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Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they
are listed at the end of the text. The errata on pp. 70, 118, 162, 310,
352, 367 & 407 have been applied to the text.

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_PHILOSOPHICAL_

TRANSACTIONS:

GIVING SOME

ACCOMPT

OF THE PRESENT

Undertakings, Studies, and Labours

OF THE

INGENIOUS

IN MANY

CONSIDERABLE PARTS

OF THE

WORLD

_Vol I._

For _Anno_ 1665, and 1666.

In the _SAVOY_,
Printed by _T. N._ for _John Martyn_ at the Bell, a little without
_Temple-Bar_, and _James Allestry_ in _Duck-Lane_,
Printers to the _Royal Society_.

       *       *       *       *       *


TO THE

Royal Society.

_It will not become me, to adde any Attributes to a Title, which has a
Fulness of Lustre from his _Majesties_ Denomination._

_In these Rude Collections, which are onely the Gleanings of my _private_
diversions in broken hours, it may appear, that many Minds and Hands are in
many places industriously employed, under Your Countenance, and by Your
Example, in the pursuit of those Excellent Ends, which belong to Your
Heroical Undertakings._

_Some of these are but the Intimations of large Compilements. And some
Eminent Members of Your _Society_, have obliged the Learned World with
Incomparable _Volumes_, which are not herein mention'd, because they were
finisht, and in great Reputation abroad, before I entred upon this Taske.
And no small Number are at present engaged for those weighty Productions,
which require _both_ Time and Assistance, for their due Maturity. So that
no man can from these Glimpses of Light take any just Measure of Your
Performances, or of Your Prosecutions; but every man may perhaps receive
some benefit from these Parcels, which I guessed to be somewhat conformable
to Your Design._

_This is my Solicitude, That, as I ought not to be unfaithful to those
Counsels you have committed to my Trust, so also that I may not altogether
waste any minutes of the leasure you afford me. And thus have I made the
best use of some of them, that I could devise; To spread abroad
Encouragements, Inquiries, Directions, and Patterns, that may animate, and
draw on_ Universal Assistances.

_The _Great God_ prosper You in the Noble Engagement of Dispersing the true
Lustre of his Glorious Works, and the Happy Inventions of obliging Men all
over the World, to the General Benefit of Mankind: So wishes with real
Affections,_

Your humble and obedient Servant

_HENRY OLDENBURG._

{1}

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_Numb._ 1.

PHILOSOPHICAL
_TRANSACTIONS._

       *       *       *       *       *

_Munday_, _March_ 6. 1664/5.

       *       *       *       *       *

The Contents.

    _An Introduction to this Tract. An Accompt of the Improvement of
    _Optick Glasses_ at _Rome_. Of the Observation made in _England_, of a
    Spot in one of the Belts of the Planet _Jupiter_. Of the motion of the
    late _Comet_ praedicted. The Heads of many New Observations and
    Experiments, in order to an Experimental _History of Cold_; together
    with some _Thermometrical_ Discourses and Experiments. A Relation of a
    very odd Monstrous _Calf_. Of a peculiar _Lead-Ore_ in _Germany_, very
    useful for Essays. Of an _Hungarian Bolus_, of the same effect with the
    _Bolus Armenus_. Of the New _American_ Whale-fishing about the
    _Bermudas_. A Narative concerning the success of the _Pendulum-watches_
    at Sea for the _Longitudes_; and the Grant of a _Patent_ thereupon. A
    Catalogue of the Philosophical Books publisht by _Monsieur de Fermat_,
    Counsellour at _Tholouse_, lately dead._

       *       *       *       *       *

_The Introduction._

Whereas there is nothing more necessary for promoting the improvement of
Philosophical Matters, than the communicating to such, as apply their
Studies and Endeavours that way, such things as are discovered or put in
practise by others, it is therefore thought fit to employ the _Press_, as
the most proper way to gratifie those, whose engagement in such Studies,
and delight in the advancement of Learning and profitable Discoveries, doth
entitle them to the knowledge