186 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1675. 



That the third part of this poem contains a description of the celestial circles; 

 for the better understanding of which, besides what is explained in the marginal 

 notes, our author has added a cosmographical astronomical synopsis, for the 

 most part according to Mersenne, and thereto annexed the 12 propositions of 

 Theodosius de Habitationibus, in English. And, as Manilius has touched on 

 the fiery nature of the fixed stars, his interpreter has here made some further 

 and more curious inquiries touching their substance, light, colour, scintillation, 

 number, figure, magnitude, place, and distance from the earth, or rather the 

 sun. In the next place, the planets are enumerated ; whose several denomina- 

 tions, by which they were known and distinguished by the ancients, the inter- 

 preter has given in his notes ; further enlarging about the nature and substance 

 of the sun, his maculae and faculae ; also of his vertiginous motion, magnitude, 

 and distance; as also of the moon and her spots, adding the selenographic 

 schemes of Hevelius and Grimaldi, with their respective nomenclatures; and 

 exhibiting a brief account of the nature, substance, structure, figure, magni- 

 tude and distance of the other planets. And, because this poem concludes with 

 a corollary on fiery meteors and comets, our author has in part explained them 

 also in his notes ; more fully discoursing, in the appendix, of their names, 

 kinds, and several species, their matter, place, and efficient causes; and adding 

 in the close a chronological historical table of the most notable comets, that 

 have appeared since the flood to this present. 



Nor has our interpreter omitted to inform his reader touching Manilius's life, 

 country, quality, studies, writings, &c. in the doing of which, as well as in 

 composing this whole work, he has given sufficient proof of his more than 

 ordinary acquaintance both with ancient and modern writings. 



IV. Avona, or a Transient View of the Benefit of making the Rivers of this 

 Kingdom Navigable ; communicated by Letter to a Friend at London ; by R. S. 

 London, 1675, in 8vo. 



This letter, it seems, was occasioned by observing the situation of the city of 

 Salisbury on the Avon, and the consequence of opening that river to the said 

 city. The author shows the manifold benefits which will redound to the rich 

 and poor, by making our rivers navigable, to promote the wealth, navigation, 

 commerce, and strength of the island ; and to advance ingenious arts and use- 

 ful knowledge, inventions, accommodations, and discoveries. 



V. An Essay to facilitate the Education of Youth, by bringing down the 

 Rudiments of Grammar to the Sense of Seeing; which ought to be improved by 

 Syncrisis, fitted to Children's Capacities, for the learning, especially of the Eng- 

 lish, Latin and Greek Tongues: in Three Parts; an Accidence, a Middle 



