VOL. L.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 245 



ment for the cdnviction of some of his friends: for as to himself, he was firmly 

 persuaded, that wood-ashes mixed with sea-water would yield, when distilled, as 

 good fresh water as could be wished for. And he thought, if every ship bound 

 a long voyage was to take a small still with Dr. Hales's improvements, they need 

 never want fresh water. Wood-ashes might easily be made, while there was any 

 wood in the ship, and the extraordinary expence of fuel would be trifling, if they 

 contrived so that the still should stand on the fire along with the ship's boiler.* 



LXXXVIII. A Lunar Eclipse observed at MatrituSy^ July 30, 1757- By the 

 Jusuit Father John Wendlingen. p. 640. From the Latin. 



The eclipse began at 9^47"^ 34% and ended at 12^ 52™ 15% true time. 

 Another lunar eclipse was observed by the same, Jan. 24, 1758. It began at 

 ^h 7m 42s^ j^nd the total immersion was at 5^ 13"^ 10^. 



LXXXIX. Observations on a slight Earthquake, though very particular , which 

 may lead to the Knowledge of the Cause of Great and Ftolent ones, that ravage 

 whole Countries, and overturn Cities. By J. A, Peyssonel, M. D., F. R. S, 

 p. 645. Frofn the French. 



Dr. P. went to make observations on the natural history of the sea; and when 

 he arrived at a place called the Cauldrons of Lance Caraibe, near Lancebertrand, 

 a part of the island of Grande Terre Guadaloupe, in which place the coast runs 

 N.E. and s.w. the sea being much agitated that day flowed from the n. w. There 

 the coast is furnished with hollow rocks, and vaults underneath, with chinks and 

 crevices : and the sea, pushed into these deep caverns by the force and agitation 

 of the waves, compresses the air, which, recovering its spring, forces the water 

 back in the form of the most magnificent fountains; which cease, and begin 

 again at every great pressure. This phenomenon is common to many places in 

 this island. The explanation of it is easy: but the following is what he particu- 

 larly observed. 



As he walked within about 40 paces from the brink of the sea, where the 

 waves broke, he perceived, in one place, the plants were much agitated by some 

 cause, that was not yet apparent. He drew near, and discovered a hole about 6 

 feet deep, and half a foot diameter; and stopping to consider it, he perceived 

 the earth tremble under his feet. This increased his attention ; and he heard a 

 dull kind of noise underground, like that which precedes common earthquakes. 



• The addition of wood-ashes, or any other alkaline substance, is quite unnecessary ; sweet water 

 being obtainable from sea- water by simple distillation in clean vessels 3 provided the degree of heat 

 be duly regulated, and care be taken to stop the distillation when the brine becomes too much con- 

 centrated. See note at p. 549, vol. i. of these Abridgements. 



+ Neither the latitude nor longitude of this place is given. 



