VOL. XXXVII.] I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 545 



Mr. Atwell made a journey purposely to see it, in company with a friend. 

 When they came to the fountain, they were informed that the spring had 

 flowed and ebbed about 20 times that morning ; but had ceased doing so, about 

 half an hour before they came. He observed the stream running into the basin 

 for more tlian an hour, without perceiving the least variation in it, or the least 

 alteration in the height of the surface of the water in the basin. Thus disap- 

 pointed, they went to take some refreshment at an inn ; after which they in- 

 tended to come back and spend the rest of the time by the fountain, before re- 

 turning home. They were told in the town, that many had been disappointed 

 in this manner ; and the common people superstitiously imputed it to some in- 

 fluence which the presence of some people had over the fountain ; for which 

 reason they advised, that in case it did not flow and ebb when they were both 

 present, one of them should absent himself, to try whether it would do so in 

 the presence of the other. 



On their return to it, a man, who was still at work near it, said that it be- 

 gan to flow and ebb about half an hour after they went away, and had done so 

 10 or 12 times. In less than a minute, they saw the stream coming into the 

 basin, and likewise the others on the outside of the basin, begin to increase 

 and to flow with great violence ; on which the suiface of the water in the basin 

 rose an inch and a quarter perpendicularly, in near the space of 2 minutes : 

 immediately after which, the stream began to abate again to its ordinary course; 

 and in near 2 minutes time the surface was sunk down to its usual height, where 

 it remained near 2 minutes more. It then began to flow again as before ; and 

 in the space of 26 minutes flowed and ebbed 5 times: so that, an increase, 

 decrease and pause, taken together, were made in about 5 minutes, or a little 

 more. 



It could be observed by the mark on the stones, that the surface of the 

 water in the basin had risen before they came at least three quarters of an inch 

 perpendicularly higher, than when they saw it ; and they could perceive some 

 very little abatement each turn, both in the height, and in the time of the 

 rising of the surface, and consequently in the time of its sinking ; but the time 

 of the pause, or standing of the surface at its usual height, or equable running 

 of the stream, was lengthened ; yet so, as to leave some abatement in the time 

 of the rising, sinking, and pause taken together.* 



Mr. Atwell comes now to his hypothesis, for explaining the phaenomena ob- 

 served ; and he imagines them to be occasioned by two streams or springs, one 



* Another account of this spring, by Dr. Oliver, a little varied in the circumstances, may be 

 seen in N" 204. 



VOL. VII. 4 A 



