| Description | Sir John Talbot admitted.
[Charles ]Lord Dungarvan proposed by Mr Robert Boyle, and elected.
' The Experiment of shooting with a Wind - gun, applyed to the Compressing Engin, was made; whereof the Successe was that the condensation being made neer halfe in the Globe the bullet shot at the distance of about twenty yards, made a considerable dent in a doore, enough to have killed a man. It was ordered that this Experiment should be repeated, at the next Meeting, and a particular account of it brought in writing by Mr Hook.
Dr Merrett having found by Experiment that Water frozen, though exhausted, hath store of Blebbs and more than unexhausted; Mr Hook mentioned that he knew a way to reduce water into Ice without blebbs; whereupon he was desired, the next frosty weather to try this experiment and produce the Effect of it before the Society; as also to try whether such Ice, shapd into a Lens, would serve for a burning glasse.
Mr Hooks application of his littel Engine to a Tube with Mercury, for the rendering of the Ascent and Descent of Quicksilver more discernable, was referred to the next Meeting.
The same was desired, to prepare, when the Weather shall turne, that standard for cold, which he proposed at the precedent Meeting.
Item, to weigh a great Receiver, both filled with Air and exhausted; And to doe this both wayes, be weighing it unexhausted first, and then exhausted it; and then by exhausting it first, and filling it with Air again.
Item to try whether he can raise a thin and exhausted Glasse - balle from the bottome of the Receiver of the Condensing - Engin toward the Top, by condensing the Ambient Air of the buble.
Mr Boyle's representation of a wood in a Glasse - head, from a Mixture of Oyle of Turpentine and sea - salt, being again mentioned, Sir Rober Moray related an Experiment of Dr Davisons's to be found in his printed Pyrotechny whreby he did Exhibit in a Bolt -head, the figures of many trees, like Firre, with various Colours, gray and green, particularly, from some Turpentine, put into the said Vessel, and left for some weeks to digest.
Dr Thomas Cox mentioned that a person of Quality, keeping in a Glasse, some water, drawn out of a Well, wherein a certain herb grew, persuaded himsilfe to see the figure of the like herb in the said glasse.
Mr Boyle suggested, that it might be tryed, whether these figures, that are seen upon frozin Windows in rooms, that have been warme, and are grown cool again, may not be reduced to a Salt; and what kind of Salt it may be, that hath this shaping nature.
Mention being again made of the propagation of Cyder, Mr Boyle moved that it might be tryed, to make Cyder by Infusion, by cutting good Cyder Apples into thin slices, and keeping them infused in water, repeating infusions of new Apples to make it as Strong as you please, and as the Water is capable to receive the virtue of such Apples. Some of the Copmpany doubting, whether good Cyder could be made where Common water is the Basis, it was suggested by Dr Goddard, that the Experiment might be made by infusing sliced Apples in the first juyce of Apples Expressed, for the making a kind of double Cyder: As also, that ordinary Cyder might be put upon Malt. Sir Robert Moray moved that Ale or Wort might be put upon Apples.
Sir Paul Neile mentioned, that lost Cyder might be recovered by putting it into Ale, at the working thereof, after the proportion of 6 gallons of such spoyled Cyder, to 12 of Ale.
It being desired, that Experiments of this kind might be made, and Mr Beale appointed Curator therof, it was ordered, that the Secretary should write to him, and recommend this businesse to his care.
Mr Boyle gave an Account of the way, used by the Earle of Cork, to transport Carps into Ireland: He was desired to give it in writing.
The same made mention of a little Treatise of Mons. Pascall, lately published in French, concerning the Equilibirium of Liquors, and the weight of the Air, and that some Experiments were contained in it, not unworthy of tryall; He was desired, to have them extracted, and to present them to the Company, to consider thereof, and to recommend them.
Sir Robert Moray related, to have seen at Chattam, a new kind of Ropes, made of a West - indian Grasse, stronger than Ropes of hempe: Experiment haveing been made in his presence, that a certain small Hempen - Rope did bear but 400 weight, and broke with a superadded halfe hundred whereas a Rope made of the said Grasse, of the same length bredth and weight with the Hempen - rope, bore 600 weight and broke with another halfe hundred.
It was thought fit that it might be inquired into, what kind of twisting was used in making those Grasse - ropes; as also, whether they will bear Salt - water, as well as those of Hemp: and likewise, whether this Grasse might not be improved for making of Sayles.
Sir Robert Moray related, that at Chattam in a certaine room with shuttrers, which had not been removed for some while, upon their being shoved up, there was fallen down between the shutters and the wall, a strange abundance of Flyes, all alive, making four shovells full.
Mr Boyle mentioned, that swallows frozen up in Ice open the thawing away of the Ice, had been found alive, and flying about; And that a Minister had sent a Certrificate hereof, to the King, from Dantzick [Danzig]
Sir Robert Moray related, that the Duke of York, had spoken it as his own observations, that a Gun discharged at the time when the Wind is East, giveth a thumping noyse, nothing sharp; it being usuall, that Observers conclude it to be such a wind, upon the hearing of a Gun shott off, with such a Sound. The same added, that his Highnesse had delivered it as a common Observation of the Seamen, that the nights are lightsomer when the Wind is at South - East. He mentioned further that he had been informed also by his Highnesse, that there were certain little springs at Croydon, that would run together, and make a stream for a certain space, and them slide under the ground, and afterwards break out again. Dr Wilkins, having acquaintances at Croydon, was desired to make a particular inquiry after this.
Dr Ent moved, that it might be tryed whether a Burning - glasse will burne in the morning, as well as a noon and toward Sunsett: he conceiving that this burning did somewhat depend upon the state fo the Aair, and that coldnesse might be dsome hindrance to it. The Experiment was referred to the Summer - season; when, Curators should be appointed for it.
Mr Hook was desired to take care, that the wheele with hollow Camera's in it, moving either with water or Sand, for a good while, be made. |