Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 26

3. That afterwards continuing the Observations, he found the Spots of these two Faces to turn by little and little from _East_ to _West_, and to return at last to the same situation, wherein he had seen them first.

4. That S. _Campani_, having also observ'd at _Rome_ with Gla.s.ses of 50.

_Palmes_ or about 35 _Foot_, likewise of his own contrivance, had seen in the same Planet the same _Phenomena_.

5. That sometimes he hath seen, during the same night, the two Faces of _Mars_, one, in the Evening, the other in the Morning.

6. That the Motion of these Spots in the inferior part of the apparent Hemisphere of _Mars_, is made from _East_ to _West_, as that of all the other Celestial Bodies, and is peform'd by Parallels, that decline _much_ from the _Equator_, and _little_ from the _Ecliptick_.

7. That the Spots return the next day to the same situation, 40. minuts later, than the day before; so that in every 36. or 37. daies, about the same hour, they come again to the same place.

8. He promises shortly to give us the particular _Tables_ of this Motion and of its Inequalities, together with the _Ephemerides_ themselves.

9. He represents, that some other _Astronomers_ have also made at _Rome_ several Observations of these Spots of _Mars_, from _March 14/24._ to _March 20/30._ with Gla.s.ses, wrought by _Eustachio Divini_, of 25. and 45.

Palmes; Which Spots he makes little differing from his own, of the first Face; as will by and by appear, by the direction to the _Schemes_.

10. But he adds, that those other _Roman_ Astronomers, that have observ'd with _Divini's_ Gla.s.ses, will have the Conversion of _Mars_ to be performed, not in 24 h, 40 m. (as he maintains it is) but in about 13 h.

11. And to evince, that they are mistaken in these Observations of theirs; he alledges, That they a.s.sure that the Spots, which they have seen in this Planet, (by an _Eustachian_ Telescope) the 20/30 of _March_, were small, very distant from one another, remote from the middle of the Disk, and the _Oriental_ Spot was less, than the _Occidental_ (as is represented by the Fig. O; like that of the first Face of _Mars_.) whereas, on the contrary, {244} He (_Ca.s.sini_) pretends to evidence by his Observations, made at the same time at _Bononia_, that, the same day and hour, those Spots were very large, neer one another, in the midst of the Disk, the Oriental bigger than the Occidental (as appears by _Fig._ P, which is that of the second Face of _Mars_.)

12. Besides, he declares, that those _Astronomers_ were too hasty, in determining, after 5 or 6 Observations only, in how much time _Mars_ finish's his Revolution; and denies it to be perform'd in 13 hours: adding, that, though Himself had observ'd for a much longer time, than they; yet he durst not for a great while define, Whether _Mars_ made but _one_ Turn in 24 hours 40 minuts or _two_; and that all, that he could, for a long time affirm, was onely this, that after 24 h. 40 m. this Planet appear'd in the same manner he did before.

13. But since those first Observations, He affirms to have found cause to determine, that the Period of this Conversion is made in the said s.p.a.ce of 24 h. 40 m; and not oftner than once within that time; Alledging for proof;

1. That, whereas _Febr._ 6. (st.n.) he saw the Spots of the first Face of _Mars_, moving from eleven of the Clock in the night, until break of day, they appear'd not afterwards in the Evening after the rising of that Planet (witness several intelligent persons, which he names, that were present at the Observations) Whence he infers, that after 12 hours and 20 minuts, the same Spots did not come about; since that the same, which in the morning were seen in the middle, upon the rising of _Mars_; after 13 or 14 hours, might have appear'd neer the Occidental Limb. But, because he might be imposed upon by Vapors, whilst _Mars_ was yet so neer the _Horizon_, he gives this other determination, _vid._

2. Whereas he saw the first Face of _Mars_ the 6 of _February_ at 11 of the clock of the night following; he did not see the same after 18 daies at the same hour; as he ought to have done, if the Period were absolved in the s.p.a.ce of 12 h. 20 m.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

3. Again, whereas he saw _Febr._ 24. in the Evening, the other Face of _Mars_, he could not see the same, the 13. and 15. day of _March_, to wit after 17 and 19 days; as he should have done, if the Revolution were made in the newly mention'd time.

4. Again, whereas the 27. of _March_ in the Evening he saw {245} the second Face of _Mars_, he could not see it the 14. and 16. of _April_.

From all which Observations he Judges it to be evident, that the Period of this Planets Revolution is not perform'd in the s.p.a.ce of 12. hours 20, minutes, but in about 24 hours 40 minutes; more exactly to be determin'd by comparing distant Observations: And that those who affirm the former, must have been deceived by not well distinguishing the two Faces, but that having seen the second, taken it for the first.

All which he concludes with this Advertis.e.m.e.nt, that, when he defines the time of the Revolution of _Mars_, he does not speak of its _Mean_ Revolution, but onely of that, which he observ'd, whilst _Mars_ was opposite to the Sun; which is the shortest of all.

_The Figures of the _Princ.i.p.al_ Observations, represented in the Book here discoursed of, may be seen in the annexed _Scheme_; _videl.__

K. _One of the Faces of _Mars_, as S. _Ca.s.sini_ observed it _March 3.

(_st.n._) 1666_ in the Evening, with a Gla.s.s of 24 Palmes._

L. _The other Face, as he saw it _Febr. 14/24_ in the Evening._

M. _The first Face, as S. _Campani_ saw at Rome, _March 3. 1666_. in the Evening, with a Gla.s.s 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 _Ca.s.sini_; 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:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A. 1666, _June_ 26. between 3. and 4. of the Clock in the morning, I observed the Body of _Jupiter_ through a 60 foot-gla.s.s, 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._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_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 t.i.tle 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 Amba.s.sie of the _Dutch_ into _China_, translated out of the Dutch ma.n.u.script: 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 Amba.s.sadours did, embarking at _Canton_, which is 23d. 48m. Northern Lat.i.tude, 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.