D.D. Astronomer Royal, F.R.S. and Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at_ Paris. p. 408.

LIII. _The Resolution of a General Proposition for determining the_ horary _Alteration of the Position of the Terrestrial Equator, from the Attraction of Sun and Moon: With some Remarks on the Solutions given by other Authors to that difficult and important Problem. By Mr._ Tho. Simpson, _F.R.S._ p. 416.

LIV. _Remarks upon the Heat of the Air in_ July 1757, _in an Extract of a Letter from_ John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S. to_ William Watson, _M.D. F.R.S. dated at_ Plymouth _19th of the same Month. With additional Remarks by Dr._ Watson. p. 428.

LV. _Remarks upon the Letter of Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to_ Philip Carteret Webb, _Esq; F.R.S. printed in the_ Philosophical Transactions, _Vol._ xlix. _Part_ ii. _p._ 806. _By Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ p. 430.

LVI. _An Answer to the preceding Remarks. By Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S._ p. 441.

LVII. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secr. R.S. concerning the Number of the People of_ England; _by the Rev. Mr._ Richard Forster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford _in_ Berkshire. p. 457.

LVIII. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the_ Royal Society, _from the Rev._ William Brakenridge, _D.D. F.R.S. containing an Answer to the Account of the Numbers and Increase of the People of_ England, _by the Rev. Mr._ Forster. p. 465.

ERRATA.

_Page_ 95. _line_ 24. _read_ even the ends of the umbilici.

_Page_ 96. _line_ 5. _read_ exposed the extremity of the umbilicus.

_Page_ 168. _line_ 4. _after_ as _dele_ well as.

_Page_ 328. _line_ 9 _from the bottom, for_ stream _read_ steam.

_In the Tables of the Variation of the Magnetic Needle, Anno_ 1756,

Lat. Long. 0--70E _for Var._ 3¼W _read_ 2¾W. _Read the same in p._ 333. 15N 35W ---- 3½W ---- 2½W 5S 40E ---- 17W ---- 18W 30S 15E ---- 18W ---- 17½W 35S 10W ---- 5½W ---- 5W 35S 45E ---- 26½W ---- 26W

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS.

I. _An Account of the Earthquake felt in_ New England, _and the neighbouring Parts of_ America, _on the 18th of_ November 1755. _In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. by Mr. Professor_ Winthrop, _of_ Cambridge _in_ New England.

[Read Jan. 13, 1757.]

Reverend Sir,

I Beg leave to lay before you the best account I am able to give of the great earthquake, which shook New England, and the neighbouring parts of America, on Tuesday the 18th day of November 1755, about a quarter after four in the morning. I deferred writing till this time, in order to obtain the most distinct information of the several particulars relating to it, both here and in the other places where it was felt; and especially the extent of it.

The night, in which this earthquake happened, was perfectly calm and serene. In the evening there was a fog over the marshes bordering on the river Charles, which runs through this town: but this I found intirely dissipated at the time of the earthquake, the air being then quite clear, and the moon, which wanted but 36ʰ of the full, shining very bright. The earthquake began with a roaring noise in the N.W. like thunder at a distance; and this grew fiercer, as the earthquake drew nearer; which was almost a minute in coming to this place, as near as I can collect from one of my neighbours, who was then on the road in this town. He tells me, that, as soon as he heard the noise, he stopt, knowing, that it was an earthquake, and waiting for it; and he reckoned he had stood still about 2’, when the noise seemed to overtake him, and the earth began to tremble under him: but, as I doubted, whether it were so long, I counted several numbers to him as slowly as a clock beats seconds; and then he said, he believed he could have counted half an hundred, at that rate, before the noise and shake came up to him. By his account, as well as that of others, the first motion of the earth was what may be called a pulse, or rather an undulation; and resembled (to use his own comparison) that of a long rolling, swelling sea; and the swell was so great, that he was obliged to run and catch hold of something, to prevent being thrown down. The tops of two trees close by him, one of which is 25, the other 30 feet high, he thinks waved at least ten feet (and I depend on his judgment in this particular, because he judged right of the height of the trees, as I found by actual mensuration); and there were two of these great wavings, succeeded by one, which was smaller. This sort of motion, after having continued, as has been conjectured, about a minute, abated a little; so that I, who was just then waked, and, I suppose, most others, imagined, that the height of the shock was past. But instantly, without a moment’s intermission, the shock came on with redoubled noise and violence; though the species of it was altered to a tremor, or quick horizontal vibratory motion, with sudden jerks and wrenches. The bed, on which I lay, was now tossed from side to side; the whole house was prodigiously agitated; the windows rattled, the beams cracked, as if all would presently be shaken to pieces. When this had continued about 2’, it began to abate, and gradually kept decreasing, as if it would be soon over: however, before it had quite ceased, there was a little revival of the trembling and noise, though no-ways comparable to what had been before: but this presently decreased, till all, by degrees, became still and quiet. Thus ended this great shock. It was followed by another about an hour and a quarter after, viz. at 5ʰ 29’. This, though comparatively small, was very generally perceived, both as to its noise and trembling, by those who were awake. On the Saturday evening following, viz. the 22d of November, at 27’ after eight, there was a third, more considerable than the second, but not to be compared with the first. And on Friday the 19th of December in the evening, exactly at ten o’ clock, there was a fourth shock, much smaller than either of the former, though, like them, preceded by the peculiar noise of an earthquake. The whole lasted but a few seconds; but the jarring was great enough to cause the window-shutters and door of the room, in which I then was, to clatter. The sky was perfectly clear, and there was a very gentle and scarcely-perceptible gale at S.W. These four are the only shocks, that I have been sensible of from the 18th of November last to this date; tho’ more are said to have been felt in other parts of the country to the northward of us.