| Description | ' An Account was given of the Construction of the Pneumaticall Engine, as 'tis now: which was ordered to be braught in Writing, together with a Scheme of the Engine, by Mr Hook.
Water was purged from Air, by the said Engine, and Mr Hook was appointed to make the Experiment of Mr Zulichem, of the not subsiding of such water according to the Torricellian Experiment, against next day.
The Experiment of Exhausting the Air from a Fish in water, was tryed in the Engine; whereby the Fish (which was a Tench) was put into much disorder and boyed up to the upper part of the water, when he would sink; his eyes also swelling and standing out the Operator was ordered to observe the Fish, and how long she would live after the Exhausting of the Air: the Experiment to be tryed again next day; together with that of the Celerity of Falling - bodies, in a glasse exhausted of Air.
An Account was given of the Tench, shut up close with line, in a glasse of water, viz. that he had been taken out next morning, after 14 or 15 hours and found alive. Dr Goddard was desitred to repeat the Experiment, and to fill the glasse full of Water, and to leave the Fish in it a longer time etc.
Major Homes received a Copy of the Directions for Seamen, by the hands of the Operator: and Mr Hook was appointed to wait on the said Major, and to direct him in the use of the Balls and Leads for sounding without a Line, and of the Cylindrical Vessel, for fetching up of Water from the bottom of the Sea.
Mr Hook was charged to bring in, at every meeting of the Society, one Microscopical Observation, at least.
The Kitten, wounded the last meeting with the poysoned Dagger, sent fromt he East Indies, was produced alive.
Monsr. Le Fevre should be desired by Sir Robert Moray to give an Account of the Salt of Tartar, held both in warm water, and in the Steam thereof.
My Lord Brouncker related a Story of a Lady reco-vered from a Consumption, by drinking Ale or Beer, brewed of Water, that run over a Slate - pitt: which occasioned some discourse concerning the Virtue that may be communicated by Slate, as is done by Bole or Chalk.
His Lordship likewise mentioned a way, used by Mr Le Fevre of making a Pouder of Spunges, imbibed by a water distilled from the same, very good to cure the Struma, and Supposed to be performed, by the by the Volatil Spirit contained in that Pouder: of the former, and of the later, Monsr. Le Fevre.
There was read a letter sent from a French Gentleman (Monsr. De la Quintiny) to Mr Oldenburg, concerning the cutting and whole way of Ordering Melons, after they are come up. The same person offering his service to the Society in the close of the said Letter, it was ordered; that thanks should be returned to him for his Civilities. The Company being also made acquainted, of the same Gentlemans extraordinary skill in the cutting, and the whole way of the culture of Fruit - trees, and of his having written something of that Subject ; It was further Ordered, he should be desired, in the name of the Society, to communicate unto them his Observations, which they would have annexed to Mr Evelins discourse of Timber - Trees, ready to be published, owning him an Author thereof.
Mr Hooks paper concerning the Chinois Cart with one wheel, mentioned by Martinius in his Atlas Sinensis was read, and discoursed upon, to be like a Wheel-barrow; and ordered to be filed up.
Dr Wilkins made mention of a certain Instrument like an Umbrella, to be used instead of an Anchor in fathomlesse Seas; to stay a ship in a Storme, or upon other occasions.
Mr James Long was chosen a Member of the Society.
Mr Sprat was proposed a Candidate by Dr Wilkins, and Dr Cotton, by Mr Ball. '
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