[ 2I 9 3 
IX. A Letter from Robert Southwell, Efq; 
to Mr . Henry Oldenburg, concerning fome 
extraordinary Ecchoes, lately communicated 
to the Royal Society by the Reverend- Henry 
Miles, D. D. & F. R. S. 
Head June 5. Y MUST needs account myfelf very 
174 A happy, in that I partake fo conftant 
and frefh intelligence of the Matters of the World; 
and that from fo aftive a Hand, as that I know no 
Example of greater Exa&nefs and Induftry any where 
than what is with you. 
I am very much rejoiced at the happy Advancement 
of Learning in the Royal Society ; and that the radiant 
Influence of His Majefty is like to fmile upon it. And 
as to your Query concerning Sounds and Ecchoes, I 
do remember, that the Duke of Tufcany * has made 
rare Trials concerning the Velocity in the Motion 
of Sound 5 and I gave Mr. Boyle , in almofl: a Sheet 
of Paper, an Account and a Difcourfe upon thofe 
Experiments, and the Manner of them. 
As for whifpering Places, the beft I ever faw was that 
at Gloucester : But in Italy , in the Way to Naples , 
two Days from Rome> I faw, in an Inn, a Room 
with a fquare Vault, where whifpering, you could 
eafily hear it at the oppofite Corner, but not in the 
leaft manner at the fide Corner that was nearer to you. 
I faw another, in the Way from Paris to Lyons , 
in the Porch of a common Inn, which had a round 
Vaults but neither of thefe were comparable to that 
of 
* See the Exp. of the Academy del Cmtnt$ 9 
