Memoranda Miscelanea
by
Abraham Bennet 1780

Rev. Abraham BENNET F.R.S. 1749-1799, was Curate of Wirksworth when in 1789 he published "New Experiments on Electricity", an important work in the evolution of electrical theory. His notebook "Memoranda Miscelanea" survives at Derby Local Studies Library, from whom help and permission has been received to produce this transcription. In addition to his own speculations, Bennet's notebook contains extracts from books, periodicals and newspapers demonstrating the thought processes of a man of the 18th century 'well versed in different branches of natural philosophy'1. References A. Bennet, Memoranda Miscelanea, mss., Derby Local Studies Library. 1. Paper by P Elliott, Abraham Bennet,FRS(1749-1799): A provincial Electrician in Eighteenth Century England, from Not. Rec. Roy. Soc. Lond. Vol 53, No 1, pp 59-78 (1999) Transcriber's note: spelling or punctuation not understood is marked: ??. Links have been inserted to ease reading on the Internet. Enquiries to the transcriber Transcribed at Broadstone, Dorset April 2005.

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"Memoranda Miscelanea" by the Rev. Abraham Bennet of Wirksworth. The original document is preserved at Derby Local Studies Library, 25B Irongate, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 3GL, England. Telephone 01332-255-393. The document is presented in a blue case binding with titled Spine. Height 204 mm, Width 160 mm, Depth 24 mm. The document itself is in book form. Height 190 mm, Width 156 mm, Depth 18 mm. The book has a hard binding, taupe (brownish grey) in colour with a taped spine and is in need of rebinding. There are 160 pages, all written in longhand. There are also a number of miscellaneous documents, including letters and accounts contained within the book. The spine stitching has deteriorated and the page groups are separate within the binding, some pages are fully detached. The pages are in excellent condition but somewhat yellowed due to age and the paper in places is extremely brittle. The hand writing is generally clear but ink has penetrated through the pages giving a shadow of the writing on the opposite face of the page. There is some staining and ink blotting and a number of pages have holes in the text. Wesley's Sermon quoted on page 1 was written on 8 May 1775, establishing an earliest start date for Bennet's Notebook. Observations in Bennet's major work "New Experiments on Electricity" begin on 24 May 1787 but are not mentioned in the Notebook, perhaps establishing a latest end date for his Notebook.

Inside front cover Front page Page 1 Page 153

Transcription by John Palmer of Dorset, England 2005 ================================================== Front page MEMORANDA MISCELANEA By the Rev A Bennet of Wirksworth ================================================== Page 1 St Chrysostom Hom[ily] 3 in 2d ad Thess: speaking of scripture: παντα τα αναγκαια δηλα It was the saying of an Heathen Si erro, libenter erro; et me redargui valde recusem Mr Wesley's Sermon on the Trinity Extracts from a moral Demonstration of the Truth of the Christian Religion published by Dr Hurd That there was such a man as Jesus X; that he pretended such Things, & taught such Doctrines; is morally certain for what the Histories of that Age reported as a public Affair, as one of the most eminent Tran- sactions of the World, that which made so much Noise, which caused so many changes, which occasioned so many Wars, which divided so many Hearts, which altered so many Families, which procured so many Deaths, which obtained so many Laws in Favour, & suffered so many ================================================== Page 2 2 Rescripts in the Disfavour of itself; that which was not done in a Corner, but was 33 years & more in acting; which caused so many Sects, & was opposed by so much Art , and so much Power that it might not grow, which filled the World with Noise, which effected such great changes in the Bodies of men by curing the diseased, and smiting the contumacious or the Hypocrites, which drew so many Eyes, & filled so many Tongues, & employed so many Pens, & was the Care & the Question of the whole World at that Time, and immediately after; that which was consigned by publick Acts & Records of Courts which was in the Books of Friends & Enemies, which came accomp- anied & remarked with Eclipses & Stars & Prodigies of Heaven and Eart; that which the Jews even in ================================================== Page 3 3 Spite & against their Wills confessed, & which the witty Adversaries intending to overthrow, could never so much as Challenge of Want of Truth in the Matter of Fact & Story; that which they who are infinitely concerned that it should not be believed, or more, that it had never been, do yet only labour to make to appear not to have been divine: certainly, this thing is so certain that it was, that the Defenders of it need not account it a Kindness to have it presupposed; for even con- cerning Mahomet we make no Question but he was in the World, & led a great Part of Mankind after him, & what was less proved we infinitely believe. But now whether Jesus X was sent from God & delivered the Will of God we are to take Accounts from all the ================================================== Page 4 4 Things of the World which were on him or about him or from him. 1st Considerations respecting the Person of J C. He was fortold by all the Prophets & described by infallible Characterisms, which did fit him, & never fit any but him; when he was born the fullness of Time was come which gave Occasion to many of the godless to wait for him. The Expectation of him at that Time was so public & famous, that it gave Occasion to diverse Imposters to abuse the Creduli- ty of the People, in pretending to be the Messias. A strange star appeared, at his Birth, which guided certain Levantine Princes & sages to the Inquiry after him: this put Herod upon strange Arts of Security for his Kingdom, it affected a sad Tragedy accidentally, for it occasioned the Death of all the ================================================== Page 5 5 little Babes in the City & Voisinage of Bethlehem. His Birth was also signified by an Angel, & was effected by the Holy Spirit of God in a super- natural Manner, A Virgin was his Mother, & God was his Father. He wrought vast Numbers of Miracles & those permanent lasting & often, he opened the Eyes of the blind, he made the crooked straight, he made the weak strong, he cured fevers with the touch of his hand, & an Issue of Blood with the Hem of his Garment, & sore eyes with the Spittle of his Mouth & the Clay of the Earth; he multiplied the Loaves & Fishes, he raised the dead to life & cast out Devils by the Word of his Mouth. In all his Life he did God's Will & in his Conversation was innocent as an Angel of Light. ================================================== Page 6 6 When he was crucified & so became the World's Sacrifice, & great Example of Holiness; the Sun was eclipsed all the while he was upon the Cross, & yet the Moon was in the full because the God of Nature (as an Heathe confessed) did suffer. The Rocks did rend, the Vail of the Temple divided of itself, - after 3 Days burial he rose again, & was seen of 500 Bre- thren at once continued with his Disciples for 40 Days & at last in the sight of many of them was taken up into Heaven. 2d Considerations respecting the Doctrine of jesus Christ. It is a Doctrine perfective of human Nature, that teaches us to love God & to love one another, to hurt no man, & to do good to every man; ================================================== Page 7 7 it propines (an elegant word not now in use from propinare to offer in kindness, as when we drink to any one) to us the noblest the highest & the bravest Pleasures of the world; it allows all that God & Nature intended, & only restrains the Excrescencies of Nature. 3d. Considerations respecting the Effect, & the Instruments of X's Religion. He was to reform all the Religions in the World. But see what was to be taught A Trinity in the Unity of the Godhead, τρια εν κι εν τρια, that is the Christian Arithmetick, Three are one & one are three, so Lucian in his Philopatrics or some other derides the Xians Doctrine; see their Philosophy, Ex Nihilo nihil fit. No, Ex nihilo omnia; & a Man God & a God Man, the same Person finite & infinite, born in Time, & yet from ================================================== Page 8 8 all Eternity the Son of God, but yet born of a Woman, & she a Maid, but yet a Nother; resurrection of the dead, re- union of Soul & Body; this was part of the Christian Physicks or their Natural Philosophy. The Instruments which were to effect this wonderful Change in Religion were twelve men of obscure & poor birth of contemptible Trades & Quality without learning without Breeding, these men were sent into the midst of a knowing & wise World, to dispute with the most famous Philosophers of Greece, to outwit all the learning of Athens, to outpreach all the Roman Orators. When the Apostles were inspired with the H. Ghost 3000 souls were converted in one Day. ================================================== Page 9 9 Extracts from Ld Bolingbrook's Philosophical Works. Vol 1st Sec 1st. Since there must have been something from Eternity, because there is something now, the eternal Being must be an intelligent Being, because there is intelligence now; for no man will venture to assert that non entity can produce entity, or non- intelligence, intelligence: and such a Being must exist necessarily, whether things have been always as they are, or whether they have been made in Time; because it is no more possible to conceive an infinite, than a finite, progression of effects without a Cause. Thus the Existence of a God is demon- strated; Cavil against Demonstra- tion is impertinent. It is so imper- tinent that he who refuses to submit ================================================== Page 10 10 to this Demonstration, among others of the same kind, has but one short step more in order to arrive at the highest Pitch of absurdity: for surely there is but one remove between a Denial of the existence of God, & a Denial of our own Existence, because if we have an intuitive knowledge of the latter, we have the same in- tuitive knowledge of all those Ideas that connect the latter with the former in demonstrating a posteriori It is absurd to suppose that God's Manner of knowing is like ours; it is rather infinitely superior; Knowledge in us is mediate by the Intervention of Ideas. But we must conceive as well as we can. the Knowledge of the supreme Being to be immediate, & absolute. ================================================== Page 11 11 There is nothing, philosophically speaking, at least I cou'd never find to my sorrow that there is any thing, which obliges us necessarily to conclude that we are a compound of material & immaterial substance. The Faculty of thinking may have been superadded by omnipotence to certain systems of Matter. All our Ideas arise from our senses, & there is nothing in the Mind which was not previously in sense. We neither do nor can know the real Essence of any one substance in the world, not even of our own. ================================================== Page 12 12 Ld Bolingbrooke Vol:3 Sec:4 If you ask what the Practice of the Christian Fathers, & of other Divines should have been in order to preserve the Purity of Faith, & to promote Peace & Charity? They should have adhered to the word of God: they shou'd have paid no Regard to heathen Philo- sophy, Jewish Cabala, the sallies of Enthusiasm, or the Refinements of human Ingenuity: they should have embraced & held fast the Articles of Faith & Doctrine, that were delivered in plain Terms, or in unequivocal figures: they shou'd not have been dogmatical where the Sense was doubtful, nor have presumed even to guess where the Holy Ghost left the veil of Mystery undrawn. Do Christians conjured their God into a wafer; they adored him in that Wafer; they offered him up in a true Sacrifice to himself; & they eat him up to conclude the Ceremony. Sit ================================================== Page 13 13 anima mea cum Philosophis, non cum Christianis, gente stolidissima, qui Den faciunt & cornedunt a saying of Averro which no man needs to disown. Do Vol 4th Bare Reason cannot discover how any external Service, that Man can pay, shou'd be acceptable to the supreme & all perfect Being, except a Compliance in all our Works & Actions with his known Will, reveales in his Works, an inward adoration of his unknown Nature, a Gratitude for his Benefits, and an entire Resignation to his Providence. Gold & Silver were mingled with Dust till Avarice or Ambition parted them. Seneca's Mor. ================================================== Page 14 14 I am strangely transported with the Thoughts of Eternity; nay, with the Belief of it; for I have a profound Veneration for the Opinions of great Men, especially when they promise Things so much to my Satisfaction; for they do promise them, tho' they do not prove them. In the Question of the Immortality of the Soul, it goes very far with me, a general Consent to the Opinion of a future Reward & Punishment; which Meditation raises me to the Contempt of this Life in Hopes of a better. But still, tho' we know that we have a soul; yet what the Soul is, how & from whence, we are utterly ignorant. Sen.Mor. Is it not a great Honour to drink the company dead? a magnificent Virtue to swallow more Wine than the rest, and yet at last to be outdone by a Hogshead? Sen. Mor. ================================================== Page 15 15 Happy is that man that eats only for Hunger, & drinks only for Thirst; that stands upon his own Legs, & lives by Reason, not by Example; & provides for Use & Necessity, not for Ostentation & Pomp. Sen. Mor. The Influence of Free Masonry upon Society inquired into. The Facts which I shall attempt to prove in the present Investigation are these: That the Institution of Freemasonry has an absolute Tendency to inculcate every Thing laudable and useful to Society; & that its leading Qualities are Philanthropy well directed, morality pure, Secrecy inviolable & a Taste for the fine Arts. It may be observed that Solon, Licurgus, Numa and all the other Political Legislators ================================================== Page 16 16 have not been able to make their Establishments durable; & that however sagacious might have been their Laws, they had at no Time the Power to expand themselves over all Countries, & to all Ages. Having little more in view than Victories & Conquests, military Violence, & the Elevation of one sett of People abpve another, they were never universal, nor consonant to the Taste, or Genius, or Interest of all Nations. Philanthropy was not their Basis. The Love of Country badly understood, and pushed into Limits on which they shou'd not verge, destroys often, in warlike Republics, the Love of general Humanity. Men are not to be essentially distinguished by the Difference of Tongues which they speak, of Cloathes which they wear, of Countries which they inhabit, nor of Dignities with which they are ornamented. The whole world is no other than one great Republic, of which each Nation is a Family, ================================================== Page 16b & each individual a Child. It was to revise & reanimate such Maxims, that the Society of Freemasons was first Instituted. The great Design was to write all Men of sense, Knowledge, & worthy Qualities? not only by a reciprocal Love of the fine Arts, but still more by the great Principle of Virtue, whence the Interest of the Fraternity might become that of the whole human Race; where all Nations might increase all Knowledge; & where every Subject of every Country might exert himself without Jealosy, live without Discord & embrace mutually, without forgetting, or too scrupulously remembering, the spot in which he was born. What Obligations do we not owe to those superior Souls, who without listening to the Suggestions of Interest, or the natural Desire to surpass others in Power, first conceived an Establishment, whose End was the Reunion of the Understanding & the Heart ================================================== Page 16c to render both better by the Contact? The sanctity which attends the moral Qualities of this Society, is the next branch of the Subject worthy of Observation. Religious Orders were instituted to render Men more perfect Xian; military Orders were founded to inspire the Love of Glory; but the Order of Free Masonry was instituted to form Men into good Citizens & good Subjects; to make them inviolable in their Promises, faithful Votaries to the God of Friendship, & more Lovers of Liberality than of Recompense. But Free Masonry is not bounded by the Display of Virtues merely civil. As a severe savage, sorrowful & misanthropic kind of Philosophy disgusts its Votaries, so then Establishment under Consideration renders Men amiable, by the attraction of innocent Pleasures, pure Joys, & rational Gaieties. The Sentiments of this Society are not such as a World which loves ridicule ================================================== Page 16d may be tempted to suppose. Every Vice of the Head & Heart is excluded: Libitinism, Irreligion, Incredulity, and Debouchery are banished & unqualified. The meetings of the Masons resembles those amiable Entertainments spoken of by Horace, where all those are made welcome Guests, whose understanding may be enlightened, whose Hearts may be mended, or who may be any way emulous to excel in the true, the good or the great. O Noctes Caenasque Deum Serno oritur non Villis domibus ne aliensis sed quod magis ad nos Pertinet et noscire malum est agitam Utrum ne Virtute beati. Divitis Homines [These lines in Latin have been changed and the transcription is uncertain - Ed] From the Society in Question are banished all those disputes which might alter the Tranquility of Friendship or unterrupt that perfect Harmony which cannot subsist but by rejecting all indecent Excesses, & every discarded Passion. The Obligation which is imposed upon this Order is that ================================================== Page 17 17 each member is to protect a Brother by his Authority, to advise him by his Abilities, to edify him by his Virtues, to assist him in an Exigence, to Sacrifice all personal Resentment, & to seek diligently for every Thing that may contribute to the Pleasure & profit of the Society. True it is that this Society hath its Secrets; but let us not those who are not initiated, laugh at the Confession; for those figurative signs & sacred Words which constitute amongst Free Masons a Language sometimes mute & sometimes eloquent, are only invented to prevent Imposition, & to know the true Member from the false of whatever Country or tongue he may be. Another Quality required by those who enter into the Order of Free Masonry, is the Taste for all useful Sciences & liberal Arts of all kinds. ================================================== Page 18 Thus the decorum expected from each of the Members, is a Work which no Academy or University have so well established. The Name of Free Masonry therefore, ought not to be taken in a literal Sense, as if the Institutors had been really workers in Stone & in Marble. They were not only able architects, but many Princes, both warlike & religious, dedicated their Talents & their Fortune, under this Banner, to the most High. Westmr Magazine ------------ Anecdote On the 25th of October 1694, a Bowl of Punch was made at the Rt Hon. Ed Bushel's House, when he was Captain-General & Commander in chief of his Majesty's Forces in the Mediterranean Seas. It was made in the Fountain in a Garden in the middle of four Walks, all covered overhead with Lemon & Orange Trees, & in every Walk was a Table the whole Length of it, covered with cold Collations &c. In the said Fountain were the following Ingredients, viz. Four Hogsheads of Brandy, 8 Hogshds of Water, 25000 Lemons, 20 Gallons of Lime Juice, 13 cwt of ================================================== Page 19 19 fine Lisbon sugar, 5 ponds of grated Nutmegs, 300 toasted Biscuits, & lastly a pipe of dry mountain Malaga. Over the Fountain was a large Canopy, built to keep off the Rains; & there was built on purpose a little Boat, wherein was a Boy belonging to the Fleet who rowed round the Fountain, & filled the Cups to the Company; & in all Probability more than 6000 Men drank thereof. Westmr Mag ---------------- Goldsmith's Roman History lent by Mr Hodges Romulus Grandson of Numitor? founded the City of Rome after killing his Brother Remus on a dispute about the Situation of the City which they intended to build. ------------------ Anthony was but a coarse & inelegant soldier, who mistook obscenity for wit & Profusion for Magnificence. He durst eat nothing till first tasted by one of his attendants which might toast mankind to relish the bevarage of Virtue however simple above their most zested Enjoyments. ================================================== Page 20 20 That the Thoughts of the natural man are only evil, see Genesis 6:5. That his Words are such see James 3.6:8 That his Works are such see Psalm 14.3 and that his Thoughts words & works are such see Romans 3.9 Romain in the Gospel Magazine ----------------- The Andes in America are the highest Mountains in the World, in these are amazing Chasms, some a mile wide & others running underground resemble a Province, they are by measure 3136 Fathoms above the surface of the sea, yet no Difficulty of breathing is perceived at the top. Goldsmiths Hist. of the Earth ------------------- In a catalogue of land animals that amounts to more than 20000, we can scarcely reckon up 100 that are in any way useful to Mankind Do ------------------- Both Animals & Vegetables seem equally fitted to the appetite of Man, & there is a Necessity of some animals living upon each other to fill up the Plan of Providence whence we may infer the expediency of man's living upon all ================================================== Page 21 21 and were any religious or moral motives to restrain him from taking away Life, upon any amount, he would only thus give Existence to a Variety of Beings made to prey upon each other: & instead of preventing, he would only thus multiply mutual Destruction. Do. ---------------------- From the History of the Process of Nature in the Hatching of Chickens is perceived that those Parts which are most conducive to Life, are the first that are begun: the Head & the Back Bone, which no doubt enclose the Brain, & the spinal marrow, tho' both are too limpid to be discerned, are the first that are seen to exist; the beating of the Heart is seen soon after the less noble Parts seem to spring from these; the Wings, the Thighs, the Feet, & lastly the Bill. The Resemblance between the Beginning animal in the Egg & the Embryo in the Womb, is very striking. Do ----------------------- 12 Ounces of Bread and nothing but water was the common Allowance for 24 Hours, among the Primitive Xians of the East. Do ================================================== Page 22 A remarkable Discovery in the last Century was that of the Transfusion of Blood. The Blood of a young, lively healthy Dog was by means of a silver Tube properly adjusted, transfused into the Veins of an old feeble worn out dog ready to die with age & hardly able to trail his Legs after him, upon which he leaped up, as from sleep, shook himself, & ran up & down, as lively & active as a Puppy. In France the experiment has been made upon men, & with as surprising Success. Wesleys Compendium of Natural Philosophy Impossible! [see Wesley's Compendium online - Ed] ------------------------- On a sudden Change of Weather from dry to wet, the Inspiration sometimes exceeds the Expiration. There being absorbant Veins, which accompany the numberless Arteries from which the Perspiration is discharged. To the matter thus imbibed (not the obstruction of the Powers?) is ascribed what we term a Cold. Sweating cures this, by throwing out the noxious matter which was imbibed before. Improbible. An ingenious Physician has found out, that the matter which passes by insensible Perspiration, & that by sweat are not the same Do ================================================== Page 23 23 Artificial Fat is made by mixing for some days oil of olives with Spirit of Nitre. Do -------------------- Chylification is preceded by Digestion which is much illustrated by Mr Papin's Digester. This is a Vessel wherein Meat is put with just as much Water as will fill it. Then the Lid is screwed on so close as to admit no external air. The Meat herein is by the Flame of a small lamp, in six or eight minutes brought to a perfect Pulp. In a few minutes more the hardest Bones are reduced to a Jelly. Do -------------------- The weight of Gold is to that of Glass as 9 to 1, & the weight of tin, the lightest of all mettals, is to Gold as 7 to 19. The Specific Weight of the several metals & of granate, Water & Air stand thus, Gold 1.9636 Iron .7852 Quicksilver 1.4019 Tin .7321 Lead 1.1345 Granate .3978 Silver 1.0535 Water .1000 Copper .8843 Air 3/11 Do ================================================== Page 24 The malleableness or ductility of Gold is beyond all Imagination. By exact weighing & computation it has been found that there are Gold leaves in which some Parts of them are scarce the 360000th part of one inch thick. Gold spun on silk in Gold thread is only 96th Part of an Inch in Breadth & their thickness the 3072d. So that an ounce of Gold is here extended to a surface of 1190 square Feet. It has been computed that in some Parts its thickness is only the 315000th Part of an Inch yet is a perfect cover for silver nor can the best Eye & even micoscope discover the least Chasm, nor an aperture to admit Alcohol of Wine one of the subtilest fluid in Nature: nor even Light itself. Do ------------------------ The arbor Martis is a Germination of Iron, resembling a natural Plant. One poured oil of tartar on filings of Iron disolved in spirit of Nitre in a Glass, presently the Liquor swelled much, tho' with little Fermentation & was no sooner at rest then there arose a sort of Branches adhering to the Glass which increased till they covered it all over and these Branches were so perfect one might even discover a kind of Leaves & Flowers thereon. ================================================== Page 25 25 When a cup of Water will disolve no more common Salt Alum will disolve in it, and when it will disolve no more Alum, Saltpetre will disolve in it, & after that Sal Ammoniac. Do --------------------- Niagara a River in Canada has a strange Cataract. Looking up the River from the Fall, you see it exceeding steep, resembling the side of a Hill, & when it comes to the Precipice it rushes down 137 Feet with such a prodigious Rapidity as strikes the Beholders in a manner not to be exprest. The Violence of the Fall raises a mist which may be seen at many Leagues, distance & when the Sun shines a beautiful rainbow is seen. Its noise may be heard 5 Leagues or more. The above mentioned mist seems to a stranger as if all the Forests thereabouts were on Fire. Do -------------------- The Ashes of an Animal wrought up into a Paste with pure Water & baked with a strong Fire, grows into a Coppel, which bears the utmost Heat of a refiners Fire. Do ================================================== Page 26 26 Pure Mercury inclosed in a Phial & kept in a gentle Heat for a year, is reduced into a solid, & its weight is considerably increased. Do Very unlikely -------------------- Copernicus was not the first Inventor of the System named the Copernican. It was in great Part known long ago. Pythagoras taught, that the Earth was carried about the sun among the stars, & by turning round its Axis caused Day & Night. Yet by Degrees it sunk into Oblivion, till it was revived by Cardinal Cusa. However the Ptolemaic System still prevailed, till Nicholas Copernicus, a Canon of Thorn, in Polish Prussia, born in the year 1473, had Resulution to examine it thro'ly, & learning enough to explain and defend it. Some of the Reasons on which this System is founded are, 1st This is most simple, & agreeable to the whole Tenor of Nature. For by the two motions of the Earth, all the Phenomena of the Heavens are resolved, which on any of the other Hypotheses are utterly inexplicable. 2dly It is more rational to suppose the earth moves around the Sun, than that the huge Bodies of ================================================== Page 27 27 the Planets & of the Sun itself, & the immense Firmament of Stars, shou'd all move round the inconsiderable Body of earth every four & twenty Hours. 3dly The earth's moving round the Sun is agreeable to that general Harmony and universal Law, which all other moving Bodies of the System obscure, namely that the Squares of the Periodical Times are as the cubes of the Distances. But if the Sun moves round the Earth, that Law is desroyed, & the general order & Symmetry of Nature interrupted; because according to that Law, the Sun wou'd be so far from revolving about the earth in 365 Days, that it would require no less than 5196 years to finish one Revolution. 4thly The Sun is the Fountain of Light & Heat, which it darts thro' the whole System, & therefore it ought to be placed, as the Heart in the Center, that so all the Planets may at all Times have them, in an uniform & equal manner. 5thly If the Sun be placed in the Center of the System, we have then the rational Hypothesis, of the Planets being all moved ================================================== Page 28 28 about the Sun, by the universal Law of Gravity: and every Thing will answer to that Law; but otherwise we are wholly in the Dark. 6thly But we need not rely upon Conjectures. We have demonstrated Proofs, that the Sun posseses the center, & that the Planets move round it, in the order above mentioned. For example, Mercury & Venus are ever observed to have two Conjunctions with the Sun but no Opposition, which cou'd not happen unless the orbits of those Planets lay within the orbit of the Earth. And in the same manner it may be demonstrated, that the orbits of Mars, Jupiter & Saturn, lie without the orbit of the Earth. Do -------------------- Sulphur & Sugar when pounded in the dark emit light Do --------------------- White Loaf Sugar melted over the Fire without Water, first turns brown, afterwards black. And a single grain of this tinges a Quart of fair water with a beautiful yellow. Do ================================================== Page 29 29 Flames from different Bodies are of different colours. The Flame of Camphire is white, of sulpur blue, of white wax inclining to yellow. For making Experiments, oil may be impregnated with different metals, so as to exhibit their Particular Flames. Do -------------------- The Earth's diameter being known determines its distance from the sun. For as the diameter is 7967.8 the Periphery 25031, which multiplied by the Number of its Revolutions 365.25 gives for its orbit 9,142,572: and as it moves thro' this orbit merely by the Impulse of the solar Rays, & as the gravitating Force must necessarily be equal to that impelling Force: so while it rolls onward one Mile it is attracted another. Consequently the preceeding orbit being doubled by the gravitating Force, makes in all 18,284,144. The semidiameter of this is the distance of the earth from the Sun: which therefore is neither more nor less than 2,910,164 miles. Do ================================================== Page 30 30 A Pillar of Air of the Height of the Atmosphere, is equal to a Pillar of Water 35 Feet high, of quicksilver about 30 inches. Do ------------------------- If we take a glass Globe filled with Water & hang it up before us, opposite the Sun, in many situations it will appear transparent; but if it is raised higher or sideways, to an angle of 45 degrees it will at first appear red; altered a very little higher, yellow; then green, then blue then violet colour in short succesively all the colours of the rainbow: but if raised higher it will become transparent again. A falling shower may be considered as an infinite numbers of transparent Globes which in different Positions form a Rainbow. Do ------------------------ Plaster of Paris finely powdered boils and heaves, like water. Do ================================================== Page 31 31 If Sulphur be mixed with a proportionable share of iron filings & both kneaded together into a soft paste with water, they will soon grow hot & at last produce a Flame. Do ------------------------- The Chinese sometimes go in white Boats in the night Time when the Beams of the moon playing upon the varnish with which they are painted, the fish being deluded by the mantling lustre, leap into the Boat & are easily taken. The wild Ducks which swim upon the Canals are extremely fond of pecking at the Gourds etc? that fall from the Trees which over hang the Streams & float upon the Waters. This hath given the Idea to the Chinese of taking them by the following peculiar stratagem; they scoop a large Gourd out clean, & cut holes to come exactly before the Eyes & mouth; A Man then puts it on his head, & goes into the Water up to the chin: the Ducks, thinking it a Gourd peck at it & the Duckhunter takes them by the legs. Middleton's Geogra ================================================== Page 32 32 The Gold & silver Fish which come from China are sometimes kept i Glass Globes where the only attendance they require is to give them fresh Water once a week, & three penny worth of Millet seed will last a score of them for a year. They will breed in Ponds but not in Glasses. Do ------------------------- The great Bell of Peking in China is the largest but one in the World weighing 120,000 Pounds. The largest of all is that at Muscow, weighing 320,000 Pounds. Do ------------------------- Any who would be clearly convinced of the Nature of Lightning, may make the following Experiment. Make a small Cross of two thin sticks of wood; the arms being just so long, as to reach the four corners of a large, thin silk handkerchief when extended. Tie the corners of this to the Extremeties of the Cross; & so you have the Body of a Kite: add to this a proper silk loop & string, & it will rise in the air like one made with paper. But this is ================================================== Page 33 33 fitter to bear the wind & wet in a storm without tearing. To the top of the Cross fix a sharp pointed wire rising a foot above it. Tie a silk ribbon to the end of the Twine next the Hand; & where the silk & twine join, fasten a Key.Riase this Kite when a thunderstorm is coming on. But he that holds the string must stand in a Porch, or under some other covering, that the ribbon may not be wet. He must likewise take particular care that the twine do not touch the Tape or Side of the Porch. As soon as the Thunder Cloud comes over the Kite the pointed wire draws the electric Fire from it. The kite & all the twine are then electrified, as plainly appears by this that the loose filaments of the Twine stand out every way, & are attracted by an approaching finger, and when the Kite & Twine being wet, conduct the Fire freely it will stream ================================================== Page 34 from the Key, on the approach of the Knuckle. By this Key the Phial may be charged, & all other Experiments made as by the Globe and this is a demonstration, that the electric Fire thereby obtained is the very same with that of Lightning Wes[t]ley's Compend. ------------------------- The Kingdom of Mundingo is situated on the Banks of the River Gambia in Africa the Inhabitants have a very singular way of keeping their wives in Subjection which is done by means of an Image called Mumbo Jumbo which is 8 feet high made of Barks of Trees & dressed in a long Coat & wisp of straw upon the Head made in the Form of a Cap; when this Figure is used one who is in the secret conceals himself under the Coat & bringing in the Image is the Oracle & decides all differences mostly on the side of the Husband. Those who are admitted into the Secret solemnly swear never to reveal it to any woman or to any who are not admitted. Middleton's Geograph. ================================================== Page 35 35 The Drunkard puts an Enemy into his mouth to steal away his Brains; [damaged] brings all out, it brings the Drink out of his Pot, the Wit out of the Pate & the money out of his purse. Mid. Geog. ------------------------- Why shou'd you want? Behold the earth hath Roots within this Mill break forth an hundred springs; The oaks bear mast, the Briars scarlet hips; The courteous Housewife Nature, on each bush Lays her fullness before you - Want? Why want? Ld Timon in Shakespear ------------------------- I do not so much as pesuade you to go to any Place of religious worship whatsoever, but only to know whether you really ought or ought not to go; or if you happen to think any Thing of that Nature fashionable, or convenient for some particular Purpose, I shall never blame you for talking, laughing, gazing about to see the Company, or any Thing of that kind, (which some might call indecent) provided you had fully considered the arguments for, and against such Behaviour, & were once convinced ================================================== Page 36 36 that it was right. So that the Streets & Roads are clear & free from obstructions, & is certainly a very good reason for [damaged] on a Sunday, or when others are at their Devotions; but then to make it rational it is supposed that you have fully considered what offence it may give to others, of what Consequence your Example is, what Force you may chance to put upon the Consciences of some of your Dependents, whether & how far it is against any Laws of God or Man, or whether you yourself are obliged to any acts of religious worship & so again to play at Cards or Dice (for I dare not mention some more general Diversions for this Day; certainly shows a Spirit above the Vulgar not tied down by common Prejudices, or owed by the Fears of scrupulous Enthusiasts; but then to be satisfied, that this Freedom is the Effect of a well grounded & true Greatness of Soul, it must be supposed, ================================================== Page 37 37 that some Time or other, you have sat down & seriously weighed all the objections against such Practices, for a great mind can never act rashly or inconsiderately. Address to freethinkers by Mr Tillard's Father ------------------------- But now the Eternal shook his sable shield, That shaded Ide & all the subject Field, Beneath its ample Verge. A rolling cloud Involved the Mount; the Thunder roar'd aloud; Th'affrighted Hills from their Foundations nod, and blaze beneath the Lightnings of the God. At one Regard of his all seeing Eye, The vanquished triumph, & the Victors fly. Popes Homer Book 17 Ver:668 ------------------------- And from his fragrant Breast the Zone unbraced With various skill, & high embroidry grac'd In this was every art, & every Charm, To win the wisest, & the coldest warm. Fond Love, the gentle vow, the gay desire, The kind Deceit, the still reviving Fire, Persuasive Speech, & more persuasive sighs, ================================================== Page 38 38 Silence that spoke, & Eloquence of Eyes. This on her Hand the Cyprian Goddess laid, Take this & with it all thy wish she said. With smiles she took the Charm; and smiling pressed The powerful Cestus to her snowy breast. Do B 14 V 245 ------------------------- The Jove from Ida's Top is horrors spreads, The clouds burst burst dreadful oer the Grecian Heads, Thick Lightnings flash, the muttering Thunder rolls, Their strength he withers & unmans their souls. Before his Wrath the trembling Hosts retire; The God in Terrors, & the skies on Fire. Do B 8 V 93 ------------------------- Nestors wounded Horse Fix't in the Forehead where the springing man Curl'd oer the brow, it stung him to the Brain, Mad with his anguish, he begins to rear Paw with his hoofs aloft, & las the air. Do V 105 ================================================== Page 39 39 Descriptions of the internal Passions, or of their visible Effects from popes Homer Anxiety in Agamemnon He rends his hair in sacrifice to Jove, And sues to him that ever lives above Inly he groans; while Glory & Despair Divide his Heart, & Wage a doubtful War. B 10 V 19 Scarce can my knees these tembling Limbs sustain And scarce my Heart support its load of Pain. No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known; Confused & sad I wander thus alone, With Fears didtracted, with no fix'd Design And all my People's Miseries are mine. V 100 Activity in Achilles The Chief beholds himself with wondering Eyes; His Arms he poises & his Motions tries; Buoy'd by some inward Force, he seems to swim And feels a Pinion lifting every Limb. B 19 V 416 ================================================== Continued on Page 40

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Transcribed, compiled, formatted, hyperlinked, encoded, and copyright © 2005, John Palmer, All Rights Reserved.