'154 PHILOSOPHICAL TRAXSACTIONS. [aNNO 1668. 



III. An Essay towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language, by 

 John Wilkins, D. D. Dean of Ripon, and Fellow of the Royal Society.* 



The description of the contents of this work, here given, is now no longer 

 a curiosity, the book being in every person's hand. 



IV. Stanislai de Lubienietz Theatrum Cometicum, duabus partibus con- 

 stans. 



Account of a Controversy hetiveen Stephano de Angelis, Pi^qfessor of 

 the Mathematics at Padua, and J oh. Baptiste Riccioli, a Jesuit. 

 Communicated by Mr. James Gregory, Fellow of the Royal Society. 

 Translated in part from the Latin. N° 36, p. 693. 



Riccioli, in his Almagestum Novum, pretends that he has found out severa 

 new demonstrative arguments against the motion of the earth. Steph. de 

 Angelis, conceiving his arguments to be none of the strongest, takes occasion 

 to let the world see that they are not more esteemed in Italy than in other 

 places. Manfredi, in behalf of Riccioli, endeavours to answer the objections 

 of Angeli ; and this latter replies to Manfredi's answer. The substance of this 

 dispute is as follows : 



Although the arguments of Riccioli be many, yet the strength of them con- 

 sists chiefly in these three. — 1st. Bodies let fall through the air in the plane of 



* Bishop Wilkins was one of the first institutors of tlie Royal Society, and one of its most useftil 

 members, as well as the first or principal secretary, under whom Mr. Oldenburg acted as the sub or 

 copying secretary. He was well skilled in mathematical and philosophical literature, producing se- 

 veral useful works and inventions, one of which, though never noticed in any accounts of his life, 

 was that of the perambulator, or surveying wheel, for measuring roads and great distances. Bp. Wil- 

 kins was a man who thought it prudent to submit to the powers in being; he therefore subscribed to 

 the solemn league and covenant while it was enforced, and was equally ready to swear allegiance to 

 King Charles when he was restored. He accordingly had favours and promotion from both parties ; 

 and, being of a good and amiable mind, he always used his power and interest for the benefit of in- 

 dividuals and of the public weal. Dr. Wilkins was born in l6l4-, and studied at Oxford, where he 

 took his degrees. During the civil wars tlie parliament appointed him warden of Wadham College 

 in l648. In l6"56' he married the sister of the Protector, Oliver Cromwell, and, by the son Richard 

 Cromwell, was made master of Trinity College, Cambridge, in l659i hut was ejected on the restora- 

 tion the year following. From the prudence of his conduct, however, and his superior learning and 

 piety, he met with great encouragement and patronage, and at last was promoted to the see of Ches- 

 ter in \668. Like most studious and sedentary men, he became much afifliicted with the gravel, and 

 at length died of the stone in l672, at 58 years of age. 



Of his publications, which are all of them very ingenious and learned, and several of them highly 

 curious and entertaining, the first was in l638, when he was only 24 years of age, viz. The Disco- 

 very of a New World, or a discourse to prove that it is probable there may be another habitable 

 world in the moon 3 with a discourse concerning the possibility of a passage tliither^ In 1^40, a Dis- 



