| Description | ' This day, after about Eight months interruption, occasioned by the publick Calamity of the Plague, the Society opened their Meetings again, upon a Summons sent out by the President as it had been ordered at their last Meeting June 28 . 1665.
The President proposed Captain George Cock for a Fellow of the Society.
Dr Wilkins proposed Mr William Harrington for a Fellow.
The Secretary presented from Mr Boyle, his Hydrostatical Experiments, to the Socity ; the perusal whereof was recommended to Dr Wilkins, and he desired to give an Account of it to the Company.
The same presented from Monsieur Petrus Petit, his Dissertations upon the two late Comets in December 1664 and in April 1665; the reading whjereof was recmmended to Mr Hook., and he likewise desired to give an Account of it to the Company.
Ordered that Thanks be returned to both these Presenters , for their respects to the Society.
The Secretary presented frm Mr Edward Digs a couple of Virginian Silkworme -bottoms of an extraordinary bignesse, equalling almost a hen's Egge: and mentioned from the Presenters mouth, that generally those bottoms were fo that magnitude in that Plantation, and that about four pounds of these bottoms would yeild a pound of Silk, whereas there must be seven pounds of the ordinary ones, for a pound of Silk. Thanks were ordered for the Presenter.
Dr Wilkins produced some seeds, sent by Mr John Hinde from the Bermudas, producing a Tree of some 8 foot high, and a fine flower, the Seeds themselves affirmed to have a purging and vomiting quality; and three parts of 4 of them turning to Oyle, esteemed very Soveraigne for Aches, and good for common use.
Mr Williamson mentioned, that he had received news from Florence, there was coming hither a person with an Engin for destroying Ships; and that at his arrival the Invention would be referred to the Examination of the Society.
The President enquiring into the Employment, the Gentlemen of the Society had been upon, duiring their long recess, several of those that were present gave some account thereof.
Dr Wilkins and Mr Hook of the business of the Chariots, vidilicet that after great variety of Tryals, they conceived they had brought it to a good issue, the defects found, since it came to London, being thought easy to remedy. It was One horse to draw two person, with freat ease to the Riders, both him that sits in the Chariot, and him that sits over the Horse upon a Springy Sadle: that in plain groumd 50 pound weight, descending from a Pulley would draw this Chariot with two persons: whence he inferred that twas more easy for a horse to travell with such a draught than to carry a single person: that Dr Wilkins had travelled in it, and did beleive, it would make a very convenient Post chariot.
It was ordered, that Dr Wren and Mr Hook should joyne in mending what might be amisse in the Chariot, and endeavour to bring it to perfection.
Mr Hook gave some Account of what Experiments he had made by weighing of Bodies, in a very deep well, and above ground and tht he had found no difference in their weight, in their differing places. He wa ordered to bring in those Experiments in writing.
Sir Robert Moray gave an Account of his Imployment in trying of Ores, brought him out of a Mine in Wales, relating that he had made it part of his business, to try whether he could extract all the Lead of the Oar of the Mine , at one operation, with small expense, in a short time. And tht he had found, that whereas ordinarily they extrct but some 40 pounds out of 100 he had extracted very neere 70 pounds which as it was considerable, in regard of the quantity of lead, so it was presumed it must be so also in respect of the quantity of Silver , to be extracted out of so much more lead . He added that he had made Tryals also upon both the Lytharges, the red and the white, and obtained 14 ounces of Lead out of a pound of such sor of Lytharge; but that, that of the white, was not so fair, as that of the red, He said further, that the occasion given him, to set upon this kind of Experiments, had been, that Sir George Hamilton, having a Silver Mine in Ireland, and Suspecting it might yeild more that was extracted, caused hyis workman to apply himself to the work with nore care adn Labour , and thereupon obrained, instead of 14 or 15 pounds Sterling, out of a Tun of Lead, 50 pounds.
The President enquiring after the History of Masonry, undertaken by Sir Rober Moray, he pretended that it was yet imperfect : but the President pressed that he would bring it in, as it was.
Mr Daniel Cox gave some account, how he was imployed in examinging the Nature and Figure of all sorts of Salt, and that he had made a good number of Experiments upon that Subject; intimating that he conceived, that origine of all Salts was Sea - salt. It beingdemanded , how then, and by what he did difference Salt? It wa answered, by the Alteration of the Figure, caused by the Addition or mixture of Something else.
He was urged to go on vigorously , in so noble a Subject; and to desire in it, the conjunction of Mr Boyle , Sir Robert Moray, Mr Henshaw, Dr Goddard, Mr Hook.
Sir Robert Moray pressed particularly, that the Nature of Saltpeter might be well enquired into.
Dr Clark being called upon for his History of the Injection into Veings, fave answer that he had not neglected it, and did intend to finish it, as soon as possibly he could, for the Presse.
Sir Robert Moray took hence occasion to speak of the transfusing of the bloud of one animal into another, attempted by Mr Boyle at a considerable Experiment, if it could be practiced.
Dr Clark affirmed, that above 2 years ago he had endeavoured to make that Experiment, but found it so difficult he gave it over .
Sir Robert Moray intimated, that Mr Boyle was of opinion, that the difficulties of this Experiment might be mastered.
Dr Clark related that Dr Dickinson at Oxford had turned 3 or 4 ouces of water into so much earth, without addition.
Sir Robert Moray mentioned, that Baptista Porta, affirmed, to have changed Sublimate into Water, and made use of it to harden iron - tools with that liquor; and that one Mr Thomas Vaughan had affirmed to him it would doe.
Dr Clark affirmed, that Dr Dichenson had put a Toad into an open glasse, wherein it lived six months, without any visible food, but after that time, died; and dissolved into a jelly, which the nest Spring, produced 2 live toads: which he kept, as he had done their parent afore, and that they also dissolved at last into a Liquor, but that out of this Liquor no other Toads were generated.
Dr Wallis being asked , what Experiments had been made at the Committee of the Socity, that had frequently met at Oxford last summer, related, that among others, there had been tryed divers Musical Experiments; whereof he mentioned some, but referred for more particulars to Mr Boyle , who had caused them to be put in writing. The Secretary was desired, to write to Mr Boyle, to communicate them.
The Operator was enjoyned, to enquire after the Lodgings of all the Fellows, and to give a particular Account of them, next Meeting. ' |