t 67 ) 
V. Account of a Mujtcal Injlrumtnt^ which was brought by 
C apt am Fourneaux from the IJk of Amfterdam in the. 
South Seas to London in the TeaY 1774, and given to the 
Royal Society. By Joflma Steele, Efq^uirCy in a Letter 
to Sir John Pringle, Bart. P, R. S, 
TO SIR JOHN PRINGLE, BART. P. K. S. 
Margaret-Strcet, Cavcndifli-fquarc, 
® R> December i, 1774. 
Redde, Jan. 22, A GPvEEABLE to Your rcqucft, I have 
examined the curious fyftem of pipes, 
brought by Captain F ourneaux from the South Seas. The 
refult of my experiments are h^ewith inclofed. The 
inftrument was fo new to me, that ! fliould be forry its re- 
putation fliould reft intirely on my report, as I think an 
expert blower of the German flute might make further 
difeoveries; towards which, my bbfervations, whether 
perfecftly accurate or not, may in ibme meafure ferve as a 
guide. The accident of a flat third, coming in the fteadof 
a fharp one, from the pipes 6. 7. 8. and 9. is fo extraordi- 
nary, that I fufpedted, for fome tihie, the loweL (or fun- 
damental) tones of thofe pipes w^ere a quarter tone (or 
diejis ) lower than I have marked them ; but, after repeat- 
ed trials, and by the belt judgement I could form by my 
^ar, and by comparifon with another inftrument, I gave 
K 2 up 
