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l 
LXXXiX. An Anfwer to Dr. Lining’^ Query 
relating to the Death of Profejj'or Rich- 
man. By Mr. William W atfon, F. R. S. 
Read July 4, Lining’s letter of the 14th of Ja- 
1 754 ’ nuary 1754, being communicated ro 
the Royal Society by Charles Pinckney, Efq; that 
learned body referred it to Mr. Watfon, one of their 
members, in order that the bed: information, that 
could be procured upon this fubjedt, fhould be tranf- 
mitted to Dr. Lining, for whofe correfpondence the 
Society had for many years had a very particular at- 
tention. Mr. Watfon imagined, that it would be 
agreeable to Dr. Lining, as his abode is fo remote 
from Peterfburg, where the accident happened, to 
have tranfmitted to him not only the anfwer to 
what he more particularly requefb, but alfoas ge- 
neral an account of every thing relating to fo un- 
common an accident, as could be procured. 
The defcription of Profeffor Richman’s apparatus, 
hereafter mentioned, was fent by himfelf to Pro- 
feffor Heinfius of Leipfic. He intituled it an elec- 
trical gnomon. To the conftrudlion of this gnomon 
were neceffary a rod of metal, a glafs jar, a linen 
thread of a foot and half in length, to one end of 
which was fattened half a grain of lead, and a qua- 
drant *. The rod of metal C F) was placed in 
the glafs veflel E, which contained filings of metal. 
The linen thread C G was faflened to the red at C\ 
and, when the apparatus is not eledtrifed, hangs per- 
* See the figure annexed, which, with the account of the ap- 
paratus, is extracted and tranflated from a Latin treatife of Pro- 
feffbr Winkler, tranfmitted to the Royal Society from Leipfic. 
pendicular 
