VOL. XXX.] 1*HIL0S0PHICAL TRANSACTION'S. 2Q7 



sages of which I shall recite, and at the same time give the Society a taste of 

 what those curious letters contain. 



In Mr. Crabtrie's 2d letter, of Oct. 30, l640, after a very clear demonstra- 

 tion that the solar spots are not planets at a distance from the sun, but some- 

 thing adhering to, or very near the sun's body ; and also after a no less clear 

 demonstration of the errors of Lansberg's Hipparchian Diagram, his Lunar 

 Parallax, his Doctrine of Eclipses, and indeed his whole Lunar Astronomy, 

 with several other curious matters, too many to be specified: after this, I say, 

 Mr. Crabtrie adds, " Something I am sure you were telling me concerning a 

 way of observing the places of the planets by your glasses. But I have not a 

 little lamented that my time cut me so short, when I was with you, that I 

 could not more fully ruminate and digest those strange inventions which you 

 showed me, and told me of My lassitude after an unexpected and unacquainted 

 journey, my unpreparedness for those cogitations, not intending that journey 

 the day before, and the multiplicity and variety of the novelties you showed me, 

 so wholly distracted my thoughts into admiration, that I cannot now give my 

 meditations any reasonable account of what I saw ; but must entreat you, in a 

 few lines, to rub up my memory, and tell me again what you showed me, and 

 the extent of those your inventions. Which I desire, that I might consider, 

 and rejoice to consider, how much and wherein Urania's structure will grow to 

 perfection by your assistance; and that, what in me lies, I may help you to 

 remember when and wherein your inventions and observations will be of most use. 

 I should also desire you to inform me what size of a quadrant you conceive to be 

 large enough for observation with your devices. For I am ere long going to 

 Wigan, 12 miles from hence, where much brass is cast; and then I could see 

 whether I could have such an one cast. You told me, as I remember, you 

 doubted not in time to be able to make observations to seconds. I cannot but 

 admire it, and yet, by what I saw, believe it; but long to have some farther 

 hints of your conceit for that purpose. One means, I think you told me was, 

 by a single glass in a cane, upon the index of your sextant, by which, as I 

 remember, you find the exact point of the sun's rays. But the way how, I 

 have quite forgotten, and much desire. Your device for the exact division of 

 a quadrant, by dividing 11 degrees into 10 parts, I did then understand, but 

 do not now fully remember. If it might not be too much trouble to you, I 

 should intreat you to give me such a paper demonstration thereof as you showed 

 me, and two or three lines plainly for the use thereof, how to find those small 

 parts. I lost the little paper, wherein I noted the moon's diameter, which we 

 observed when I was with you, I pray you send it me, if, &c. 



I cannot conceal how much I am transported beyond myself with the remem- 



voL. VI. Q a 



