Royal Society EL/A/28

The Minutes of the Dublin Philosophical Society and Covering Letter, May 1685

At the meeting of the Dublin Philosophical Society held on 11th May 1685 St George Ashe took over from William Molyneux as secretary of the society. At this time the Dublin society received regular letters from the Royal Society and the Oxford Philosophical Society through William Musgrave, who belonged to both. In return on 30th May Ashe sent an account of the 4 meetings of the society held in May to the Royal Society, assuming that previous minutes had been sent by Molyneux.

1. Ashe presented a formstone (fossil) resembling a cockle from Westmeath.
2. Ashe presented a fine white thread made from tree roots in Connaught.
3. Dr Mullen read an account of the dissection of a deformed cat, following the report on the same made at the meeting on 23rd February.
4. Ashe reported on the weather observations made at Trinity College over the previous month.

A letter from Musgrave dated 31st March and the minutes of the Oxford Philosophical Society for March were read.

1. Musgrave reported Dr Turberville's observations of Saturn.
2. The society wished to obtain a copy of Robert Plot's Desiderata in Chemistry.
3. The measurements of mercury level in barometers made by Dr Lister in London were reported by Molyneux to differ from those made in Dublin, but the relative movements were similar.
4. Musgrave sent a drawing of a vessel found in York.
5. Molyneux presented a description and drawing of a device for measuring the humidity of the air.

Charles Willoughby chaired the meeting. The minutes of the Oxford Society for April were read. George Tollet was elected Treasurer of the society in place of Mr Pleydell.

1. A report that John Wallis, the cryptographer, could calculate the root of a 53 digit number in the dark was discussed.
2. The society hoped to obtain a copy of Leeuwenhoek's letter concerning the salts of wine, vinegar etc.
3. If it was not to appear in the Philosophical Transactions, the society wished to obtain a copy of Niclaus Mercator's proposition for squaring the circle and Wallis's opinion of it.
4. Ashe presented an unusual insect and M. Dorchaize's History of Insects.
5. Ashe described a horse that had its penis situated about 2 inches below its anus and 2 teats under its belly. This deformity did not seem to affect the function of the penis and the animal seemed as vigorous as stone horses (stallions), but lacked interest in mares. This led to a discourse on hermaphrodites from Willoughy.
6. Ashe reported that a woman in Down, after seeing a natural (naturally deficient in intellect) carried around for the purpose of begging, gave birth to a similarly affected child. Both had white hair, samples of which he presented to the meeting (and sent with the covering letter to the Royal Society).
7. Dr Mullen described a deformed chicken and egg, drawings of which were made by Mr Sandyes.
8. Dr Mullen undertook to present the society with an account of stones (hard concretions) found in the bodies of animals.

Mr Aland of Waterford communicated a method of calculating longitude by astronomy. William King, Tollet and Ashe were asked to examine his method. Tollet gave an account of the various proposed ways of finding longitude, none of which had proved to be reliable.

© AHRB Centre for Editing Lives and Letters, 2005  Reference: CELL/Early Letters of the Royal Society Catalogue EL.A.28