_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,
that he knows, having been so bold as to venture to foretel the places,
through which they should pass, and where they should cease to appear:
Whereas he exhibites here the _Ephemerides_, determining day by day, in
what place of the Heavens this _Comet_ shall be, at what hour it shall be
in its _Meridian_, and at what hour it shall set; untill its too great
remoteness, or the approach of the Sun, hide it from our eyes. Descending
to particulars, he saith, that this Star, being disengaged from the beams
of the Sun might have been observed, if his conjectures be good, ever since
it hath been of 17 or 18 degrees _Southern Latitude_, and that about the
middle of _November_ last, and sooner, unless it have been too small: That
however it hath been seen in _Holland_ ever since the _2d._ of _December_
last, at which time, according to his reckoning, the Diurnal motion of the
_Comet_ should already amount to 17 or 18 minutes. He finds, that this Star
moveth _just enough_ in the Plan of a _Great Circle_, which inclineth to
the _Equinoctial_ about 30 degrees, and to the _Ecliptick_ about 49d. or
491/2 cutting the _Equator_ at about 45_d_1/2, and the _Ecliptick_ at the 28_d_
of _Aries_, or a little more. He saith _just enough_, because he thinks,
there may perhaps be some _parallaxe_, which he wisheth could be
determined.
Hence, (_so he goes on_) every one who pleaseth, may see, in tracing the
_Comet_ upon the _Globe_, through, or by which Stars it hath passed and
shall pass; adding, that there will be neither cause to wonder, that having
descended to about 6. deg. beneath the _Tropick_ of _Capricorn_, he hath
remounted afterwards, and shall go {5} on ascending so, as to pass the
_AEquinoctial_, and perhaps proceed to 15. degrees _Northern Declination_,
if it do not disappear before that time, by reason of its remoteness: Nor
to believe, that there have been two _Comets_, upon its being seen again
the 31. of _December_; since, according to him, it ought to have been so,
if it continue to move in a _Great Circle_.
Having hereupon shewed, how the motion is to be traced upon the _Globe_, he
finds, that, according to his Calculation, this _Comet_ was to pass the
_Tropick_ of _Capricorn_ about the 16 of _December_, and being entred into
the Sign of _Virgo_ on the 20. of the same month, and having been in
_Quadrat_ with the _Sun_, it should still descend, until the 26 of
_December_ in the morning, and then enter into _Leo_; that having entred,
the 28. of the same month, into _Cancer_, and been, a little after that
time, in its greatest Inclination to the _Ecliptick_, vid in the 28. degree
of _Leo_, it was to repass the _Southern Tropick_, over against the _little
Dogg_, on the 29. of _December_ about 9 or 10 of the clock in the morning,
after it had been opposite to the _Sun_ 2. or 3. hours before; and that on
the 29. of _December_ in the evening it should be in _Gemini_; and at the
very beginning of the New year, enter into _Taurus_.
After this, our Author finds, that this _Comet_, according to his account,
should pass the _AEquator_, on the 4. of _January_ before noon, and that
about 5. or 6. of the clock in the evening of that day it was to come into
the jaw of the _Whale_, and the 9. of the same, at 6. of the clock it
should come close to the small Star of the _Whale_, which is in its way, a
little below. At length he finds that it was to enter into _Aries_ on the
12. of _January_, and to cut the _Ecliptick_ on the 16. of the same month
about noon, at which time it was to be again in _Quadrat_ with the _Sun_,
whence drawing a little to above the _Northern Line_ of _Pisces_, it should
in his opinion cease to appear a little beyond that place, without going as
far as to the middle of _Aries_, if so be that its remoteness make it not
disappear sooner.
He continueth, and saith, that this _Comet_ shall not arrive to the place
over against the _Line_ of _Pisces_ till the 10 of _February_, & that then
its _Diurnal_ motion shall not exceed 8 minutes, and not 5 minutes about
the 20 of the same month: and that in the {6} beginning of _March_, if we
see it so long, the said motion shall not exceed 4 minutes, and so shall be
still diminishing; except the _Comet_ become _Retrograde_, which, as very
important, he would have well observed; as also, whether its motion will be
about the end more or less swift, than he hath calculated it.
He subjoyneth, that the greatest way, which this Star could make in 24.
hours, hath been 13. d. 25'; and in one houre, about 34'; and thinking it
probable, that about the time, when it made so much way, it should be
nearest to the _Earth_, he concludeth that its motion in 24. hours must be,
in its least distance from the _Earth_, as about 3. to 14, or 1. to 4-2/3,
and that its motion in one hour was to be to the same least distance, as
about 1. to 102-1/7.
But that, which he judgeth most remarkable, is, that he found by his
Calculation, that the said least distance should be on the 29. of
_December_, when the _Comet_ was opposite to the Sun; which he does not
know whether it may not serve to decide the grand Question concerning the
_Motion of the Earth_.
He taketh further notice, that the _Tayl_ of the _Comet_ was to turn
_Westward_, with a point to the _North_, until the 29. of _December_, at
which time it was to be opposite to the _Sun_, and that then the said
_Tayl_ was to look directly _North_; but that, after that time, the _Tayl_
was to turn _Eastward_, and continue to do so, until it disappear; and that
it shall draw a little towards the _North_, until the 8. or 10. of
_February_, at which time the _Tayl_ is to be parallel to the _AEquator_, as
if the _Comet_ be _yet_ seen for some time after, the _Tayl_ shall go a
little lower towards the _South_, but grow smaller.
He finds by his _Hypothesis_, that on the 2. of _December_, which is the
first observation, that he hath heard of, this Star was to be about 7.
times more remote from the _Earth_, than when it was in its _Perigeum_; and
that it will be again in an equall remoteness from the _Earth_, on the 27.
of _January_, so that he is of opinion, that in case this _Comet_ have not
been seen before the 2. of _December_, it will not be seen any more after
the 27. of _January_.
He wishes above all things, that it might be very exactly observed, at what
Angle the way of the _Comet_ cuts the _AEquator_, and, most of all, the
_Ecliptick_, that so it may be seen, whether {7} there hath not been some
_Parallaxe_ in the _Circle_ of his Motion; as also, that some observations
could be had of its greatest descent beneath the _Tropick of Capricorn_ in
the more _Southern_ parts, where he saith it would have been without
_Refractions_; Moreover of the Time, when it hath been in _Quadrat_ with
the _Sun_ about the 20 of _December_; and that also very exact Observation
might be made of the time of its being again in _Quadrat_ with the _Sun_,
which, according to him, was to be _January_ 16.
He wishes also, that some in _Madagascar_ may have observed this Star;
Seeing that it began to appear over the middle of that _Island_, and passed
twice over their heads; he judgeth, that they have seen it before us. And
he wisheth lastly, that there were some intelligent person in _Guiana_ to
observe it there, seeing that within a few daies, according to his
reckoning, it will pass over their Heads, and will not remove from thence
but 8 or 10 degrees Northward, where he saith, it will disappear; thinking
it improbable, that it can still appear, after the _Sun_ shall have passed
it.
This Account beareth date of the 2. _January_, new stile, 1665. and the
Author thereof addeth this Note, That, seeing it could not be printed nor
distributed so soon as he desired, he hath had the opportunity to verifie
it by some Observations, from which he affirms he hath found no sensible
difference; or, if there be, that it proceeds only from thence, that the
Stars have advanced, since his _Globe_ was made. He concludeth, that if
this continue, and the first Observations do likewise agree, or that the
differences do arrive within the Times ghessed by him, that he hopes, he
shall determine both the _Distance_ and the _Magnitude_ of this _Comet_;
and that perhaps one may be enabled to decide the Question of the _Motion
of the Earth_. In the interim, he assureth, that he hath not changed the
least number in his Calculations, and that _Monsieur Huygens_, and several
French Gentlemen, to whom he saith, he hath given them long since, can bear
him witness that he hath done so; as also many other friends of his, who
saw upon his _Globe_, several daies before, the way of the _Comet_ from day
to day.
Thus for the _Parisian_ Account of the Comet, which is here inserted at
large, that the intelligent and curious in _England_ may {8} compare their
Observations therewith, either to verifie these _Praedictions_, or to shew
wherein they differ; which is (as was also hinted above) the design of this
_Philosophical Prophet_ in dispersing his Conceptions, who declareth
himself ready, in case he be mistaken in his reckoning, to learn another
_Hypothesis_, to explicate these admirable appearances by.
* * * * *
_An Experimental History of Cold._
There is in the Press, a New _Treatise_, entituled, _New Observations and
Experiments in order to an Experimental History of Cold_, begun by that
Noble Philosopher, Mr. _Robert Boyle_, and in great part already Printed;
He did lately very obligingly present several Copies of so much as was
Printed, to the _Royal Society_, with a desire that some of the Members
thereof might be engaged to peruse the Book, and select out of it for
trial, the hints of such Experiments, as the _Author_ there wisheth might
be either yet made or prosecuted. The Heads thereof are,