412 
now neer y* middle of the town stand where y* high water 
mark once wached. Upon this account many of our habita- 
éons either want good cellarage; or such as y® have are fre- 
quently overflown in y® winter time, and will consequently 
strike a damp into all y° buildings y* hang over it; but this 
equally concerns y* buildings on both sides y' stand neer y° 
river, and will therefore make noe difference. I have heard 
it observed in Spain y‘ y® north side of a river is more un- 
wholesome y" y* south, w™, if it be true, I cannot impute to 
any other cause y" those vapours w™, rising from y* river, are 
by y° reflected beams of a south sun carryed into y® air, and 
will consequently hang in a perpendicular line over y° north 
side, & w* by y* retreat of y* sun and its beams they are rob’d 
of those their supporters, their naturall gravity will make y™ 
fail down upon those parts y* lye directly underneath the at- 
traction of y® sun beams, w™ was a doctrine swallowed down, 
not understood by the ancients, & has now so much lost its 
credit as not to need a serious confutacon. ‘The asserters of 
it did believe the vapours to run up in y® same line y* y° in- 
cident ray came down, as if they had climed up a rope laid 
there purposely for y" ascent, but since y* noe longer believed, 
we ought at y° same time to discard y° beliefe of vapours 
hanging on y° south side of y* river, w™ depends wholly upon 
y’ mistaken point of Philosophy. 
“¢] thought to have made some observaéons upon y° 
multitude of people, houses, and chimneys; y* unequall con- 
tents of parishes; and y® new built ground in each: but as to 
these particulars, I was not able to get any other y" lame in- 
formations, except what S* W™ Petty has already published 
on this same subject, to w" I refer y* reader, resolving to 
dismiss y° rest till I can meet w™ some what more of certainty. 
““*Ofthe Peruan bark, or Jesuits Powder. 
“<* As to the Jesuits powder, it appears to me y® only 
specifick I know in nature. It attacks all intermittant feavors 
