M. _The first Face, as S. _Campani_ saw at Rome, _March 3. 1666_. in the
Evening, with a Glass of 50 Palmes._
N. _The second Face, as the same _Campani_ observed it _March 18/28_. in
the Evening._
O. _The figure of _Mars_ as it was seen at _Rome_ by a Telescope of
_Divini_ of 45 Palmes, _March 20/30_._
P. _The Figure of the said Planet, as it was seen the same day and hour at
Bononia by _Cassini_; being that of the second Face._
* * * * *
_Some Observations lately made at _London_ concerning the Planet
_Jupiter_._
These, as they were made, so they were imparted, by Mr. _Hook_, as follows:
[Illustration]
A. 1666, _June_ 26. between 3. and 4. of the Clock in the morning, I
observed the Body of _Jupiter_ through a 60 foot-glass, and found the
apparent Diameter of it through the Tube, to be somewhat more than 2.
degrees, that is, about four {246} times as big, as the Diameter of the
_Moon_ appears to the _naked_ Eye. I saw the Limb pretty round, and very
well defin'd without radiation. The parts of the _Phasis_ of it had various
degrees of Light. About a and f, the _North_ and _South_ poles of it (in
the _Fig Q._) 'twas somewhat darker, and by degrees it grew brighter
towards b. and e, two Belts or Zones; the one of which (b) was a small dark
_Belt_ crossing the Body Southward; Adjoyning to which was a smal Line of a
somewhat lighter part; and below that again, Southwards, was the great
black _Belt c_. Between that, and e, the other smaller black Belt, was a
pretty large and bright _Zone_; but the middle d, was somewhat darker than
the edges. I perceiv'd about 3^{h.} 15^{m.} near the middle of this, a very
_dark round Spot_, like that represented at g, which was not to be
perceiv'd about half an hour before: And I observed it, in about 10.
minutes time to be gotten almost to d, keeping equal distance from the
_Satelles h_, which moved also Westwardly, and was joyn'd to the Disk at i,
at 3^{h.} 25^{m.} After which, the Air growing very hazy, and (as appeared
by the _Baroscope_) very light also (in weight) I could not observe it: So
that it was sufficiently evident, that this black Spot was nothing else,
save the shadow of the _Satelles h_, Eclipsing a part of the Face of
Jupiter. About two hours before, I had observed a large darker spot in the
bigger _Belt_ about k, which in about an hour or little more (for I did not
exactly observe the time, nor draw the _Figure_ of it) moving Westwards,
disappear'd. About a week before, I discover'd also, together with a Spot
in the _Belt c_, another Spot in the _Belt e_, which kept the same way and
velocity with that of the _Belt c_. The other three _Satellites_ in the
time of this Eclipse, made by the _Satelles_, were Westwards of the Body of
_Jupiter_; appearing as bright through the Tube, as the Body of _Jupiter_
did to the naked Eye, and I was able to see them longer through the Tube,
after the day-light came on, than I was able to see the Body of _Jupiter_
with my naked eye.
* * * * *
_A late Observation about Saturn made by the same._
[Illustration]
_June_ 29 1666. between 11. and 12. at night I observed the Body of
_Saturn_ through a 60. foot Telescope, and found it {247} exactly of the
shape represented in the _Figure_ R. The _Ring_ appear'd of a somewhat
brighter Light than the _Body_; and the black lines a a, crossing the Ring,
and b b crossing the Body (whether Shadows or not, I dispute not) were
plainly visible: whence I could manifestly see, that the _Souther_-most
part of the Ring was on _this_ side of the Body, and the _Northern_ part,
behind, or covered by the Body.
* * * * *
_A Relation of a sad effect of Thunder and Lightning:_
This Relation was written by that worthy Gentleman, _Thomas Neale_ Esquire,
(the then _High Sheriff_ of the County of _Hampshire_, when this disaster
hapned) to a Friend of his in _London_, as follows;
On the 24 of _January_ 1665/6, one Mr. _Brooks_ of _Hampshire_, going from
_Winchester_ towards his house near _Andover_ in very bad Weather, was
himself slain by Lightning, and the Horse, he rode on, under him. For about
a mile from _Winchester_ he was found with his Face beaten into the ground,
one leg in the stirrup, the other in the Horses mane; his Cloaths all burnt
off his back, not a piece as big as a handkerchief left intire, and his
hair and all his body singed. With the force, that struck him down, his
nose was beaten into his face, and his Chin into his Breast; where was a
wound cut almost as low, as to his Navil; and his cloaths being, as
aforesaid, torn, the pieces were so scatter'd and consum'd, that not enough
to fill the crown of a hat could be found. His gloves were whole, but his
hands in them sing'd to the bone. The hip-bone and shoulder of his Horse
burn't and bruised; and his saddle torn in little pieces. This was what
appear'd to the Coroners inquest, and so is likely to be as near truth, as
any is to be had.
_So far this Letter_: Which, if it had come soon enough to the hands of the
_Publisher_, would have been joyned to a like _Relation_, inserted in the
next foregoing Papers (_Num._ 13.) of an accident hapn'd at a later time.
With both which may be compared the Account, formerly published in Latin by
the Learned Dr. _Charleton_, concerning the Boy, that was {248}
Thunder-struck near _Nantwich in Cheshire;_ the Title of the Book being
_Anatome Pueride Caelo tacti_: such Relations, when truly made, well
deserving to be carefully recorded for farther consideration.
* * * * *
_Of some Books lately publish't._
_RELATIONS OF DIVERS CURIOUS VOYAGES_, by _Mons. Thevenot_, the third
_Tome_, in _French_. This Book contains chiefly, the Ambassie of the
_Dutch_ into _China_, translated out of the Dutch manuscript: A
Geographical description of _China_, translated out of a Chinese Author by
_Martinius_: And the Account, which the Directors of the Dutch East-India
Company made to the States General, touching the state of affairs in the
East-Indies, when their late Fleet parted from thence. To touch some things
of a _Geographical_ and _Philosophical_ nature, contained therein, we shall
take notice;
1. How the Kingdom of _China_ is peopled; there being according to the best
computation (which is there made with singular care) above 58 millions of
Men, not counting Magistrates, Soldiers, Priests, Eunuchs, Women and
Children; so that it may not be altogether strange, if one should affirm,
there were 200 millions of people, of all sorts, in that Kingdom.
2. That _Catay_ is nothing else, but the _Six_ Northern Provinces of
_China_, separated from the other _Nine_, by the great River _KIANG_; and
that the City _Cambalu_ is the same with that of _Peking_; the _Tartars_,
who carry every three years their Tribute to the Emperor of _China_,
constantly calling the said Provinces and City by those names of _Catay_,
and _Cambalu_.
3. That _China_ is so well furnisht with Rivers, and cut Channels, that men
may go from the most Southern to the most Northern part thereof by water,
except one daies journey; as the Dutch Ambassadours did, embarking at
_Canton_, which is 23d. 48m. Northern Latitude, and landing at _Peking_,
which is about 40d; having only travell'd one daies journey over some
Mountains of the Province _Kiamsi_.
4. That the people of _China_ are exceeding industrious {249} Husbandmen
making, among other waies of improving their soile, great use of Flouding.
5. That the _Physicians_ of _China_ do cure Sicknesses with much ease, and
in a short time: That they have very ancient Books of the nature and
vertues of Herbs, Trees and Stones: That their Modern Physicians (as well
as their Ancient ones did) write of the Prognosticks, Causes, Effects, &c.
of Diseases. That their Remedies consist for the most part of _Simples_ and
_Decoctions_, _Cauteries_, _Frictions_; without the use of _Bloud letting:_
That they have such an excellent skill and method in feeling the _Pulse_,
that by the means thereof they discover even the most latent causes of
Diseases; taking a good half hour, when they visit a Patient, in feeling
and examining his Pulse: That they prescribe much the use of _The_; and the
drinking alwayes warme, whatever they drink: To the custome of both which
it's imputed, that the inhabitants of _China_ do spit very little, nor are
subject to the Stone or Gout: That they prise highly the Root _Ginseng_, as
an extraordinary Restorative and Cordiall, recovering frequently with it
agonizing persons; one pound of it being paid with 3 pounds of silver. As
for their _Chymists_, (of which they have also good store) they go beyond
ours, promising not only to make Gold, but to give Immortality.
6. That their _Nobility_ is raised from Learning and Knowledge, without
regard to Bloud or Parentage, excepting the Royall Family.
7. That in _CHEKIAN_, a maritime Province, whence is the shortest cut of
_China_ to _Japan_, is the best and plentifullest _Silk-trade_ in the
world: And that there every year the Mulberries are cutt, and kept down,
that they grow not into Trees for the easier gathering of the Leaves, there
being a _double_ Silk-harvest in that Country, as there is in severall
other parts of the East-indies; (both which there is hope, will shortly be
imitated in _Virginia_.)
8. That the way of making _Porcelane_ is this: (_Which is the rather
inserted here, because it agrees so well with an Account, we received a
while since from a very Curious and intelligent Person of Amsterdam._)
There is in the Province of _Nankin_ a Town, call'd {250} _Goesifols_
whence they draw the Earth for _Porcelaine_, which is found between the
Rocks of Mountains. This Earth they beat very small, and stamp it to a very
fine Powder, and then put it into Tubs fill'd with water; where the finest
part sinks to the bottom. Afterwards 'tis kneaded in the form of small
Cubes, of the weight of about 3. _Catti_ (a _Catti_ being 20 Ounces.) These
pieces thus wrought are sold to the people, that commonly in great numbers
fetch them, coming from the Town _Sintesimo_ (otherwise _Jontiou_) in the
Province of _Kiansy_, being about 50 miles distant from _Wotsing_, neer the
City _KIANSY_; which people transport them to their homes, and there bake
them in this manner: They heat their Ovens well, for the space of 15 daies
successively, and then keep them so close, that no Air may get in; and
after 15 _other_ daies are pass'd, they open the Oven in the presence of an
Officer, who takes every fifth vessel of each fashion for the service of
the Emperor: Which done, the rest is sold to those of _Ucienien_, whence it
is transported all over the Country. So that the Earth is not prepared, in
_Nankin_, where 'tis found, because the people of that Province have not
the skill of working it, as the other above-mention'd; who also alone have
the Art of coloring it, which they keep as a great Secret, not teaching it
to any, but their Children and next Kindred.
9. That _Musk_ is nothing else, but the Testicles of a Beast like a Dear,
found in the Province of _Honan_; and that, when tis good and unmixt, as it
comes from the Animal, they sell it even in _Nankin_ and _Pekin_, for 30.
or 35. _Teyls_ (that is, about so many Crowns) the _Catti_.
Many other curious informations might be borrow'd from this Author,
concerning the Customs, Studies, Exercises of the _Chinese_; of the number
of the people of each Province; of the Natural productions of the Earth and
Rivers there; of the Structure and Antiquity of their Wall; of the
Magnificence of their Porcelain Tower &c.; but, remitting for these things
to the Book it self, we shal only add a piece of Oeconomy, used by the
_Holland_-Merchants in their Commerce with _China_, which is, that they dry
abundance of Sage-leaves, role them up, and {251} prepare them like _The_,
and carrying it to _China_, as a rare drogue, get for one pound of it,
fourtimes as much _The_.
_A DISCOURSE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE INUNDATION OF THE NILE_, in _French_.
The Author of this Book is Monseiur _dela Chambre_, who being perswaded
from several Circumstances, that accompany the Overflowing of this River,
that it cannot proceed from Rain, ventures to assign for a Cause of _it_,
and of all the other effects that happen at the time of its swelling, the
_Niter_, wherewith that water abounds.