394 MeleorologTj. — ^an Mons. 



power of about seventy times, on every fair opportunity. On the 

 •night of the 2d May instant, during a break in the clouds which 

 enabled me to see the constellation Leo, I noticed, just above 

 the star Regnhis, or alplia Leonis, a small luminous speck, the 

 light of which did not resemble that of a common star. On ob- 

 serving^ it for several nights afterwards, it diminished in size, and 

 is now lost in my telescope. Perhaps some of your readers, who 

 may have a telescope of greater magnifying powers, may discover 

 it even now. I am, sir, Sjc. 



Speiaii' r !. Mmv 19, 18ir. S. R. 



P. S. The phaenomenon was seen first about 9 P. M. and was 

 situated about 10 E.S.E. of Regulus, The latitude of this place 

 is scarcely 2 E. 



I'unbridge Wells, May 18. 

 A luminous appearance was, a few nights ago, discovered in 

 the constellation of the Lion, which had the appearance of a very 

 distant conipf. It can only be seen bv a telescope of conside- 

 rable magnifying po^ver. Its place in the heavens is about \Qf 

 NNE of the star Regulus in the Coeur dii Lio7i. 



METEOROLOGY. 



A gentleman who has been examining the different meteorolo- 

 gical instruments in various parts of England, with a view to as- 

 certain the cause of the apparent errors in the Meteorological 

 Journals, has found one cause to be, that the wind is often erro- 

 neouslv put down. The cardinal points on the weather-cocks 

 are in general put according to the com])ass, instead of the sun; 

 consequp.ntlv the north point is about 20° west of due north, and 

 all the others are proportionally wrong. A gentleman at Walt- 

 hamstow has recently constructed a weather vane, which rings a 

 bell at every turn of the vane by the most gentle change of wind. 

 It is also constructed with a spherical cannister of oil at the top, 

 which can drop continually into the hinge, and will not be ex- 

 hausted for many years. 



M. Van Mons of Brussels, to whom the Philosophical Maga- 

 zine has been indebted for so many valuable communications, 

 has been nominated by the King of the Netherlands to the pro- 

 fessorship of physic and chemistry in the university of Louvain. 



In consideration of the great benefits the Duke of York has 

 received from the professional talents of John Stevenson, Esq. 

 of Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury-square, His Royal Highness 

 hass been graciously pleased to appoint him his Surgeon-oculist 

 and Aurisit. 



Mr. 



