VOL. XXIV.3 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. \gQ 



The shell or skin of these seeds is composed of so exceedingly thin a mem- 

 brane, that the wind, or even the seeds themselves, that are inclosed by it, 

 would easily break it, were it not fortified or stiffened by those parts that I call 

 its ribs or seams, which are much thicker than the rest of the membrane, and by 

 which both the seed and the vessels themselves are preserved. To find what 

 substance might be contained in these seeds, I contrived to break one of them, 

 and found a great deal of oil coming out of it ; and as each of these seeds was 

 of a yellowish colour, so was the oil also, where it was a little thick ; but 

 where it was thinner, it was as clear as water ; the other particles, that lay in 

 and about the oil, were exceedingly minute. I made but one little hole or breach 

 in the seed, at which to squeeze out the oil, and the other particles it con- 

 tained; which having done, I observed that the skin or membrane of the seed 

 had no colour at all in it ; and then i could see a great many more figures in 

 the said membrane, than were distinguishable in it before. Now when we con- 

 sider the exceeding small ness of the abovementioned seeds, it is easy to con- 

 ceive how, after being full ripe, they may be scattered abroad with a brisk 

 wind, and some of them consequently may fall upon old rotten trees, and from 

 thence receive their nourishment and increase. 



Concerning Pewter Money ^ coined in Ireland, by the late King James* By 

 Mr, Ralph Thoresby, F. R. S. N° 2g7, p. 1875. 

 I had a crown piece of pewter, inscribed melioris tessera fati, which was sent 

 me by the gentleman who found a quantity of them in the Treasury at Dublin, 

 and whose account of it is as follows : viz. " That King James, having turned 

 all the brass guns of Ireland, and all the brass and copper vessels of protestants 

 that he could seize, into coin, viz. half-crowns, somewhat larger than an 

 English half-penny ; shillings, broader, but not so thick as a farthing ; and 

 sixpences in proportion ; it was ordered to pass current in all payments, even 

 in bonds, and discharge of judgments aud statutes. But these stocks of metal 

 being all spent, which he began to coin in June 1689, and no circulation to 

 bring them back into his treasury, he called in all that he had coined, and 

 the half-crowns, which before were stamped with a face, were re-stamped with 

 his effigies on horseback, and then paid out to those who brought them in, as 

 crowns ; and the smaller coins were melted down, and re-coined again under 

 the same denominations, but with less metal. After the turn was served by 

 this stratagem, he had not wherewithal to import copper and brass ; but, for 

 want of it, fell foul on the pewter dishes, &c. — And the piece I sent you of 

 that metal was coined for five shillings; and the proclamation to make it pass- 

 able, was as ready as the stamps, for it was prepared: but King William passing 

 the Boyne, prevented their proclaiming it. There was very little of it coined i 



