arteries; and in one of his letters to Mr. Oldenburg says, that he saw more in one minute than the most accurate anatomist could discover by dissection in a day but when he afterwards changed this system, false as it was, of nerves and arteries for another, he believes as false, that of pre-existing germs in the spermatic animals, he neglected to improve this observation as he might have done; nay he afterwards took no further notice of it, but barely to say, that it was to be neglected. This remark he had from M. de Buffon.

The difference therefore between Mr. Lewenhoeck and Dr. Harvey was, that the first had an hypothesis to maintain, and the latter nothing in view but to follow nature, without trusting too much to the first phenomena, as he hoped he should appear to have done in this his inquiry.

He recollects one remark that coincided with his system; that although animal and vegetable substances by a chemical analysis appear to differ, they are nevertheless found by a natural corruption to be reducible to the same principles.. This had been observed long ago by many naturalists.

Fig. 5 represents the origin of the spermatic animals. Fig. 6, the wheat infusion. Fig. 7, what he has called an island in the wheat infusion. Fig. 8, a group of the chrysalids of the paste-eels. Fig. 9, is a draught of one of the first microscopical plants or zoophytes which he discovered; wherein a shows the figure of the plant throwing out its animals, and в the same again after the animals were discharged, again putting out a new shoot from the stem below, through the hollow transparent head, to form a new head, and produce another generation.

Astronomical Observations made at Paraguay in South America, from the Year 1706 to 1780. Communicated by James de Castro Sarmento, M. D., Col.. Lond. Lic., and F.R.S. N° 490, p. 667..

These observations were made at the town of St. Ignatius in Paraguay, by Father Bonaventura Suarez, a jesuit missionary, with a 5-foot telescope, and a second's pendulum, rectified to true time by altitudes of the fixed stars. The latitude of the place being 26° 52′ south, and longitude from Paris 3h 57m 50%.. The sun was eclipsed, anno 1706, Nov. 5. It began at 8h 52' in the morning, and ended at 11h 15m, the greatest quantity at 9h 50m being 4 dig. Oʻ.

The solar eclipse of March 11, 1709, began before sun-rise, which that day. was at 5h 53m. The eclipse ended at 1h 37m 15s. The greatest obscuration, at 6h 15m, was 9 dig. 20.

The moon was observed eclipsed April 16, 1707. The beginning at 7h 55m cafternoon; total obscuration at 8h 58m; and first emersion at 10 45m. The end was not observed for clouds.

The moon was observed eclipsed, April 4, 1708, afternoon. A sensible pe

numbra at 12h 18m; true eclipse began 12h 30m 295; ditto ended 15h 3m; pënumbra ended 15h 12m.

The sun was observed eclipsed Jan. 18, 1730, in the afternoon. The beginning at 2h 52m 30s; the greatest obscuration was 8 digits: the end not observed for clouds: it seemed to be about 4h 52m; as at 4h 55m, the moon was quite clear of the sun.

Anno 1729, Aug. 8, in the total lunar eclipse, because of clouds, it could only be observed that the first emersion was at 10h 1m afternoon; and 6 dig. were eclipsed at 10h 33m 2s.

The same year 1729, Dec. 9, afternoon,

11h 3m 5s the moon occulted a satellite of Jupiter.

Anno 1713, Dec. 1, afternoon, the moon was observed eclipsed, at town of St. Joseph, in longitude from Paris 3h 52m 30s. The beginning was at 10h 33m 31; the end 12h 56m 57s; and the greatest obscuration at 11h 45m, was 5 dig.

Anno 1717, March 26, afternoon, the moon was observed eclipsed, in the meridian of St. Cosma, longitude from Paris, 3h 52m 20s. A sensible penumbra at 9h 40m; beginning of the eclipse 10h 2m 215; end of it 12h 45m 40$; end of the penumbra 13h 1m. Quantity eclipsed 7 dig. 18'.

Anno 1728, Feb. 24, the moon was observed eclipsed, at the town of St. Michael the Archangel, afternoon, with a 10-foot tube, the difference of longitude from Paris 3h 48m 50. Beginning of the eclipse at 14h 3m 35s; the end at 17h Om 875; the quantity eclipsed 9 dig. 40′.

Anno 1700, March 4, afternoon, a total eclipse of the moon in the Fluentine College, commonly called de las Corrientes, its difference of longitude from Paris about 4h 2m.

Beginning of the eclipse at 13h 14m; total immersion 14h 34m; first emersion 16h 15m; end of the eclipse 17h 15m.

END OF THE FORTY-FIFTH VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL.

On Thermometers, and the Weather. By the Rev. Henry Miles, D.D., F.R.S. N° 491, Anno 1749. Vol. XLVI. p. 1.

It has been often complained, that the theories of the air and weather are so imperfect, and that an unfinished one of Mr. Boyle, published since his death, is the best we yet have. Perhaps there is equal reason for complaint, that the

thermometer first introduced into use in England, by the same excellent philosopher, has been so little improved for more than half a century, that it serves for little more than amusement.

For some years past, several eminent philosophers have applied themselves to bring this instrument to better condition, and to render it more useful; and among them the great Sir Isaac Newton did not think it unworthy his attention. It seems now to be pretty generally agreed, that thermometers made with quicksilver are preferable to all others; that extravagant fluid, as Mr. Boyle calls it, being most easily susceptible both of heat and cold, and, when well purified, not liable to be obstructed in its motion.

Dr. M. had, by some years experience, found both the excellence of them, and the necessity of keeping them in the open shaded air, before he met with the learned and curious essays medical and philosophical of Dr. George Martine, in which he so much recommends their use; and it was no small satisfaction to find that gentleman had proved, by experiments, that quicksilver both heats and cools faster than any liquor we know; faster, I am sure, says he, than water, oil, or even spirit of wine, and never freezes, by any degree of cold hitherto observed.

There is another particular of great importance, which probably we may rather wish than hope to see made a general practice, recommended by the same gentleman; viz. the constructing all thermometers with one scale. But if this may not be expected, certainly no thermometer should be made without adjusting two determinate and sufficiently distant points of heat and cold; such, for instance, as those of boiling water, and of water just beginning to freeze, and the intervening space divided into a convenient number of equal degrees. By this means we should be able to know what is meant by any specified degrees of heat or cold, and a comparison might be easily made of the state of the air in distant. places, provided the instruments were accurately made.

On Monday Nov. 21st, 1748, in the evening, the sky very clear, the wind N. and a smart frost, the barometer was 30 inches. At near 9h the thermometer without the window at 7° below 0, or freezing point. The thermometer within, of the same construction with it, and not a yard from it, (the room having had no fire in it this season) at 5o nearly above 0.

On Tuesday morning, at 4h 20m, the barometer was at 30 inch; the thermometer without at 14° below 0; that within at 2° above 0: which was surprising. At 7h 40m the same morning, the sky looked red and lowering; and the barometer was fallen to 30, the thermometer without risen to 5° below freezing point, but that within fallen to 1° above; the wind getting about to w. and s.w. and before 10 in the morning there was some rain, and this sewere frost went off. At this last-mentioned hour the thermometer without had 4 K

VOL. IX.

risen to 5o above 0; that within continuing at 1° as before. At 8" that evening, the thermometer without was at no less than 12° above 0, that within at 3o above 0: so that from 4h 20 in the morning to 8" at night, there was a change in the temperature of the air abroad of 26°; while the change within. doors did not amount to more than a degree warmer.

The Case of a Clergyman's Lady, at Cottered near Baldock, Herts, who had a Stone under her Tongue. By Wm. Freeman, Esq. F.R.S. N° 491, p. 5. This substance, seemingly a concretion of stone or chalk, was voided in July 1748, from under the root of her tongue, just on the left side of the middle string among the blood-vessels. It was lodged in a cell formed by itself, the traces being left behind exactly answering. It was voided without pain, or effusion of blood.

The patient began to feel in the part affected some uneasiness about 18 months before the discharge. The pain extended itself sometimes along the jaw almost to the ear; the glands being at times swelled, and a salt rheum flowing into the mouth. The swelling of the part gradually increased to about the size of a large nutmeg; and felt hard to the finger.

About a fortnight before the discharge, some white specks appeared; on which it was supposed that matter was gathering; and being still hard, a common. poultice of white bread and milk was applied; after which it presently dislodged itself, without any application, and left the patient ever since free from complaint.

On Glasses of a New Contrivance, for preserving Pieces of Anatomy or Natural History in Spirituous Liquors. By Claud. Nic. le Cat, M.D., F. R.S. &c. Translated from the French by T. S., M.D., F.R.S. N° 491, p. 6. Having, in 1739, begun to make a collection of preparations in anatomy and natural history, M. le Cat soon felt the necessity of contriving some kind of. vessel, or some way of closing the common glasses, which might prevent, or at least diminish the quantity of spirituous liquor lost by evaporation.

After trying several methods, he fixed on the glass, which is represented in figures 10, and 11, pl. 10. Its difference from the common glasses consists in having, quite round the edge of its orifice, a circular groove or channel, AA, fig. 11, an inch deep for the smaller sizes, and 2 inches for the larger. This circular groove is intended to receive a border, BB, of the same figure on the cover c in the middle of the concavity of this cover is a double hook, on which the threads are to be fastened, which suspend the piece or preparation to be put into the glass.

In putting the piece into the glass, which contains the preserving liquor, care must be taken to place it on the hooks in the same position, which you intend

it should keep in the glass: that done, you are to pour oil, or quicksilver, which is better, into the circular groove AA, so as to make it about half full. Then you are to let down the piece into the preserving liquor; and when it is entirely sunk down, the cover c ought to light upon the glass, and its circular border BB, enter into the circular groove AA, where it falls into the oil or quicksilver, which rises up and fills the whole groove; by which means the glass is in some measure hermetically sealed. The oil indeed permits some small evaporation; the quicksilver more completely answers the end of this invention.

As he had contrived this glass for his own private use, he neglected making it public; till, happening to be present at the public meeting of the Academy of Sciences of Paris, at Easter 1746, he heard M. de Reaumur read a memoir on this subject. His own glass seemed to him vastly preferable to the vessels proposed by that great academician. This incident roused his emulation, and gave him the better opinion of his glass, a pattern of which he sent to M. Morand. The same motive engaged him to send this description to the Royal Society.* Astronomical Observations made in Paraguay. By J. de Castro Sarmento, M.D. From the Latin. N° 491, p. 8.

An eclipse of the moon took place Feb. 24, 1747, but the sky was so cloudy that very little of it could be observed besides the end, which happened at 15h 16m 48, at the town of St. Angelus, in lat. 28° 17′ south, and 323° 30′ longit. from the Ferro Isle.

Another lunar eclipse was observed Aug. 19, 1747, at the town of St. Mary the Greater, in lat. 27° 51′ south, and 322° 40′ longit. from the Ferro Isle.

The penumbra was sensible, at 14h 44m; beginning of the eclipse was at 14h 55m 44; 6 digits obscured at 15h 24m 6s; the total obscuration at 15h 53m 16s; beginning of emersion 17 34 485; 6 digits emerged 18h 3m 30s.

ap

* In using the bottle, M. le Cat found it was attended with one inconvenience. The circular groove, the edge of which was turned up on the inside of the bottle, retained a small quantity of the water, when he emptied and rinsed it; so that it was impossible to do it thoroughly. He therefore caused the vessel to be made, as represented in fig. 10, which is a section of it; and where it pears that the groove a A is placed on the outside of the edge of the bottle. By this means every drop of the contained fluid can be poured out. It is easy to see that the circular border BB of the cover is to enter into these grooves AA, which are filled with oil or quicksilver; and that the hook c, of the same cover, is to suspend in the liquor such pieces as are to be preserved in it.-Orig,

Mr. Carlisle's method of closing the openings of wide-mouthed vessels (for preserving anatomical preparations, &c.) is to have a glass jar with a groove an inch deep round the outside of the top or mouth, and a glass lid, like that used by confectioners in their show-glasses. The lid fitting closely into the groove is rendered air-tight by hog's-lard, a substance which he finds never becomes quite fluid at the highest temperature of this climate, and is always soft enough in the cold season to admit of removing the lid or top. See the 6th volume of Nicholson's Journal of Nat. Phil.