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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}

       *       *       *       *       *




_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 of what this Kingdom, or other parts of the
World, do, from time to time, afford, as well {2} of the progress of the
Studies, Labours, and attempts of the Curious and learned in things of this
kind, as of their compleat Discoveries and performances: To the end, that
such Productions being clearly and truly communicated, desires after solid
and usefull knowledge may be further entertained, ingenious Endeavours and
Undertakings cherished, and those, addicted to and conversant in such
matters, may be invited and encouraged to search, try, and find out new
things, impart their knowledge to one another, and contribute what they can
to the Grand design of improving Natural knowledge, and perfecting all
_Philosophical Arts_, and _Sciences_. All for the Glory of God, the Honour
and Advantage of these Kingdoms, and the Universal Good of Mankind.

       *       *       *       *       *

_An Accompt of the improvement of_ Optick Glasses.

There came lately from _Paris_ a Relation, concerning the Improvement of
_Optick Glasses_, not long since attempted at _Rome_ by Signor _Giuseppe
Campani_, and by him discoursed of, in a Book, Entituled, _Ragguaglio di
nuoue Osservationi_, lately printed in the said City, but not yet
transmitted into these parts; wherein these following particulars,
according to the Intelligence, which was sent hither, are contained.

The _First_ regardeth the excellency of the long _Telescopes_, made by the
said _Campani_, who pretends to have found a way to work great _Optick
Glasses_ with a Turne-tool, without any Mould: And whereas hitherto it hath
been found by Experience, that _small_ Glasses are in proportion better to
see with, upon the Earth, than the _great_ ones; that Author affirms, that
his are equally good for the Earth, and for making Observations in the
Heavens. Besides, he useth three Eye-Glasses for his great _Telescopes_,
without finding any _Iris_, or such Rain-bow colours, as do usually appear
in ordinary Glasses, and prove an impediment to Observations.

The _Second_, concerns the _Circle of Saturn_, in which he hath observed
nothing, but what confirms Monsieur _Christian Huygens de Zulichem_ his
Systeme of that Planet, published by that worthy Gentleman in the year,
1659. {3}

The _Third_, respects _Jupiter_, wherein _Campani_ affirms he hath observed
by the goodness of his Glasses, certain _protuberancies_ and
_inequalities_, much greater than those that have been seen therein
hitherto. He addeth, that he is now observing, whether those sallies in the
said _Planet_ do not change their scituation, which if they should be found
to do, he judgeth, that _Jupiter_ might then be said to turn upon his
_Axe_; which, in his opinion, would serve much to confirm the opinion of
_Copernicus_. Besides this, he affirms, he hath remarked in the _Belts_ of
_Jupiter_, the shaddows of his _satellites_, and followed them, and at
length seen them emerge out of his Disk.

       *       *       *       *       *

_A Spot in one of the Belts of Jupiter._

The Ingenious Mr. _Hook_ did, some moneths since, intimate to a friend of
his, that he had, with an excellent twelve foot Telescope, observed, some
days before, he than spoke of it, (_videl._ on the ninth of _May_, 1664,
about 9 of the clock at night) a small Spot in the biggest of the 3
obscurer _Belts_ of _Jupiter_, and that, observing it from time to time, he
found, that within 2 hours after, the said Spot had moved from East to
West, about half the length of the Diameter of _Jupiter_.

       *       *       *       *       *

_The Motion of the late Comet praedicted._

There was lately sent to one of the _Secretaries_ of the _Royal Society_ a
Packet, containing some Copies of a Printed Paper, Entituled, The
_Ephemerides_ of the _Comet_, made by the same Person, that sent it, called
_Monsieur Auzout_, a _French_ Gentleman of no ordinary Merit and Learning,
who desired, that a couple of them might be recommended to the said
_Society_, and one to their _President_, and another to his Highness Prince
_Rupert_, and the rest to some other Persons, nominated by him in a Letter
that accompanied this present, and known abroad for their singular
abilities and knowledge in Philosophical Matters. The end of the
Communication of this Paper was, That, the motion of the _Comet_, that hath
lately appeared, having been praedicted by the said _Monsieur {4} Auzout_,
after he had seen it (as himself affirms) but 4 or 5 times: the _Virtuosi_
of _England_, among others, might compare also their Observations with his
_Ephemerides_, either to confirm the _Hypothesis_, upon which the _Author_
had before hand calculated the way of this Star, or to undeceive him, if he
be in a mistake. The said Author Dedicateth these his conceptions to the
most Christian King, telling him, that he presents Him with a design, which
never yet was undertaken by any _Astronomer_, all the World having been
hitherto perswaded, that the motions of _Comets_ were so irregular, that
they could not be reduced to any Laws, and men having contented themselves,
to observe exactly the places, through which they did pass; but no man