VOL. XXXIII.j PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, 57 



many men that there is a recurrency in the deep water, in the middle of the 

 gut, that sets outwards to the grand ocean, which this accident very much de- 

 monstrates; and possibly a great part of the water, which runs into the 

 Straits, returns that way, and along the two coasts beforementioned; other- 

 wise this ship must of course have been driven towards Ceuta, and so upwards. 

 The water in the gut must be very deep, several of the commanders of our 

 ships of war having attempted to sound it with the longest lines they could 

 contrive, but could never find any bottom. 



Ambergris found in Whales. Communicated by Dr. Boylston of Boston in 

 New-England. N° 385, p. J 93. 



The learned have been at a loss about the origin of ambergris, till the whale 

 fishermen of Nantucket, in New-England, 3 or 4 years since, made the dis- 

 covery. Their account is this. 



Cutting up a spermaceti bull whale, they found accidentally in him, about 

 20lb. of that drug. After which the fishermen became very curious in search- 

 ing all the whales they killed; and it has been since found in lesser quantities, 

 in several male whales of that kind, and in no other, and that scarcely in one 

 of a hundred of them. They further add, that it is contained in a cyst, or 

 bag, without any inlet or outlet to it, and that they have sometimes found 

 the bag empty, and yet entire. This bag is no where to be found, but near 

 the genital parts of the fish. The ambergris is, when first taken out, moist, 

 and of an exceedingly strong and offensive smell.* 



Observations on some of the Plants in New-England, with remarkable Instances 

 of the Nature and Power of Fegetation. By the Hon. Paul Dudley, F. R. S. 

 N° 385, p. ]94. 



The plants of England, as well those of the fields and orchards, as of the 

 garden, that have been brought over into New England, suit very well with 

 the soil, and grow to perfection. 



The apples are as good as those of England, and look fairer, as well as 

 the pears; but they have not got of all the sorts. 



The peaches rather excel those of England, and there is no trouble or 

 expence of walls for them ; for the peach trees are all standards, and Mr. 

 Dudley has had, in his own garden, 7 or 800 fine peaches of the rare-ripes, 

 growing at a time on one tree. 



* This account of the origin of ambergris has been confirmed by the subsequent observations of 

 Dr. Schwedianer and Mr. Champion, inserted in Phil. Trans, vols. 73 and 81. 

 VOL. VII. I 



