474 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNOI 767. 



The reversed hieroglyphics are a proof that this amazing monument was not 

 erected before Pompey's time ; and as there is no mention of it in Strabo, or any 

 one of the ancient writers that I have met with, it seems plain it was not known 

 before the time of Vespasian. This medal could not by any accident, I think, 

 have been introduced above a foot within the circumferenceof the shaft; there- 

 fore I suppose it was placed there when the pillar was erected, which I thence 

 conclude to have been done to the honour of that emperor ; and perhaps on his 

 restoring the cripple to the use of his limbs. 



XLIll. Part of a Letter from IV. Watson^ M. D., F. R. S., to John Huxham, 



M. D., F. R. S., at Plymouth, giving some Account of the late Cold Weather. 



Dated London, \ 4 February, 1767. p. 443. 



After as mild a winter as has been known here for many years, the frost has 

 been intense. Until the latter end of December many of the tender annual 

 exotic plants continued alive; such as the African marigold. Nasturtium Indi- 

 cum, and others of this class. Even the plant usually called balm of Gilead, at 

 that time flourished without shelter. Mr. Miller of Chelsea said that he had 

 known the like but twice in his life; and that was in the years 1717 and 1722. 

 However, at the beginning of last month, January, after some smart gusts of 

 wind at east, it began to freeze; and continued increasing, until the 5th of that 

 month, in the morning, the thermometer, an excellent one made by Bird, stood 

 in the open air somewhat under 20", in the evening it was ig". It continued 

 thereabouts till the Qth, when in the morning it stood at 10" again, and at night 

 at 21". On the lOth in the morning it stood at 17", at night at 18'. From 

 this time to the 1 8th it was never below 23", but frequently above the freezing 

 point. On the 18th at night it stood at IQ'-i-. On the IQth at 6 in the morn- 

 ing it stood at 16', at 8 in the morning \b%, at 11 at night 17". On the 20th 

 at 8 in the morning, it stood at 18", at 11 at night 22". On the next day, 

 January 21st, the frost broke; the thermometer at 4 in the afternoon standing 

 at 36". 



In the country it has been observed much colder. On January 10th, at Car- 

 dington in Bedfordshire, Mr. Howard, f.r.s., by two thermometers observed 

 the mercury, at 6 in the evening, to stand at 9". And on the same day the Rev. 

 Mr. Wollaston, at East Dereham in Norfolk, found it so low as 8". Mr. Elli- 

 net, at Norwich, on the IQth of January, found his thermometer at 8 in the 

 morning to stand at 7"; at noon at 22", at 5 in the afternoon 18"; at 10 at 

 night at 8". Seven degrees therefore is the lowest point, at which the thermo- 

 meter seems to have stood any where in England during the late frost. 



January 10 was the coldest day at Plymouth, where Dr. Farr, a very ingenious 

 physician, and Mr. Mudge, who has communicated several papers to the k. s., 

 each observed his thermometer to stand at 23"-^^. 



