676 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1734. 



over the several stars. The latitude and hour being given, the variation of the 

 compass is easily known. 



An Abstract of the Meteorological Diaries communicated to the Royal Society,* 

 with Remarks upon them. By IV. Derham, D. D. F. R. S. N° 435, p. 458. 



Part 5, containing meteorological observations made at Hall in Saxony, 1729; 

 at Goslar, Wittemberg, Naples, Southwick; in Sweden, viz. Lunden, Swe- 

 naeker, Risinge, Bettna, Upsal, Hudiskswald, HerncEsand, Bygdea, in 1728. 



Here are contained tables of the greatest, the least, and the medium heights, 

 both of the barometer and thermometer, for several places. Also the rain at 

 Southwick and at Naples. 



It appears from the highest and lowest stations in 6 years, that the greatest 

 range of the barometer at Padua is 1.84 inches; but at Naples, it is only 94 

 centesimals of an inch. 



That the magnetical declination at Padua is 1 3" west, and has decreased in 6 

 years -fs^; that every day there is a small alteration in the declination, so that it 

 does not continue the same a whole day together; that the declination of all 

 needles, especially if touched by different magnets, is different a few sexagesms. 



A gentleman going from Dr. Derham's house, saw towards the east, about 

 30° high, a ball of fire, about 4 inches diameter, blazing and standing still at 

 first, and presently after, it ran towards the north, and in about 5 minutes he 

 heard an explosion like thunder. Its blaze emitted a light equal to that of the 

 moon at full. At the same time, the newspapers say, a light in the sky, like 

 a comet, was seen at Watford in Hertfordshire, with sparks of fire issuing 

 fi-om its tail; that then it broke out with a prodigious lustre, like the sun, 

 which lasted not long, and was followed with a terrible clap of thunder, the 

 stars twinkling all the while, and not a cloud to be seen. Which clap was pro- 

 bably the same as that above heard, and which was about 6 minutes in its pas- 

 sage hither. 



* Sec part 4 in N° 434. 

 END OF VOLUME THIRTY-EIGHTH OF THE ORIGINAL. 



END OF VOLUME SEVENTH. 



Erratum. In page '276, for fig. 1, pi. 6, read fig. 10, pi 5. 



C. and R. Baldwin, Printers, 

 New Bridge-street, London. 



