Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part 20

And these being the only Observations, I have yet met with, wherein _Baroscopes_, at some _Distance of Place_, and _Difference of Height_, have been compar'd (though I cannot now send you the Reflexions, I have else where made upon them;) as the opportunity I had to make them my self, rendred them not unpleasant to me, so perhaps the Novelty will keep them from being unwelcome to you. And I confess, I have had some flying suspicions, that the odd _Phaenomena_ of the _Baroscope_, which have hitherto more pos'd, than instructed us, may in time, if a {184} competent number of Correspondents do diligently prosecute the Inquiries (especially with _Baroscopes_, accommodated with Mr. _Hooks_ ingenious additions) make men some _Luciferous_ discoveries, that possibly we do not yet dream off.

[Sidenote: * _This hath been inquired into, and is found, that several Accurate and Curious persons (as the Most n.o.ble _President of the Royal Society_, the Lord Viscount _Brounker_, _Doctor Beale_, _Mr. Hook_ _&c._) have observed the same._]

I know not, whether it will be worth while to add, that since I was oblig'd to leave _London_, I have been put upon so many lesser removes, that I have not been able to make _Baroscopical_ Observations with such a constancy, as I have wished, but, as far as I remember, the _Quick-silver_ has been for the most part, so high, as to invite me to take notice of it; and to desire you to do me the favour to inquire among your correspondents whether they have observ'd the same thing. * For, if they have, this lasting (though not uninterrupted) Alt.i.tude of the _Quick-silver_, happening, when the Seasons of the year have been extraordinary dry (so much as to become a grievance, and to dry up, as one of the late _Gazettes_ informs us, some springs near _Waymouth_, that used to run constantly) it may be worth inquiry, whether these obstinate Droughts, may not be cleaving of the ground too deep, and making it also in some places more porous and as it were, spungy, give a more copious Vent, than is usual, to subterraneal steams, which adscending into the Air, increase the gravity of it. The inducements I have to propose this inquiry, I must not now stay to mention. But perhaps, if the Observation holds, it may prove not useless in reference to some Diseases.

[Sidenote: * _See Number 9. _Phil. Transact._ p. 157. 5. 8 & 9. where the Word, _Generally_, signifies no more, than _for the most part_._]

Perhaps it will be needless to put you in mind of directing those _Virtuosi_, that may desire your Instructions about _Baroscopes_, to set down in their Diarys not only the day of the month, and the hour of the day, when the _Mercuries_ height is taken, but (in a distinct _Columne_) the weather, especially the Winds, both as to the Quarters, whence they blow (though that be not always so easy nor necessary,) and as to the Violence or Remisness, wherewith they blow. For, though it be more difficult, {185} than one would think, to settle any general rule about the rising and falling of the _Quick-silver_; yet in these parts one of those, that seem to hold oftnest, is, * that when high winds blow, the _Mercury_ is the lower; and yet that it self does sometimes fail: For, this very day (_March_ 3.) though on that hill, where I am, the somewhat Westerly Winds have been bl.u.s.tering enough, yet ever since morning the _Quick-silver_ has been rising, and is now risen near 3/8 of an _Inch_.

I had thoughts to add something about another kind of _Baroscope_ (but inferiour to that in use) whereof I have given some intimation in one of the _Praeliminaries_ to the _History of Cold_. But you have already too much of a letter, and my occasions, &c.

[Sidenote: * _Dr. _Beale_ concurs with this Observation, when he saith, in a late _Letter_ of _March 19_. to his Correspondent in _London_;_ By change of Weather and Wind, the _Mercury_ is sunk more than an Inch, since I wrote to you on _Munday_ last. _March_ 12. This last night, by Rain and South wind, 'tis sunk _half an Inch_.]

_So far that Letter._ Since which time, another from the same n.o.ble Observer intimates, That, as for that cause of the height of the _Quick-silver_ in Droughts, which by him is suspected to be the elevation of steams from the _Crust_ or Superficial parts of the Earth, which by little and little may add to the Weight of the _Atmosphere_, being not, as in other seasons, carried down from time to time by the falling Rain, it agrees not ill with what he has had since occasion to observe. For, whereas about _March_ 12^{th}, at _Oxford_, The _Quick-silver_ was higher, than, for ought he knew, had been yet observ'd in _England_, viz. above 5/16 above 30. _Inches_, upon the first considerable showers, that have interrupted our long Drought, as he affirms, he foretold divers hours before that the _Quick-silver_ would be very low, (a bl.u.s.tering Wind concurring with the Rain) so he found it at _Stanton_ to fall 3/8 beneath 29. _Inches_.*

{186}

_General Heads for a _Natural History of a Countrey_, Great or Small, imparted likewise by Mr. _Boyle_._

It having been already intimated (_Num. 8 of Phil. Transact._ p. 140. 141.) that divers _Philosophers_ aime, among other things, at the Composing of a good Natural History, to superstruct, in time, a _Solid_ and _Useful_ Philosophy upon; and it being of no slight importance, to be furnisht with pertinent Heads, for the direction of Inquirers; that lately named _Benefactour to Experimental Philosophy_, has been pleased to communicate, for the ends abovesaid, the following _Articles_, which (as himself did signifie) belong to one of his _Essays_ of the unpublisht part of the _Usefulness of Nat. and Experimen. Philosophy_.

But first he premises, that what follows, is design'd only to point at the more _General_ heads of Inquiry, which the proposer ignores not to be Divers of them very comprehensive, in so much, that about some of the _Subordinate_ subjects, perhaps too, not the most fertile, he has drawn up _Articles_ of inquisition about particulars, that take up near as much room, as what is here to be deliver'd of this matter.

The _Heads_ themselves follow;

The things, to be observ'd in such a History, may be variously (and almost at pleasure) divided: As, into _Supraterraneous, Terrestrial_, and _Subterraneous_; and otherwise: but we will at present distinguish them into those things, that respect the _Heavens_, or concern the _Air_, the _Water_, or the _Earth_.

1. To the _First_ sort of Particulars, belong the Longitude and Lat.i.tude of the Place (that being of moment in reference to the observations about the Air &c.) and consequently the length of the longest and shortest days and nights, the Climate, parallels &c. what fixt starrs are and what not seen there: What Constellations 'tis said to be subject to? Whereunto may be added other Astrological matters, if they be thought worth mentioning.

{187}

2. About the _Air_ may be observ'd, its Temperature, as to the first four Qualities (commonly so call'd) and the Measures of them: its Weight, Clearness, Refractive power: its Sublety or Grossness: its abounding with, or wanting an _Esurine_ Salt: its variations according to the seasons of the year, and the times of the day; What duration the several kinds of Weather usually have: What _Meteors_ it is most or least wont to breed; and in what order they are generated; and how long they usually last: Especially, what Winds it is subject to; whether any of them be stated and ordinary, &c. What diseases are Epidemical, that are supposed to flow from the Air: What other diseases, wherein _that_ hath a share, the Countrey is subject to; the Plague and Contagious sicknesses: What is the usual salubrity or insalubrity of the Air; and with what Const.i.tutions it agrees better or worse, than others.

3. About the _Water_, may be observ'd, the Sea, its Depth, degree of Saltness, Tydes, Currents, &c. _Next_, Rivers, their Bigness, Length, Course, Inundations, Goodness, Levity (or their Contraries) of Waters, &c.

_Then_, Lakes, Ponds, Springs, and especially Mineral waters, their Kinds, Qualities, Vertues, and how examined. To the _Waters_ belong also _Fishes_, what kinds of them (whether Salt or Fresh-water fish) are to be found in the Country; their Store, Bigness, Goodness, Seasons, Haunts, Peculiarities of any kind, and the wayes of taking them, especially those that are not purely _Mechanical_.

4. In the _Earth_, may be observed,

1. _It self._

2. Its _Inhabitants_, and its _Productions_, and these _External_, and _Internal_.

_First_, in the Earth _it self_, may be observ'd, its dimensions, scituation, East, West, North, and South: its Figure, its Plains, and Valleys, and their Extent; its Hills and Mountains, and the height of the tallest, both in reference to the neighbouring Valleys or Plains, and in reference to the Level of the Sea: As {188} also, whether the Mountains lye scattered, or in ridges, and whether those run North and South, or East and West, &c. What Promontories, fiery or smoaking Hills, &c. the Country has, or hath not: Whether the Country be coherent, or much broken into Ilands.

What the Magnetical Declination is in several places, and the Variations of that Declination in the same place (and, if either of those be very considerable, then, what circ.u.mstances may a.s.sist one to guess at the Reason as Subterraneal fires, the Vicinity of Iron-mines, &c.) what the Nature of the Soyle is, whether Clays, Sandy, &c. or good Mould; and what Grains, Fruits, and other Vegetables, do the most naturally agree with it: As also, by what particular Arts and Industries the Inhabitants improve the Advantages, and remedy the Inconveniences of their Soyl: What hidden qualities the Soyl may have (as that of _Ireland_, against Venemous Beasts, &c.)

_Secondly_, above the ign.o.bler _Productions_ of the Earth, there must be a careful account given of the _Inhabitants_ themselves, both _Natives_ and _Strangers_, that have been long settled there: And in particular, their Stature, Shape, Colour, Features, Strength, Agility, Beauty (or the want of it) Complexions, Hair, Dyet, Inclinations, and Customs that seem not due to Education. As to their Women (besides the other things) may be observed their Fruitfulness or Barrenness; their hard or easy Labour, &c. And both in Women and Men must be taken notice of what diseases they are subject to, and in these whether there be any symptome, or any other Circ.u.mstance, that is unusual and remarkable.

As to the _External_ Productions of the Earth, the Inquiries may be such as these: What Gra.s.ses, Grains, Herbs, (Garden and Wild) Flowers, Fruit-trees, Timber-trees (especially any Trees, whose wood is considerable) Coppices, Groves, Woods, Forrests, &c. the Country has or wants: What peculiarities are observable in any of them: What Soyles they most like or dislike; and with what Culture they thrive best. What _Animals_ the Country has or wants, both as to wild Beasts, Hawks, and other Birds of Prey; and as to Poultrey, and {189} Cattle of all sorts, and particularly, whether it have any _Animals_, that are not common, or any thing, that is peculiar in those, that are so.

The _Internal_ Productions or Concealments of the Earth are here understood to be, the riches that ly hid under the Ground, and are not already referr'd to other Inquiries.

Among these _Subterraneal_ observations may be taken notice of, what sorts of Minerals of any kind they want, as well as what they have; _Then_, what Quarries the Country affords, and the particular conditions both of the Quarries and the Stones: As also, how the Beds of Stone lye, in reference to North and South, &c. What Clays and Earths it affords, as Tobacco-pipe-clay, Marles, Fullers-earths, Earths for Potters wares, Bolus's and other medicated Earths: What other Minerals it yields, as Coals, Salt-Mines, or Salt-springs, Allom, Vitrial, Sulphur, &c. What Mettals the Country yields; and a description of the Mines, their number, scituation, depth, signs, waters, damps, quant.i.ties of ore, goodness of ore, extraneous things and ways of reducing their ores into Mettals, &c.

To these General Articles of inquiries (saith their _Proposer_) should be added; 1 _Inquiries_ about _Traditions_ concerning all particular things, relating to that Country, as either peculiar to it, or at least, uncommon elsewhere, 2 _Inquiries_, that require _Learning_ or _Skill_ in the Answerer: to which should be subjoyned _Proposals_ of ways, to enable men to give Answers to these more difficult inquiries.

_Thus far_ our Author, who, as he has been pleased to impart these _General_ (but yet very _Comprehensive_ and greatly _Directive_) Articles; so, 'tis hoped from his own late intimation, that he will shortly enlarge them with _Particular_ and _Subordinate_ ones. These, in the mean time, were thought fit to be publisht, that the Inquisitive and Curious, might, by such an a.s.sistance, be invited not to delay their searches of matters, that are so highly conducive to the improvement of _True Philosophy_, and the wellfare of _Mankind_. {190}

_An Extract of a Letter, Written from _Holland_, about _Preserving of Ships from being Worm-eaten_._

This _Extract_ is borrowed from the _French journal des Scavans_ of _Febr._ 15. 1666. and is here inserted, to excite Inventive heads _here_, to overtake the Proposer in _Holland_. The letter runs thus:

Although you have visited our Port (_Amsterdam_) I know not whether you have noted the ill condition, our ships are in, that return from the _Indies_. There is in those Seas a kind of small worms, that fasten themselves to the Timber of the ships, and so pierce them, that they take water every where; or if they do not altogether pierce them thorow, they so weaken the wood, that it is almost impossible to repair them. We have at present a Man here, that pretends to have found an admirable secret to remedy this evil. That, which would render this secret the more important, is, that hitherto very many ways have been used to effect it, but without success. Some have imployed Deal, Hair and Lime, &c. and therewith lined their ships; but, besides that this does not altogether affright the worms, it r.e.t.a.r.ds much the ship's Course. The _Portugals_ scorch their ships, insomuch that in the quick works there is made a coaly crust of about an _Inch_ thick. But as this is dangerous, it happening not seldom, that the whole vessel is burnt; so the reason why worms eat not thorow _Portugal_ ships, is conceived to be the exceeding hardness of the Timber, employed by them.

We expect with impatience the nature and effect of this Proposition. Many have already ventur'd to give their thoughts concerning it. Some say, there needs no more, but to build Ships of a harder kind of Wood, than the usual.

Others having observed, that these Worms fasten not to a kind of wild _Indian_ Pear-tree, which is highly bitter, do thereupon {191} suggest, that the best Expedient would be, to find out a Wood having that quality.

But certainly there being now no Timber, fit for Ships, that is not known, 'tis not likely that any will be found either more hard, or more bitter, than that, which has been hitherto employed. Some do imagine, that the Proposer will, by certain _Lixiviums_, give to the ordinary Wood such a quality and bitterness, as is found in the already mention'd _Indian_ Pear-tree. But this also will hardly succeed, since it will be requisite not only to make _Lixiviums_, in great quant.i.ties at an easie rate, and strong enough to penetrate the thick sides of a Ship, but also to make them durable enough, not to be wash't out by the Sea. Yet notwithstanding, in these matters one ought to suspend on's judgement, untill experience do shew, what is to be believed of them.

_So far the Extract._ To which it may perhaps not be unseasonable to add, that a very worthy person in _London_, suggests the Pitch, drawn out of Sea coles, for a good Remedy to scare away these noysome insects.

_An Account of a Book, very lately publish't, ent.i.tuled, _The Origine of Forms and Qualities_, ill.u.s.trated by Considerations and Experiments, by the Honourable _Robert Boyle_._

This Curious and Excellent Piece, is a kind of _Introduction_ to the _Principles_ of the _Mechanical Philosophy_, explicating, by very Considerable Observations and Experiments, what may be, according to such Principles, conceived of the _Nature and Origine of Qualities and Forms_; the knowledge whereof, either makes or supposes the Fundamental and Useful part of _Natural Philosophy_. In doing of which, the Author, to have his way the clearer, writes rather for the _Corpuscularian_ Philosophers (as he is pleased to call them) in _General_, than any {192} _Party_ of them, keeping himself thereby disengaged from adopting an _Hypothesis_, in which perhaps he is not so throughly satisfied, and of which he does not conceive himself to be necessitated to make use here; and accordingly forbearing to employ Arguments, that are either grounded on, _or_ suppose _Atoms_, _or_ any _Innate Motion_ belonging to them; _or_ that the Essence of Bodies consists in Extension; _or_ that a _Vacuum_ is impossible; _or_ that there are such _Globuli Caelestes, or_ such a _Materia Subtilis_, as the _Cartesians_ imploy to explicate most of the _Phaenomena_ of Nature.

The _Treatise_ consisting of a _Speculative_, and an _Historical_ part, the Author, with great modesty leaves the _Reader_ to judge; _Whether_ in the _First_ part he hath treated of the _Nature_ and _Origine of Forms and Qualities_ in a more Comprehensive way, than others; _Whether_ he has by fit Examples, and other means, rendred it more intelligible, than they have done: _Whether_ he has added any considerable number of Notions and Arguments towards the compleating and confirming of the proposed _Hypothesis_: _Whether_ he has with reason dismissed Arguments unfit to be relied on; and _Whether_ he has proposed some Notions and Arguments so warily, as to keep them from being liable to Exceptions and Evasions, whereto they were obnoxious, as others have proposed them. And, as to the _Second_ and _Historical_ part, he is enclin'd to believe that the _Reader_ will grant, he hath done that part of _Physicks_, he is treating of, some service, by strengthning the doctrines of the _New Philosophy_ (as 'tis call'd) by such particular Experiments, whose Nature and Novelty will render them as well Acceptable as Instructive.

The _summe_ of the _Hypothesis_, fully and clearly explicated in the _First_ Part, is this;

That all Bodies are made of _one Catholick matter_, common to them all, and differ but in _Shape, Size, Motion_ or _Rest_, and _Texture_ of the small parts, they consist off; from which {193} Affections of Matter, the _Qualites_, that difference particular Bodies, result: whence it may be rationally concluded, that one kind of Bodies may be trans.m.u.ted into another; _that_ being in effect no more, than that one Parcel of the Universal Matter, wherein all Bodies agree, may have a _Texture_ produced in it, like the _Texture_ of some other Parcel of Matter, common to them both.

To this _Hypothesis_, is subjoin'd an Examination of the _Scholastick_ opinion of _Substantial Forms_; where the Author, _first_, States the Controversie; _next_, gives the Princ.i.p.al reasons, that move him to oppose that Opinion; _then_, answers the Main arguments employed to evince it; _further_, a.s.signs both the _First_ Cause of Forms (_G.o.d_;) and the Grand _Second_ Cause thereof (_Local Motion_:) and _lastly_, proves the _Mechanical_ Production of _Forms_; grounding his proof, _partly_ upon the Manner, by which such a _Convention of Accidents_, as deserve to pa.s.s for a _Form_, may be _produced_; as that the Curious Shapes of _Salts_ (believed to be the admirablest Effects and strongest Proofs of _Substantial Forms_) may be the Results of _Texture_; _Art_ being able to produce Vitriol, as well as _Nature_: _partly_, upon the possibility of _Reproducing_ Bodies by skill, that have been deprived of their reputed _Substantial Forms_: Where he alledges the _Redintegration of Saltpetre_, successfully performed by himself; though his Attempts, made upon the dissipation and re-union of _Amber_, _Allum_, _Sea-Salt_, and _Vitriol_, proved (by reason of _accidental_ hindrances rather, than of any impossibility in the Nature of the Thing) less successful.

In the _Second_ and _Historical_ Part, the Author, appealing to the Testimony of Nature, to verifie his Doctrine, sets down, _both_ some _Observations_, of what Nature does without being over-ruled by the power and skill of man; and some _Experiments_, wherein Nature is guided, and as it were, mastered by Art.

The _Observations_ are four.

1. The _First_ is taken from what happens in the _Hatching of_ {194} _an Egge_; out of the _White_ whereof, which is a substance Similar, insipid, soft, diaphanous, colourless, and readily dissoluble in cold water, there is by the _New_ and _Various_ contrivement of its small parts, caused by the Incubation of the Hen, an Animal produced, some of whose parts are opacous, some red, some yellow, some white, some fluid, some consistent, some solid and frangible, others tough and flexible, some well, some ill-tasted, some with springs, some without springs, &c.

2. The _Second_ is fetcht from _Water_, which being fluid, tastless, inodorous, diaphanous, colourless, volatile, &c. may by a _Differing Texture_ of its parts, be brought to const.i.tute Bodies, having qualities very distant from these, as _Vegetables_, that have firmeness, opacity, odors, tasts, colours, Medicinal vertues; yielding also a true _Oyle_, that refuses to mingle with _Water_, &c.

3. The _Third_, from _Inoculation_; wherein, a small _Bud_ is able to trans.m.u.te all the sap, that arrives at it, as to make it const.i.tute a Fruit quite otherwise qualified, then that, which is the _genuine_ production of the Tree, so that the same sap, that in one part of the Branch const.i.tutes (for Instance) a _Cl.u.s.ter of Haws_, in another part of the same Branch, may make a _Pear_. Where the Author mentions divers other very considerable Effects of Inoculations, and inserts several Histories, all countenancing his doctrine.

4. The _Fourth_, from _Putrified Cheese_; wherein, the _rotten_ part, by the alteration of its Texture, will differ from the _Sound_, in colour, odor, taste, consistence, vermination, &c.