Letter 1104

[fol. 273] Upminster Dec 18 1706 Sr I lately recd these 2 Critical Notes wth a Lr from an ingenious & learned Friend, well skilled in that kind of Learning. He is a Batch: of Divinity & Fellow of Queens Coll Cambr, but minded to conceal his Name under the feigned one subscribed under the enclos- ed Notes. He thinks yt the Criticks ought to be enter- tained sometimes in the Transactions, as well as the Mathematicians, Naturalists &c. He would be glad to know the opinion of the Criticks of the Society about his guess at [Nupillas & Dulcedine] wch he criticises on. If the ways were better, & the days longer, I would have enjoyed the happiness of the Meeting of the Society. I am extremely pleased wth the Ob- servations you have published in the Transactions of Mr. Flamsteed, Dr Facio, & Dr Scheuchzer concern- ing the Moons Atmosphere, wch I ever imagined to be, but never saw so good proof of before. I have just now provided my self wth an excellent semi- circle to take the Angles, & thereby the distances of the places from whence I observed the Flight of Sounds which was the only thing yt hath delayed the me from imparting my Observations on yt subject. I am Sr your obliged & humble servt W: Derham In or soon after the Holy-days you shall hear what news at Orsett.