Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/104

 Tydes there, according to the directions formerly given in the Transactions. At present he assureth from many former Observations, that the biggest Spring-Tydes, and Annual Tydes there, are about the Æquinoxes, according as the Moon is neer the Full, or Change, before or after that time. Of this you may expect a more perfect account hereafter.

Am to acquaint you of an Experiment, if it may deserve that name, and not rather that of a Trifle; the matter of which is known to many, but un-applied (for ought I know) to such use as it affords. And the use is to my self of greater value, than you'l easily imagine, and I think, it may be equally profitable to many. Thus it is: you know, I have mourn'd for the loss of my eyes. I confess my unmanliness, that I have shed many tears in my study for want of them; but that was quite out of the way of recovering them. I know not, whether by standing much before a blazing Fire, or by writing often right before a bright Window, or what else might be the cause of this decay of my sight, who am not above 60 years of age. But I seem'd alwayes to have a kind of thick smoak or mist about me, and some little black balls to dance in the air about my eyes, and to be in the case, as If I came into a room suddenly from a long walk in a great Snow. But so it was, I could not distinguish the Faces of my acquaintance, nor Men from Women in rooms that wanted no light. I could not read the great and black English Print in the Church-Bibles, nor keep the plain and trodden paths in Fields or Pastures, except I was led or guided. I received no benefit by any Glasses, but was in the case of those, whose decay by Age is greater than can be helped by Spectacles. The fairest Prints seemed through Spectacles like blind Prints, litle black remaining.

Being in this sad plight, what trifle can you think hath brought me help, which I value more than a great Sum of Gold? Truly, Rh