218 Of the green Mould on FIRE-WOOD: A The mechanifm which God has difplayed in all his works, is neceffarily eftablished, according to a wife and conftant order, because its Author is Wisdom it felf, infinite and immutable, and because he is equally powerful. Confequently, the laws, which govern this mechanifm, are general in the universe, and are always conftant without being fubject to changes; fo they ought always to produce and repeat the phenomena which we see fucceed one another in them, fome frequently, and the others more rare- B ly. All the bodies in the universe are changeable by virtue of these immutable laws. They are limited in their duration. They perifh by little and little in growing old, and are altogether annihilated in their form by time. New ones are fashi- C oned from them, which fucceed them, and all this continues always and fucceffively to grow old, to be renewed, and to change their face by these fame laws. The ages of bodies are different. They are more or lefs retarded, in proportion to D their nature and to their defign. We to not know the duration of the great do not E heavenly bodies, of which our earth is of the number, because our life is too fhort, and our understanding too limited for us to perceive it. It is for this reafon, that we do not know the great changes to which the parts of the universe are subject. Let us therefore confine ourselves to what concerns the plants and the animals, fince those two forts of beings are more in reach of our fenfes. We know well enough their duration, which is proportioned, in each species, to the want that nature has of them. The laws of that common mother require their life to be fhort, and their colonies to be often renewed upon the furface of the globe. They will have death and birth to G fucceed one another very quickly in all their races, that by these two means there may be made changes F May and new decorations, neceffary to fupport the courfe of nature, and the force or vigour of the fecret fprings which are in the world, and whereof we fo little know the defign According then to this idea founded on experience, there muft, by the force of those fame all-wife laws, be made among the vegetables and the animals, a fum of destruction and diffolution of their bodies, equal to the fum of their new productions and of their increase. Why fo? It is that the course of the generations may be preferved, and that the circulation of the matter may be maintained in its proper force, for the buds to be regularly employed according to their deftinations. the [The remainder in our next.] In a Letter from the Rev. Henry Miles, D. D. and F. R. S. to Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S. concerning green Mould on Fire-wood, (inferted in No. 494 of the Philo fophical Tranfactions, just published) the Doctor fays : take notice of a quantity of SOME days ago, happening of what we commonly call mould on the bark of fome fire-wood, Í had the curiofity to view it with a lens, of about an inch focus, when I found it to confift of numbers of minute fungus's, whofe regular appearance invited me to examine them in the microscope, with a good mag. nifier; upon which their fpherical heads feemed as if they had been nothing else but globules of feeds; at the fame time I obferved feveral feeds adhering to the transparent footftalks, which fupported the heads, and many scattered on the glass. plate, whereon the fubftance was placed, in order to be viewed. And here I had an opportunity of feeing many diftinct feeds, which appeared nearly of an oval form, but feveral times larger than the feeds of com Of a bright werdegrife colour. mon 1751. Of the Minuteness of the Seeds of fome Plants. 219 mon mushrooms, even when feen with the fecond magnifier, and the latter with the first. He concludes as follows: Permit me to add, that having often viewed the heads of a small kind of fungus, which are about inch diameter, of a coriaceous fubftance, I have ever found the feeds which are produced on the gills, much larger than those of any mushrooms I ever examined, tho' rather less than thofe produced by this unregarded plant. A Now, that a body whofe form is B not to be diftinguished by the un. affifted eye, fhould produce feeds feveral times larger than another of the fame genus does, which exceedeth it many millions of times in bulk, muft fuggest those thoughts to one's mind, which, I know, I need not point out to you. Some Obfervations on the above-mentioned Plants and Seeds. By Henry Baker, F. R. S. I C each feed is the 2430th part of an inch in diameter. And according to these calculations 44,100 of the fungous heads, or 5,904.900 of the feeds may lie by one another in the furface of an inch square. Yet, minute as the feeds of this little fungus are, Dr. Miles obferves very juftly, that they are larger than the feeds of fome mushrooms, which exceed it many millions of times in bignefs. As to which, I beg leave to take notice, that the proportion, in fize of the fruits or feeds of trees or plants, to the fize of the trees or plants that bear them, comes under no' regulations that correfpond with our conceptions. For the vaft bulk of fome forts of timber-trees (the beech and afh, for inftance) is produced from a feed fmaller than that of the common garden-bean. The towering and mighty oak produces for its fruit only a little acorn, whereas the pumpkin (fome whereof weigh above an hundred pounds) is the production of a feeble creeping plant, unable to fupport itself, and much lefs its enormous fruit. The vanilla (a plant that rises to the height of feveral feet, by clafping about whatever it finds near it) produces, in long pods, feeds fo fmall, that their diameter is not more than the 100dth part of an inch. Suppofing therefore the cavity of the pod to be equal to a cylindrical tube of of an inch diameter, and the length of the pod to be fix inches (which dimenfions are taken with great moF deration) the number of feeds contained in one fingle pod will be more than 47,000. Moft kinds of fern, of which fome are pretty large plants, bear feeds fo extremely minute, that they appear to the naked eye only like a fine duft; while feeds of a confiderable bignefs are produced by plants of a great deal smaller size. HAVE carefully examined the plants and feeds fent me by Dr. D Miles, in order to determine their real bignefs; and, taking the fungous heads of the middle fize (fome being larger and others smaller) I find, according to my micrometer, that three of them take up the fide of a fquare, 70 of which fquares make an inch in length, and confequently, that 3 times 70, or 210 of thefe fungi, are required to make a line, whofe length is one inch; or, in other words, that the diameter of thefe fungous bodies is, at a medium, the 210th part of an inch. E The feeds are oval, and I find, by the fame micrometer, that 10 of them laid by one another the fhorteft way of their diameter, or 8 of them the longest way, fill up the fide of a fquare, 270 of which fquares make an inch in length.-Taking G therefore 9 at the medium, 270 times 9, or 2430 of these feeds will be required to make a line of an inch in length; or, in other words, 220 An Aurora Auftralis. The Dragon-Fly. An Account of an Aurora Australis, feen J AN. 23, 1749-50, at about half an hour after five in the evening, cafting A my eye accidentally toward a window which looked to the S. S. W. I thought I faw a reddish light about the planet Venus, which then fhone exceedingly bright. Being fufpicious of fome fire in the neighbourhood, I went immediately to a window on the stair-cafe, where I faw a reddith light, which fhone with fuch exceeding brightness, that the luftre of the fine conftellation of Orion was almost effaced. I then went to a window facing the N. N. E. where I prefently faw a very broad band of crimson light. B Thence I withdrew into my garden, where I plainly faw a band or arch, of a very deep crimson colour, in appearance about 15 broad, the fouthern edge of which paffed just above Canis Minor, and the fhoulders of Orion. It was terminated to the westward near Venus, then about 20° high: But it extended to the eastward as far as I could fee, and the farther it went that way, the deeper was the colour, and the broader the band. About a quarter before eight, there was formed a crown about 30 degrees to the D fouthward of the Zenith; for I could plainly perceive the Pleiades, which had then juft paffed the meridian, very near it, when the light was faint. From this crown a great many rays darted to the E. S. and W. but not toward the N. where only fome whitish ftreaks were to be feen, but very faint. Prefently after this, E the part of the arch extending to the east feemed to be fuddently kindled, as if fome train had been fired; grew extremely bright and vivid; and, as if all the red matter had been then confumed, put an end to the phænomenon before eight. During the rest of the evening, a pale light covered the fouth part of the heavens, as if the moon had thone. Some Obfervations on the Dragon-Fly, or BOUT the beginning of May I ob A ferved many deformed water-infects, by naturalifts called Hexipodes, creep up out of the water, and fix themselves on the fhrubs and rufhes; in this fituation they continue but a few hours before their back (plits open; and from this deformed cafe creeps out a beautiful fly, with fhining F May tranfparent wings: At its first appearance there is only what one may call the rudiments of wings, but it is a most entertaining fight to obferve how they shoot out, and expand themselves: Thus, in lefs than an hour, they have attained their complete dimenfions. During all this ope ration the creatures are immoveable, and fo continue until their wings are dry, and then they fly fwiftly away, roving about the fides of ponds and rivers, feeking their food, being infects of prey, are very voracious, and, like the hawks among birds, are very swift of flight, and nimbly fecure their prey, which is moftly flies, and small green grafhoppers: They delight in funThine, in cloudy weather they are rarely to be feen, but feek protection under the leaves and boughs of trees. Towards the end of May the female is ready to depofit her eggs: She then feeks the warm quiet fides of ponds and watercourfes, continuing in a hovering posture, dodging up and down in the water: In this action the male feizes her, and with the end of his tail catcheth faft hold by the back of her head, and fleth away with her. It is uncertain how long they continue in this pofition before the female bends the end of her body, fo as to penetrate the part between the belly and breaft of the male. In this fingular and furprifing manner the is impregnated; then the repairs again to thofe till fhallow wa ters, whofe bottoms are covered with mofs, fticks, and weeds, which may be a fecurity to the little grubs.-Here the in a hovering posture depofits her eggs in the water, which immediately fink, and find a proper nidus in the aquatick mofs, &c. The eggs are foon hatched; the young reptiles creep among the ftones and weeds, &c. and fo continue water-animals the greatest part of the year, until the feafon comes round for their appearance in that beautiful fly, which is different from our European; but their process, I think, well agrees with ours, as it is curiously defcribed and delineated by that excellent naturalift M. Reaumur. They have a great variety of this tribe of infects in America, as well as we have in Europe. In another place (where they are called May-Flies) is this further account.-Their bodies being replenished with an oily mat ter, they easily quit their hufks, and rife up to the furface of the water, and difperfe themselves a mile or more back in the woods, whilft others ftay near the water. May 4, 1749, I perceived many had attained wings, and were very thick (pread on the bushes and grafs, by the river fides. The fecond day after their leaving their aquatick abode they caft another skin, after 1751. Proceedings at the Election of Chamberlain. after which their tails were longer, and their water. In their flight they mount to the tops of trees, 20 or 30 feet high: Their motion is furprifing, hovering up and down, rifing and falling, 7 or 8 feet at a time: This I take to be the time and manner of their B impregnation. After which they fly to the brooks, caft out their eggs, and perish immediately: Their eggs fink directly to the bottom, and lodge amongst the mud and gravel, and may be food for some minute water-animal. From their eggs proceeds a deformed grub, which fubfifts under water, and is food for eels, until next feason, that it attains its fly ftate, and then is food C for fith and fowl. The reafon of their being fo long in coming forth this year was, the cold chilly weather Other years, in a warm feason, in five days they would have performed all their functions, and difappeared. We have two other fmaller kinds, that very much resemble the former, but they come later by two or three weeks: What is most remarkable, the males are black, and live feveral days after the females. Proceedings at Guildhall at the Election of a Chamberlain. N Tuesday, April 30, was held a court of Huftings at Guildhall for the election of a chamberlain for the remaining part of the year, in the room of Sir John Bofworth, Knt. (See our last, p. 187.) Upon opening the court, the recorder made a handfome fpeech to the livery, and read Sir John Bofworth's letter of refignation, which was as follows. D 221 wifhed to have given. I am therefore gentlemen, in juftice to all my fellow-citizens, obliged to request your permission to refign an office, which I am no longer equal to. But tho' this publick relation, which has fo long fubfifted between us, will now have its period; yet the most grateful fense of your continual favour and indulgence, and your kind acceptance of my imperfect fervice, will ever live in my remembrance, and warm my heart with the firmeft attachment to your interefts; and I may reasonably hope, by thus withdrawing myfelf, to be the longer enabled to exert my best endeavours, on all proper occafons, for the honour and dignity of this ancient and auguft city. I am, GENTLEMEN, Epfom, and obedient humble fervant, JOHN BOSWORTH. After this, the following candidates were put in nomination, viz. Mr. Richard Glover, Mr. deputy Harrison, Mr. deputy Hodges, Mr. Thomas Meakes, and Mr. deputy Pycroft; when the fheriffs declared Mr. deputy Harrison to have the majority of hands; but a poll was demanded by the friends of Mr. deputy Pycroft, Mr. deputy Hodges, and Mr. Glover; which began the next morning at Guildhall. Wednesday, May 1, the poll at Guildhall was for deputy Harrison 705, deputy Pycroft 338, Mr. Glover 327, and deputy Hodges 276: So that Mr. Harrison gained the majority of Mr. Pycroft 367 ; of Mr. Glover 378; and of Mr. Hodges 429. Thursday the poll was for deputy Harrison 1246, Mr. Glover 588, deputy Pycroft E542, and deputy Hodges 474. Friday morning Mr. deputy Pycroft and Mr. deduty Hodges declined the poll, which turned a little in favour of Mr, Glover; and at the clofe of this day the numbers stood thus; for deputy Harrifon 1686, and for Mr. Glover 1074. Saturday, for deputy Harrison 1938, and for Mr. Glover 1358. To the Worthy Liverymen of the City of Majority for Mr. Harrifon 580. Upon Gentlemen, LONDON. F fo long continued to me, in the office of chamberlain, I once flattered myfelf, would determine only with my life; but I find, after long and frequent strugglings, that the fhorteft refidence in this air, is now attended with so much danger, G and fuch great diftrefs, as difables me from difcharging my duty in a manner fuitable to its importance, and even prevents my publick and perfonal attendance on you is day, which I very earnestly hoped and which Mr. Glover fignified his intentions to the sheriffs on Saturday evening of his declining the poll on Monday morning, and accordingly did fo; when the books were publickly caft up upon the Hustings, but the numbers were not declared till the next morning before the lord-mayor, court. of aldermen, and livery. There being the above majority for Mr. Harrifon, he was declared duly elected chamberlain of London, and immediately paid his respects to the livery in the following terms: Gentlemen 222 Mr. Harrifon's and Mr. Glover's SPEECHES. I Gentlemen, Return you my warmest and moft fincere thanks, for the very high honour you have done me, in electing me chamberlain of this great and opulent city. So honourable a preference speaks the very favourable opinion you are pleased to A entertain both of my integrity and abilities: The former of these my heart tells me you cannot be mistaken in, how partially foever you may have judged of the latter. I flatter myself therefore, that by a due exertion of thefe abilities (fuch as they are) in a diligent and confcientious discharge of the important truft repofed in me, I shall be honoured with the continuance of your favour and protection. Give me leave, gentlemen, once more to thank you, and with a heart overflowing with gratitude to affure you, that I fhall endeavour to act, both in my publick and private capacity, as becomes a faithful fervant of the corporation, and a fincere friend to every individual member thereof. C Mr. Glover then addreffed the livery in the following elegant and pathetick (peech. Gentlemen, FTER the trouble, which I have had A fo large a fhare in giving you, by my application for your favour to fucceed Sir John Bosworth in the office of chamberlain, this day fo worthily fupplied; I fhould deem myself inexcufable in quitting this place, before I rendered my thanks to those in particular, who fo generously have efpoufed my intereft; to your new elected chamberlain himself, and numbers of his friends, whofe expreffions and actions have done me particular honour, amid the warmth of their attachment to him; to E the two deferving magiftrates, who have prefided among us with impartiality, humanity, and justice; and laftly, to all in general for their candour, decency, and in. dulgence. Gentlemen, Heretofore I have frequently had occafi on of addreffing the livery of London in F publick; but at this time I find myself at an unufual lofs, being under all the difficulties, which a want of matter, deferving your notice, can create: Had I now your rights and privileges to vindicate, had I the caufe of your fuffering trade to defend, or were I now called forth to recommend and enforce the parliamentary fervice of the most virtuous and illuftrious citizen, G my tongue would be free from constraint, and expatiating at large, would endeavour to merit your attention; which now must be folely confined to fo narrow a subject, as myfelf. On those occafions the importance May of the matter, and my known zeal to serve you, however ineffectual my attempts might prove, were always fufficient to fecure me the honour of a kind reception and unmerited regard. Your countenance, gentlemen, first drew me from the retirement of a studious life; your repeated marks of diftinction first pointed me out to that great body, the merchants of London, who, pursuing your example, condescended to entrust me, unequal and unworthy as I was, with the most important caufe, a caufe, where your interest was as nearly concerned as theirs. In confequence of that deference, which has ever been paid to the fentiments and B choice of the citizens and traders of London, it was impoffible, but fome faint luftre must have glanced on one, whom, weak as he was, they were pleafed to appoint the inftrument on their behalf; and if from these transactions I accidentally acquired the smallest share of reputation, it was to you, gentlemen of the livery, that my gratitude afcribes it; and I joyfully embrace this publick opportunity of declaring, that whatever part of a publick character I may prefume to claim, I owe primarily to you. To this I might add the favour, the twenty years countenance and patronage of one, whom a supreme degree of respect shall prevent me from naming; and tho' under the temptation of using that name, as a certain means of obviating fome mifconstructions, I fhall however avoid to dwell on the memory of a loss fo recent, so justly, and fo univerfally lamented. Permit me now to remind you, that when placed by these means in a light not altogether unfavourable, no lucrative reward was then the object of my purfuit, nor ever did the promises or offers of private emolument induce me to quit my independance, or vary the leaft of my former profeffions, which always were, and remain ftill founded on the principles of univerfal liberty; principles, which I affume the glory to have eftablished on your records; your fenfe, liverymen of London, the fenfe of your great corporation fo repeatedly recommended to your reprefetatives in parliament, were my fenfe, and the principal boaft of all my compofitions, containing matter imbibed in my earliest education; to which I have always adhered, by which I ftill abide, and which I will endeavour to bear down with me to my grave. And even at that gloomy period, when deserted by my good fortune, and under the fevereft trials; even then, by the fame confiftency of opinions and uniformity of conduct, I ftill preserved that part of reputation, which I originally derived from your favour, whatever I might pretend to call a publick character, unshaken |