London januar 2 $\frac{76}{77}$.

Sir, Next to my hearty wishes of many happy new years to you, I am to acquaint you, vpon the receipt of yrsyours of Dec. 26, ytthat Mr Austen is dead, wthoutwithout leaving any child; so ytthat I know not at present, who may supply his place, but shall inquire of my friend, how to proceed in this matter, and giue you notice accordingly. I am of yethesamethesame opinion wthwith you ytthat tis better to suspend ytthat printing of yethe two letters mention'd in yryour last, till you haue answer'd some at least of yethe Objections made from Liege. I cannot but acquaint you wthwith an extraordinarily curious present, sent to me from beyond seas for the King as Founder of yethe R. Society and for yethe society itself wchwhich I presented yesterday to his MajtyMajesty as philosophical strena, and shall present to yethe Society on thursday next, God willing, where I wish you present, especially since it is, so uncommon a Phænomenon of Light. For it is a Factitious stony matter (not at all of yethe lapsi Bononiensis) wchwhich, being for a litle while exposed to yethe Day, or yethe flame of a Candle, so imbibes yethe light as to shine in the dark, like a glowing Coal, and continues that splendor a longer or shorter time according to ytthat duration, it hath been kept turned to yethe day — or candle — light. The king and whole Court were exceedingly pleased wthwith this phænomenon: And And I should be yet more, if I might know to giue a reasonable rational account of yesamethesame, and wthwith what kind of Theory concerning Light it agrees best. Supposing, you would be well pleased, wthwith us, to hear of such an unusual effect, I would not omit imparting it to you, as Sir yryour faithfull humble servtservant H. Oldenburg.