VOL. XXX] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 2Q3 



entire; and from what I could judge, its middle was some degrees nearer the 

 north than when I first took notice of it. Till a quarter before 12 the light 

 continually abated, and then I left it; but a watchman, I ordered to bring me 

 an account of it next morning, tells me it continued till towards day-break, 

 but never streamed remarkably after I went away. Though 1 could not this 

 time see any stars through the black matter at bottom, I am sensible it was 

 not a cloud, though it bore the resemblance of one : for when a real cloud 

 came over any part of it, (as several small ones did) their difference was very 

 conspicuous. 



I have since received two letters, one from Wisbeach in the Isle of Ely, the 

 other from within 1 4 miles of Bath, both which take notice of it, though 

 with no further particulars, than that on Saturday night, they had seen the 

 same light, though not so considerable as in the beginning of March the 

 last year. 



Concerning Britain having formerly been a Peninsula. By Dr. Wm. Mus- 

 grave, F. R, S, N° 352, p. 589. Abstracted from the Latin. 



Supposing Britain to have been a Peninsula, Dr. Musgrave proposes to 

 examine, 1. Whether an isthmus or neck of land could not have been washed 

 or worn away; and 2. Whether that between Britain and France really was so. 

 The former is very strenuously denied by the learned Isaac Vossius ; there being 

 according to him no cause sufficient for producing such an effect; but the con- 

 trary will plainly appear from the following consideration. 



And first, from that vast body of water, discharged from the Atlantic ocean 

 into our western sea, and that with such prodigious force, as is rarely found in 

 any other part of the globe; both the shallows and straits of the western 

 sea, increasing almost continually, must cause the waters thus impelled to 

 mount in a surprising manner, and to beat against our supposed isthmus, 

 so as to overflow, wear and wash it away in time. And thus, that Britain 

 should become an island, seems not at all impossible, but on the contrary 

 very probable. 



Secondly, the west wind is often so fierce and raging, after acquiring strength 

 in the vast Atlantic ocean, that it is scarcely conceivable, with what fury it attacks 

 the coasts of Britain and France; and it is very well known, that it commonly 

 blows above half the year (which was also observed by Julius Caesar) and that 

 very violently, especially in autumn; whence our Michaelmas storms; so that 

 should it happen to concur with a strong tide, both the Western and Severn 

 seas would be greatly swelled ; this isthmus would be strongly beaten on; and 

 first its surface, consisting of flint and chalk, would be washed away; and that 



