| Description | ' Mr Boyle made the Experiment of Spirit of Wine highly rectified, and Camphir dissolved therein, which burned all away; the Flame being on the Top whitish and blue beneath.
The same made an Experiment of a body swimming in water and by the Addition of more water, sinking to the bottom ; and by the diminution thereof, swimming againe. The Body swimming was a little glasse-bubble, open at one end, and containing a buble of Air with water ; the Vessell wherein this was exhibitd was a pipe of 5 or 6 foot longe, And the like Phonomena followed at the blowing in of air, and drawing it out again. The Author of this Experiment, being desired to bring the rull account thereof in Writin, declred his intention to publish it in a treatise of his to be printed.
Mr Awbrey mentioned that Holly-berries, after they have lain 5 or 6 hours at the bottomof a vessel with water will rise and swim in the middle thereof ; which was thought to be caused by a king of fermentation and swelling, and thereby taking up more Space. The Experiment is to be made in Winter.
The same suggested, that grains of wheat, if good and sound, will sink in water, and by sinking, get a bubble of air Sticking to them ; and after some while, rise againe, the bubble breaking ; and then sink the second time to the bottom, but never rise again. This he said to have tryed with all other Sorts of graine, except Rye, but none of them did the like.
The Virgula divina was tryed, but by unlucky hands. Ordered to be tryed again with shoots of one years growth and after Gabriel Platts way, tying the rod of the Hazzell to a Staffe in the midle with a strong thred, so that it hang even, like the Beam of a Ballance.
A Toad and Slow-worme were killed by throwing Salt of Tartare and common Salt upon them.
Mr Hook exhibited a Micrsocopical Observation of a female Gnat, discerned from the male, by the bignesse of the Body that of the male being thin and lank, and the male having also a tuft.
The same being demanded, whether he had received from Dr Wren the way of Hatching Eggs by a Lamp ; answered that he had received it in good part, and that Dr Wren had promised to communicate the rest to him also.
Monsr. De la Quintiny's Letter was read, excusing his not communicating [crossed out; him] at the present, his discourse and Experiments of the Culture of Trees, and promising to continue his labours upon that Subject, intimating withall his inclinations after more advancement therein, to publish it.
Mr Beal's offer of sending to the Society some hortulane discourses in MS of Dr Jungius, and Caleb Morley's Mnemonical Scrolls, together with his Explication, was accepted of, and the Offerer was ordered to have thanks given him by the Secretary.
Sir Robert Moray mentioned, that my Lord Sandwich had assured him, that at the Depth of 60 fathom water, six men could pull up an Anchor, which, when it came near the Surface, ten men could hardly doe.
He did Suggest, that it might be tryed whether Bodies would vary in their weight, being sunk under water ; as they will doe, being let down into deep Minepits, according to Dr Power's Experiment, wherein a Brasse -Lump, that was of an exact pound weight, at the top of the Pit, weighed, at the bottom therof, being 68 yards distant from the Top, lighter by an ounce at least.
Mr Hook was ordered to bring in some Experiments upon every head of those Queries, he brought in writing this day, concerning the Compression of Air, in order to make them in the compressing Engine : The said Quaeries were ordered to be entered. ' |