which fucceeded fo well, that in the year 1762, the company killed three whales, two of which were between 60 and 70 feet long, and the other above 50; and in this year 1763, they have killed two whales of a large fize, which is more than many ships have done that have been fitted out for Greenland at a vaft expence. It is to be observed, that in the fea of the coaft of Donegal, there are, befides the whales that yield only bone and blubber, the fin-fith, the porpoife, the fun-fifh, and the spermaceti whales, befides feals. The teeth of the fpermaceti whale are shaped like a cucumber, and are about eighteen inches long; they are as white as ivory, take a fine polish, and make very beautiful and durable handles for knives and forks. The fun-fifh is valuable for the oil that is extracted from the liver, each fish yielding about a tun; they are to be found all the year, and taken with great eafe. The other fifh and the feals are of little value. The Irish parliament, in the year 1763, granted 1500 1. Ster. to Meff. Nefbit, to encourage them in this national undertaking. It is certainly with inquiring, to fuch as are concerned in the Greenland fifhery, what time whales frequent the Irifh coaft: if in Auguft and September, might not such ships as are unsuccessful, try this fishing off Ireland for fome weeks on their return from Greenland, before they come home? SIR, Anecdotes of Monf. de Voltaire. Monf. de Voltaire was not twenty years old when his OEdipus was brought upon the ftage. Its fuccefs was so great, that Marshal Villars faid to him as he came from seeing it acted, that "the nation was highly obliged to him for having thus dedicated his ftudies to her fervice." "My Lord," replied the young poet very brifkly, the fhould be much more fo, if I could write as well as you can fpeak and a&t." 66 After another representation of the fame play, a courtier, who was handing a lady who seemed greatly dejected, faid to the author, "Behold, two fine eyes which you have just made to fhed a great many tears." "They will revenge themselves," replied Voltaire, numbers more. ་ он Monf. de Voltaire one day asking Fontenelle, what he thought of his Mahomet? "It is horribly fine," replied that great genius of ninety. Monf. de Voltaire, as he was writing his tragedy of Merope, one day called his footman at three o'clock in the morning, and gave him fome verses to carry immediately to the Sieur Paulin, who played the part of the Tyrant in that play. The fervant, excufing himself, under a pretence that it was the hour of fleep; "Go, I fay," continued Voltaire, "Tyrants never fleep." To the author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. Tranent, Oct. 3. 1768. Any attempts have been made to folve that ancient, curious, and difficult M problem, biz. To find the fiun's diftance from the earth. There was lately a meeting of aftronomers at London to concert measures for obferving the approaching tranfit of Venus over the fun's disk, in order therefrom to determine the fan's distance, and they have actually imbarked at Plymouth to fail to fome diftant proper place for that purpose. Dr Halley pointed out this method of folution, and it was expected to have fucceeded with the tranfit in the year 1761; but fome how has mifgiven. About five years ago, there was an ingenious effay published on the fubject, intitled, The distance of the fun from the earth determined by the theory of gravity [xxv. 665.]; wherein, from the angle defcribed by the moon in moving from apogee to apogee being given 363° 4' 7" 30", the moon's gravity to the earth is determined to be to the folar force affecting that gravity, as 357.43365 is to 1; and thence, with the duplicate ratio of the earth's periodic time round the fun to the moon's periodic time round the earth as 178.725 is to 1, the fun's distance is determined to be to the moon's distance as 495.9315 is to 1. The method of folution, though it only affigns limits, and is not precife, yet is very ingenious; and, if the data were certain and accurate, the folution might be depended upon, and would fuperfede all further trouble about the matter. However, in regard that the moon's interapogee angle has never been, nor perhaps ever can be precisely affigned; and that a very small, even an infenfible error therein, produces a very great error in the fun's distance thence found; therefore the folution is not at all fatisfactory.- To fhew that a very small variation in the interapogee angle produces a great difference on the folar force, and still a greater difference in the fun's distance, and that this difference is still the greater the greater that the fun's distance be; I fhall fubjoin a table, exhibiting the interapogee angles and fun's diftances correfponding to fixteen different proportions of the moon's gravity to the folar force: to which I fhall add the difference of the limits of the fun's distances, found according to the forementioned method of calculation, and to all fhall annex the angles of the fun's horizontal parallax correfponding to the different diftances, as fol lows, viz. The author of the forementioned effay makes the folar force to the moon's gravity as I to 357-43365, the interapogee angle 363° 4' 7" 30", the fun's distance 495.9315, and the fun's horizontal parallax 6" 54", which fall in between N° 2. and 3. of this table. Now, if a comparison be stated between his numbers, and the refpective numbers in N° 2. of the table, it will be found, that the interapogee angles differ only 1 of 6535238, while the folar forces differ 1 of 56289, and the fun's distances i of 4.05223; therefore any error that may happen in affigning the interapogee angle is here multiplied in the ratio of 56289 to 6535238, or 116 times in the folar force, and in the ratio of 4.05223 to 6535238, or 1612700 times in the fun's distance. Again, if a comparison be stated between the numbers in No 15. and 16. it will be found, that the interapogee angles differ only 1 of 4127532, while the folar forces differ 1 of 35731, and the fun's diftances 1 of 28.9885; therefore any error in the interapogee angle is here multiplied in the ratio of 35731 to to 4127532, or 115.8 times in the folar force, and in the ratio of 28.9885 to 4127532, or 142385 times in the fun's diftance. Further, any error that may happen in the interapogee angle in the first comparison is to that which may equally happen in the second as 6535238 to 4127532, and in the folar force as 6535238X 56289 to 4127532, that is nearly as 2 to I; and in the fun's distance as 1612700X2 to 142285, that is nearly as 28 to 1: wherefore any error in the interapogee angle is 28 times more multiplied in the first comparison than in the fecond; but the fun's distance is greater in the first than in the second; therefore it is a mistake to fay, as in preface, p. 7. that "the method proposed would be the "more accurate the more diftant the fun is from the earth." It is very true, that the limits of the fun's distance found by calculation, according to the method in the essay above hinted, approach nearer to one another when the distance of the fun is greater; and the diminution of the difference of the limits appears from the table to be (at least) nearly in proportion to the augmented diftance, which only makes the method of calculation more exact in greater diftances: But though the method of calculation were perfectly exact, that would never render the folution exact, unlefs the data were also perfectly exact; and where this is not the cafe, the folution must be the more erroneous the more the error is propagated, which is where the distance is greater, as is plain from what is above. As all aftronomical observations, as well as natural experiments, or mechanical operations, fall fhort of geometrical accuracy and precifion, fo there is no certainty of the interapogee angle being precifely 363° 4' 7" 30"; and therefore there is, a fortiori, no certainty of the fun's distance thence deduced being nearly 495.9315 times the moon's diftance, as is given out in the effay. Nay, it would appear, that this determination is at least incumbered with very great doubt; and that any application that can be made of the method itself must be very doubtful; for if the interapogee angle of 363° 4' 7" 30" be varied only about half a fecond, and fo be ftated 363° 4′ 7" 59", or more exactly 363.06860742207211957329, the fun's distance thence found (retaining the fame duplicate periodic ratio, viz. 178.725 to 1,) will be infinite, as in N° Ĭ of the table. Then with what degree of probability, not to fay certainty, can the fun's distance be thus determined from an angle which is within 31" of the brink of infinite distance? The parallactic angles have greater differences to any two different diftances of the fun than the correfpondent interapogee angles have; and therefore, if the parallax can be as precifely afcertained, it will afford a more accurate folution. According to the method in the effay, if a the interapogee angle, ca cirele or four right angles, g to 1 as the moon's geocentric gravity to the folar force affecting it, p to 1 in the duplicate ratio of the earth's periodic time round the fun to the moon's periodic time round the earth, d= the difference between g and 2p, 4333 then fhall 5a d 2 2 उ 2 —3c3÷a”—c3=g, 8—3Xc÷g-5=a, and 38+4p+$x÷ √38+4p-2xd the fun's diftance very nearly. without finding limits, the fun's distance may be found the method of finding limits requires two calculations. Thus, by one calculation, from the fame data that by But if the limits should be required, they are, 38+4pX÷√38+4p-dxd the one limit, and 38+ 4p+dX÷√38+4pXd the other. Calculations to find a, when c is one of the data, will be much facilitated, by putting for c any cube number, as 1, 8, 27, &c. and a will then be found an angle in fuch parts as c is put, which may be easily reduced to any other parts, as degrees, minutes, c. I am, &c. D. MATHER. Mr Mr URBAN, I Aug. 1768. AM one of those who are highly pleafed with the prefent collation of the Hebrew MSS, in order to procure a more perfect copy of the Hebrew Bible [345.]: as the mistakes of tranfcribers, in many inftances, are evident, I heartily with Dr Kennicott fuccefs in restoring them. There are, however, a few things in which I differ from him, and which I beg leave to point out. On 1 Sam. vi. 19. [312.] the Doctor obferves," That N [men] is expreff ed twice, once after the number 70, and again after the number 50,000; and that the leffer number is put before the greater; though both these are contrary to the ufual mode of expreffion in fimilar cafes."-Here I must diffent from him. Gen. v. and xi. the larger number is always preceded by the fmaller, and the word '[years] is conftantly repeated after the fame manner. Seth lived five years and a hundred years, and begat Enoh; and Seth lived after he begat Enofh, feven years and eight hundred years, and begat fons and daugh. ters." More inftances might be produced, but these are fufficient. But what the Doctor lays moft ftrefs upon, is," that the two numbers are not connected by the conjunction ↑ [and], which is abfolutely neceffary, in order to make, of the two, one fum-total: and therefore, as they ftand thus oddly detached, they afford a well-grounded prefumption, that the one or the other is not genuine." But this conjunction, as the Doctor knows, is omitted in feveral other places, and fupplied by our trani lators; and yet, it may be prefumed,, he will not from thence conclude, that what goes before, or what follows, is not genuine if therefore the omiflion, proves nothing in the one cafe, why ihould it have weight in the other? The Atrongest objection against the text in queftion, is, that Bethshemesh was but an inconfiderable town, being. neither mentioned in the catalogue of cities, Joilua xv. 20. &c. nor enumerated among the cities that had kings at the time when there was one and thirty kings in Canaan; and yet one of thole royai cities, Ai, is faid to have but 12,000 inhabitants in it, men and women; it is highly improbable therefore, that as all the flaughter was among the men of Beththemefh, that there could be 50,cco men flaughtered: to that number, is probably wrong, and we mult let it right if we can. The Doctor thinks that 50,000 must be an interpolation; and to prove it produces two MSS that have not this number. But two MSS against the autho rity of two hundred does not appear to, me to have much weight: let us therefore endeavour to clear up the difficulty more confiftently with the majority of MSS. The Hebrews anciently expreffed their facred numbers by numeral letters; but thete numeral letters were not, as the Dottor fuppofes, the fame with thofe made ufe of by the modern Jews fince the finals have been invented. It is this that probably has misled the Doctor,———— The following table will thew the ancient manner of notation, and perhaps remove the whole difficulty. of our money: This alfo feems too much. A thoufand talents of gold is five millions of our money. This is moderate enough; and by proportionably reducing the filver, the whole will amount to about ten millions of our money; a fum adequate to the undertaking. So in Chron. xxix. 3. 4. David is words at length where the numbers are doubtful, but I would restore the numeral letters. Thus as P is put for 500, or 5000, or 50000, or 500000, restore the numeral ietters, and print 1 Sam. vi. 19. after this manner : ויך באנשי בית שמש כי ראו faid to have given out of his privy pure בארין יהוה ויך בעם. ע. איש. .three thoufand talents of gold, and fe תק איש. ven thoufand talents of filver. In the above table the numeral letter W stands for 300, or 3000, or 30000, or 3000oo; and the letters for 700, or 7000, or 70000, or 700000; but these three Jaft fums are too much to come out of the privy purfe of the greatest monarch in the world, therefore the firft must be right; which added together, amount to "And he fmote among the men of Bethfhemefh, because they looked into the ark of the LORD; even he smote among the people, five hundred and feventy men." A terrible flaughter in that little town.I am, &c. R. YATE. Blindness cured by the gall of a barbel. about two millions of our money. A A Journeyman - watchmaker, named prefent worthy of King David! In 2 Chron. xvij. one million and one hundred and fixty thousand mighty men of valeur are faid conftantly to have waited upon King Jehoshaphat in Jerufalem. This appears incredible; but fet down the feveral numerals that make un this mighty number,,, 2, and in their lowell value, Luey will be 3000, and 2800, and 2000, and 2000, and 1800, in all 11600. A very fufficient garrison for Jerusalem. In 2 Sam, viii. 4. it is faid David took feven hundred horfemen; and in 1 Chron. xviii. 4. thefe horsemen are said to be feven thoufand. Thefe different num hers were expreffed by the fame numeral letters, and the context proves the greater to be right; for the horfemen must be more than the chariots, and there were a thousand chariot taken. So it is faid Kings iv. 26. that Solomon had forty thousand ftalls for chariot horfes; and yet in 2 Chron. ix. 25. thefe italls are faid to be but four thousand. Look into the table for the numeral let. ter by which 400co is expreffed, and you will find the fame letter stands for 4000: fo that here was no difference in the original, till in after times the numbers were written out in words at length, and then a fmall dot or ftroke mistaken caufed the erior. To these inftances, many more might be added, and there is reafon to beheve that the Bible numbers were thus expreff ed by letters, long before the Rabinical finals, or perhaps the fquare Hebrew was invented. Were I therefore to print a Hebrew Bible, I would not fet down the Cenfier, having heard that the gali of a barbel was the remedy which Tobias employed to cure his father's blindnefs, refolved to try its effect on the widow Germain, his mother-in-law, whofe eyes had for fix months been afflicted with ulcers, and covered with a film, which rendered her totally blind. Cenfier having obtained the gall of that fish, fqueezed the liquor out of it into a phial, and in the evening he rubbed it with the end of a feather into his mother's eyes. It gave her great pain for about half an hour, which abated by degrees, and her eyes watered very much. Next morning the could not open them, the water, as it were, glued her eyes up: he bathed them with pure water, and fhe began to fee with that eye which had received the most liquor. He used the gall again in the evening; the inflammation difperfed, the white of her eyes became red, their colour returned by degrees, and her fight became ftrong. He repeated it a third time, with all the defired fuccefs. In fhort, the recovered her fight without any other remedy. The widow Germain is in her fifty-third year, She had been pronounced blind by the furgeons of the Hotel Dieu; and her blindness and cure have been attested by order of the Lieutenant-General of Police. She fees ftronger and clearer now than before the accident. The gall of the barbel has fince been on the eyes of a dog and a cat: they appeared immediately to feel acute pain, and their eyes were inflamed for three days; but after wards returned to their natural fate. Bibliotheque des Sciences. PR.G |