Below the trunk and thighs the plant protrudes a pivot, of a like substance with that of the bladder. This pivot, which is large at its origin, proceeding thus from the trunk and thighs, forms something like the knot of the sea-tree: it descends perpendicularly to the trunk, diminishing as it lengthens, and as it grows round; and then divides into a number of _mamellæ_, branched and wreathed inwards so firmly, as not to be retracted; of a coriaceous nature, blackish, forming a bunch like what we call the Rose of Jericho. I cannot recollect the name of this plant or flower. This bunch, or wreathed rose, incloses a heap of gravel, as if petrified or hardened, and ends upon a level with the hole of the egg, exactly as high as the last rank of _mamellæ_, which wreath upon, embrace, and sustain it, leaving always an empty space to let the sea-water pass in, which should fill the inside of the egg or bladder, and even to let in little fishes and shells. I was surprised to find in one little living muscles, as they always are attached to some solid body by their beards. Now by what means could they enter into this egg? I conjectured, that they had their beginning there, by the seminal matter of muscles carried in by the sea-water. I also found some small star-fish, whose rays might be about four or five lines long. If my stay here had been longer, I had continued my observations; and perhaps should have made some discoveries. It belongs to the academicians of Bourdeaux to push these observations further, if they think proper. From the Entrance of the river of Bourdeaux, the 4th of August, 1756. Peyssonel. LXXXVII. _An Account of the distilling Water fresh from Sea-water by Wood-ashes. By Capt._ William Chapman: _In a Letter to_ John Fothergill, _M. D._ [Read April 13, 1758.] Whitby, 10th 2d mo. Feb. 1758. THY kind acceptance of my last emboldens me to inform thee, how, on my return from a voyage to the north part of Russia, I procured a sufficient quantity of fresh water from sea-water, without taking with me either instruments or ingredients expressly for the purpose. Some time in September last, when I had been ten days at sea, by an accident (off the north cape of Finland) we lost the greatest part of our water. We had a hard gale of wind at south-west, which continued three weeks, and drove us into 73° lat. During this time I was very uneasy, as knowing, if our passage should hold out long, we must be reduced to great straits; for we had no rains, but frequent fogs, which yielded water in very small quantities. I now blamed myself for not having a still along with me (as I had often thought no ship should be without one). But it was now too late; and there was a necessity to contrive some means for our preservation.