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XV. Extract of a Letter from Sir Charles Blagden, Knt . 
Sec. R. S. to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. P. R. S. giving some 
Account of the Tides at Naples. 
Read May 2, 1793. 
Rome, March 30, 1793. 
I took some pains at Naples to get information about 
the state of the tides, but could learn nothing satisfactory. 
The quantity of rise and fall is so little, that unless the sea 
be very calm, it is impossible to make a good observation. 
One of the best places for ascertaining the phenomena would 
be at what they call the river Styx, which is a narrow com- 
munication between the Porto di Miseno and the Mare Morto. 
Here I learned very distinctly that the water sometimes ran 
in, and sometimes out, but could not get the times ; when I 
was there it was running out. The best observation I had 
was on the 2d of March, when it appeared to be high water 
at Naples about eleven in the forenoon, and low water be- 
tween five and six in the afternoon ; with a difference of 
pretty exactly one foot in the height. The wind blew the 
same way ail the time, and the sea was very little agitated. 
On the preceding day the water had sunk an inch or two 
lower. From this observation, as well as some others less ac- 
curate, I concluded the time of high water at full and change 
to be between nine and ten o'clock, in the Bay of Naples. 
I am, &c. 
C. BLAGDEN. 
