VOL. XLVIII.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 551 



will be published together with the other Greek characters, now engraving on 

 copper-plates, and afterwards make a separate work by themselves. At present 

 the monk, who was sent for from Rome, to try to open the former manuscripts, 

 has begun to give us some hopes in respect to one of them. Those which I 

 have opened, are philosophical tracts, the subject of which are known to me; 

 but I am not at liberty to be more explicit. 



Cllf. Extract of a Letter from Sir James Gray, Bart, his Majesty's Envoy to 

 the King of Naples, relating to the same Discoveries at Herculaneum. Dated- 

 Naples, Oct. 29, 175-1. p. 825. 



Several curious and valuable things are daily found in the mine of antiquities 

 at Portici. They have lately met with more rolls of papyri of different lengths 

 and sizes, some with the umbilicus remaining in them ; the greater part are, 

 Greek in small capitals. The Canonico Mazocchi, who is much esteemed for 

 his learning and knowledge of antiquity, is employed in copying and explaining 

 5 entire columns, that have been lately unrolled off^ one of the papyri, which 

 gives some hopes of further discoveries. This manuscript treats of music and 

 poetry. The Epicurean philosophy is the subject of another fragment, a small 

 bust of Epicurus, with his name in Greek characters, was found in the same 

 room, and was possibly the ornament of that part of the library, where the 

 writings in favour of his principles were kept; and it may also be supposed, that 

 some other heads of philosophers, found in the same room, were placed with the 

 same taste and propriety. 



Last week were found 1 fine bronze heads, of excellent workmanship, one of 

 Seneca, and another of a captive king. The king spares no expence in reco- 

 vering and preserving these valuable remains. In order to satisfy the curiosity of 

 the public, he has ordered a catalogue to be printed, with some designs of the 

 principal statues and paintings, which will be published soon. A more exact ac- 

 count of these discoveries will some time or other be given by Monsignor Baiardi, 

 who, in 3 large 4to volumes already printed, has not finished his introduction. 



CIF. Of some Trials to keep IVater and Fish stveet, tvith Lime-water. By 

 Stephen Hales, D. D., F. R. S. p. 826. 



Dr. Alston, of Edinburgh, had found, that the small proportion of a pound 

 of slacked lime to a hogshead of water, stirring it, effectually preserved the water 

 sweet, not only in a glass or earthen vessels, but also in a new oaken vessel. 



April 9, Dr. Hales put into a 7 gallon cask of water, in the proportion of a 

 pound to a hogshead, some white marble lime; which was what they call sweated, 

 that is wrapped in dung, without which sweating, it is said, that it will not be 

 reduced to lime. — April 26. It had some taste of the wood, and a small degree 



