552 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1732. 



And though we may call this nervous fluid by any name, to which a proper, 

 determined, and fixed idea is annexed, yet the word spirits, was an unhappy 

 choice, as it includes an idea either of something like to the spirits of fer- 

 mented liquors, or some of the saline volatile spirits, as that of hartshorn, 

 &c. or a flying vapour or exhalation; all which being loose and indetermined, 

 have served only to mislead the inquisitive, and amuse the ignorant. 



But the source from which this fluid arises, viz. the circulating blood ; the ves- 

 sels through which it is secerned; and the nerves in which it moves and is con- 

 tained; the soft and almost insipid taste, and no smell, observable in the brain 

 and nerves, suggest no idea of such spirits; and the simple qualities of a pure 

 and perfectly defecated elementary water, will better suit all that our senses can 

 discover of it, and are indeed sufficient to solve all the phaenomena of the 

 animal economy, as far as they depend on the nerves. 



Observations of Latitude and Fariation, taken on board the Hartford, in her 

 Passage from Java Head to St. Helena, Anno Dom. 1731-2. Communicated 

 by Edmund Halley, LL.D. Regius Astronomer at Greemuich. N" 424, p. 331. 



On Wednesday, Feb. 2, we took our departure from Java Head, allowing it 

 to lie in the lat. of 6° 45' south. 



Feb. 7 By a good amplitude made 3" '28' . variat. Nwly. 



Latitude by account 9 39. ■ south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 43 1 ^^^^^ 



Longitude from ditto 45 J 



13 By a good azimuth made 4 45. . variat. Nwly. 



Latitude by a good observation 13 43. . south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 3 311 . 



Longitude from ditto 3 36 J 



15 By a good amphtude 4 52. . variat. Nwly. 



Latitude per observation 15 IS. . south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 6 



Longitude from ditto 6' 



21. ... By a good azimuth and amplitude. ...... 4 51. . variat. Nwly. 



Latitude per observation 18 12. . south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 



Longitude from ditto 



25. ... By good amplitude 6 8. . variat. n wly. 



Latitude per observation 19 59. . south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 21 



Longitude from ditto 22 



29 By a good azimuth 10 3. . variat. Nwly. 



Latitude per observation 21 0. . south. 



Meridian distance from Java Head 30 



■ west. 



'}vvest. 

 9-' 



'-'^ I west. 



I west. 



Longitude from ditto , 32 



;:}' 



