l60 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1764. 



upper deck. The mast was woolded with ropes of 2-^ size in different places, 

 which were burst asunder at every turn of it ; and the mast all shivered into 

 small splinters, and mostly carried overboard. Here also the mainmast was 

 made of fir, and the part which was split and shivered to pieces, was the part 

 usually coated with turpentine mixed as before said with tallow or oil : and the 

 main topmast, which was made of a wood of the country called teak, and is of 

 a texture like oak, but stronger, was untouched, notwithstanding it lay parallel 

 and touched the mast for the whole length of the part carried away. 



LI I. A Demonstration of the Second Rule in the Essay towards the Solution of a 

 Problem in the Doctrine of Chances, published in the Phil. Trans. Vol. LI II. 

 Communicated by the Rev. Richard Price.* p. '296. 



This is a supplement to the essay on a problem in the doctrine of chances, 

 noticed at p. 41, of this vol. of these Abridgments. This paper consists of a 

 demonstration of a rule in that former paper. But both the rule and the de- 

 monstration have been omitted, as much too intricate and operose to be of any 

 real use in the practice of calculations relating to the doctrine of chances. 



LIIl. Of a Remarkable Meteor seen at Oxford, March 5, 1764. By the Rev. 

 John Swinton, B. D., F. R. S. p. 326. 



Coming out of Christ-Church common-room into the great quadrangle, on 

 Monday, March 5th, 1764, about 7*^30"" p.m. Mr. S. observed a general 

 brightness in the air, much superior to that of the full moon ; though the hea- 

 vens were then in some measure overcast, and the moon only 3 days old. This 

 unusual and very remarkable illustration of the atmosphere continued the whole 

 evening. Throwing up his bed-chamber sash, a little before eleven o'clock, he 



* Dr. Price was born in Glamorganshire in 1723, and he died in 1791, consequently at 6'8 years 

 of age. He received his education in a private academy, after which he became minister to a con- 

 gregation at Newington in Middlesex ; whence he removed to that of Hackney. He was also lec- 

 turer of the meeting-house in the Old Jewry, in London. In 17()4 he became r. a s., and d. d. 

 by diploma from a Scotch university. At the time of the American war he made himself con- 

 spicuous by his zeal in the cause of liberty, which he also displayed on several other occasions : and 

 for the publication of his Observations on Liberty and Civil Government he had the thanks of the 

 city of London. Among many other learned accomplishments. Dr. P. was no mean mathematician, 

 which enabled him to treat with peculiar precision the calculations relating to political arithmetic, 

 population, anmiities,. &e. it is said even that he had the honour of suggesting to the late prime 

 minister, Mr. Pitt, the measure of the present sinking-fund, to extinguish the national debt, by 

 the allotment of an annual million to accumulate at compound interest. Dr. Price's principal works 

 are; 1 . Four Dissertations on Providence and Prayer ; on the Importance of Christianity, &c. '2. 

 A Review of the Principal Questions and Difficulties in Morals. 3. Observations on Reversionary 

 Payments, Annuities, &c. 2 vols. Svo. ♦. Discussion of the Doctrines of Materialism and Nedes- 

 sity, in a correspondence with Dr. Priestley. 5. Essay on the Population of England and Wales. 

 6. A volume of Sermons. 



