VOL. LII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. - 621 



both in respect to this and other orders of plants, especially the cryptogamiae, 

 yet there still remains much to be done, as he believes every skilful reader will 

 easily allow. 



From all that has been observed, he would draw a few conclusions in favour of 

 the proposals in question. First, then, the uncertainty of authors on this branch 

 of botany shows, that it requires a still further examination than has hitherto 

 been made.* 2dly, That though in general, since the writings of Linneus, 

 figures have been in a great measure laid aside, yet in this, and some other ob- 

 scure parts of botany, they may be employed to good purpose. 3dly, That the 

 curious in botany ought to consider themselves as particularly obliged to those 

 who are inclined to labour and make researches in the obscure, and, according to 

 the vulgar opinion, contemptible parts of nature, especially this order of plants, 

 some of which are used for the table, and not a few of them are of a poisonous 

 nature, so that a mistake may, and has perhaps sometimes proved of fatal con- 

 sequence. 



LXXX. Of a Remarkable Agitation of the Sea, July 28, 1761 ; and of two 

 Thunder Storms in Cornwall. By the Rev. JVm. Borlase, M. A., F. R. S. 

 p. 507. 



On Tuesday, July 28, 1761, the day quite calm, the sky lowering and cloudy, 

 thunder at times all the day, the tide in Mount's bay was considerably agitated. 

 Between Penzance and Marazion, there is a level of sands, on which there is 

 good travelling when the tide is out: but when the tide is full, the sands are 

 covered. At 10 a. m. the driver of a plough, belonging to William Tregennin, 

 laden with tin, for Penzance coinage, driving as usual on the then bare sands, 

 found himself and the plough on a sudden surrounded by the sea. The horses 

 were frightened and plunged, the oxen stood still, the driver and his boy could 

 neither recollect how they should help the cattle or secure themselves : several 

 people saw them at a distance, but dared not to approach ; and in a few minutes 

 when all was given up for lost, the sea retired and left them, safely to pursue 

 their journey. Mr. B. came to Chandour, a small village at the western extre- 

 mity of these sands, about 11, and found several persons standing on the shore, 

 intent on the several extraordinary fluxes and refluxes of the tide at that time, 

 and was informed, that at the first agitation, when the plough was surprised by 

 the sea, the water must have risen about 6 feet perpendicular. During his stay 

 he observed the sea flowing and retreating several times, and by his watch it was 

 7 minutes flowing, the water rising about a foot and half, or somewhat more, 



* Since this was written by Mr. Hudson, much new Jight has been thrown on the structure and 

 economy of the fungi by the celebrated Hedwig of Germany j and their different species have been 

 accurately described and figured by Mons. BuUiard in France, and by Mr. Bolton in England. 



