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

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Continued from Page 79 ================================================== Page 80 80 To be the same in thine own act & valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem; Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat i' the adage? Macbeth: Pr'ythee, peace! I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. Lady: What beast was't, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then cohere, & yet you wou'd make both: They've made themselves, & that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, & know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I wou'd, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his gums And dash'd the brains out, had I but so sworn As you have done to this. ================================================== Page 81 81 Macbeth: If we should fail? Lady: We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we'll not fail. Macbeth: To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! Act 4: A dark cave, in the middle a great Cauldron burning. Thunder. Enter the three Witches. 1st Witch: Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. 2d W: Thrice & once the hedge-pig whined. 3d W: Harper cry's 'Tis time, 'tis time. 1st W: Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw. (They march round the Cauldron, & throw in the several Ingredients as for the Preparation of their Charm) Toad, that under the cold stone Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. ================================================== Page 82 82 All: Double, double toil & trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. 2d W:: Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil & bake; Eye of newt & toe of frog, Wooll of bat & tongue of dog, Adder's fork & blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil & bubble. All: Double, double toil & trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. 3d W: Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches' mummy, maw & gulf Of the ravening salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark, Liver of blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat, and slips of yew Silver'd in the moon's eclipse, Nose of Turk & Tartar's lips, Finger of birth-strangled babe Ditch-deliver'd by a drab, Make the gruel thick & slab: Add thereto a tyger's chaudron, For the ingredients of our cauldron. ================================================== Page 83 83 All: Double, double &c 2d Witch: Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm & good. Enter HECATE, & other three Witches Hecate: O well done! I commend your pains; And every one shall share i' the gains; And now about the cauldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Inchanting all that you put in. Music & a song: Black spirits & white Blue spirits & Grey Mingle, mingle, Mingle You that mingle may. 2d W: By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, whoever knocks! ================================================== Page 84 84 Macbeth: Wherefore was that cry? Seyton: The queen is dead. Macbeth: She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, & to-morrow, & to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts & frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ------------------ To make Pulvis fulminans: Nitre 3 parts Dry alkali of Tartar 2 or salt of Tart. Sulphur 1 Macquer's Chymie ================================================== Page 85 85 Tragedy of Cymbeline Posthumus supposing he had kill'd his wife Imogen for adultery, finding her innocent. The Temple of Virtue was she, yea, & she herself. Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set The dogs o' the street to bait me: ev'ry villain Be call'd Posthumus Leonitus; and Be villany less than 'twas! Oh Imogen! My queen, my life, my wife! Oh Imogen, Imogen, Imogen! ---------------- Most fair ladies in this Land have ten fingers on each hand five & twenty on hands & feet and this is true without deceit ================================================== Page 86 To make a Room seem all on Fire Take rectified spirits of wine, & dissolve camphire in it; evaporate this in a very close Chamber where no air can get in & he that shall first enter the Chamber with a lighted candle will see the Chamber as if full of Fire but it will be of very short Continuance. Dic. Pole? A dangerous Experiment as it may explode like in flam. ---------------- An excellent Invention to make a pleasant Coal fire. Take of the best Newcastle Coals pound small 3 Parts; loam one Pt mix them well together into a mass with water make them up into Balls, & dry them well. This Fire is durable, sweet, & not offensive by reason of the smoke or Cinders, as other coal Fires are; but burns as well in a Chamber as Charcoal itself. ================================================== Page 87 87 Foliating or Sivering Looking Glasses. A thin blotting Paper is spread on a table, & sprinkled with fine chalk; & then a fine leaf of tin foil is laid over the paper, upon this Mercury is poured, which is equally to be distributed over the Leaf with a hare's foot or cotton. Over the Leaf is laid a clean Paper, & over that the Glass Plate. The Glass Plate is pressed down with the right hand, & the paper is drawn gently out with the left; which being done, the plate is covoured with a thick Paper, & loaden with a greater weight, that the superfluous Mercury may be driven out & the tin adhere more closely to the glass. When it is dried, the weight is removed, & the Looking Glass is complete. Dic. Pol. -------------------- To gild Iron Grind rock allum with the urine of a Bay, till it is well dissolved, with which anoint the Iron, heat it red hot in a fire of wood Coals, & it will be like gold. Do ================================================== Page 88 88 To gild with leaf Gold Grind leaves of gold in a few drops of honey & add to it a little gum water & it will be excellent to write or paint with. Do -------------------- To silver any Metal Dissolve fine silver in strong Aqua fortis, & put in as much Tartar finely powder'd as will make it into a paste with which rub any metal & it will look like fine silver. Do [this entry has been crossed through with no reason given - Ed] -------------------- To make Gilliflowers grow double. Put the seed of a single giliflower into a Bean, that the sprout is taken from & set the Bean in a fat mold, & the seed as the Bean rots will produce double flowers. Do -------------------- Put flower seed in a slit succory root & it will produce blue flowers. Do --------------------- A water to make a light in a Chamber by night. Put unslaked lime in water, leaving it there till it is clear, then put it in a vial; set it in a Chamber & you will see great Light. Do ================================================== Page 89 89 Glass to Join. Quench unslaked Lime with wine & pound it to a fine powder, mix it with figs & swines grease, & afterwards work them well together. This will join broken pots or any thing together. Or Take Greek Pitch, Rosin & the powder of little stones; mix these & heat them over the fire. Or Take froth of Glue called spuma ferri, a quarter of a pound tile shards powder'd half a pound, of unslaked lime one pound & as much linseed oil as will mix & work them together. This glue neither yields to water nor fire. Do -------------------- A glue that will hold against Fire & Water. Mix a handful of quick lime with four ounces of linsees oil; boil them to a good thickness, then spread it on tin plates in the shade & it will become very hard; but may be easily dissolved over a fire, as Glue & will effect the Business to Admiration Do -------------------- To make Iron of a silver Colour Mix powder of Sal Ammoniac with unslaked lime in cold water, heat the iron red hot, & quench it in it, & it will be white as silver. Do [this entry has been crossed through with no reason given - Ed] ================================================== Page 90 90 To dye or colour Hair Steep the Hair in water, in which a small quantity of Turpentine has been boil'd for the space of two hours, then the Colours being prepar'd & made very hot, boil the Hair therein; After this manner with colours cold, or but luke warm you may dye the feathers upon the backs of poultry, wild foul dogs horses etc Do -------------------- To make a Powder Ink to rub on Paper. Take about 20 Nut galls, reduce them to a very fine Powder; take half an ounce of roman Vitriol, & as much gum Arabick & gum sandarick, powder & sift them very fine, mix them & rub the paper hard with a piece of cotton, & polish it with a piece of Ivory, write with water, & in a little time the letters will appear a fine black. Do ================================================== Page 91 91 To make Indian Ink Take Horse Beans, burn them till they are perfectly black, grind them to a fine Powder & with a weak gum Arabic water make it into a paste, which form into cakes. Do -------------------- A Black Ink which vanishes in twenty four hours. Boil or digest nut galls 24 hours in grass Powder in Aqua fortis add to them Copperas, & a little Sal Ammoniac & it is done. Do -------------------- To make red ink Take wine vinegar a Pint raspings of Brasil one ounce Alum half an ounce Infuse all for 10 Days, then boil it gently & add to it 5 Drams of gum Arabic; Disolve the gum strain & keep it for use. Do -------------------- To preserve the leaves of Tulips etc Make up some card paper into the form of dripping pans & fix the leaves to the cards with strong gum & water, then pour on gently some Isinglass prepared with spirits, warm; when dry cover it with a glass. Do ================================================== Page 92 92 To Take spots or stains out of Linen Take Powder of burnt bone finely sifted & place it between 2 boards, pressing hard, with some of the powder on each side of the Spot, & it will vanish in 2 days Do -------------------- To make Linen look like Diaper When it has been new washed, spread it upon a Table, whilst damp & draw upon it with a brush dipt in alum & roses Do -------------------- The leaves of Books are glaz'd over with white of Egg well beaten & smoothed with polishing Iron Do -------------------- To make a Plant grow in two or three Hours Take ashes of Moss, & moisten them with the juice of an old dunghill, then dry them a little, & moisten them as before; do this four or five Times, put this mixture, not over dry nor very moist, into an earthen vessel, & in it set seeds of Lettuce etc being first impregnated with the Essence, Juice or spirit of a vegatable of its own species, till they begin to sprout for which then put into the said Earth, with that ================================================== Page 93 93 end upwards which sprouts. Let the vessel into a gentle Heat, and when it begins to dry moisten it with the said juice of Dung; thus you may have a sallad while supper is making ready Do -------------------- To Colour the Barrels of Quills red Take a pint of vinegar put into it half an ounce of allum powder'd, vermillion & the fine scrapings of brasil wood, of each one ounce boil them till the liquor begins to thicken; then strain it & put the liquor into something deep & narrow & when it boils hold the barrels of the Quills in the liquor, until they change their Colour, & this will harden them also. Do -------------------- To silver Copper or Brass 1st Cleanse the metal with aqua fortis by washing it with it, & then throwing it into Water. 2dly Disolve silver in Aq.for. & evaporate away the aq.for. over the fire. 3dly Put 5 or six times its quantity of water on the remaining dry calx, evaporate this ================================================== Page 94 94 Water; then put more fresh water evaporate again & if necessary oftener. 4thly Take of this calx, common salt, Crystal of Tartar of each a like quantity in bulk, not in wr, mix all well, then put the metal in fair water, & take of the powder in your wet fingers & rub it well on, lastly wash it in fair water & rub it in hard with a dry cloth, this will last many years. Do -------------------- To write with Ink which will vanish in five days. Infuse an ounce of sal ammoniac four or five days in strong water: make of it Ink with a piece of Touchstone beaten fine & what you write with it will be gone in 5 days. Do -------------------- [Here are 2 lines of shorthand which may be the John Byrom type, published in 1767. Not yet translated - Ed] Do -------------------- To make porcelain of Majorca. Take calcined eggshells, gum arabic water, & glair of Eggs, make it into a paste, shake it in a mold, dry it in the sun & it will be very neat. Do ================================================== Page 95 95 To dye Linen a Buff colour. Take ½ an ounce of the best Arnatts beaten fine & a piece of Flemings Asker (a pennyworth) the size of an egg, put them into 5 gallons of soft water & let them boil 10 minutes, then put in the things you intend to dye & let them boil 5 minutes longer stirring them about all the time, throw them into cold hard water to set the colour, the things must be clean when dyed. N.B. Wring them out of the cold water when they are become cold in it, & put them into cold starch as when they are washed, then dry them either by the fire or in the air pretty quick (the sun spoils them & glaze or iron them, if glazed they are laid down as usual & ironed & then glazed. To glaze Linen Put some white beer ware into the hot starch & when the Linen is iron'd rub it hard with a bottle bottom. Mrs Tillards Receipt Book ================================================== Page 96 96 Description of the internal Passions from Pope's Homer continued. Filial Love in Harpalion Harpalion had through Asia travell'd far, Following his martial father to the war: Through filial love he left his native shore, Never, ah, never to behold it more! B13 V805 Lovers Sorrow at Parting in Hector & Andromache. His princess parts with a prophetic sigh, Unwilling parts, and oft reverts her eye That stream'd at every look; then, moving slow, Sought her own palace, and indulged her woe. B6 V640 Pride in Othryoneus Swell'd with false hopes, with mad ambition vain; Call’d by the voice of war to martial fame, From high Cabesus' distant walls he came; Cassandra's love he sought, with boasts of power, And promised conquest was the proffer'd dower. The king consented, by his vaunts abused; The king consented, but the fates refused. Proud of himself, and of the imagined bride, The field he measured with a larger stride. ================================================== Page 97 97 Him as he stalk'd, the Cretan javelin found; Vain was his breastplate to repel the wound: His dream of glory lost, he plunged to hell; His arms resounded as the boaster fell. B13 V458 [Note - the above passage has been crossed through - Ed] Repentance in Helen Oh, generous brother! (if the guilty dame That caused these woes deserve a sister's name!) Would heaven, ere all these dreadful deeds were done, The day that show'd me to the golden sun Had seen my death! why did not whirlwinds bear The fatal infant to the fowls of air? Why sunk I not beneath the whelming tide, And midst the roarings of the waters died? B6 V432 Resentment in Achilles raging still, amidst his navy sat The stern Achilles, stedfast in his hate; Nor mix'd in combat, nor in council join'd; But wasting cares lay heavy on his mind: In his black thoughts revenge and slaughter roll, And scenes of blood rise dreadful in his soul. B1 V634 ================================================== Page 98 98 Revenge in Achilles for Patroclus 'Tis not in fate the alternate now to give; Patroclus dead, Achilles hates to live. Let me revenge it on proud Hector's heart, Let his last spirit smoke upon my dart; A flood of tears, at this, the goddess shed: Ah then, I see thee dying, see thee dead! When Hector falls, thou diest.Let Hector die, And let me fall! (Achilles made reply) B18 V117 Pale lies my friend, with wounds disfigured o'er, And his cold feet are pointed to the door. Revenge is all my soul! no meaner care, Interest, or thought, has room to harbour there; Destruction be my feast, and mortal wounds, And scenes of blood, and agonizing sounds. B19 V209 Grief and revenge his furious heart inspire, His glowing eyeballs roll with living fire; He grinds his teeth, and furious with delay O'erlooks the embattled host, and hopes the bloody day. B19 V394 ================================================== Page 99 99 Revenge & Glory Achilles to Patroclus O! would to all the immortal powers above, Apollo, Pallas, and almighty Jove! That not one Trojan might be left alive, And not a Greek of all the race survive: Might only we the vast destruction shun, And only we destroy the accursed town! B16 V122 Resolution in Achilles The intrepid chief replied With unabated rage So let it be! Portents and prodigies are lost on me. I know my fate: to die, to see no more My much-loved parents, and my native shore— Enough - when heaven ordains, I sink in night: Now perish Troy! He said, and rush'd to fight. B19 V465 ================================================== Page 100 100 Spite in Juno The goddess said, and sullen took her place; Black horror sadden'd each celestial face. To see the gathering grudge in ev'ry breast, Smiles on her lips a spleenful joy exprest; While on her wrinkled front, & eyebrow bent, Sat steadfast care, and low'ring discontent. B15 V108 In Menelaus Pleas'd to be first of all the powers addrest, She breathes new vigour in her hero's breast, And fills with keen revenge, with fell despite, Desire of blood, and rage, and lust of fight. So burns the vengeful hornet (soul all oer), Repulsed in vain, and thirsty still of gore; (Bold son of air & heat) on angry wings Untam'd, untir'd, he turns, attacks, & stings. Fir'd with like ardour fierce Atrides flew, And sent his soul with ev'ry lance he threw. B17 V638 ================================================== Page 101 101 Tenderness in Parents for their Child in Hector & Andromache With secret pleasure each fond parent smiled, And Hector hasted to relieve his child, The glittering terrors from his brows unbound, And placed the beaming helmet on the ground; Then kiss'd the child, and, lifting high in air, Thus to the gods preferr'd a father's prayer: O thou! whose glory fills th' ethereal throne, And all ye deathless pow'rs! protect my son! Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown, To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown, Against his country's foes the war to wage, And rise the Hector of the future age! So when triumphant from successful toils Of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils, Whole hosts may hail him with deserv'd acclaim, And say, This chief transcends his father's fame: While pleas'd amidst the gen'ral shouts of Troy, His mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy. He spoke, and fondly gazing on her charms, Restored the pleasing burden to her arms; ================================================== Page 102 102 Soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid, Hush'd to repose, and with a smile survey'd. B6 V598 Wish of Ajax to die in the day-light - Lord of Earth & Air! Oh king! Oh father! hear my humble pray'r: Dispel this cloud, the light of heav'n restore; Give me to see, & Ajax asks no more: If Greece must perish, we thy will obey, But let us perish in the face of day! With tears the hero spoke, & at his prayer The god relenting clear'd the clouded air; Forth burst the sun with all enlightening ray; The blaze of armour flash'd against the day. B17 V727 ================================================== Page 103 103 Wit & fine Writing doth not consist so much in advancing things that are new as in giving things that are known an agreeable Turn Martinus Scriblerus: Illustrations to Pope's Dunciad -------------------- The Caliph Omar 1st having conquered Egypt, caused his General to burn the Ptolemeon Library on the Gates of which was the inscription: ΨΥΧΗΣ ΙΑΤΡΕΙΟΝ The Physic of the Soul Note in the Dunciad -------------------- The Letter Υ was used by Pythagoras as an Emblem of the different Roads of Virtue & Vice Note in the Dunciad -------------------- The Critics say an Epic Poem is the greatest work human Nature is capable of Do -------------------- Epitaph on fair Roasmund as mentioned in Knox's Essays Hic jacet in tumba rosa mundi non rosa munda Non redolet, sed olet, quae redolare solet ================================================== Page 104 104 Epitaph on architect in Westminster Abbey H.S.E. Gulielemus Dickenson Arm. Architectus; Qualis! suspice. -------------------- I would not do this Crime; and yet like Heaven, permit it to be done. The Spanish Finger -------------------- Epitaph by Pope, intended for Sir Isaac Newton Isaaccus Newton Quem Immortalem Testantur Tempus, Natura, Coelum Mortantem Hoc Marmor fatetur Nature & Nature's Laws lay hid in Night God said let Newton be! & all was light. Note It would have been better, & there was Light, as more conformable to the reality of the fact, & to the allusion when it is celebrated. ================================================== Page 105 105 True, conscious honour is to feel no sin, He's arm'd without that's innocent within; Be this thy screen, and this thy wall of brass; Compared to this, a minister's an ass. Pope Ep 1st V93d -------------------- books give the same turn to our thoughts and way of reasoning, that good and ill company do to our behaviour and conversation; without either loading our memories, or making us even sensible of the change. And particularly I have observed in preaching, that no men succeed better than those who trust entirely to the stock or fund of their own reason, advanced indeed, but not overlaid by commerce with books. Dean Swift's Letter to a young Clergyman ================================================== Page 106 106 Epitaph for a Poet who wou'd not be Buried in Westminster Abbey. Under this marble, or under this sill, Or under this turf, or e'en what they will; Whatever an heir, or a friend in his stead, Or any good creature shall lay o'er my head, Lies one who ne'er cared, and still cares not a pin What they said, or may say, of the mortal within: But who, living and dying, serene still and free, Trusts in God, that as well as he was, he shall be. Pope -------------------- Daries, daries, astaries, disunapiter; huat, hanat huat, ista, pista, fista, dorni abo, damnanstia Plin.Hist.Nat lib:17 in finc. Carmen contra luxata membra, eujus verba insurare non equidem serio ausim, quanquam a Catone prodita This Verse was used by Cornelius Scriblerus upon curing his son's broken Leg. He slit a green Reed, & cast the the knife upward, then tying the two parts of the Reed to the disjoined Place pronounc'd as above. Pope's Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus ================================================== Page 107 107 Mrs Hodges cur'd Miss Hodges about 3 years old of a looseness she had for several weeks by a Clyster of thin starch with 5 or 6 drops of Laudanum -------------------- [Here are 6 lines of abreviated Latin - not yet translated - Ed] The above is Dr Mills of Chesterfield his Recipe for Mr Hanson for internal weakness -------------------- Salt allum & Pepper mixt together preserves Birds in full Beauty of Plumage the salt & allum prevent the shrinking of the Bird as it drives. Lond.Mag. ================================================== Page 108 108 The Interests, Education & means by which men attain their knowledge are so very different that it is impossible they shou'd all think alike Spectator No 197 -------------------- To dye Feathers or Bristles Green Take Verdites & Verdigrease, each an ounce, put them into a pint of water soak the Feathers or Bristles in hot water & put them into this liquer boiling hot, & let them remain till they have taken a good colour & so according to the Complexion of your dyes, you may colour them this way any colour. For blue Indigo & bise Black - galls & logwood with Copper Purple, Lake & Indigo Carnation Smalt & vermillion Yellow Yellow Berries and Saffron Disolving a little Tarter in your Water Orange Turmerick & Red Lead & in this manner you may dye parchment. Mr Hanson's Book ================================================== Page 109 109 To Take iron molds or spots out of Linen Dissolve the powder of burnt allum in juice of Lemon, wet the place with it & dry it with the back of a spoon in which is a live Coal repeating it five or six times Do -------------------- To make Iron a silver colour Take Sal Ammoniac in powder, & mix it with unslaked Lime; put them in cold water, let them dissolve there, then heat the Iron, & being when red hot, quenched therein, it will be as white as silver. Do -------------------- To make sashes for windows as clear as glass. Take Vellum Parchment or Paper put it on the sashes, take two parts of Nut or Linseed oil, two parts of fair Water, & a little white Glass beaten to fine powder, boil them in a Glass Body in sand, set on a Tile, pretty near the Fire, ================================================== Page 110 till the Water be consumed. Then mix & strain it & lay it on with a fine Pencil very thin -------------------- To cast Leaves Flowers &tc in Metal Make a circle of Earth or Clay like a box, run a Needle & thread thro' your flower & fasten one end of the thread to the bottom of the circle & the other to a stick lying across so that the flower may be suspended, then pour in a mixture of plaister powder'd brick & Plume mix'd upon Sal Ammoniac water, & pastle when dry bake it till the Flower be wholly consumed, & then pour in your metal, N.B. you must put some bees wax to it so as to make a hole to pour in the Metal. -------------------- A quart of air of the commom degree of density near the earth weighs about 20 grains Troy ===================== Page 111 111 To make a Powder to take Spots out of Linen or Woollen Salt of Tartar lemon juice Pipe clay Mr Lomas Some quiet Errors are better than some unruly Truths Bishop Hall -------------------- Specific Gravity of the following substances The Cubick Inch of Oz Averd Fine Gold 11.3656 Standard do 10.9304 Quicksilver 8.1017 Lead 6.5539 Fine silver 6.4183 Standard do 6.0965 Rose copper 5.2083 Plate Brass 4.8321 Cast Brass 4.6303 Steel 4.5445 Common Iron 4.4230 Block Tin 4.2366 Fine Marble 1.5688 Common Glass 1.4930 Alabaster 1.0844 Dry Ivory 1.0555 Dry Box 0.5960 Sea Water 0.5949 Common Water 0.5787 Red wine 0.5746 Proof Spirits 0.5368 Dry oak 0.5365 Linseed oil 0.5393 Oil olive 0.5283 Clares Motion of Fluids ================================================== Page 112 [Section below not accredited by Bennet, but may be taken from "A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons" by C.Barry, published in London 1765 - Ed] Abstract of a Treatise on Pigeons Food proper for Pigeons are Beans, Pease, Wheat, Barley Tares or Vetches. Hempseed Rape or Canary are very strong Nourishment & will soon make them salacious. The Salt Cat is made of Gravel or drift sand loom such as Brickmakers use, & the rubbish of an old wall, or for want of this a small Quantity of Lime, let there be an equal Quantity of each; add some Cummin seed some Bay salt or Salt Petre, beat them up together with stale urine. Distempers of Pigeons are 1st Corruption of the Egg, no remedy but letting the hen have a cock with her. 2d The wet Roop. Once in 3 or 4 days give them 3 or 4 Pepper corns & put some green Rue in their Water. 3d The dry Roop distinguish'd by a husky cough every day 3 or 4 cloves of Garlick 4th The Canker. Rub the part affected with burnt allum & Honey. ================================================== Page 113 113 5thly To destroy Insects smoke their Feathers with Tobacco Smoak. If in the nest strew Tobacco dust over the young ones. 6th If the meat corrupts in the Crop put them in a strait stocking with the feet downwards & hang the stocking upon a Nail till they have digested their Food or slit the crop take out the corrupted meat wash the Crop & sew it up again 7th If they do not molt well pluck the Tail Feathers out, keep them warm give them Hempseed & steep Saffron in their water. 8 To cure scouring give them Pump Water with Chalk in it or put about the quantity of 2 Horse beans down their Throat. Grit which is left in the Trough under a grindstone binds them much but will kill them if not cautiously used 9th If they appear weak, lowering or hanging their Wings give them every day a spider or two wrapt up in Butter ================================================== Page 114 114 Description of Pigeons The Almond Tumbler This Pigeon has a short body, short legs, full Chest, a thin neck, short & spindle beak, & round button Head, & the iris of the eye a bright pearl colour. They increase in Beauty for some years every time they moult. The more they are variegated particularly in the Flight & Tail & if the ground be yellowthe more they are esteemed. The Colours that constitute the almond are black white & yellow richly interspersed. The common Tumbler These are variously coloured as blacks blues whites reds yellows duns silver & mix'd. These & the almond are very curious for their Property of tumbling as they fly. The Carrick The beak should be long strait & thick an inch & half is reckoned very long. The wattle shou'd be broad across the beak short from the Head towards the Apex, & tilting forward from the Head. Its Head shou'd be long narrow & scull flat with a hollow dint in the middle. The eye should be broad round and of equal thickness ================================================== Page 115 115 The chest shou'd be broad & the Neck long & thin. Its feathers black or dun, there are likewise blues, whites, splash'd, & pieds, but the black & dun are best. The Horseman This in shape resembles the Carrier, only smaller in all its Properties; blues & blue pieds are best in colour. The Dragoon This is bred between the Horseman & Tumbler they are very good breeders & good nurses. The Dutch Cropper This Pigeon has a large bag or crop of wind which they carry under their beak, they are short & thick bodied, legs short thick & feathered, generally bad feeders. The English Powter This Pigeon shou'd have a long body 17 or 18 inches from beak to tail is reckoned a very good length. A hollow Back small in the girt **??** A long leg 6 or 7 inches. Thighs & legs stout & thick well cover'd with smooth white Feathers. The Crop large & round. ================================================== Page 116 116 The pieds are the best colour. The front part of the Crop shou'd be white girt round with a shinning green, & the white shou'd not go behind the neck; he shou'd also have a bib or patch of the colour he is pied with under his beak. His head neck & back of one Colour. The Pinion of the Wing ought to be mottled with white in the shape of a rose. The nine flight Feathers shou'd be white The Parisian Powter It is like the English Powter except that the Crop runs long & not so large short bodied, short leg'd & thick girt its feather is peculiarly beautiful, being checker'd with various colours in every Feather except the flight which is white, the more red it has the more valuable. The Uploper Has a round Crop, legs very small & slender. The powting Horseman They breed often & are good nurses. ================================================== Page 117 117 The Leghorn Runt This is a stately & large Pigeon 7 inches or better in legs, close feathered & firm in flesh, extremely broad chested, & short in the back, turning up their tail; Spanish Runt This is the longest in Body of any Pigeon whatever, twenty three Inches long from beak to tail end, thick & short legg'd loose in feather & flesh Frieseland Runt Its feathers stand all reverted There are various other Runts too tedious to mention. The Jacobine or Jack This beautiful Pigeon has a fine Hood which shou'd be compact & close to the Head, the chain of Feathers reaching to the shoulders also close so that if you take hold of the beak & hold its Head up the two sides wou'd fold ================================================== Page 118 over each other. It shou'd have a small Head with a quick rise & spindle beak the shorter the better, & pearl eye, the flight & tail shou'd be white. The colour of the rest of the body is commonly reds, blues, mottled, blacks, & yellows which last are most esteemed. The Ruff The Ruff is like the Jack, but have a longer beak & larger head the feathers of its hood & chain much longer tho' the chain does not reach so low, nor are the feathers so close; colour the same as a Jack The Capuchin This has a hood but no chain in colour like the Jack The Nun Her Body is all white; her head,tail & six of her flight Feathers ought to be entirely black red or yellow. Pear; Eye small head & beak & a white hood or tuft of feathers on hinder part of the head the larger the better ================================================== Page 119 119 The Owl Its beak is very short & hooked over at the end a round button head & a gravel eye the feathers on the breast open & reflect both ways like a rose. Its plumage is always of one entire colour. These birds are very wild like the Carrier & will fly off their eggs if disturbed. The Turbit Short beak like a Partidge round button head & feathers on the breast stand out like a frill of a shirt. The Tail & back of the wings of one entire colour the flights & rest of the feathers white. The broad tail'd shaker or fantail A beautiful long thin neck inclining towards the back, full chest short back about 24 feathers spread upwards so as nearly to meet the head. Colour mostly white & white ones are the best! ================================================== Continued on Page 120

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