VOL. XV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 135 



more frequent, though it was much stronger; but why it intermitted first on 

 but one side, is not easily accounted for. 3. That the imperfection of voice, 

 as well as the difficulty of swallowing, were the effects of the paralysis, may 

 probably be allowed, and be a satisfactory reason why the person Dr. Lister 

 mentions, could not use the quill which was given him to suck with. 4. That 

 his thin ghastly aspect, the defect of spirits and tonic vigour, was from a pa- 

 ralytic original, is not unreasonable to conjecture. 5. That the paralysis chiefly 

 affected the muscles of the head and upper parts, may be partly collected from 

 his inability to hold his head steady at the approach of any liquor ; the fear 

 thence rising, causing him to start, and his head so to fall backwards, as if it 

 would fall off his shoulders. 6. And that his lower parts were less affected, is 

 probable because 2 or 3 hours before he died he could walk out of one room 

 into another, even when his voice was hardly intelligible. 

 Norwich, Jan. ITth, l684. 



Extract of a Letter from Senior Ciampini,* to Dr. Croone ;-|- concerning a late 

 Comet seen at Rome. Abridged from the Latin. N° 169, p. 920. 



A new comet has lately been discovered at Rome, by the Abbot Blanchini,;]: 

 the disciple of Gem. Montenari. It appeared but small, but regular in its 

 orbit, of a thin light, and like a faint star. But through a telescope it was 



• John Justin Ciampini, a learned Italian ecclesiastic^ was born at Rome l633, and died 1698. 

 He was a zealous promoter and cultivator of learning. By his exertions were instituted two learned 

 societies, viz. the academy of ecclesiastical history, and that of physics, and mathematics, at Rome. 

 Ciampini was author of several pieces on antiquarian subjects. 



+ Dr. Wra. Croon, or Croone, was one of the most early and usefvil members of the Royal 

 Society, being professor of rhetoric in Gresham college, at the time when the members of the 

 society held their meetings there. At their first meeting, when formed into a regular body, Nov. 28, 

 1660, he was appointed their register, for taking the minutes of what passed at their meetings; 

 which he continued to do till their charter was passed, by which Dr. Wilkins and Mr. Oldenburg 

 were nominated joint secretaries. Dr. Croone died Oct. l684, and left plans of two lectures to be 

 founded, one in the college of physicians, on the nerves and the brain ; the other an annual lecture 

 at the Royal Society, on the nature and laws of muscular motion, which is still continued. Dr. 

 Croone has been characterized as a general scholar, an accurate linguist, an acute mathematician, a 

 well-read historian, and a profound philosopher. 



\ Francis Blanchini, or Bianchini, one of the most learned men of his time, was bom at Verona 

 1662, and died in 1729, at 67 years of age. His taste for mathematics and physics induced him, at 

 an early age, to found a mathematical academy in his native place. He repaired to Rome in 16"84, 

 where he became librarian to pope Alexander VIII. He afterwards obtained several ecclesiastical 

 preferments from different popes, and was secretary to the conferences for the reformation of the 

 calendar. Indeed Bianchini was greatly esteemed by all the learned, and was admitted a member of 

 several academies. He was author of many learned works : a Universal History ; an edition of 

 Anastasius the librarian ; and some dissertation* on antiquities, &c. 



