Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 1

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

by Various.

Vol 1 - 1666.

TO THE

Royal Society.

_It will not become me, to adde any Attributes to a t.i.tle, which has a Fulness of l.u.s.tre 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 a.s.sistance, 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 a.s.sistances.

_The _Great G.o.d_ prosper You in the n.o.ble Engagement of Dispersing the true l.u.s.tre 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 Gla.s.ses_ 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 ent.i.tle 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 G.o.d, the Honour and Advantage of these Kingdoms, and the Universal Good of Mankind.

_An Accompt of the improvement of_ Optick Gla.s.ses.

There came lately from _Paris_ a Relation, concerning the Improvement of _Optick Gla.s.ses_, not long since attempted at _Rome_ by Signor _Giuseppe Campani_, and by him discoursed of, in a Book, Ent.i.tuled, _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 Gla.s.ses_ with a Turne-tool, without any Mould: And whereas. .h.i.therto it hath been found by Experience, that _small_ Gla.s.ses 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-Gla.s.ses for his great _Telescopes_, without finding any _Iris_, or such Rain-bow colours, as do usually appear in ordinary Gla.s.ses, 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 Gla.s.ses, 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, Ent.i.tuled, 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 pa.s.s; but no man, that he knows, having been so bold as to venture to foretel the places, through which they should pa.s.s, 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 Lat.i.tude_, 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 49 cutting the _Equator_ at about 45_d_, 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 pa.s.sed and shall pa.s.s; 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.s 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 repa.s.s 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.sed it.