[ 2 }' ] 
XVI» An Account of Letters found in the 
Middle of a Beech, by J. Theod. Klein, 
Secretary of Dantzick, F. R. S. communis 
cated to the Royal Society by Sir Hans 
Sloane, Bart, ^r, of the R. S. and Bhyjician 
to His M A J E S T Y^&c. Tranjlated from 
the Latin by T. S. M. 2). 
I N the Year 1727. a Beech-tree was fell'd near 
Elbing, for the domeftic Ufe of John Maurice 
Moeller i then Poft-mafter of Elbing^ now Secretary 
of his native City. The Trunk being faw’d into 
Pieces, one of thefe, three dantzick Feet fix Inches 
long, cleft in the Houfe on the 30th of Jmcj dif- 
covered feveral Letters in the Wood about one Inch 
and a half from the Bark, and near the fame Diftance 
from the Centre of the 'Trunk. The Hewer, having 
at one Stroke unfolded fuch a Prodigy, and believing 
there was Witchcraft at the Bottom of it, ran in ajU 
pofilible Hafte for his Matter : But this Gentleman, 
well inftruded in found Philofophy, gave Orders to 
preferve the Pieces of Wood, and had them brought 
to my Study, at the fame time communicating to 
me the Hittory, and his Sentiments thereon. 
Figure 5. 'Tab. II. exhibits the Letters confpicuous 
in the folid Wood, two of which, D B, fliew their 
old Bark fmooth and found. The Wood lying be- 
tween the Letters and the Bark of the Trunk, as well 
as that between the Letters and the Heart of the Tree, 
is iikewife folid and found, bearing not the leaft 
' . G g Trace 
