¥ 204 | ' Miscellanies. 
7. Meteorological Notes in 1741-1757; by Professor Joun Win- 
rurop, F. R. S.*—The following memoranda are copied from some 
old interleaved Boston almanacks of the years 1741-1757. They ap- 
r to have been made by John Winthrop, Esq., F. R.S., who was 
aduated at Cambridge in 1732, and became Hollis Professor of 
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 1738. It was thought that 
they were at | yorth preserving, although the diary, to which re- 
* ference is mainte. must (if yet in existence) be of. far greater 
value. The astronomical parts are mostly omitted ; there are besides, 
tables of mortality in Boston for several years, and some other obser- 
vations of more transient interest. Should these notes prove of any 
‘value to meteorologists, the writer’s trouble in copying them will be 
amply rewarded. E. T., Jr. 
m Cambridge, December 8, 1840. 
“1741. January 10, noon. The greatest number of spots in the 
sun Lever saw. One I discovered with my naked eye, (using only a. 
colored glass to save it.) Through telescope appeared to bea cluster 
of spots exceedingly black, and in company on all sides with a neb- 
ula; and besides these there were five or six in other parts of the 
*\y sun. In the evening a considerable aurora, which. about 9 o’clock 
= was covered by the clouds. Till now the winter has been very 8 
vere, Boston harbor quite froze up—loaded sleds drive over Charles- 
town ferry, &c. 11. Snow. 12. A great thaw. 13. Cloudy, warm. 
About noon had a sight of the great spot in the sun with only the red 
glass. 
“March. As hard a winter as was ever known. 5. An extraor- 
dinary aurora borealis. 6. Fair. 26. A very considerable aurora in 
the evening. 27. A fine day. 
“ September 25, 26, 27. Three charming days. 27. At night an 
extraordinary aurora, reaching from northwest to almost east: the 
eastern part often tinged with a bright scarlet, the bottom a very dark 
cloud, but so thin that the stars shined very brightly through it; the 
strie changing every moment, and often reaching above the pole. 
The center seemed to the eastward of the north. I watched it till 
almost | o’clock. 28. A pleasant day; wind pretty fresh at south- 
west; at night a small aurora. Next morning a little rain. 29. An- 
other aurora at night. 30. A great dew in the morning. 
** November 4. A fine fall hitherto. ; 
“ December 6. A small earthquake felt at Boston, Roxbury, Ded- 
ham, Walpole, &c. about 8h. A. M. 
* These extracts have at our suggestion been kindly forwarded to us by Mr. Ed- 
ward Tuckerman, Jr. of Boston, in whose hands are the original notes of : 
Winthrop. We doubt not they will be justly appreciated by meteorologists —#?™ 
Pie 
