rOL. LIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 685 



3. Two reflecting telescopes, of 2 feet focus, made by Mr. Short ; and a divided 

 object-glass micrometer, made by the same gentleman, of 501.45 inches focal 

 length. 



They used the micrometer with a magnifying power of 6o ; the contacts of 

 Venus with the sun's limb were observed with a magnifying power of 1 20, and 

 all the other observations with one of QO. Both the thermometers, used in the 

 preceding observations, were according to Fahrenheit's scale. 



LXVI. Extract from the Journals of the Royal Society, June 23, 1708, re~ 

 specting a Letter addressed to the Society by a Member of the House of Jesuits 

 at Pekin in China. By Charles Morton, M.D., Sec. R.S. p. 480. 

 This letter, the original of which is in the French language, consists of 28 

 pages in close folio; to which are subjoined 44 pages of notes; and 27 pages of 

 ' drawings, to which the letter and notes refer for illustration. It relates to some 

 disquisitions of Mr. Tuberville Needham, f.r.s., concerning a supposed con- 

 nection between the hieroglyphical writing of ancient Egypt, and the charac- 

 teristic writing now in use among the Chinese. 



Several of the Society remember Mr. Needham's tract on this subject, which 

 was printed at Rome in the Latin tongue, 1761, addressed to this and the Anti- 

 quarian Societies. This conjecture of Mr. Needham's, pregnant with so many 

 curious consequences, engaged the attention of the literati of Europe : most of 

 them wishing success to it; and some, either from a particular information, or 

 for other reasons, opposing it. Mr. Desguignes of Paris, f.r.s., Mr. Bartoli 

 of Turin, antiquary to the King of Sardinia ; the late Abbe Winkelman, anti- 

 quary to the pope, and Mr. Montagu, f.r.s., were the principal of those who 

 thought themselves concerned to oppose Mr. Needham ; and what they have 

 been pleased to communicate, either in print or manuscript, has been already 

 laid before the Society ; and the last gentleman, viz. Mr. Montagu, has also 

 sent to England a cast of the bust of Turin, now in the British Museum, in- 

 scribed with certain characters, which gave occasion to Mr. Needham's con- 

 jectures. 



The subject in question seemed sufficiently interesting to seek an answer from 

 the only competent judges, the literati of China; and your secretary, first by the 

 encouragement of Thomas Hollis, Esq., f.r.s., and subsequently by the assist- 

 ance of Thomas Wilcocks, Esq., f. s.a., and the particular favour of the Direc- 

 tors of the East-India Company, has at length obtained it. In order to this, a 

 letter was written, in conjunction with Mr. Alban Butler, late of Pall Mall, who 

 had some interest among the Jesuits at Pekin, stating the matter in question, 

 and desiring the favour of an answer ; which answer is the letter that has been 

 read to the Society. 



