VOL. LII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 523 



Torre del Greco and Annonciada; that very considerable shocks of an earthquake 

 were felt all over Naples: that neither fire nor smoke came out of the old crater; 

 that the lava had run into the sea: and that beyond Portici, on the high road, 

 the lava was 17 palms in height, and some of the streams 400 yards broad. 

 Much damage has been done to houses and vineyards; and it is said the palace 

 of Portici has suffered somewhat. 



In the month of September last a Venus, of most exquisite workmanship, 

 was dug up here in the Mons Coelius near the place called Clivo Scauri. It is 

 in the possession of the Marquis Carnavallia, who gave 50 scudi to the work- 

 men, their full demand, as the half of the value, according to agreement, 

 though it is worth some thousands. It is full 6 feet high, in the same attitude 

 with the Venus of Medicis, with this difference, her right hand before her 

 breast, and her left supporting a light drapery before the pudenda. On the base, 

 which is of one piece with the statue, and quite entire, is the following in- 

 scription: 



A n O T H C 

 e N. T P n 1 A A I 

 > A $ P O A I T H C 



MHNO^ANTOC 



e n o I € I. 



XI. On the Term and Period of Human Life. And on Dr. Halleys and other 

 Tables of Lives. By T. IV., A. M. p. 46. 



Mr. T. W. is dissatisfied with all the tables of lives, chiefly because they 

 begin with too small a number of persons, 100 or 1000, &c. by which it happens 

 that long before the 1 00th year they are all dead, and the tables become useless 

 for all ages after 80 or QO, though many persons live to much higher ages. He 

 would therefore have the tables to begin with at least 100,000 persons born. If we 

 look back, says he, we shall find the first sketch, that of Capt. John Graunt, 

 alias Sir William Petty, was formed on 100 only, and such a table carried the 

 account to the 80th year, or upwards. Next were introduced those of 1000, 

 which extended the computation of life to between 84 and 100; tables formed 

 on 10,000 would advance to above 105; and on 100,000, duly proportioned 

 from the materials we have, might continue the account to 1 1 5 years and up- 

 wards. If in the first sketch, the supposed term of life was closed too soon, 

 and it was an improvement to carry on an account of the gradual decay beyond 

 the QOth year, why are we to rest here, having additional observations made for 

 more than 6o years, which furnish materials for a further progress ? If there is 

 room, and good foundation to advance but 20 years beyond the compass of the 

 present tables, should not this be done? And will it not make a considerable, 



3x2 . 



