New experiments and observations touching cold, or, An experimental history of cold begun to which are added an examen of antiperistasis and an examen of Mr. Hobs's doctrine about cold / by the Honorable Robert Boyle ... ; whereunto is annexed An account of freezing, brought in to the Royal Society by the learned Dr. C. Merret ...

THE EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY OF COLD Begun.

Title I. Experiments touching Bodies capable of Freezing others.

TO go Methodically to work, we should perhaps begin with considering, what sub∣jects are capable, or not capable of harbouring the Quality we are to treat of; And to invite us to this, it seems probable enough, that among the Bodies, we are conversant with here below, there is scarce any ex∣cept

Fire, that is not, at some time or other, susceptible of actual Cold, (at least as to sense:) And ev'n con∣cerning Fire 〈◊〉〈◊〉, till that difficulty be clearly determin'd, which we have elsewhere started; namely, whether Fire be not, as Wind (at least like such as is made by Air blown out of a pair of Bellows) rather a state of Matter, or Matter consider'd whilest it is in such a kind of Motion, then a distinct and particular species of natural Bodies? there may remain some Doubt, since we see, that Bodies, which may be either in a Moment, as Gunpowder, or (as far as sense can judge) totally, as high rectifi'd spirit of Wine, turn'd into fire, may yet immediately before their Accension, be actually Cold: And as to Gunpow∣der, presently after Accension, its scatter'd Parts caught in clos'd Ves∣sels, will also appear cold to the Touch. But such things nevertheless we must not now insist on, partly be∣cause it requires the resolving of a somewhat difficult Question, which more properly belongs to the Consi∣derations about Heat, where we have

already handled it; partly because our Design in the following Colle∣ctions, was not so much to gather and set down Observations, that were obvious to any that was furnish'd with a Mediocrity of Attention, as Experiments purposely made in order to the History of Cold; and partly too, because in this Collection, though we do, as occasion serves, take notice of some Experiments and Phaenomena, that relate to Cold in General, or indefinitely; yet our chief work has been to find out, and deliver, the Phaenomena of Congela∣tion, or of that intense Degree of Cold, which either does freez the Bo∣dies it works upon, or at least were capable of turning common water fit∣ly expos'd to it, into Ice. And this may serve for a general Advertise∣ment about the ensuing Papers; and consequently having premis'd it, we shall without any further Preamble proceed to the setting down such things, as we have tri'd and observ'd concerning those Matters: begin∣ning with those that belong to the Title prefix'd to the first Part, or Se∣ction, of our History.

1. The Bodies that are cold enough to freez others, are in this climate of ours but very few, and among the most remarkable, is a Mixture of Snow and Salt, which though little known, and less us'd here in England, is in Italy and some other Regions much employ'd, especially to cool Drinks and Fruits, which men may easily do, by burying, in this mixture, Glasses, or other convenient vessels, fill'd either solely with Wine, or other Drinks, or else with water, that hath immersed in it the fruits to be refrigerated.

2. The Circumstances we are wont to observe in making and em∣ploying this mixture, we shall here∣after in due place deliver, and there∣fore here we shall only take notice, that we could not find upon some tri∣als, that such Glasses filled with wa∣ter, as would be frozen easily enough by this mixture of Snow and Salt, would be in like manner frozen, in case we employ'd Snow alone, with∣out mingling any Salt with it. I de∣ny not, that 'tis very possible, that in very cold Countries, as well Snow

as beaten Ice may freez water pow∣red into the Intervals of its Parts. But there is great odds betwixt water so intermingled with Ice or Snow, and only surrounded with it in a ves∣sel where the water is, as it were, in one entire Body, and of a compara∣tively considerable thickness: And there is also a great Difference be∣twixt the degrees of coldness in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Air of Frigid Regions, and of Eng∣land. And perhaps too there may be some Disparity betwixt the Degrees of Coldness of Ice and Snow in those Climates, and in ours. And we must have a care, that in case a Vial full of water buri'd all night should freez, we ascribe not the Effect to the bare Operation of the Snow, which may be (entirely, or in great Part) due to the coldness of the Air, which would perhaps have perform'd the Effect without the Snow.

3. But though Snow and Salt mixt together will freez water better then Snow alone, yet we must not think, that there is any such peculiar vertue in Sea-salt, to enable Snow to freez, but that there are divers other

Salts, each of which concurring with Snow, is capable of producing the like Effect. For we found upon tri∣al, that we could freez water with∣out the help of Sea salt, by substitu∣ting in its place, either Nitre, or Alume, or Vitriol, or Sal Armoni∣ack, or even Sugar; for either of those being mingled with a due pro∣portion of Snow, would serve the turn, though they did not seem equally to advance the congealing power of the Snow; nor scarce any of them did do it so well as Sea salt. But of this elsewhere more.

4. When we had made the newly mentioned trials, some particular conjectures we have long had, about the nature of Salts, invited us to try, whether, uotwithstanding the com∣minution and consequent change pro∣duced in Salts by Distillation, the Saline Corpuscles, that abound in the distill'd liquors of those concretes, as well as in their solutions, would not likewise, by being mixt with it, en∣able Snow to freez water, at least in small and slender Glasses? This we first went about to try with good 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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spirit of Salt, but we found, as we fear'd, that though it made a suffici∣ently quick dissolution of the Snow it wrought upon, yet its fluidity hinder∣ed it from being retain'd long enough by the Snow, to the bottom of which it would fall, before they had stay'd so long together, as was requisite to freez so much as a little Essence-bottle full of common water.

5. Wherefore we bethought our selves of an expedient, whereby to try the operation, not only of those spi∣rits, but of divers other bodies, which were unapt for a Due com∣mixture of Snow after the way newly mention'd; or of which we had too little, or valued them too much, to be willing to spend quantities of them upon these trials. And this way (that remains to be mention'd) we somewhat the better lik'd, because the Experiments made according to it would also prove Experiments of the transmission of Cold through the ex∣tremely 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 of Glass.

And even in this way of trying, we did at first meet with a discou∣ragement, which least it should hap∣pen

to others, we shall here take no∣tice of, namely, that having put a convenient quantity of Snow into a somewhat thick green glass Vial, though we copiously 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mixt with it a somewhat weak spirit of salt, (being loath to imploy the best we had) and having well stopt the vessel, did carefully 〈◊〉〈◊〉 together, and thereby agitate the mixture in it, yet the Glass appeared only bedew'd upon the outside, without having there any thing frozen. But suspect∣ing, that the thickness of the Glass might be that, which hindred the operation of the included mixture, we put snow and a convenient pro∣portion of the self same spirit of salt into a couple of thin Vials, one of which we clos'd exactly, and the other negligently, and having long shaken them, we found that what ad∣hered to them on the outside, was (though but somewhat faintly and thinly) frozen.

6. And, as to this sort of Experi∣ments we shall here observe 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 all, that the Snow or Ice included, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the Saline Ingredient

(whatever that were) was always thaw'd within the Glass, and that consequently, 'twas the condens'd vapor of the Air, or other liquor that adhered to the outside of the glass, which was turn'd into Ice, which is the Reason, why in mention∣ing these Experiments we often use the word freez in a transitive sense, to signifie the operation of the frigo∣rifick mixture upon other bodies.

7. This premised, let us proceed to relate, that we afterwards took Oyl of Vitriol, and mixing it with Snow in such an other vial as that last mentioned, we found its freezing po∣wer far greater then that of spirit of salt. And least it should be pretend∣ed, that in these Experiments, the cold was not transmitted through the sides of the glass, but that the Air within the vial, highly refrigerated by the mixture, Did upon the ac∣count of their free intercourse enable the Air contiguous to the outside of the vial to freez the Dew it met with sticking on it; we prosecuted the Ex∣periments with the addition of this circumstance, that on several occasi∣ons

we seal'd up the vial, that con∣tained the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the other frigori∣fick body it was mixt with, and af∣terwards by the help of this mixture froze the externally adhering moi∣sture.

8. Having then according to this way substituted spirit of Nitre for oyl of Vitriol, or spirit of Salt, we found, that it froze yet more power∣fully then either of those two liquors, and continued to do so in those parts of the outsides of the glass, that were adjacent to the included snow, till that snow was almost totally resolv'd into a liquor. This we tri'd both in a thin seal'd glass, and in a pretty thick glass stopp'd only with a Cork.

9. Afterwards we successfully enough tri'd the Experiment with spirits less acid, as not only with spi∣rit of Vinegre, but with spirit of Su∣gar, I mean the Red Empyreumati∣cal spirit forc'd over in a Retort, which mixt with snow, according to the manner of the Experiment, did at length freez the externally adhering moisture. But the filmes of ice were very thin, and very apt quickly to disappear.

10. Having thus made a number of trials with acid spirits, we thought fit to make some with Urinous spirits that abound in volatile salt, and ac∣cordingly having mixt spirit of Urine and Snow in an open vial, and agitated them, we found that the ex∣ternal moisture did discernably, though not very strongly, freez.

But with spirit of Sal Armoniack drawn from Quick Lime (according to the way I have delivered in another Treatise) the operation was quick and powerful enough.

11. Having tri'd to freez water with acid, and with volatile spirits 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we thought it not amiss to try what they would do both together, and accordingly pouring upon snow both some spirit of Urine, and a little oyl of Vitriol, and shaking them in∣to the snow in an open Vial, we found that the mixture did freez, though the glaciation, in this case produced, were very languid.

12. Having thus tri'd salts disin∣gag'd from their grosser parts, or shattered into Corpuscles by distilla∣tion, we made some trial likewise

with grosser salts, as with Sal Gem, with a sublimate made with common Sublimate and Sal Armoniack, nay, and with both 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Kitchin Su∣gar, with all which among 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like bodies, that I can now Remember, the Experiment succeeded well enough: also a very strong solution of Pot-ashes, mixt with snow in a open single Vial, did freez, but that very faintly. And both a very strong solution of very pure salt of Tartar, and (at another time) a strong solu∣tion of Pot-ashes, being the one as well as the other, mixt and agitated with snow in a single vial, produced filmes of ice (though thin ones) on the outside of the glass.

13. After this, we thought fit to make a trial of another kind, of which I find this account among my Notes. We filled a single vial with snow, and then powred into it a con∣venient proportion of a strongly sweet solution of minium in spirit of Vinegre, and having shak'd the mix∣ture together, we found, that this sweet Sugar of Lead, did as well as acid and alcalizate salts, excite the

cold of the snow so much, as to pro∣duce filmes of ice on the outside of the glass: but a parcel of the same so∣lution, being for divers hours kept in snow and salt, was not thereby fro∣zen.

In order to the discovery of some hints of the account, upon which the above mentioned mixtures were more intensly frigefactive then snow alone, we sealed up a single vial full of snow unmingled with any other in∣gredient, and found it to thaw much more slowly then any of those parcels of snow which we had mixt with salts or spirits.

In prosecution of this conjecture, we shall add, that for ought we could find by divers trials, no salt, that helps not the snow to dissolve faster then else it would, did inable it to produce ice, though usually it did produce dew on the outside of the vial, that contained the mixture; and accordingly, neither Chrystals of Tartar, nor Borax, both beaten to powder, nor, which is more (consi∣dering what we lately noted of the effects of another sort of Sublimate)

would Sublimate inable the snow to freez; as well the powder of Subli∣mate, as that of Borax, and that of Tartar, lying for a great while in the snow undissolv'd.

14. Belonging to this matter, I find among my papers also this Note.

[Water of Quick Lime (made, by quenching store of unslak'd Lime in common water) twice tri'd would not make snow freez, perhaps be∣cause though the water were kept stopt, yet the liquor having been kept in the glass a twelve-moneth, and more; probably the spirits may have flown away, which I find by inquiring of one that Drinks much Lime-water, that it abounds with, when fresh, and grows destitute of a while after; and possibly also the badness of the Lime was the cause, why being mingled with snow it would not freez, though all the vials, that did not freez, did yet gather store of dew on the outsides (perhaps be∣cause of the snow, whose melting alone may suffice to produce that ef∣fect.]

15. It may seem somewhat more

strange, that distilled oyl of Turpen∣tine, which is so hot and fiery a li∣quor, should not enable snow to freez, but this agrees not ill with the conjecture lately mentioned, for it will hereafter appear, that in oyl of Turpentine Ice dissolves slower then in Divers other liquors, without ex∣cepting common water it self.

16. And yet notwithstanding the bad success of this trial, we were not Discouraged from making another with spirit of Wine; for, though according to the common opinion of Chymists and Physicians, it be a mere vegetable Sulphur, yet we, that have elsewhere ventured to ascribe some such operations to it as Chymists would have belong to Saline Liquors, did not scruple to seal up in a single vial almost filled with snow, a conve∣nient quantity of pure spirit of Wine, (drawn off from quick Lime the bet∣ter to dephlegm it) and of this mix∣ture we found the operation more powerful then any of those we have formerly mentioned: for the freez∣ing vertue of this did not only last long, both in the seal'd single vial,

and in another that was open, but the inclosed mixture presently crusted the outside of the glass (or of the neck, if it were made to fill that) with ice, which might be taken off in flakes of good breadth, or in pieces of good thickness. Nay, it present∣ly froze Urine into Figured ice, which might be taken off in scales.

17. This last circumstance puts me in mind of another Experiment, whereby we tried by a vigorous mix∣ture of Snow, and some choice spirit of Nitre, we had met with to freez liquors of more difficult conglaciati∣on then fair water.

We took then some snow, and mingled with it some of the newly mentioned spirit of Nitre in so luckly a proportion, that it froze very vigo∣rously and very suddenly, insomuch that once almost as soon as it was set to the ground, it froze the vial to the floor it was set on, and the outside of the glass, that contained this mix∣ture, we wetted with spirit of Vine∣gre, which was frozen into pretty thick ice. But yet (not quite to for∣get that circumstance) retaining the

salt taste of spirit of Vinegre, and though this mixture would not dis∣cernably freez spirit of Nitre on the outside, yet it transmitted cold enough to freez weak spirit of Salt, and to give Us the pleasure of seeing some Saline liquors presently turned into figur'd Ice, as not only the last mentioned spirit exhibited some little (as it were) Saline Iceikles crossing each other, and quickly vanishing, but (which was far prettier) having often observed, that Sal Armoniack being dissolved in water, and the so∣lution being put very slowly to eva∣porate in part, but not too much, away, the remaining liquor would in the cold shoot into parcels ofsalt very prettily figur'd, some of them re∣sembling combs with teeth on both sides, and others resembling feathers; having observ'd this, I say, and be∣ing desirous to try, whether the spi∣rit of Sal Armoniack, distilled by the help of quick Lime, being put to congeal on the outside of a glass, would not afford a Resemblingly fi∣gured Ice; we found upon trial, both that the mixture was able to

freez that subtile spirit, and also, that it shot into Branches almost like those, exhibited by such salts undi∣stilled. And it was not unpleasant to behold, how upon the inclining the glass so, that the freezing mixture re∣sted a little, near any part of the spi∣rit, this liquor would shoot into such branches as we have been speaking of, so nimbly, that the eye could plainly discern them, as it were, to grow, and hastily overspread the surface of the glass, but those Bran∣ches were wont quickly to va∣nish.

I had almost forgot to mention, that I tried the freezing with snow, and divers fermented Liquors undi∣stilled instead of spirit of Wine, and though the Experiments succeeded not with small Beer, much less with water, yet there was a glaciation, though but slight, produc'd not only by the addition of Wine, but even by that of moderately strong Ale.

18. Having observed, that the Li∣quors and other bodies, that assist∣ed the snow to freez, were generally such as hastned its dissolution, we 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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thought it not altogether unworthy the trial, to examine, what would be the Event of procuring a speedy dissolution of the snow, by substitu∣ting bodies actually warm, instead of potential hot ones: Of this sort of trials, I find among my Notes these two registred.

[1. Into a single vial almost filled with snow, there was poured a pret∣ty quantity of well heated sand, that it might dissolve the snow in many places at once, without heating the ambient Air, or the outside of the glass; but though the solution of the snow seemed to succeed well enough upon the shaking of the vessel, yet the outside of the glass was only be∣dewed, not frozen.

2. Into another single vial almost filled with snow, we poured some water, which we judg'd of a conve∣nient warmth, and we poured it in by a funnel, that had but a slender ori∣fice beneath, that the warm water might fall into the middle of the snow, without Running to the sides, and taking a convenient time to shake the glass, we did by this way pro∣duce

a very considerable degree of cold, and much dew on the outside, but were not satisfied, that any of that dew was frozen, though the suc∣cess would have invited us to have made further trials in greater glasses, if we had had any more snow at hand.]

Wherefore This Experiment is to be further and more artificially tri'd.

19. It is a common tradition, not only among the vulgar, but (I pre∣sume, upon their account) among learned men, that the oftentimes va∣riously, and sometimes prettily enough figur'd hoar frost, which is wont to appear upon glass windows in mornings, preceded by frosty nights, are exsudations, as it were, that penetrating the glass-windows, are, upon their coming forth to the cold external Air, frozen thereby in∣to variously figured ice: How groundless this conceipt is, may be easily discovered, if men had not so lazy a curiosity, as not to try (which they may do in a moment, and with∣out trouble) whether the Ice be, ac∣cording

to the tradition on the out∣side of the window, and not contrary to it on the In-side, where indeed it is generated of the aqueous Corpuscles, that swiming up and down in the Air within the Room, are by the va∣rious motion that belongs to the parts of fluid bodies as such, brought to pass along the window, and there by the vehement cold of the neighbour∣ing external Air, communicated through the glass, condens'd into dew, and frozen into Ice.

20. And because divers modern Naturalists have taught (I think er∣roneously) that glass is easily enough pervious, not only to Air, but to divers subtile liquors, lest the favourers of this Doctrine should object, that we have ill assigned the natural cause of the ice, appearing on the outside of the glass in the former Experiments, which according to them may rather proceed from the subtler (but yet vi∣sible) parts of the excessively cold mixture of the snow and saline bodies penetrating the pores of the glass, and setling on the outside of it: To obviate this objection, I say, and to

confirm what we have taught in ano∣ther Treatise about the wandring of store of aqueous vapours through the Air, we will add the following Ex∣periments, purposely made to evince these truths.

21. At one time four ounces and a quarter, of a mixture of Ice and Salt, being inclosed in a vial, and thereby enabled to condense the vapours of the ambient Air, was by their acces∣sion increas'd 12. grains.

Another time a vial, wherein snow (weighing two ounces six drachms and an half) was suffered to condense the vapid Air, the dew, that partly adher'd to it, and partly fell from it, made the whole weigh four grains more then the vial did, when it was first put into the scale, in which scale we found some water flowing from the dew, which gave that increase of weight. And here let me add by the way, that the tip of This seal'd vial, being broken under water, suck'd in a considerable quan∣tity of it, whether, because of some little rarefaction of the Air included in the sealing, or because of the in∣frigidation

of that Air by the snow, or for both these Reasons, or any other, I shall not Now dispute.

22. But other Experiments to the same purpose we made, wherein the increase of weight was more consi∣derable; and that the way, we used, may be the better understood, and the conclusion built upon it the more undiscuss'd, we will add a couple of trials, that we find among our notes concerning this matter.

[In a single vial we seal'd up as much snow and salt, as afterwards, when melted, we found to weigh between five and six ounces, after a while the salt beginning to melt the snow, the Dew on the outside began to congeal, and being rubb'd off, the hoar frost would quickly begin to come again. This vial for further trial being put into a pair of scales with a counterpoise, after a while, as the vapours, that wandred through the Air in the warm room, hapned to be detain'd more and more upon the outside of the glass, and to be there frozen, the scale, wherein the glass was, began to be deprest, and

to shrink lower and lower, after which, by adding a little to the coun∣terpoise, we reduced them again to an Equilibrium: And yet after a while, the scale, that held the vial, subsided again more and more, till the Inclu∣ded snow was melted; so that to re∣duce the scales to their first Equilibri∣um, we were fain to add in all to the Counterpoise a weight, which we Estimated to be about eight or ten grains, (for we had then no great weights by us.) The vial being taken out, there appeared near half a small spoonful of Liquor in the scale it stood in, which proceded from the thaw of the Ice, that was generated about it. But in that part of the scale, which was covered with the convex part of the bottom of the glass, there appeared no wet.

A like or smaller quantity of snow and spirit of Wine being seal'd up in a single vial, the outside quickly ap∣peared cas'd with ice as high as the mixture reacht within, and this vial also being counterpois'd in a pair of scales, did by degrees depress the scale that held it, till it had sunk it

very low, and about seven grains did but reduce the scales to an Equilibri∣um, but the scales being somewhat rusty, we could not make the Trials with that Exactness we desired.]

23. But at other times, when the Experiment was more luckily, though not more carefully tri'd, with better scales, the increase of weight from the condens'd vapours of the Air, was somewhat more con∣siderable; for I find in a short note,

[That at one time a mixture of spi∣rit of Wine and Snow, weighing three ounces and three quarters, af∣forded of condens'd vapours about 18. grains.

And at another time a mixture of Snow and Sal Gem, weighing three ounces and seventy grains, procured us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accession of water weighing about 20. grains.]

Title II. Experiments and Observations touching Bodies Disposed to be Frozen.

1. TWere almost endless to try particularly, which bodies are, or are not capable of congelati∣on, and the degree of cold would al∣so in such Experiments be (as near as men can) determin'd; because ma∣ny bodies will freez in one degree of cold, that will not in another; wherefore we are willing to leave these trials to those, that have more leisure and opportunity to prosecute them, and shall only set down some, and those, somewhat various, that we may not leave this part of the History of Cold quite unfurnish'd. And we must mention the fewer, because, being in the Countrey, we were not provided of divers of the bodies

which we should have expos'd.

2. In very cold snowy weather, we tri'd, that (besides common wa∣ter) Urine, Beer, Ale, Milk, Vine∣gre, and French and Rhenish Wine (though these two Last but slowly) were turned into ice, either totally, or in part. But such instances will possibly be thought too obvious to be insisted on; therefore I shall add, That not only we froze a strong solu∣tion of Gum Arabick, and another of white Sugar in common water, but that We took Alume, Vitriol, Salt∣Petre, and Sea salt, and made of each of them in a single vial as strong a solution as we could, we also made a strong solution of Verdegrease in fair water (which was thereby deep∣ly coloured) all these we exposed to the cold Air. The solution of Alume, Nitre and Verdegrease froze without affording any notable Phaenomena, ei∣ther in the figuration of the Ice, or otherwise: Of the solution of Vi∣triol there remain'd at the bottom of the glass, a pretty quantity unfrozen, and of a clear substance, whose co∣lour was very high of the Vitriol,

whereas the upper part of the same solution differed very little in colour from common Ice.

3. But because it seems not so strange, that these gross sorts of Sa∣line bodies should be turned into Ice, we thought fit to try, whether or no also divers salts, freed from the gros∣ser parts of their concretes by the fire, were not likewise capable of congela∣tion. We exposed therefore spirit of Vinegre in one small glass, and spirit of Urine in another, to an in∣tense cold, and found, that not only the former, but the latter also froze.

4. We took likewise some of the fiery lixiviate salt of Pot ashes, and a single vial, in which we put, to two ounces of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a drachm of the Alcaly, and exposing it to a very sharp Air, we did, when we came to see the success of the trial, find Ice lying on the top in little sticks (some∣thing crossing one another) almost like the Crystals of rocked Petre, and besides these that lay levell'd, there were others that shot down∣wards in very great numbers.

5. We also found that Oyl of Tar∣tar

per deliquium, or at least a strong solution of the fixt salt of Tartar, though it seemed much to resist the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yet it was once by snow and salt brought to Congelation.

Appendix to the II. Title.

SInce I wrote the present Book con∣cerning Cold (excepting some of the Appendices) having once had the Opportunity of an Hours Discourse with an Ingenious Man, that not on∣ly liv'd some years in Muscovy, but was, and is still Physician to the great Monarch of that Empire, and having likewise at other times con∣versed with Navigators, and some other credible persons, that had tra∣velled either to Greenland, Terra No∣va, or other gelid Climates, I pro∣pos'd them divers Questions, by their Answers to which, I learned some particulars, which together with others, that I have met with in Voy∣ages and other Books, I think it not

amiss to annex by way of Appendi∣ces to the foregoing, and some of the following Sections, or Titles.

About the freezing of common ex∣press'd Oyls, I know not well what to determine; For that they may by a very intense Cold be depriv'd of their Fluidity, and be made capable of being cut into portions, that will retain the figure given them, my own Trials invite me to believe; but whether such oyls will be turned into true (by which I mean) hard and brittle Ice, is a Question scarce to be determin'd by any Experiments we can make here in England, where we could not reduce oyl Olive into Ice: And for the Relations of those that have liv'd in colder Countries, I find them to disagree: For when I asked the lately mention'd Doctor the Que∣stion, how far he had known oyl Congeal'd in 〈◊〉〈◊〉? He answered me, That it did there freez much harder then in our Climate, but would not, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had observed, be turn'd into true & perfect Ice. On the other hand I find the Testimony of that Ingenious Navigator Captain

T. James, who relating the effects of cold he met with in the Island where he and his men were forc'd to winter, does in one place reckon Oyl among the Liquors, such as Vinegre, and Sack, that ev'n in their house was firmly frozen, and more expresly elsewhere. All our Sack (says he)* 1.1 Vinegre, Oyl and every thing else that was liquid, was now frozen as hard as a piece of wood, and we must cut it with a Hatchet. And Olaus Magnus speaking of the fights, wont to be made upon the Ice in the Nothern Regions, Gla∣cialis* 1.2 Congressus (says he) fit in Laneis Calcibus, non pellibus, aut Coriis unctis: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enim frigoris, quodcunque sit unctu∣osum convertit in Lubricitatem glacialem.

There being a great Similitude in point of Inflammability, and dispo∣sition to mix with many subtle Oleous Bodies, betwixt spirit of Wine and Oyl, and as great an affinity in divers other regards, betwixt that spirit and both aqueous and saline Liquors, with which it will readily mix; I had a great Curiosity to know, what kind of change would be produc'd in vi∣nous spirits, in case they were expo∣sed

to a cold great enough to work a visible change in their Texture; I therefore solicitously inquir'd of the Russian Emperors lately mention'd Physician, whether or no he had ob∣serv'd in Muscovy any manifest change produc'd by cold in Hot Waters, and spirit of Wine? To which he re∣turned me this answer; That com∣mon Aniseed-water, and the like weak spirits would be turn'd into an imperfect kind of Ice, and that ev'n the very strong spirits, though they would not be turn'd into Ice, would be turn'd into a kind of substance like Oyl.

Title III. Experiments touching Bodies In∣dispos'd to be Frozen.

1. WE found many liquors, whose subtle parts being by Distillation brought over, and united into very spirituous liquors, and so either totally, or in great measure freed from those phlegmatickor aque∣ous parts, that dispose Bodies to con∣gelation, could not be brought to freeze, either by the cold of the ex∣ternal Air, to which in frosty nights we exposed them, or by such an Ap∣plication of snow and salt, as served to freez other Bodies.

2. Of this sort were, among acid menstruum's, Aqua fortis, spirit of Ni∣tre, of Salt; also oyl of Turpentine, and almost all, (I add the word al∣most, because the Essential oyl of Aniseeds, and the Empireumatical

oyl of common oyl will lose their fluidity in a less degree of Cold, then that of our mildest frosts,) I say almost all the Chymical oyls we had by us, as likewise spirit of Wine, and other strong spirits of fermented Liquors, and even 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it self, if it were good, would very hardly be brought to afford us any Ice at all: But among the many liquors, that would not freez, there were a few, whose trials afforded us some cir∣cumstances not altogether unworthy their being mention'd.

As 1. I being desirous to satisfie some friends, that 'twas the brisk spi∣rit of the Grapes, whether resulting from, or extricated and exalted by fermentation, that kept (all) the rest of the Sack from freezing: I took a parcel of that liquor, that would afford us no Ice at all, and by the help of a lighted candle, or some other actually flaming body, kindled it, and letting the inflammable part burn away, the remaining part of the Liquor (which was by vast odds the greatest part) was easily brought to freez.

Next when the formerly mention∣ed trial was made with water and Pot-ashes, we likewise, in another glass, exposed a solution, wherein the proportion of salt of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in reference to the water was four times greater, there being in this zij of the salt to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only of water, and this solution, though the glass were covered with hoar frost and Ice on the outside, froze not at all within. And likewise, when another time we made a very strong solution of salt of Tartar, that was very pure and fiery, it did not freez, though a considera∣bly strong solution of salt of Pot-ashes, that was exposed with it, did. So that these Experiments about the gla∣ciation of Lixiviate Liquors must be repeated to be reduc'd to a certain∣ty.

3. That the common express'd oyls of Vegetables will, after their manner, freez, that is, lose their fluidity, and become, as it were, curdl'd in very cold weather, is a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of common observation; but I had a mind to try, whether or no Train oyl, that is made of the fat of

Animals, (commonly that of Whales) though not by distillation, properly so called, yet by the help of fire, would not be more capable of resisting the violence of the cold, and accordingly I found, that Train oyl, exposed to the Air in a conve∣nient vial, continued fluid; notwith∣standing a more then ordinary sharp∣ness of weather, and this I tried two or three several times, but at length one night proved so very cold, that the next morning I found the oyl un∣fluid; which differing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seem a little to Countenance, but more to disfavour the Report of Olaus Mag∣nus,* 1.3 who writes, That whereas in Northern Regions 'tis usual for strong places to lose in winter the protecti∣on afforded them in Summer, by their Ditches, though never so wide and deep, because the frost makes them easily passable to the Enemy: This inconvenicy is wont to be pre∣vented by pouring into the Ditches, the Ice, if there be need, being first broken, great store of this Train oyl, which swimming upon the sur∣face of the water, and being incon∣gealable

by the cold, protects the subjacent water from the freezing vio∣lence of the cold, and keeps the moats unpassable. But because our Author mentions this as a known and vulgar Practice in those Icy Regions, it may perhaps deserve a little Enqui∣ry, whether the Whale Oyl, used by the Swedes, Laplanders, Musco∣vites, and other Inhabitants of those parts be not differing, either as to the Fishes, 'tis made of, or as to the way of making it, or as to the way of keeping it from such Train Oyl as we Employed, unless per∣haps it do already appear by the Re∣lation of writers belonging to those Countries, or of Travellers, that have been in them, that Olaus Magnus has in that particular, as I fear, he has in some others, misinformed his Readers.

4. We took notice, that a strong solution of common Sugar was easily enough turned into Ice; but on a strong solution of Sugar of Lead we could not with salt and snow work the like change, and this, though the trial were not negligently made; which I therefore think not unwor∣thy

to be mention'd, because that the two only Ingredients of this Sugar were Lead, which is esteemed a ve∣ry cold Body, and spirit of Vinegre, from which, as I noted above, we did by the like degree of cold to that we here employed, obtain Ice: And though in this metalline Sugar we may well suppose the Saline parts of the spirit of Vinegre to be much more concentrated or united, then they were in the spirit; yet the solution must abound with aqueous parts: and this Sugar seeming but a kind of Vitriol of Lead, 'tis worth our No∣tice, that its solution would not freez, as well as that of common Vitriol, though in this latter concrete the me∣tal be corroded by a spirit, which, as far as can be judged by the Liquors afforded in distillation, is very much sharper and stronger then spirit of Vinegre.

5. We likewise tried to freez Quick silver, and for that purpose pro∣vided a bubble, that being blown with a Lamp, was but thin, and so flat, that the sides almost touched, and it held but a little Mercury, and

that by the figure of the Glass, being reduced to a large surface, with but very little depth or thickness, it was far more exposed, then if it had been in a ordinary round Bubble, to the action of the cold; but we could not at all freez this extravagant liquor, though we tried it more then once, and though the last time, we exposed it in the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the same de∣gree of Cold, wherewith we made one of the following Experiments, that required a very Intense degree of that Quality. And in another thin glass-Bubble we long exposed Quick∣silver to an extraordinary sharp air, but though the cold had some opera∣tion upon it, not here necessary to be mention'd; yet we could not find, that it did at all bring it to freez: wherefore I could wish that trial were made in Muscovy, Greenland, Charles Island, or some other of the most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Regions, where the Effects of cold (which here are upon Quick∣silver but languid) are the most con∣siderable, and sometimes stupendi∣ous.

6. It is very remarkable, that

though not only the solutions of other gross salts, but, as we have seen, di∣vers more saline and spirituous li∣quors, were brought by snow and salt to Congelation; yet a brine made very strong of Common salt, could not be brought to freez at all, though we kept it exposed with the other saline solutions, that did freez, during a whole night, that was ex∣ceeding sharp. Which Experiment I also tried many years since, to draw thence an Argument in favour of the Cartestan Hypothesis about cold, which I shall not now consider; but rather add, that being desirous to try, with what proportions of Sea salt and wa∣ter, the congelation of them might be effected, I found, I could freez some Sea water, that had been brought up in a Barrel to that Monarch of the Virtuosi, the King, for the making of trials with it; and that having in a single vial exposed to the Air in a ve∣ry bitter night, a solution consisting of twenty parts of water, and one of salt, which is double the proportion of salt to be commonly found in our Sea-water, the next day we found a

good part of the Liquor frozen, the Ice swimming at the top in figures al∣most like Broom, spreading from the surface of the water downwards. And to add, That upon the by, we suffered the Ice of salt-water to thaw, to try, whether it would yield fresh water, but it seemed not devoid of some Brackishness, which whether or no it proceeded from some parts of the contiguous brine, that adhered to the Ice, I leave to further and ex∣acter observations, since I am credi∣bly informed, that in Amsterdam there are divers, that use the thaw'd Ice of the Sea-water to brew their Beer with, instead of common fresh water.

3. And since I made that Experi∣ment, I find in the industrious Bar∣tholinus's newly publish'd Book, De* 1.4 Nivis usu, a Confirmation of the probability of the Report I just now mention'd, his words being these, De Glacie ex marinâ aquâ certum est, sire∣solvatur, salsum saporem deposuisse, quod etiam non ita pridem expertus est Cl. Ja∣cobus Finckius Academiae nostrae senior, & Physices Professor, benè meritus, in glaciei frustis è portu nostro allatis.

Title IIII. Experiments and Observations touching the Degrees of Cold in several Bodies.

1. AFter having treated of the Bo∣dies that are the most capable of producing Cold, and of those that are most dispos'd, or indispos'd to receive it, it would be Methodical to take notice of the Degrees of Cold, to be met with in differing Bodies: But though a work of this nature might somewhat conduce to the Discovery of Cold in general, yet it is so labo∣rious a Task, and, to be well per∣form'd, requires so much more of Leisure, and Conveniency, then I am Master of, that I must resign it to those that are better furnish'd with them; which I the freelier do, be∣cause the Experiments, which at this

Time make the principal part of our History, being chiefly of the highest Degrees of Cold, we may seem to have done something of what more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concerns our present De∣sign, by having made the Experi∣ments, anon to be subjoyn'd within this present Section or Title. And yet thus much we elsewhere do to∣wards the framing of a Table of the Degrees of Cold, that we do on o∣ther occasions set down those hitherto unpractis'd ways that we have im∣ploy'd, to estimate the greater or lesser Coldness of Bodies, by several kinds of Weather-glasses, differing from the common ones, and far more fit then they, for such a Purpose. For by Hermetically seal'd Thermo∣scopes furnish'd with high rectifi'd spirit of Wine, we can estimate the differing degrees of Coldness in Li∣quors, of which we shall presently mention an Example. And by using such Weather-glasses, as have their Air included not at the top, but at the bottom of the Instrument, we can within some reasonable Latitude, measure the Coldness both of intire

solid Bodies, or minuter Bodies, as Salts, &c. by beating them alike, and very small, and placing the Instru∣ments at equal Depths in the powder of each of them. And besides that the shape of these Thermoscopes does, as we have elsewhere shewn, make them proper for these uses, for which the vulgar ones, where the included Air is at the top of the In∣strument, are not fit: besides this, I say, 'tis easie in these we make use of, to make the Pipe so slender in pro∣portion to the Cavity of the Vial, whereinto 'tis inserted, that very much minuter Differences of Cold will be manifest in these, then are wont to be sensible in common Wea∣ther-glasses.* 1.5 And besides these two sorts we have elsewhere propos'd, and describ'd a third and new kind of Thermometer, wherein a drop of li∣quor being suspended in a very slen∣der Pipe of Glass, betwixt the out∣ward and the inward Air, makes it far more fit for those Experiments, wherein we either despair, or care not, to measure the Difference of Cold betwixt two Bodies, but are

only desirous to try, whether or no they differ in Coldness, and in case they do, which of them has most: For these Weather-glasses, are so exceeding sensible even of the minute Differences of Heat and Cold, as ma∣nifestly to discover Disparities, which other Thermoscopes are not nice enough to give us any Notice of. Only this Advertisement we must add about them, that when we use them to examine the Coldness, not of li∣quid, but of consistent Bodies, we alter a little the figure of the wide end of the Glass; and instead of ma∣ing it a round bubble, as we have elsewhere describ'd, we make it with a flat or flattish bottom, that the whole Instrument might thereon, as on a Basis, stand of it self upright, and so, being still taken up by the open and slender end, for fear of rarifying the included Air, (which Caution is here given once for all) may be transferr'd with a pendulous drop in the Pipe, and plac'd some∣times on one, and sometimes on ano∣ther of the solid Bodies to be exami∣ned by it. For if the Body, 'tis re∣moved

to, be more or less cold then that it rested on before, that cold∣ness communicated through the Glass to the Air, by which the pendulous drop is supported, that Airs Expan∣sion or Contraction will manifestly appear by the rising or the falling of the drop. And thus we have taken pleasure to remove it from one kind of wood to another, from woods to metals, and from metals to stones, &c. But the Expedients, that may be propos'd to improve these little Instruments to the purposes we have been treating of, and the Cautions, that may be added to prevent mens drawing mistaking Inferences from the Informations they seem to give them, will take up more time, then we are willing to spend npon an occa∣sion, that will not perhaps be thought to deserve it, nor much to require any others, then those we shall by and by subjoyn. And therefore I shall proceed to the Experiment pro∣mis'd at the beginning of this Title or Section.

2. To make so much as a tolerable Estimate of the Difference betwixt

such great Degrees as are not any of them too weak to congeal water, is a thing, which, as we have not yet known to be attempted, so it seem'd not easie to be perform'd. For, Freezing having been commonly re∣puted the ultimate Effect or Produ∣ction of Cold, men have not been sol∣licitous to look beyond it. And though the Disparity we find betwixt several Fits of weather, all of them frosty, seem to be too manifest and frequent to be probably ascrib'd to nothing, but the differing Dispositi∣ons of our Bodies, yet how to esti∣mate that Difference, it is not so ob∣vious. For though we should have recourse to common Weather-glas∣ses, yet they might easily deceive us, since not only by estimating by them, the coldest day of one Winter, with the coldest day of another, but in judging of the Coldness of any two days in the same fit of frosty weather, there intervenes time enough to make it doubtful, whether the vari'd Gra∣vitation of the Atmosphere, produce not the change observ'd in the Wea∣ther-glass. Besides that, admitting

vulgar Thermometers could not, as they easily may, misinform us, they are imploy'd only to give us an Account of those degrees of Cold, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nature of her own accord produces in the Air; but not to discover, whether or no Na∣ture assisted by Art, may not pro∣duce greater: And, 'twill easily be granted, that they are yet less made use of to help us to an Estimate of this Disparity. And though some guess may be made by the operations of Cold upon Liquors expos'd to it, yet some, as water, and very aqueous Liquors, will freez too soon, and others, as Vinous spirits, will not at all, (that we have found) here in England. And though French-Wine will sometimes be brought to begin to freez, yet that happens but very seldom, and in many Winters not at all, and leaves too great an Interval, betwixt the degrees necessary to con∣geal Wine, and sufficient to congeal Water, not to mention the uncer∣tainty proceeding from the differing strengths of the Wines.

3. Upon these and other conside∣rations

we thought it requisite to make use of an Expedient, whose Nature and use will be easily gather∣ed out of the following Experiments: And though by a mischance, that broke my Weather-glass, I have been hindred from measuring exact∣ly in what Proportion to the whole bulk the spirit of Wine was contra∣cted, by the surplusage of Cold, that was more then necessary to make wa∣ter freez, yet I doubt not but some∣thing of use to our present Theme, may be thence collected, and espe∣cially the main thing design'd will manifestly appear, which is the In∣tensity of Cold produc'd by Art, be∣yond that which Nature needs to em∣ploy upon the glaciating of water.

[4. A small seal'd Weather-glass furnished with spirit of Wine, the ball being about the bigness of a large Nutmeg, and the Cylindrical stem being very slender, and about ten Inches long, the Ball and part of the stem being immers'd in a vessel of water, half buri'd in snow and salt, when the water began to freez at the top, the bottom and the sides (but

before the Ice had reach'd the Ball, for fear it should break it) the tinct∣ed liquor was found subsided to 5 ⅔ Divisions, being half Inches, and be∣ing taken out thence, and Ice and Salt being immediately appli'd to the Ball, the Liquor fell lower to about 1 ½ Division.]

And that it may not be doubted, but that the water, though in part congeal'd, remain'd warm in compa∣rison of the spirit of Wine, though uncongeal'd, that had been refrige∣rated by the snow and salt, we will add this other Experiment, which we find in another of our Notes thus set down.

[5. The seal'd Weather-glass being* 1.6 kept in the water till it began to freez, descended to 5 ½: Being immediately remov'd into the same snow and salt, that made the water begin to freez, it descended at the beginning very fast, and afterwards more slowly, till it came to the very bottom of the stem, where it expands it self into the Ball; then being remov'd into the same glass of water, whence it was taken, and which was well stor'd

with loose Pieces of Ice, it did never∣theless hastily ascend at the beginning, and was soon after impell'd to the former Height of five Divisions and an half, or thereabouts.]

6. But perhaps some amends may be made for the disaster of the Wea∣ther-glass, by adding, that I found by another Trial, that the Condensa∣tion of Liquors by such Colds, as we are wont to have, or can easily pro∣duce here, is nothing near so great as one would imagine. And though for want of a Glass-ball, furnish'd with a neck slender enough, I could not make the Experiment so much to my satisfaction, as perhaps else I might have done; yet the goodness of the scales, I made use of, and some greater care, then possibly every Ex∣perimenter would have imploy'd, may make the following Observati∣on Luciferous.

7. We took then (on a cold, but not frosty day) oyl of Turpentine, as a Liquor, whose being free from phlegm or water, we would easily be more certain of, then if we had imploy'd spirit of Wine; and this

oyl it self we rectifi'd in a gentle heat, to make it the more pure and subtle. Then we took a small round vessel of clear glass furnish'd with a conveniently long stem or pipe, and having first weighed the glass alone in a pair of very good scales, we found it to weigh 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 56 ½ gr. then putting in oyl of Turpentine, till it fill'd the round part of the Glass, and ascended a little way into the stem, we carefully mark'd with a Diamond on the outside of the Glass, how high it reach'd, and then weigh'd the Glass and the Oyl toge∣ther, which weigh'd 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 and 34 ½ gr. then we put in by degrees a quarter of a Drachm, and with a Di∣amond carefully mark'd, how high it reach'd in the pipe, and so we con∣tinued putting in several Quantities of oyl, still carefully weighing each parcel in the scale, and marking its height on the outside of the Glass (which we did in order to a certain design, and found it a work tedious and troublesome enough) till the Li∣quor and the Glass together weighed 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 4 ½ grains; then we put fair

water into an open-mouth'd Glass, in which we also plac'd the little Bolt∣head with oyl of Turpentine, and by such a circumposition of salt and snow, as is * 1.7 hereafter to be often mention'd, we made the water, which was contain'd in the wide mouth'd Glasses, and by which the Sphaerical part of the Bolt-head, con∣taining the Oyl, was surrounded, we made this water, I say, begin to freez, and when we perceiv'd a little Ice to be produc'd in it, we carefully mark'd with a Diamond to what part of the stem the oyl of Turpentine was subsided, and then transferring the Bolt-head into a mixture of snow and salt, where we kept it for an hour or two, till we could perceive it to fall no lower, and marking with a Dia∣mond this station also of the Liquor, we afterwards remov'd the Glass in∣to a warmer Air, till the Oyl by ex∣panding it self had regain'd the high∣est mark, whence it had begun to sink. Then into a very little Glass, carefully counterpois'd in a pair of exacter scales then the former, we gently poured out of the Oyl, till

what remain'd rested against that mark on the outside of the stem, to which it fell, when the water began to freez: and this we found to a∣mount to somewhat above 9 ½ grains, so that for conveniency of reckoning, we may safely enough take the Intire number of 10. grains. After this we poured out of the remaining oyl into the same little Glass, till, what rest∣ed in the Pipe, was even with that mark, to which the snow and salt had made it fall; and this parcel of oyl hapned to be almost precisely of the same weight with the other; so that in this Trial (for perhaps in others, which it were therefore worth while to make, the degree of Cold may much vary the Events) the Artificial way of freezing, we imploy'd, made the oyl subside as much after it had been refrigerated and condens'd by a cold capable of freezing water, as that degree of Cold had been able to condense it at first. And lastly, having deducted the weight of the Glass from the weight of the whole Oyl and Glass, to obtain the weight of the oyl alone; and having divi∣ded

the weight of the whole Oyl, first, by that of the former parcel, we have mentioned to be ten grains, and then by the superadded weight of the second parcel, we took out, (both which parcels together we estimated at twenty grains,) we found that rectifi'd oyl of Turpentine of a mo∣derate temper, being expos'd to such a degree of Cold, as would freez common water, did by by shrinking lose but about a ninty fourth part of its Bulk, and being reduc'd to as great a degree of Cold as we could bring it to by snow and salt, ev'n then it lost but about a forty seventh part of its Bulk; I say about, because I thought it needless, as well as tedi∣ous to mind fractions and little odd numbers, especially since, as we formerly intimated, it was scarce possible to arrive at a great exactness in such a Neck, as that of our Bolt∣head, though it were proportionable enough to the Ball, and chosen a∣mong several, that were purposely procur'd for the trying of Experi∣ments.

8. There are some other Trials

about the Degrees of Cold, which for want of Ice and other Accommo∣dations we could not make, as we would have done, often; nor shall scarce be able to do it, till more friendly Circumstances afford us an opportunity: And yet because our Trials, though not prosecuted as far as we thought, may possibly prove not unwelcome, we will subjoyn something about two of the chiefest of them.

9. The one was design'd to mea∣sure in what proportion water of a moderate degree of Coldness, would be made to shrink by the circumposi∣tion of snow and salt before it begin by Congelation to expand it self: of this, what we shall here take notice, is only, That by a Trial purposely made with common water, in a round Glass furnish'd with a long stem, we found the water in that stem to subside so very little, that, whether or no it were insensible, it was inconsiderable. But probably a greater Quantity of water, and a slenderer stem, would have made the shrinking of the Liquor more No∣table,

and upon that Account 'tis, that I here mention It.

10. The other Thing was, to measure by the differing weight and Density of the same portion of water, what change was produc'd in it, be∣twixt the hottest time of Summer, and first a glaciating Degree of Cold, and then the highest we could pro∣duce by Art. And in order to this, we weigh'd with a pair of exact scales, a glass bubble heavier then water, in that liquor, when it seemed to be at a moderate Temper, as to Coldness, and by the Diminution, which we found of the glasses weight in the wa∣ter, we easily collected, according to the Rules of the Hydrostaticks, the weight of as much water, as is equal in bulk to the glass Bubble, and there∣by the Proportion betwixt the glass and an equal bulk of such water, as we first weighed it in; then by the application of snow and salt, we made that water begin to freez, and weigh∣ing in it again the same bubble, 'twas easie to collect by the Decrement of its weight in this refrigerated water, what Proportion an equal Bulk of the

liquor did then bear to the Glass; and by comparing these two differing Proportions together, we were as∣sisted to make an Estimate, how much the water was made more hea∣vy, and dense by the Action of a freezing degree of Cold: After∣wards taking our time in Summer, we thought fit in the same parcel of water (that had been purposely re∣served in a glass) to weigh the same bubble, that by the difference of its weight in the water, when made much lighter by the heat of the am∣bient Air, we might obtain the In∣formation we desir'd: to which we shall add, That we also recommend∣ed to some Virtuosi, that were likely to have the opportunity of gratifying Us, that such an Experiment might be procured to be made in the midst of Summer in some part of Italy, by the help of the there not unfrequent Conveniency of a Conservatory of snow, wherein the water might be reduc'd to freez before the end of the same hour, at whose beginning the there warmer Air had given it its greatest Expansion, and so the Diffe∣rence

betwixt the Density of the same parcel of water might be the more conspicuous. But as I have not re∣ceived any Account of my Desires from abroad, so coming now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 home to review the Memorial, I caused to be written of the newly mention'd Observation, I find, that through the Negligence or Mistake of an Amanuensis, there must needs be a manifest oversight committed in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 down the Numbers, which my Memory does not now enable me to repair. And the season being now improper to repeat the Experiment, as well as the numerical parcel of water I had kept, and I imployed both times, being thrown away, I think it may be sufficient, if not too much, to have thus particularly inti∣mated the way we took, without ad∣ing the Cautions, where with we proceeded, nor what Trials we made to the same purpose with high rectifi'd spirit of Wine, since unlucky acci∣dents frustrated our Attempts.

11. Whether the making of these kind of Trials, with the waters of the particular Rivers or Seas, men

are to sail on, may afford any useful estimate, if, and how much, Ships and other Vessels, may on those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be safely loaden more in Winter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, may be an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of which I shall not in this place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Notice, then to in∣timate thus much, That the differ∣ence betwixt water highly refrigera∣ted, and that which is but of an usu∣al degree of coldness, is not so great as some 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 seem to have thought. For on a Day, which (though made cold by snow inter∣mingled with the rain that then fell) was not a frost, we took common water, and weighed in it a glass Bubble, whose weight in the Air was 150. grains, and this Bubble weigh'd in that water, lost so much of its for∣mer weight, as to weigh about 28 ⅝ grains: and then by snow and salt, reducing that water to such a degree of Coldness, that it began to be turn∣ed into Ice about the inside of a small open glass that contain'd it, we found the same Bubble not to weigh at all above one eighth part of a grain less then it did before: So that,

if we may judge of the shrinking and condensation of the water by the In∣crement of weight, it shrunk but about a 230. part of its former Bulk, and this according to a pair of scales, that would turn with about the 32. part of a grain: which may keep us from wondring at what we lately de∣livered concerning the very inconsi∣derable subsidence of the water, we exposed to snow and salt in a small Bolthead. And it may also make that the more probable, which we not long since related about the oyl of Turpentines not losing much above a 100. part of its Bulk, by being expos'd to such a degree of cold, as made water begin to freez. Whe∣ther we may from this, and from the formerly recited Experiment, of the great subsidence of spirit of Wine in a seal'd Weather-glass, safely con∣clude, these subtile distill'd Liquors to be much more sensible then water of Cold, as well as of Heat, further Trials will best resolve; and these I have not now so much opportunity, as I could wish, to pursue.

12. But they that have a mind to

prosecute Experiments of this kind, and others, that relate to the Degrees of Cold, may perchance be somewhat assisted even by these Relations, and especially by those Passages that mention the use of the seal'd Wea∣ther-glass, furnish'd with spirit of Wine, and of those wherein a drop of liquor is kept pendulous. For the former of these being not subject to the Alterations of the Atmo∣spheres 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor (as may be probably suppos'd, by reason of the strength of the high rectifi'd spirit of Wine) to be frozen, by sending the same Weather-glass (which may be made portable enough, as I have tri∣ed by transporting one of them in a Case that might be easily carri'd even in a Pocket) from one Countrey to another, one may make far better Discoveries of the differing Degrees of Coldness in differing Regions, and know (somewhat near) how much the Air even of Muscovy, or Norway, or Greenland it self, is colder then that of England, or any other Countrey, whence the Weather-glass shall be

sent: The Instrument being accom∣panied with a memorial of the De∣gree, it stood at, when expos'd to such a Cold, as made water begin to freez.

13. The other Thermometer, where a drop of liquor is kept pendu∣lous, may not only be imploy'd in such cases, where the Pipe and Bubble can be erected upon the Ho∣rizon, but by reason, that the out∣ward Air will indifferently impel the Bubble laterally or upwards, upon the Refrigeration of the inward, and that the bubble will not barely by its weight drop out of the inverted In∣strument, because of the resistence of the subjacent outward Air; for these causes, I say, such a Thermo∣scope may, as we have tri'd, be also us'd, where the Pipe shall be held Horizontal, or inclin'd, or even Perpendicularly downwards, so that the flat Part of the Bubble may be appli'd to discover the Coldness, ei∣ther of the Wall, or of the Ceiling of a room, or other Bodies however scituated. And if the Pipe be made

long and even, (as sometimes we im∣ploy one above a foot long) not only sensible, but great Effects of very little Disparities in the Coldness of Bodies, to which the Instrument is appli'd, may with pleasure be obser∣ved. And the same drop of liquor may be long enough preserv'd useful in the Pipe. But this Advertisement I shall give, that as sensible as this Instrument appears to be of the nicer Differences of Coldness, as of Heat, yet they that shall have the Curiosity to examine with it, as I have done, the Temperature, I say not, of more resembling Bodies, but of Liquors, that may be thought to have their parts so differingly agitated, as com∣mon Water, high rectifi'd spirit of Wine, and even rectifi'd oyl of Tur∣pentine, (I add not Dephlegm'd oyl of Vitriol, because of some odd Phaeno∣mena not here to be insisted on) will perhaps find the Event so little, in many cases, answer the Expectation he would have had of uniformly finding great Disparities in their actual Coldness, if he had not met

with this Advertisement, that he will not much wonder, that a Per∣son, who wants not other Imploy∣ments for his Time, was willing to decline so tedious and nice a Task.

Title V. Experiments touching the Ten∣dency of Cold Upwards or Downwards.

1. THough, after the considerati∣on of the sphere of Activity of Cold, it would be the most proper place to take some Notice of the Di∣rection of its Activity, yet because one of the Experiments, that belong to This head, is of great use to facili∣tate the trial of many of those, that follow, throughout this whole Col∣lection; we will no longer delay to say something of this matter, name∣ly, in what Line, or, if you please, towards what part the frigefactive vertue of cold Bodies does operate the furthest and the most strongly.

2. 'Tis a Known Doctrine among Philosophers, that the Diffusion of Heat tends chiefly upwards, as the

flame of a Candle will burn many things held over it at a greater Di∣stance, then it would considerably warm them at, in case they were held beneath its level, or even by its sides: and 'tis true, that in all cases vulgarly taken notice of, the obser∣vation, for reasons elsewhere dis∣coursed of, holds well enough; and therefore it may be worth enquiry, whether in Cold, which is generally looked upon as the contrary Quality to Heat, the diffusion (from cold bo∣dies) be made more strongly down∣wards, then either upwards or to∣wards the sides.

About this matter, I can as yet find among my Notes but the two follow∣ing Experiments, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those not both together.

[A very thin bubble was blown at a Lamp, and purposely made flat at the bottom, that it might be the more exposed to the cold, and it was suspended by a string within a pretty deal less then an inch of a mix∣ture of beaten Ice and Salt, where∣with we had half fill'd a conveniently large wide-mouth'd glass, but we

could not find, that a cold, Capable of freezing, did strike so high up∣wards, for the water in the bubble remained altogether unfrozen; which agrees very well with what we have observed, that a mixture of ice and salt did not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the vapours, that wandered through the Air, above half a barley corns breadth higher, then the mixture in the Glass reached.]

3. [A mixture of snow and salt be∣ing put into a vial with a long neck, the round part of it was by a weight kept under water, out of which be∣ing taken after a while, the outside of the glass beneath the surface of the water was cased with solid Ice, N B. especially about the bottom of the vi∣al, of greater hardness and thickness then one could easily imagine.]

4. Thus far the notes, from which nevertheless I will not positively con∣clude, though they seem to perswade it, that the tendency of the cold pro∣duced by Bodies qualified to freez others, is greater downwards then upwards: For, the satisfactory de∣termination of that matter may, for ought I know, require Trials more

artificial and nice, then those we have been reciting. And I could wish, that I could find the last of them to have been carefully repeated and registred, because it seems some∣what strange, that the Ice should be much thicker at the bottom of the vial, then elsewhere, in regard, that when we have, as we very frequently have, put mixtures of snow and salt into vials, and left them in the open Air, we generally observ'd, that the outside of the Glass was cas'd with Ice, or covered with hoar frost, di∣rectly over against that part of the inside of the Glass, wherein the fri∣gorifick mixture was. So that part of the snow and salt resolving one ano∣ther, and falling down in the form of a liquor to the bottom, the un∣melted part of the mixture would float upon this liquor, and the exter∣nal Ice would appear over against the floating mixture, by which it was generated: So that as the mixture grew thinner and thinner, so would the Zone or girdle, if I may so call it, of external Ice, grow narrower and narrower, till at length, when the

snow was quite melted away, the ex∣ternal Ice would quickly also vanish. But from this observation (which we frequently made) That as in such vi∣als 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ice did not appear (as I just now related) above half a corns breadth higher then the mixture in the glass; so I remember not to have observed it much lower beneath the mixture; from those things, I say, it may be probably conjectured, that even the coldest Bodies (at least un∣less their Bulk alter the case) do not diffuse their freezing vertue, either upwards or downwards to any consi∣derable distance.

5. These trials, as I was intima∣ting, may suggest some difficulties about the last of the two Experi∣ments, transcribed out of my notes. But as 'tis evident these observations were made in the open Air, by the freezing of its roving vapours, and the mentioned Experiment was made under water, so how much this diffe∣rence of mediums may alter the case, as to the way of the Diffusion of cold, I dare not, till further trial, boldly determine, especially since

one Circumstance, to be under the next Title mentioned, about the freezing of Eggs, may pass for an ad∣dirional Experiment as to our present Enquiry: For the Cases obtain'd by frozen Eggs suspended under water, which seem to argue, that the Diffu∣sion of their cold was made every way, since they were quite enclosed in the Ice, they had produced.

6. Though the Experiment of freezing water by the Intervention of salt and snow be not a new one for substance, yet I hold it not amiss, to make a further mention of it on this occasion. Because that what I am to deliver about it, is a Paticular not taken notice of (that I know of) by others; the premising of which, will, according to what we lately in∣timated, much facilitate the trial of many of the Experiments to be set down in the following part of these papers, and will indeed appear to be of no small moment in our whole At∣tempt of Framing an History of Cold. For it has long seemed to me one of the chief things, that has hindered men from making any considerable

progress in this matter, that whereas glass-vessels are generally much the most proper to freez liquors in, be∣cause their transparency allows us to see what changes the Cold makes in the liquors exposed to it; the way of freezing with salt and snow, as it has been hitherto used, does almost as little, as the common way of barely exposing vessels to the cold Air in fro∣sty weather, prevent the unseason∣able breaking of the glasses. For in both these ways, the water or other liquor, usually beginning to freez at the top, and it being the Nature of Glaciation, as we shall see anon, to distend the water and Aqueous li∣quors it hardens, it is usually and na∣turally consequent, that when the upper crust of Ice is grown thick, and by reason of the Expansion of the frozen liquor bears hard with its edges against the sides of the glass, contiguous to it, the included Li∣quor, (that is by degrees successive∣ly turned into Ice) requiring more Room then before, and forcibly en∣deavouring to Expand it self every way, finds it less difficult to burst the

glass, then lift up the Ice; and conse∣quently does the former, and there∣by spoils the Experiment, before it be come to perfection, or have let us see what Nature would have done, if she had not been thus hindred in her work.

7. The consideration of this invi∣ted me to alter the common way of freezing, and order the matter so, that whensoever I pleased, the expo∣sed liquor should not begin to freez at the top or sides, but at the bottom, which I concluded it very easie to do, by mingling the salt with that part only of the snow, which was to lye beneath and about the bottom of the glass I placed in it. For by this means the snow, that was contiguous to the sides, was able but to cool the water, and dispose it to Glaciation, whereas the mingled snow and salt, on which the bottom of the glass rest∣ed, did actually turn the neighbour∣ing Liquor into Ice, and lift up the incumbent liquor toward the higher and empty parts of the glass: And this liquor also I could afterwards freez at pleasure, without danger of

breaking the vessel, only by so ap∣plying salt and snow to the sides of the glass, that they never reached, except perhaps at the very conclusion of the Experiment, so high by a rea∣sonable distance, as the upper surface of the liquor in the glass; so that the superior parts of that liquor were al∣ways kept fluid, and capable of being easily impell'd higher and higher by the Expansion of the freezing parts of the subjacent liquor.

8. The Speculative inference, that may be drawn from this Experiment, of making water begin to freez at the bottom, not the top, will be more* 1.8 properly taken notice of in another place; In the mean time I shall only intimate by the way, that there is no great necessity of any nice proportion of salt to snow, nor of any exquisite mixture of them: a third or fourth part or thereabouts of Sea salt, in re∣ference to the snow, will not do amiss; nor do I usually put salt to all the snow at once, unless in some case, wherein I have a mind to freez a li∣quor quickly, and make a speedy re∣solution of the snow and salt in order

thereunto; to which I shall only add, that by the way above mentio∣ned, I do upon particular occasions make the exposed liquor freez, not at the bottom or the top, but next to what side of the Glass I please, ac∣cording to the Exigency of the Expe∣riment. But though it may suffice to have hinted the Speculative Infe∣rence, that may be drawn from this way of freezing Liquors, it will be expedient to give explicitely this pra∣ctical Advertisement, concerning it, that whereas it seems to have been taken for granted, that snow is ne∣cessary in this Artifice, and we our selves were for some time led away with the rest, by that supposition; yet that is but a presumption, and ought to be removed as one very pre∣judicial to those that with us design the prosecuting Experiments, in order to the History of Cold. For snow is but seldom to be found on the ground in comparison of Ice, and being but a Congeries of many small Icesicles with much Air intercepted among them, it is not (〈◊〉〈◊〉 paribus) near so durable as the more intire Body of

solid Ice; and yet we have found by frequent Experience, that Ice well beaten in a Mortar, will serve our turn for Artificial Glaciations, as well (if not in some respects better) as snow, and therefore in this Histo∣ry of Cold we indifferently prescribe Snow and Salt, or Salt and Ice as the Ingredients of our Glaciating Mix∣tures.

Title VI. Experiments and Observations touching the Preservation and Destruction of (Eggs, Apples, and other) Bo∣dies by Cold.

1. IT is a Tradition common enough, though not here in England, yet among those that have given us Accounts of very cold 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that if Eggs or Apples, being frozen, be thawed near the fire, they will be thereby spoiled, but if they be immersed in cold water, the in∣ternal cold will be drawn out, as they suppose, by the external, and the frozen Bodies will be harmlefly, though not so quickly, thawed, This Tradition I thought fit to exa∣mine, not only because it may be doubted, whether it will succeed in

our more Temperate Climate, and because I love not to relye upon Tra∣ditions, when I have the opportunity to examine them (especially if no one Credible Author affirms them upon his particular knowledge,) but also because I thought the Experi∣ment, if true, might be so varied and made use of, as to become luci∣ferous enough, and afford us divers Phaenomena of cold, not so easie to be produced by the more known ways of experimenting. And according∣ly having exposed some of these Bo∣dies to a cold that was judged sharp enough, we afterwards put them in water, but found not the event an∣swer our expectations, no Ice ap∣pearing to be generated; neverthe∣less we were not hereby so discoura∣ged, as not to repeat the Experiment (which we judged to be not unlike∣ly) with more sollicitousness and ad∣vantage then before; and having thereby brought it to succeed, we af∣terwards made several trials of it with several distinct aims, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now find any Entry of divers of them. But those I have hitherto met with

among my Notes, I shall subjoyn, as having in them some Particulars, that may afford useful hints to an En∣quirer into the History and Nature of Cold. And I shall set down to∣gether, and that in this place (though it would not otherwise be the most proper) those I have met with, be∣cause some Circumstances of one or other of them may be of use to us on several occasions in the present Trea∣tise.

2. [An Egg weighing twelve drachms and one grain wrapt in a wax'd paper (to keep it from the liquor of the thawing snow) and fro∣zen with snow and salt, wanted four grains of that weight: put into a dish of fair water there crusted as much Ice about the outside as made the Egg and Ice fifteen drachms and nine grains; the ice being taken off from the shell, and the shell very well dried, the Egg was found to weigh twelve drachms and twelve grains; the Egg being broken, was found al∣most quite thawed; the Egg frozen swam in water, being thawed it sunk.]

3. [We took two Eggs strongly frozen, and in a room where there was a good fire, we put one of them into a deep woodden-dish full of very cold water, and set the other by it, upon a table about two yards from the fire, that they might be in Air of the same temper as to heat and cold; then perceiving the Egg, that lay un∣der water, to have obtained a thick crust of Ice, we took it out, and ha∣ving first freed it from the Ice, broke it, and found that some part of the white was not yet freed from a pretty store of little parcels of Ice, but the rest of the white (which was much the greater part) and the Yelk seem∣ed to be much what of the same con∣sistence, as if the Egg had not for∣merly been frozen, whereas the other Egg, that lay by upon the dry table, had not only its whole white frozen into a consistent Body, but the Yelk it self, though we saw no distinct par∣ticles of Ice in it, was grown so hard, that it cut just like the Yelk of an Egg over boiled, and being cut quite through, shewed us certain concen∣trical circles of somewhat differing

Colours, with a speck much whiter then any of them in the middle of the Yelk; which last circumstances, whether they were accidental or no, further observation must determine.]

Note, that though we have not found above once, that frozen Eggs would swim, yet when we had bro∣ken such Eggs, the frozen white would swim, but not the yelk.

4. We afterwards repeated the Experiment of laying two frozen Eggs near together in the place above mentioned, the one under water, and the other out of it, till that put in water had got a thick Icy crust, and by breaking of them both, pre∣sently after one another, were con∣firmed in the Perswasion, that fro∣zen Eggs will thaw by great odds (caeteris paribus) faster when immer∣sed in water, then when surrounded only with Air.

5. [We likewise took a frozen Egg, and from a fix'd place suspend∣ed it so by a slender packthread, that it hung quite under water without yet touching the vessel, that the wa∣ter was in. This we did partly upon

another Design, and partly to ob∣serve, whether or no the Ice would in this case be considerably thicker or thinner against the lower parts of the Egg, as we formerly mention'd our selves to have observed it to be very manifestly at the lower parts of a glass, which having Ice and Salt in it, was immersed under water; but when we took out the Egg, after we saw that its Icy case had covered the packthread it was hung by, we found the case upon breaking it, of a thick∣ness uniform enough to keep us from concluding any thing from this trial; since, though there were a pretty deal of Ice generated at so small a di∣stance from the case of the Egg, that it seemed to owe its Production to the same cause; yet, which was somewhat odd, we did not find, that this Ice stuck to that which did immediately embrace the Egg, though we had some faint suspition, that the Rudiments of it might have been very early parted from the Egg, by some little shaking of the table occasioned by peoples passing to and fro in the room.]

6. [We took some Pippins, and exposing them to freez all night, and putting them the next morning into a Bason of very cold water (though in a warm room) they were not long there without being inclosed with ca∣ses of Ice of a considerable thickness; Where note, 1. That that part of a floating Apple, that was immersed under water, had a very much thick∣er coat then the other part which re∣mained above it. 2. That the extant part seemed likewise to be harder then the immersed. 3. That one of these Pippins being purposely left out of the Bason, but layed by it, seemed upon cutting to be harder and more frozen then those Apples which had been put into the water, which scarce seemed to be at all har∣der then ordinary Pippins, that had never been set to freez, at least as to those parts of the Apples that were near the rinde, and consequently near the Ice. 4. That neither frozen Pippins nor frozen Eggs, notwith∣standing their great power of turning part of the contiguous water into Ice, did appear to Us to detain or congeal

any of the roving vapors of the Air, as Ice or Snow included with Salt in glasses is, (as we have formerly ob∣served) accustomed very remarkably to do.]

7. [We took Eggs, and froze them with ice and salt, till the shells of them were made to crack, then we took them out, and put one of them in Milk, two of them in a wide Drinking Glass full of Beer, and two more in a large Glass, wherein we covered them with Sack, that was poured in till it reached much higher in the Glass then the Eggs. But none of these trials produc'd, as we could perceive one grain of ice.] And being desirous to see, whether the Acid salt of Vinegre, or the Cold in a well frozen Egg, would have the chief Operation, if those two Bodies were put together: I found upon Trial, that the Saline parts of the Vinegre began to dissolve the Egg∣shell, as appeared by the much alte∣red Colour of it, but the Cold of the ice in the Eggs was not able to freez any part of the water or phlegm of the Vinegre.

8. We had also thoughts of trying whether or no pieces of Iron of seve∣ral shapes and bignesses, being for di∣vers days and nights exposed to the freezing Air, and afterwards immer∣sed in water, would produce any ice, as frozen Eggs and Apples do. For the Brittleness of the Laths of Stone∣Bows in sharp frosts, together with other observations elsewhere menti∣on'd, seem to argue, that (to use a popular phrase) the Frost does also get into these Bodies. And I have been assured by one, whom the Trials, I had made with Eggs and Apples, invited me to consult, that a great Cheese, he immersed in water in a Cold Countrey, was presently cove∣red over with ice. But though, as I said, I had thoughts of making the above mentioned Trials, yet for want of a frost sufficiently durable, I was not able to effect what I design'd. But thus much I tri'd, That though I kept good Lumps of Iron, and as I remember of other Metalls, besides pieces of Glass, and a stone or two of a convenient size, in snow and salt, I know not how much longer, then

would have suffic'd to make Eggs or Apples, or such kind of things fit to produce store of ice in water, upon their being thaw'd therein; yet we could not find, that upon the immer∣sing the several newly nam'd Mineral Bodies, there was the least ice pro∣duced in the cold water, where we kept them covered. I must not ne∣vertheless omit to make some menti∣on of that which lately 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to hap∣pen at the door of our own Labora∣tory (respecting the North East) where some Glasses, newly brought from the shop, and not imployed, lying in a Basket, as they poured wa∣ter into one of them to rince it, part of it was presently turned into ice, whilest one of my Domesticks held it in his hand, who coming presently to show it me, I suspected the ice might have come from, or rather with the water that was poured into the Glass, but upon enquiring was assured of the Contrary.

9. But here I must not omit ano∣ther trial relating to the former Ex∣periments, which may seem some∣what odd, if its Event prove con∣stantly

the same, as when we tried it. For after these and divers other Experiments made, with frozen Eggs and Apples, we thought it might be worth the examining, whether or no Ice and the Liquors of these Con∣cretes would produce the like effects, as Frozen Eggs and Apples; and be∣cause 'tis usually an easier way, then that which is more common of bring∣ing Bodies, whose degree of cold is more languid, to freez water, to in∣clude them with ice or snow in a single vial, and so put them upon acting only upon the minute, and ea∣sily congealable vapors that wander in the Air: we took that Course in the trials we are mentioning, whose success is thus briefly set down in one of our notes.

[10. Ice and Juice of Pippins well shaken together in a single vial, pro∣duced abundance of dew, but we could not satisfie our selves, that it produced any Ice.]

[11. Also Ice and the white of an Egg moderately beaten into a Li∣quor, were tried, with just the like success: But these trials having scarce

been made above once, and at most but twice, are to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉.]

12. As for what is said, That Eggs and Apples thaw'd in the water, are better preserv'd then thaw'd by the fires side, we tri'd it in Pippins (for in Eggs the Experiment is not so easily and quickly made) and as far as we could discern, found it true, and somewhat wondred to see, how soon, and how much putrefaction was induc'd into those loosely con∣texed Bodies by an overhasty thaw∣ing.

13. If we may believe the Relati∣ons of Navigators, and others of good Credit (of one or two of whom I had the opportunity to make Inqui∣ry) there may be good use made of what happens in the different ways of thawing Eggs and Apples, by ap∣plying the Observation to other Bo∣dies, and even to Men, that happen to be dangerously nipp'd by excessive Cold. For it is a known Observati∣on among those, that have inhabited or visited the Northern Climates, that if those, whose hands or feet, or faces happen to be frozen, approach

them too near or hastily to the fire, they are in danger of losing, or at least much prejudicing the overha∣stily thaw'd parts. (Upon divers of us (says Captain James, speaking of his companions) had the cold rais'd Blisters as big as Walnuts. This we ima∣gined to come, by reason that they came too hastily to the fire.) And therefore they that are more careful to be safe∣ly then quickly deliver'd from the painful cold, are wont, before they come near the fire, whether it be open or in Stoves, either well to wash their hands, or other frozen parts, in very cold water, or else to rub them well with Snow it self. And this brings into my mind, that I sometimes indeavoured to find by trial, what Beeflong exposed to freez, and differingly thaw'd, would teach me by way of confirmation of this Tradition; but being then oblig'd to unseasonable Removes from the place where I made my Trials, they did not for that Reason afford me the sa∣tisfaction I desir'd; but meeting with an intelligent person, that had been an housekeeper in Muscovy, and en∣quiring

of him whether he had ob∣served any thing about this matter, he told me, that having once had two very large Cheeses frozen, he thaw'd one of them in water, and the other in a Stove, but found, that thawing in water was much the better way of the two; and I was well pleased to be answered by him, that the Cheese, thaw'd in water, did soon acquire therein a Crust of ice.

14. But more memorable is that Relation, which I remember I have read in the experienc'd Chirurgion Fabritius Hildanus's Treatise of Gan∣grenes, where he relates from cre∣dible Testimony, how the whole Body of a Man was succesfully thaw'd, and which is more strange, cas'd all over with ice, by being handled as our Eggs and Apples were. His own words, because the Narrative may prove of some use, I shall subjoyn, and they are these; Narravit mihi vir quidam nobilis & fide* 1.9 dignus, se, cum eas Regiones peragraret, incidisse aliquando in Viatorem secundum Viam frigore rigidum, ac pene mortuum, quem plaustro suo impositum, cum dedux∣isset

in Diversorium, hospes illico demer∣sit in frigidam, quo facto undiquaque ita erupit Gelu, ut ipsius Corpus glacie, seu ferreo Thorace contectum conspiceretur. Tum quoque propinatum illi aiebat Cya∣thum ampliorem Hydromelitis, quo illi seu potu ordinario utuntur, addito pulves re Cinamomi, Caryophyllorum & Macis, unde sudor in lecto provocatus est; atque ita aegrum ad se rediisse amissis dunt axat manuum & pedum extremis Articulis. Hinc intelligimus hanc Methodum sa∣nandi congelatos veram ac tutam esse, ac eam etiam probat Summus Philosophus qui regiones illas frequentavit, &c.

15. The Experiment deliver'd at the Beginning of this Title, (of speedily producing ice on the outside of frozen Eggs and Apples, by im∣mersing them in Cold water) I take to be one of the two or three most illustrious, I have hitherto met with about congelation; and as likely as any to assist us to investigate the cau∣ses of it. But though the Phaenomena seem very favourable to their Hypo∣thesis, that suppose congelation to be effected by the ingress of frigorifick Atoms into the water or other Bodies

to be congealed; yet (for some rea∣sons) I shall not here offer to draw any speculative inference from the Experiment, contenting my self to have here, and at the beginning of this Section hinted in transitu the hopefulness of its proving Lucife∣rous.

16. But I remember that the Title of this Section promises something concerning the preservation and de∣struction of other inanimate Bodies, as well as Eggs and Apples, by Cold; but as that intimated promise makes the last part of the Title, so what I have to deliver on this subject must not be expected to be other then the last part of this Section. And in∣deed to be able to add much to that little, which is generally known about this subject, I should either have liv'd in colder Climates then ours, or have had, which I had not, the opportunity of making Experi∣ments, that require length of time. And therefore I shall only propose a general Consideration about this matter, and subjoyn a few of the chief Observations I have met with in

Navigators or others about it. That then, which I would premise in ge∣neral, is only this, That whether Bo∣dies be srozen by the ingress of frigo∣rifick Atoms, which by their intru∣ding in swarms, can scarce avoid discomposing the Texture of the Bo∣dy, or whether it be made by the re∣cess of some matter, that did before Congelation, more strongly agitate its parts; which way soever, I say, freezing is effected, 'tis manifest, that the Nature of a frozen Body is, at least for the time, much alter'd, and therefore we thought fit to place it among our general Articles of In∣quiry about Cold, what the effects of it may be as to the Conservation or Destruction of the Textures of Bo∣dies. But as for the duly prosecuting this inquiry, we do, as we lately in∣timated, want the time and conve∣niency, we judge needful for such a work, the matter seeming to require, that it be watchfully and considerate∣ly manag'd, and that both the Nature of particular Bodies, and the differ∣ing degrees of Cold, and the differ∣ing times wherein the Condition of

the expos'd Body is estimated, be taken into Consideration. For we find, that a moderate degree of Cold preserves many Bodies, and that gla∣ciation destroys, or at least prejudi∣ces most others (probably by dis∣composing or vitiating their Texture) when they come to be thaw'd, though whilest the Frost is in them, it keep almost all Bodies from disclosing any putrefaction.

17. This being the general Consi∣deration I intended to propose, it re∣mains that I add out of credible Wri∣ters, or other Relators, some Obser∣vations to illustrate and confirm the chief particulars comprehended in it.

And first, that a moderate degree of cold conduces much to the preser∣vation of the greatest part of inani∣mate Bodies, is a thing vulgarly ta∣ken notice of and acknowledg'd. And I do not readily remember any instances that manifest, that any de∣gree of Cold, though more then mo∣derate, provided it fall short of freez∣ing the Bodies expos'd to it, does spoil them. Regii Mutinenses (says

the industrious Bartholinus) nivem hoc* 1.10 fine arctè 〈◊〉〈◊〉 servant in Cellis Nivariis, in quibus fervente aestate vidi carnes mactatorum Animalium à putre∣dine diu se conservasse. The next thing I shall mention to our present pur∣pose, is a memorable passage in Captain James's Voyage, which shows, that so great a Degree of Cold, as may be suppos'd to have reign'd in his ship, that was frozen up all the Winter in one of the Cold∣est Regions of the World, was not great enough to spoil the meat and drink, that had layen all that time un∣der water, because it seems by the story, that they were not actually frozen; the words of his Journal are these. By the Ninth of May we were come to, and got up our five Barrels of* 1.11 Beef and Pork, and had four Buts of Beer, and one of Cyder, which God had preserved for us: it had layen under wa∣ter all the winter; yet we could not per∣ceive, that it was any thing the worse; which is the more remarkable, be∣cause of what we shall note by and by, both out of other Books, and even out of this, about what became

of a stronger Liquor then Beer, once brought to Glaciation: And it seems our Navigator found Cold, if ex∣tremely intended, so destructive a thing, that he thought fit to take no∣tice in his Journal, That even a Cable having layen under the ice all the* 1.12 Winter, was not in June found a jote the worse.

18. And it seems by a passage in Simlerus's account of the Alpes, that even Intire Bodies may be very long preserved by snow, and, as far as I can guess by the story, without gla∣ciation. Refert (says Bartholinus, speaking of him) in Rhetis apud Rin∣waldios,* 1.13 nivium è monte ruentium 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sylvam & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Abietes dejecisse; ac∣cidisse etiam Helvetio milite per Alpes iter faciente ut 60. homines & plures ea∣dem nivis conglobatione opprimerentur. Hoc igitur Nivium tumulo sepulti, ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aestatis delitescunt, quo solut â nonnihil Nive Deciduâ, Corpora mortua inviolata patent, si ab amicis, vel tran∣seuntibus quaerantur. Vidimus ipsi triste hoc spectaculum, &c.

19. Secondly, I could alledge ma∣ny instances to show, that many, if

not most inanimate Bodies, (I say inanimate, because of the Gangraenes and Sphacelations that often rob living men of frozen Toes, Noses, and sometimes other parts) if they be actually frozen, will not disclose any putrefaction, whilest they continue in that state. Nor is this much to be wondred at, since whether we will suppose, that in Glaciation the moist and fluid parts are wedg'd in by in∣truding swarms of frigorifick Atomes, or that those restless particles, that were wont to keep the Body fluid or soft, are called forth of it, be the cause of glaciation; which soever of these two ways we pitch upon, we must in frozen Bodies conceive an un∣wonted rest to be produced of those movable particles, whose internal commotions, and disorderly coali∣tions and Avolations, are either the Causes, or the necessary Concomi∣tants of Corruption.

20. On this Occasion I remember, that meeting with a knowing Man, whose affairs stopp'd him during the Winter upon the Coasts of Sweden and Denmark, being desirous to learn

of him, how long they could in those colder Climates preserve in Winter Dead Bodies unburied, and yet un∣corrupted, he told me, he had op∣portunity to observe, that though the frost lasted, as it usually did in that season, three or four moneths toge∣ther, or longer, the Bodies might without any Embalming, or other Artificial way of preservation, be kept untainted by the bare coldness of the Air. Of Bodies lasting long unputrified in ice, Navigators and others have afforded us several instan∣ces, but we will mention two, be∣cause they contain something more remarkable then the rest. The one is thus delivered by Bartholinus. No∣tandum, Corpor a occisorum hyeme eodem* 1.14 positu, eademque figur â permanere rigi∣dâ, quâ ante eadem depraehensa sunt. Visum id extra urbem nostram, quum 11. Feb. 1659. oppugnantes hostes repelleren∣tur, magnaque strage occumberent: alii enim rigidi iratum vultum ostendebant, alii oculos elatos, alii ore diducto ringen∣tes, alii Brachiis extensis gladium mina∣ri, alii alio situ prostrati jacebant. Imo ex mari gelato, primo vere resoluto,

eques equo suo insidens integer emersit, nescio quid manibus tenens. The other instance is afforded us by Captain* 1.15 James's Journal, and is by him thus delivered. In the Evening (of the 18. of May) the Master of our ship, af∣ter Burial returned aboard ship, and looking about her, discovered some part of our Gunner under the Gun-room ports. This man we had committed to Sea at a good distance from the ship, and in deep water near six moneths before. The 19. in the morning I sent Men to dig him out, he was fast in the Ice, his head downwards, and his heel upwards, for he had but one Leg; and the Plaister was as yet at his wound: in the afternoon they digged him clear out, after all which time he was as free from noisomness, as when we first committed him to Sea. This alteration had the Ice and water and time only wrought on him, that his flesh would slip up and down upon his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like a Glove on a mans hand. But there is one pertinent particular more, which if it be strictly true, is so very re∣markable, that I cannot on this occa∣sion forbear to annex it, which is, That according to the relation of the

Merchants of Copenhagen, that return thither from Spitzberg, a place in Greenland, the extreme Cold will there* 1.16 suffer nothing to putrifie and corrupt, in∣somuch that Buried Bodies are preserved 30. years 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and inviolated by any 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

21. Thirdly, though whilest Bo∣dies continue frozen, the cold (as may be supposed) by arresting the insensible particles, from whose tu∣multuary motions, and disorderly Avolations Corruption is wont to proceed, may keep the ill operati∣ons of Cold upon the violated Tex∣tures of Bodies from appearing; yet when once that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is remo∣ved, divers bodies make haste to dis∣cover, that their Texture was dis∣compos'd, if not quite vitiated by the excessive cold. I might alledge on this occasion, that I have shown di∣vers ingenious Men by an Experi∣ment I have taught in another* 1.17 Trea∣tise, that the change produc'd in the Textures of some Bodies by glaciati∣on, may be made manifest even to the sight. For by freezing an Oxes Eye, the Crystalline humour,

which in its natural state is transpa∣rent enough, to deserve its Name of Crystalline, though not fluid enough to deserve the Name of hu∣mour, lost with its former Texture all its Diaphancity, and being cut in two with a sharp knife, appeared quite throughout very white. But for confirmation of this I shall rather add, that I remember, that the per∣son formerly mention'd, that had made trial of the two Cheeses, con∣fess'd to me, That, though that which had been thaw'd in Cold wa∣ter, was very much the less spoil'd, yet they were both of them manifest∣ly impair'd (and the other of them was so in its very consistence) by the Frost, though the Bulk of the Chee∣ses was very considerable, and though they were both of them, of a more then ordinarily good and durable sort.

22. The next thing I shall alledge to this purpose, is the Observation of the Hollanders, even by such a de∣gree of cold as they met with in Nova Zembla, before the middle of October, at which time their strong Beer, by

being partly frozen, had its Texture so vitiated, that the reunion of its un∣frozen to its thaw'd parts could not restore it to any thing near such a spi∣rituous Liquor, as it was before. We were forc'd (says Gerad de Veer, that wrote the story) to melt the Beer,* 1.18 for there was scarce any unfrozen Beer in the Barrel, but in that thick yeast that was unfrozen, lay the strength of the Beer, so that it was too strong to drink alone; and that which was frozen tasted like water, and being melted, we mix'd one with the other, and so drank it, but it had neither ftrength nor taste. And in the next Moneths Journal he tells us, that their best Beer was for the most part wholly without any strength, so that it had no sa∣vour at all. But a more remarkable instance to our present purpose, is afforded us by our Countrey-man Captain James, because it manifests the Cold to have the same effect upon a much stronger and more spirituous Liquor. I ever doubted (says he in his Journal) that we should be weakest in* 1.19 Spring, and therefore had I reserved a Tun of Alegant Wine unto this time. Of this by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seven parts of water to one

ofWine, we made some weak Beverage, which (by reason that the Wine by being frozen, had lost his virtue) was little better then water.

23. And I remember that a learn∣ed Man, whom I ask'd some questi∣ons concerning this matter, told me, that in a Northern Countrey, less colder then Muscovy, he had obser∣ved, that Beef having been very long frozen, when it came afterwards to be eaten, was almost insipid, and be∣ing boil'd afforded a Broth little bet∣ter then common water.

24. If I had not wanted opportu∣nity, I should here subjoyn an Ac∣count of some Trials, for which I made provision, as thinking them not absolutely unworthy the making, though extravagant enough not to be likely to succeed. For I had a mind to try, not only whether some plants, and other Medicinal things, whose specifick virtues I was acquainted with, would lose their peculiar Qua∣lities by being throughly congeal'd, and (several ways) thaw'd; and whether thaw'd Harts-horn, of which the Quantity of Salt and Saline

spirit of such a determinate strength should beforehand be tri'd by distil∣lation, would, after having been long congeal'd, yield by the same way of distillation the same Quanti∣ty of those actual substances, as if the Harts-horn had not been frozen at all. But I had also thoughts to try, whe∣ther the Electrical faculty of Amber, (both the Natural, and that factiti∣ous imitation of it I elsewhere teach) and whether the attractive or dire∣ctive Virtue of Loadstones, especial∣ly very weak ones, would be either impair'd, or any ways alter'd by be∣ing very long exposed to the intensest degrees of Cold within my power of producing. But to have nam'd such extravagancies, is that, which I think enough, and others I fear may think too much.

25. Yet some few things I shall subjoyn on this occasion, because it will add somewhat not impertinent to the Design of this Treatise (which is to deliver the Phaenomena of Cold) as well as countenance what I have been proposing; and those things are, That I can by very credible Testimo∣ny

make it appear, that an intense Cold may have a greater operation upon the Texture even of solid and durable Bodies, then we in this tem∣perate Climate are commonly aware of. I shall not urge, that even here in England' tis generally believ'd, that Mens Bones are more apt to break upon falls in Frosty, then in other Weather, because that may possibly be imputed to the hardness of the frozen Ground. Nor, that I re∣member when I was wont to make use of Stone-Bows, I found it a com∣mon observation, that in Frosty Weather the Laths, though of Steel, would, by the Cold, be made so Brittle, that unless extraordinary care were had of them, or some Ex∣pedients were us'd about them, they would be apt to break. Nor yet, that an Ingenious Overseer of great Buildings has informed me, that those that deal in Timber and other Wood, find it much more easie to be cleft in hard Frosts, then in Ordina∣ry Weather. These and the like in∣stances I do, as I was intimating, for∣bear to urge, because these effects of

Cold are much inferior to those that have been met with in more intem∣perate Regions.

26. And to begin with its Opera∣tion upon what we were last treating of, Wood. Of Charleton-Island Cap∣tain James has this passage about the Timber, they imploy'd upon their work, The Boys (says he) with Cuttle* 1.20 axes must cut Boughs for the Carpenter; for every piece of Timber, that he did work, must first be thaw'd in the fire. And a little before, he tells us, that even when they found a standing Tree, They must make a fire to it to thaw it, otherwise it could not be cut.

27. And I remember, that two several persons, both of them Scho∣lars, and strangers to one another, that had occasion to travel as far as Mosco, assur'd me, that they Divers times observ'd in extreme frosts, that the Timber-work (whether the Boards or the Beams) of some Hou∣ses, which, according to the Custom of that Countrey, were made of wood, and perhaps not well season∣ed, would, by the operation of the Cold, be made to crack in divers

places, with a Noise, which was sur∣prizing enough to them, especially in the Night.

28. I remember also, that a Phy∣sician, who liv'd for some years in one of the Coldest Plantations of the West Indies, related to me, that he had observ'd the Bricks, he had im∣ploy'd about Building, to be very apt to be spoil'd by the long and ve∣hement frosts of the Winters there; where he likewise said, that 'twas a usual thing for the Houses builded of Brick, to decay in fewer years by far, then here in England, which he said was generally, and, as he thought, truly imputed to the excessive Cold, which made the Bricks apt to crumble, and moulder away. But though I dare not lay much weight on this Observation, unless I knew, whether the Bricks were sufficiently burn'd, and free from pibbles, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the heat that burn'd the Bricks: yet we must not deny, that extreme Colds may be able to shat∣ter or dissolve the Texture of as close and solid Bodies as Bricks, especially if the Aqueous Moisture be not suffi∣ciently

driven away, if we will ad∣mit, what I remember I have menti∣on'd in another Treatise, out of a ve∣ry Learned and credible Author, of the power, that a sreezing Degree of Cold has had to break even solid Marble. And much less shall we doubt the possibility of what the Phy∣sician related, if we will not reject the Testimony of the Learned Olaus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, according to which, Instru∣ments made even of so hard a Metal as Brass, are not priviledg'd from the Destructive Operations of some De∣grees of Cold. For, Ex aere facta ope∣ra (says he in his Curious Musaeum)* 1.21 vi frigoris quandoque rumpuntur, quod tamen pauci credunt, id tamen expertus est Eratostenes, & Nostras Johannis Munckius in difficillimo suo Itinere, quo per fretum Christianum transitum in mare Australe invenire moliebatur. To which, perhaps most Writers, would, if they met with it, add this passage out of the Dutch-mens Voy∣age to Nova Zembla. The 20. (of October) it was calm Sunshiny weather, and then again we saw the Sea open, at which time we went on Board, to fetch the

rest of our Beer out of the ship, where we found some of the Barrels frozen in pieces, and the Iron Hoops that were upon the Josam Barrels, were also frozen in pieces. But though this Testimony seems to prove, that extreme Cold may break even Iron it self, and though possibly such an Affirmation might in the ge∣neral not be erroneous, yet I shall forbear to draw that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from this passage, because I suspect, that since the Irons, that were broken, were Hoops, and since it seems probable by the story, that there were Barrels not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Iron, broken also by the same Frost; the breaking of the Hoops may have been the effect, not of the violence of the Cold, as acting immediately upon the Iron, but of the Liquor in the vessels, which being by the Cold that froze it, turn'd into ice, was so forcibly ex∣panded, as to burst, what ever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 its dilation, according to what we shall have occasion in its due place more fully to deliver.

An Appendix to the VI. Title.

INquiring of the formerly menti∣on'd Physician to the Russian Em∣peror, what experience teaches about some of the matters treated of in this (sixth) Title, in those cold Climates, where the effects of freez∣ing are more notable: He told me, that the tradition (mention'd above touching the safest way of thawing) is in Muscovy generally receiv'd, and that 'tis usual for Men, that have their Cheeks and Noses frozen, to rub them well with snow, and escape unharmed; whereas if they go im∣mediately into their Stoves, they of∣ten lose the Tops of their Noses, and introduce into their Cheeks a kind of paralytick Distemper, or benum∣medness, that they cannot get rid of in many Moneths.

And having also inquir'd of the same Ingenious person, whether Wine frozen, and then permitted to

thaw, till the unfrozen Liquor had quite resolved the ice, was not there∣by spoil'd by having its Texture vitia∣ted, he answered, that in very strong Claret-wine he found the Colour scarce at all destroy'd, nor the Liquor otherwise much impair'd; but that in weaker Claret-wine the Colour was spoil'd, and the Liquor was otherwise much the worse. But note, that in the French-wine there re∣main'd a third part or more unfrozen, so that it seems not to have been ex∣pos'd to near so extreme a cold, as that of the Hollanders, or of Captain James; and that Physician likewise told me, that of some very strong Beer, that he had in great part frozen, the ice had some Taste of the Hops, but was dispirited like phlegm.

Having inquir'd how long dead Bodies would keep, he told me, that if they were throughly frozen, they would be preserv'd incorrupted till the thaw, though that perhaps might not happen within four or five Moneths after the Death of the Man. He added, that he had the Venison of Elkes sent him unsalted, and yet

untainted, out of Siberia (which is some hundreds of leagues distant from Mosco) and that Beef and other flesh well frozen, would keep unpu∣trified for a very long time; and when I ask'd whether the freezing did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 impair it, he answered, that 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 keeping it congeal'd, it will grow very dry and be impair'd in Taste, and will not make so good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as meat that was never frozen. And he further 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in case frozen meat 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 it would be far the less impair'd, and might be well rosted, but if before it was thaw'd, it were laid down to the Fire, it would not ever be well rosted, and would eat very scurvily; and though a shoulder 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mutton, for instance, were kept very many hours turning before the fire, yet it would continue raw in the middle.

Having inquir'd about the rubbing Bodies with Snow to unfreez them, he told me (agreeable to what I noted him to have said above) that he had seen several persons, that had been fro∣zen, & that when a man is told, that he is frozen, and having ask'd where∣abouts

(for the party himself usually knows it not) is inform'd, that it is in this, or that place, which is com∣monly the Nose or the upper part of the Cheek, or perhaps the Tip of the Ear, he usually rubs the part ve∣ry well with Snow, and lets it thaw by degrees, else, if without that pre∣paration he should go immediately into the Stove, he would be in dan∣ger to lose his Nose, or other frozen part. The Doctor added, that they use to rub the frozen Meat and Fish with Snow, and that he once exa∣min'd a Man, who in his youth had been frozen all over, and inform'd the Doctor, that having had occasion in a journey to quit his Sled for a while, and do some Exercise, that had almost made him sweat, being careless of himself when he return'd to the Sled again, he was frozen all over, and had so died, had not the Company by Accident taken Notice of him, and by rubbing him over with Snow, and by the use of the like means recover'd him again; but he told the Doctor, that by this whole Accident he was put to no pain, save

that when he came to himself again, he felt such a pricking all his Body over, as men are wont to find in an Arm or Leg benumm'd by having been long lean'd upon.

When I ask'd whether the sharp∣ness of the Cold, did not work upon the stones, he answer'd, That as to Flints he could not tell, but as to other stones, and such as are often∣times us'd for Building, the violence of the Cold made them frequently moulder into Dust. And to satisfie my Curiosity about the Effect of Cold upon Wood, he told me, that he had very often in the night, espe∣cially when their keen frosts were un∣accompani'd with Snow, heard the Trees cleave and crack with very great, and sometimes frightful noi∣ses, and that the outside of the Fir∣Trees, that were laid upon one ano∣ther in their Buildings, and was ex∣pos'd to the Air, would do the like, and that he had often seen the gaping Clefts sometimes wide enough to put in his fingers, which would remain in the Trees, and in the Fir-wood, till the thaw, after which they would pretty well close of themselves.

Title VII. Experiments touching the Ex∣pansion of Water, and Aque∣ous Liquors by Freezing.

1. THat water and other Liquors are condensed by Cold, and so much the more condensed, by how much the greater the degree of Cold is that condenses them, has been for many ages generally taught by the Schools, and taken for granted among men, till of late some more speculative then the rest, have cal∣led it in question upon the account of the levity of Ice, since which I have met with two modern writers, that have incidentally endeavoured to prove, that Ice is water, not condensed, but rarified by the intumescence of water exposed to freezing in vessels fitly shap'd.

These Attempts of these learned Men putting me in mind of what I had tried to this purpose, when I was scarce more then a Boy, invited me to consider, that by the usual ways of Glaciation, such as these ingenious Men employ'd, the Experiment is wont to meet with a Disaster, by the breaking of the Glasses, which not only makes the Event liable to some objections of theirs, that befriend the common Opinion, but (which is more considerable) hinders them from judging what this Expansion of water, that is made by freezing may amount to: wherefore we will now set down what we have done to ascer∣tain (and yet limit) the Experiment, as also to advance it further.

2. Whereas then these two* 1.22 learned Men, we have been menti∣oning, do so expose the water to freez, that it is turn'd into Ice at the top as soon as elsewhere; the incon∣veniences of which way we have al∣ready noted, we, by freezing the water, as we have formerly taught, from the bottom upwards, can easily preserve our Glasses entire, and yet turn the

whole contained water into Ice; so that if according to this way You so place a Bolthead or a Glass-egg, in whose Cavity the water ascends to the height of an inch, or thereabouts, within the stem or shank, in a mix∣ture of Ice, or snow and salt, as that the water is first turned into ice at the bottom and sides, and not till the ve∣ry last at the top, you shall manifest∣ly see, that the ice will reach a good way higher in the neck, then the fluid water did, and that upon a gentle thaw of the ice, the water, it returns to, will rest at the same height in the stem, to which it reached, before it was exposed to be frozen.

3. We have likewise used other ways unspoken of by the lately men∣tioned writers, to evince, that water is expanded by being frozen; as first, that we took a strong earthen vessel of a Cylindrical form, and filling it with water to a certain height, we exposed it unstopped, both to the open Air in frosty nights, and to the operation of snow and salt, and found, that the ice did manifestly reach higher then the water did, be∣fore

it was congealed.

Besides, if a hollow Pipe or Cy∣linder made of some compact matter, be stopped at one end with wax, or some things else, which it may be more easie to drive out, then to burst the Cylinder, and if at the other end it be filled with water, and that orifice also be stopped after the same manner, this Pipe suspended in a sufficiently cold Air, will have the included water frozen, and by that change, if the Experiment have been rightly made, the water will upon congelation take up so much more room then it did before, that the above mentioned stoppels, or at least one of them will be thrust out, and there will be produced a rod of Ice a good deal longer then the pipe, at each of whose ends (or at least at one of them) a Cylindrical piece of Ice of a pretty length may be broken off, without medling with the Pipe, or the ice that fills it.

Divers other ways of proving the same Truth might be here alledged, but that, though these were not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they are, sufficient, the matter would yet

be abundantly confirm'd by divers of the Experiments, that will here and there come in more opportunely in the following part of this Treatise.

4. But here it will not be altoge∣ther impertinent or unseasonable, to take notice, that not only those School Philosophers, who have con∣sidered the breaking of well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Glasses in frosty weather, (an acci∣dent but too frequent in Apothecaries Shops, and Laboratories) but di∣vers modern Virtuosi, are wont to as∣cribe the Phaenomenon to this, that the Cold of the external Air, contracting the Air and Liquor with∣in, the Ambient Air must break the sides of the Glass to fill that space, which being deserted upon the con∣densation of the included Air, the liquor would otherwise leave a va∣cuum abhorr'd by nature; and even those few Moderns, that are loath to ascribe this Phaenomenon to Natures abhorrency of a vacuum, either not being acquainted with the weight of the Air, know not, what probable account to give of it, or if they ac∣knowledge that weight, are wont to

ascribe it to that, and to the great contraction of the internal Air, made by the Cold of the External.

5. But as for the Peripateticks, the above mentioned Experiments suffi∣ciently evince, that in many cases, 'tis not the shrinking, but the Expan∣sion of the liquors contained in the stopt vessels, that occasions their bursting, and therefore in these cases, we need not, nor cannot fly to I know not what fuga vacui for an ac∣count of the Phaenomenon; and where∣as it may be objected, that even glas∣ses not half full of distill'd waters, if they be exactly stopt, are often bro∣ken by the frost in Apothecaries shops: I answer, That neither in this case do I see any need of having any recourse, either to the fuga vacui, or to the weight of the external Air, for even here the Expansion of the freezing liquor may serve the turn, for in such inartificial glaciations the liquor begins to freez at the top, and the ice there generated, fastning itself (as on other occasions we de∣clare) very strongly to the sides of the Glass, contiguous to its edg, as

the liquor freezes deeper and deeper, this crust of Ice increases in thickness and strength, so that the water is in∣cluded, as in a vessel Hermetically sealed betwixt this Ice at the upper part, and the sides and bottom of the Glass every where else, and conse∣quently, the remaining water being uncapable of Congelation without Expansion, when the ice is grown strong enough at the top to make it easier for the expansive endeavour of the freezing water to crack the sides or bottom of the Glass, then to force up that thick cake of Ice, the vessel will be broken, how much soever there be of it empty above the surface of the Ice. And this Conjecture may be confirmed by these two Particu∣lars, the one, That when water is frozen in a broad vessel, which is too strong to be broken or stretch'd by the frost, the surface of the ice contiguous to the Air will be convex or protube∣rant, because that though the glacia∣tion began at the top, the thickness and Compactness of the vessel makes it easier for the expansive endeavour to thrust up that cake of ice in those

parts of it, that are the remoter from the sides, whereunto they are strong∣ly fastned, then to break so solid a vessel.

6. The other Particular is afford∣ed us by that Experiment of ours (mention'd in the V^th. Title forego∣ing) wherein if a vessel half full of water be made to freez, not first at the top, but at the bottom, that li∣quor may be turned into ice without danger to the glass. But we will now add an Experiment, on whose occasion we have set down these Con∣siderations. For being inclined to think, that the spring of the Air, shut up in a vessel stopped, will preserve it expanded, or at least keep it from considerably shrinking, notwith∣standing a very great degree of Cold, in case the vessel be strong and close enough to fence it from the pressure of the external Air, we conjectured that the bare weight of the outward Air added to the Refrigeration of the included Air, would not be sufficient to break much weaker glasses, then those we have been speaking of. And therefore partly to satisfie some in∣genious

Men, that this Conjecture made me dissent from, and partly to show the Peripateticks, and those that adhere to them in the question under consideration, that either the Cold alone cannot always, as they teach us, contract the Air, or that if it do, the breaking of well stopp'd glasses in frosty weather is much fitter to evince, that there may be a vacu∣um, then that there can be none, we made the following Experiment.

7. We took three glass-bubbles of differing shapes and sizes, which we caused to be blown with a Lamp, that, to make the Experiment very favourable for our Adversaries, we might have them much thinner, and consequently, weaker then those glasses that are wont to be made use of to keep liquors in, and which not∣withstanding are wont to be broken, though they be not full by the frost.

These Bubbles, when the Air was at a convenient temper within, were (as easily they might be) nimbly seal'd up with care, to avoid the heating of the Air in them, and being after∣wards expos'd sometimes to the Air it

self in very frosty weather, and sometimes to that greater Cold, which is produced by the placing them in a mixture of snow and salt, we could not nevertheless find, that any one of the three was at all broken or cracked, so that in case the inclu∣ded Air were condensed into a lesser room, the space it deserted may be concluded empty, or else it will hardly appear, what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there can be, that Nature should break, as the Peripateticks pretend, very much stronger glasses in Apothecaries shops, to prevent a vacuum.

8. Having shown, that water it self, acquires a considerable Expan∣sion by Cold, we will next shew, that Aqueous Bodies, or those that abound with waterish parts, do di∣vers, if not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them, the like.

We took Eggs, and exposing them to a sufficient Degree of Cold, we observ'd, that when the contain'd li∣quors were turn'd into Ice, they burst the shells asunder, so that di∣vers gaping Cracks were to be seen in them, as long as they continu'd fro∣zen.

9. Milk, Urine, Rhenish-wine, and good spirit of Wine, being set to freez in distinct glass Eggs, neither of the three former liquors 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ob∣serv'd to subside before it began to rise. The Event in sum was, that the Urine was much longer, then ei∣ther of the two other liquors, before it began to swell, but rose to a far greater height, then they, afterwards. The Wine did not leave the mark above an inch beneath. The Milk ascended about two inches, and the Urine by guess six or seven.

10. A strong solution of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vitriol, being put into a Cylindri∣cal Pipe, seal'd at one end so, that the liquor fill'd the Pipe to the height of about six or eight inches, being frozen with snow and salt, the con∣geal'd liquor grew very opacous, and look'd as if it had been turn'd or shot into Vitriol, save a little that re∣main'd fluid, and transparent near the bottom. And this Ice as appear∣ed, rose considerably higher then the liquor did before Congelation.

It were perhaps worth trying, whether or no even several Bodies of

a stable consistence, and durable Tex∣ture, might not be found to receive some, though less manifest Dilatation by excessive Cold. And methinks those, who attribute Glaciation to the plentiful Ingress of frigorifick Atoms into Bodies, should by their Hypothesis have been invited to make some Trials of this kind, since we see that the invisible Moisture of the Air against rainy weather, does seem manifestly enough to alter the Di∣mensions of doors, window-shuts, and other such works made of wood not well season'd. And even with∣out supposing the truth of the Epicu∣rean Hypothesis, if we consider, that in Bread, though we are sure, that much more water was added to the Meal, or Flower, then was exhal'd in the Oven, yet there appears not the least drop of water distinct in the Concrete, and that Harts-horn, Sponges, and many other Bodies, that seem very dry, will afford by distillation good store of phlegm or water, and more then can probably be ascrib'd to any transmuting Opera∣tion of the Fire: If, I say, we consi∣der

these and the like things, it may seem worth while to try (which I want the conveniency to do) by ac∣curate measures, whether the invi∣sible and interspers'd water, its com∣minution notwithstanding, will not upon freezing swell the Body that harbours it. And I would the more gladly have been satisfi'd in this, be∣cause I hop'd it might help me to un∣riddle a strange 〈◊〉〈◊〉, afford∣ed us by the Narrative of the Dutch∣mens Voyage to Nova Zembla, wherein they relate, That the Cold was so great, that their Clock was frozen, and would not go, though they hung more weight upon it then before: So that they were fain to measure their Time by hour-glasses. For though this odd Effect might be suspected to proceed from some little Isicles sticking to some of the Wheels, or the Line, in regard they not far off tell us, that the steams of their Bodies, and other things within their close house, did* 1.23 so fasten themselves to the walls, to the Roof, and even to their Cabins,

as to line them with Ice, of no less then two fingers thick; yet besides, that it cannot be probably suppos'd, that they, who had so great need of their Clock, during the tedious ab∣sence of the Sun for many weeks toge∣ther, should not all the Winter long be aware of this. Besides this, I say, I find that in Captain James's winter∣ing* 1.24 at Charleton, his Clock and Watch were so frozen too, That they could not go, notwithstanding they were still kept by the fire side in a Chest, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in clothes. So that in case it appear, that according to what we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 noted out of Wormius, the frost can get into Metals, it can also distend them, and other stable Bodies: We might conceive, that the stopping of the Clocks might proceed from the stiffness, or the swelling of the line, to which the weight was fastned, or a swelling even of some of the wheels, or other Metalline parts of the Clock, that may spoil the necessary congrui∣ty between the Teeth, &c. as I have tri'd, that some parts of an Iron In∣strument, I caus'd to be made, would by no means fit one within another,

when expanded by much Heat, (and though Cold be the cause of the ex∣pansion, the Effect may be the same) though at other times they would. And if we knew whether Springs lose any thing of their Elasticity by the vi∣olence of the Cold, we might thence also be assisted to guess, whether the frosts Operation upon the Spring of Captain James's Watch (for he men∣tions that, as distinct from his Clock) might contribute any thing to the for∣cing it to stand still. But these are bare Conjectures, from which I will therefore pass on to the following Section.

Title VIII. Experiments touching the Con∣traction of Liquors by Cold.

1. BUt notwithstanding all the for∣mer Experiments, we must not conclude universally, that all li∣quors are dispos'd to be expanded by Cold, neither by a moderate degree, nor even by so intense a degree of it as suffices to freez or congeal the li∣quors exposed to it; this we have tri'd, not only in spirit of Wine, Aqua fortis, Oyl of Turpentine, and divers other liquors, that we could not bring to freez, but also in oyl con∣geal'd by the Vehemence of Cold, so that as to the change of Dimensions produc'd in Liquors by Cold, there must be a great difference allowed betwixt water and aqueous liquors on the one side, and oyl and divers other liquors, that are some of them of an

oleaginous, and some of a very spiri∣tuous, or a very highly corrosive na∣ture, on the other side. Nor have we yet made trials enough to reduce this matter to a certainty. For though we could not bring some strong Saline spirits, nor the most of Chymical oyls to freez, yet in some our Attempts succeeded not ill. But I remember not, that in any liquor we could by Cold produce any sen∣sible expansion, but rather a manifest Condensation, unless we could bring it actually to freez.

2. The trials we made of the Effi∣cacy of Cold to condense liquors, were many, but it may, for the pre∣sent, suffice to set down two or three differing ones, that occur to us in our Collections.

To the entry of the Experiment, lately recited, of the expansion of Milk, Urine, and the Rhenish Wine, there are subjoyned these words.

[But the Egg that held the spirit of Wine, though it were much smal∣ler then we usually employ, and fit∣ted with a proportionably slender stem, and though it were kept divers

hours partly in Ice, and Salt, and partly in Snow and Salt, yet it froze not at all, but subsided by degrees below the first mark to the quantity of ¾ of an inch in the stem; and though it afterwards seemed to rise a little, yet it never swelled up again to the said first mark.]

3. [We took a round Bolthead of about in Diameter, and poured in Mercury till it reached a pretty way into the neck, which was purposely drawn more slender then ordinary, and having, without approaching it to the fire, freed it from some of the larger bubbles of Air, that appeared at the sides, we put it into a mixture of Ice and Salt, where the Cold so wrought upon it, that watching it attentively, we could discern not on∣ly its having moved, but its motion, downwards, which it continued (though not visibly in the progress, as at the first) till it was subsided in the neck two inches or better, which was far more then could be attribu∣ted to the contraction of any sensible Aerial Particles, though they had lost not only the 30. part of their

Dimensions, as we have sometimes observed, of the Air, but had been contracted to a point; and we obser∣ved too, that the Quicksilver once thus infrigidated, though not frozen, retained some of the acquired Cold, for many hours after, as appeared by its keeping below the mark of its first height, though we had kept it all night in a warm room.]

4. [We took a small Egg with a proportionably slender stem, into which we poured common oyl, till it rose a pretty way (but not much) above the oval part of the glass, then having put a mark upon the station of the liquor, we placed the vessel in snow and salt, and observed it not to swell as other liquors, but to subside, with Cold, till being quite frozen or congeal'd, it appeared to be shrunk about an inch or more beneath the mark, then being thaw'd, it swelled again to the mark.]

5. The Experiment was repeated the second time, with not much worse success, but we found, that if the glass were removed out of the snow into some place near the fire,

the hot Air would not only thaw it, but so rarifie it, as to make it ascend above the mark. A third time we seal'd up the same oyl in the same glass, and repeated the Experiment with like success to that, we had the second time, and that the frozen oyl was really condensed, we found, be∣cause it would sink in oyl of the same kind cold, but unfrozen; and this, notwithstanding divers bubbles, which we observed usually to be made about each lump of congeal'd oyl, that we cast in, upon its begin∣ing to sink in the fluid oyl. This we tri'd, both with oyl well congeal'd (or if another word please better, Incrassated or Curled) by snow and salt, and with oyl less congeal'd, fro∣zen by the bare cold of the Ambient Air; but this latter seemed to sight to sink more slowly then the other, as being less congealed and ponde∣rous, yet would not lumps of the mass of oyl sink or continue im∣mersed. I say not in common water, but in Sack or Claret-wine, and if thrust down into either of these li∣quors, they nimbly enough emerged.

6. Whether or no Chymical oyls, though, like expressed oyls, they shrink with a moderate degree of Cold, would by congelation be, like them, contracted, or like Aqueous li∣quors expanded, we could not satis∣fie our selves by Experiment, because we were unable to advance Cold to a degree capable of bringing such oyls to congelation, only we had thoughts to make a trial with oyl of Aniseeds, distilled with water in a Limbeck, in regard, that though it be a very subtile liquor, and as Chy∣mists call it, an Essential oyl, and though in the Summer time, and at some other seasons (if the weather be warm) it will remain fluid, yet in the Winter, when the Air is cold, it will, if it be well drawn, and ge∣nuine, easily enough lose its fluidity, and therefore we thought it might do well to pour some of it in moderate weather, into a conveniently shap'd glass, and then to freez it externally by the application of Ice and Salt, that we might observe, whether up∣on congelation it would shrink or be expanded. And accordingly, though

we were not provided with any Quantity of this oyl, yet in weather that was not sharp, we did by the help of some Ice which we procur'd, when the season made it a Rarity, surround a glass pipe fill'd with fluid oyl of Aniseeds, and found, though the Pipe were but short, yet the in∣closed substance, when it had lost its fluidity, had considerably lost of the height which it reached to before.

7. And because the Empyreuma∣tical oyls, that are driven out of Re∣torts by somewhat violent fires, seem'd to be of a nature differing enough from those Essential oyls (as Artists call them) which are drawn in Limbecks by the help of water, as well as fire: And because we ob∣serv'd, that some of the firmer oyls may be us'd in Physick in much larger Doses, then 'tis thought safe to give the latter in: Conjecturing from hence, that probably Empyreumati∣cal oyls may be less hot, and so less indispos'd to Congelation, we thought fit to make trial (no body else in probability having done it) whether the Cold in our Climate

could be brought to freez these oyls, and whether it would expand or con∣dense them; wherefore exposing, in conveniently shap'd vessels, some good oyl of Guajacum, that was dia∣phanous enough, though very highly colour'd, to the greatest Cold we could produce, we attempted, but in vain, to deprive it of its fluidity. All that we were able to effect, being to make it very manifestly shrink.

Title IX. Experiments in Consort, Touch∣ing the Bubbles from which the Levity of Ice is suppo∣sed to proceed.

1. SInce the first thing that made the Moderns suspect, that water is expanded by freezing, is the floating of Ice upon water, it will not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for confirmation of that Argu∣ment, to take some notice of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Ice in respect of water; This is best observed in great Quantities of Ice, for whereas in small fragments or plates, the Ice, though it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not to the bottom of the water, will of∣tentimes sink so low in it, as scarce to leave any part evidently extant above the surface of the water, in vast quantities of Ice, that extancy is sometimes so conspicuous, that

Navigators in their Voyages to Island, Greenland, and other frozen Regions, complain of meeting with lumps, or rather floating rocks of Ice, as high as their main Masts. And if we should meet with Cases, wherein we might safely suppose the Ice to be as solid as entire pieces of Ice are wont to be with us, and not to be made up of icy fragments cemented toge∣ther, with the interception of consi∣derable Cavities filled with Air, it would not be difficult for any that un∣derstands Hydrostaticks to give a pretty near guess at the height of the Extant part, by the help of what we lately observ'd of the Measures of wa∣ter's Expansion, and by the know∣ledge of the immersed part; which, supposing that the Ice were of a pris∣matical figure, and floated in an erected posture, would in fresh wa∣ter amount to about eight or nine times the length of the part of the Prisme superior to the surface of the water.

2. But because perhaps the great disparity in the degrees of Cold, whereby water is in this, and in those

gelid Climates turn'd into Ice, may breed a difference in the expansion of the frozen water, and because some other circumstances may be needful to be taken into consideration, about the height of floating Ice above wa∣ter, and these will be more proper∣ly taken notice of under the follow∣ing Title, I shall only upon this head (of the Levity of Ice) subjoyn the en∣suing transcript of one of our notes concerning That subject.

[We found, that pieces of Ice, clear and free, for ought the Eye could take notice of, from bubbles, would not be made to sink in spirit of Wine once distilled from Brandy, and it floated likewise in strong spirit of Wine drawn from quick Lime; but if the spirit of Wine were well warmed, such Ice, as I mentioned, would sink in it, though as it grew cold the same Ice would slowly as∣cend, and sometimes remain for a while, as if it were suspended with∣out sensibly rising or falling. But all this while the Ice, thawed apace in the water whereinto it was dissolved, did manifestly seem to run down like

a stream through the lighter body of the spirit of Wine, the Diversity of the Refractions making this easie to be taken notice of; yet common water, though heated as hot as I could indure to hold the glass in my hand, would not let the fragments of the same parcel of Ice sink into it: but in oyl of Turpentine, and in thrice Rectifi'd spirit of Wine, the Ice would sink like a stone.]

3. That the levity of Ice in respect of water proceeds from the bubbles that are produc'd in it, and make the water, when congeal'd, take up more room then when fluid, has scarce been doubted by any, that has consider'd the Texture of Ice, as well as taken notice of its levity. But if this be the true and only reason, we may conjecture, that there must be great store of bubbles in Ice, ex∣tremely minute, and undiscern'd by the naked Eye. For though in very many parcels of Ice, the bubbles are as well conspicuous as numerous, in∣somuch that they render the Ice whi∣tish and opacous, yet we have obser∣ved, that other pieces would swim,

which yet were of an almost crystal∣line clearness. And therefore we thought fit to look upon some clear pieces of Ice in a Microscope, and we shall subjoyn the Event, because that when we beheld some of this ice in one of our Microscopes, which has been counted by several of the curi∣ous, as good a Magnifier, as per∣haps any is in the world, we could not discover such store of bubbles, as it seemed there should appear upon the supposition, that the adequate cause of the levity and expansion of frozen water is but the interspersion of such bubbles.

The Observations I have been men∣tioning, I find thus set down among my Notes.

[A piece of Ice, that to the Eye look'd clear like crystal, being put into the great Microscope, appear'd even there free from bubbles, and yet the same piece of Ice being presently re∣mov'd, and cast into common wa∣ter, would swim at the top, and if it were forcibly duck'd, would swiftly enough emerge.

Another piece of Ice, that to the

naked Eye was not so clear as the former, appear'd in the same Micro∣scope to have store of bubbles, some of them appearing there no bigger then a small pins head, and some of them being yet lesser, and scarcely visible in the Microscope it self.]

And here, because it seems a con∣siderable doubt, and well worth the examining, whether or no water, when frozen into Ice, grows heavier or lighter, not in reference to such water as it was generated of (since it is evi∣dent, that upon that it will float) but more absolutely speaking, we judg'd it not amiss to examine this matter by an Experiment, but we could not discover any difference be∣tween the weight of the same parcel of water fluid and frozen, as will ap∣pear by the ninth Paragraph of the Experiment to be a little beneath re∣cited.

But since that, whether or no we allow any other cause, together with the bubbles, to the levity of Ice, it seems a thing not to be doubted, that its expansion and lightness is mainly, if not only, due to the interspersion of

bubbles, the generation of them seems to be one of the considerablest Phaenomena of Cold, and the Investi∣gating by what cause those cavities are produced, and in case they be perfectly full, what substance 'tis that fills them, is none of the meanest en∣quiries, that should exercise the in∣dustry of a searcher into the Nature of Cold.

4. Mr. Hobs, and some others seem to think, that the expansion of water by congelation, is caus'd by the Intrusion of Air, which constitutes those numerous bubbles wont to be observ'd in Ice; we might here de∣mand, why in case that upon freezing there must be a considerable accessi∣on of Air from without, when oyl is frozen, it is, notwithstanding the in∣gress of this Air, not expanded, but condens'd; but because these conje∣cturers do not allow glass to be pervi∣ous to common Air, we shall at pre∣sent press them with this Experiment, which we have divers times made.

We took a glass-Egg with a long stem, and filling it almost with wa∣ter, we seal'd it Hermetically up to

exclude the pretence that some ad∣ventitious Air might get in, and insi∣nuate it self into the water, and yet such an Egg being exposed to conge∣lation, the frozen water would be manifestly expanded, and swell'd by numerous bubbles, which oftentimes gave it a whitish opacity.

To which we may add, that new metalline vessels being fill'd with wa∣ter, and carefully stopp'd, the liquor would nevertheless, when exposed to the Cold, be thereby expanded, and turned into Ice furnished with bubbles.

5. If it be objected, that in the Ex∣periment of the Hermetically seal'd glass, the produced bubbles might come from the Air, which being seal'd up together with the water, might by the expansion of that water be brought to mingle with it: I an∣swer, that this is very improbable. For 1. if the bubbles must cause the expansion of the water, how shall the water be at first expanded to reduce the Air to a Division into bubbles. Next, 'tis evident by the Experi∣ments we shall ere long relate, that

the Air as to the Body of it, retains its station above the water, and pre∣serves it self together in one parcel, since it suffers a compression, that of∣tentimes makes it break the glass that imprisons 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which it would not need to do, in case it dispers'd it self into the Body of the water; for then there would appear no cause, why the Air and water should after con∣gelation require more room then they did before. 3. In this Experi∣ment we usually begin to produce Ice and bubbles in the water, contiguous to the bottom of the vessel (that part being by the snow and salt first refri∣gerated) in which case there appears no reason, why the Air, which is a thousand times lighter then the wa∣ter, should against its nature dive to the bottom of the water, and if it were disposed to dive, why should we not see it break through the water in bubbles, as is usual in other cases, where Air penetrates water. 4. In metalline vessels, and in Glasses quite filled with water, before they are stopped, there is no pretence of the diving of the Air from the top,

there having been none left there. 5. and lastly, If all the bubbles of Ice were made by, and filled with true Air descending from the upper parts of the vessels, and only disper∣sed through the water, then, upon the thawing of this Ice, the Air would emerge, and we might recover as much of real Air as would fill the space acquired by the water upon the account of its being turned into Ice, which is contrary to our Experience. And this Argument may also be urg∣ed against any that should pretend, (for I exspect not to see him prove it) that though Air, as numerous ex∣periments evince, cannot get out of a seal'd glass, yet it may, in such a case as this, get into it. But we find upon trials, that the Cavities of these bub∣bles are not any thing near filled with Air, if they have in them any more Air at all, then that little which is wont, as we have elsewhere shewn, to lurk in the particles of water, and other liquors. And the making good of this leads us to the second Enquiry, we were proposing about these bubbles, namely, whether or

no their cavities be fill'd, and fill'd with Air.

6. The full resolution of this whole Difficulty would be no easie Matter, nor well to be dispatched with so much brevity as my occasions exact. For it would require satisfa∣ctory Answers, to more then one or two Questions, since, for ought I know, it may lead us to the debate of those two grand Queries, whether or no Nature admit a Vacuum, and whether a great part of the Universe consist of a certain Ethereal matter, subtile enough to pass through the pores, not only of liquors, but of compact bodies, and even of glass it self: we should also be obliged to en∣quire, whether or no Air, I mean true and permanent Air, can be ge∣nerated anew, as well out of com∣mon water, as many other liquors, and whether it may be generated by Cold it self, and perhaps we should be oblig'd to inquire into the Modus of this production, and engage our selves in divers other difficulties, whose full Prosecution, besides that they would as much exceed our pre∣sent

leisure, as Abilities, seems more properly to belong to the more gene∣ral part of Physicks, where such kind of general Questions are fittest to be handled.

Wherefore we will now only con∣sider this Particular Question, whe∣ther or no the Cavities of the Bubbles wont to abound in Ice, be filled with common Air; and even this question, though it seem but one, comprizes two: for to resolve it, we must deter∣mine, whether there be any true Air contained in those Cavities, and whether in case there be, they be adequately filled with that Air, (by true Air I mean such an invisible fluid, as does permanently retain a spring like the common Air.)

7. The former of these two Que∣stions, I must confess my self not yet resolved about, my Experiments having not hitherto succeeded uni∣formly enough to satisfie so jealous an observer. But yet I shall annex our trials, not only because the thing has not been, that we know of, somuch as attempted by others, and our ways of Experimenting, if they be duly prose∣cuted,

seem as promising and hope∣ful (if the Question be reducible to any certain Decision) as perhaps will be easily lighted on; but because also we have, if we mistake not, resol∣ved the second Question, by shewing that there is but a small part of true Air contained in the Bubbles of Ice, whatever Ingenious men, that rely upon probable Conjectures without consulting Experience, have been pleas'd to believe to the contrary.

That the bubbles observed in Ice cannot all be filled with the Aerial particles lurking in the water, seems evident enough by the expansion of the water, and the Quantity of space taken up by those bubbles, which how the interspers'd, and formerly latitant Air can adequately fill, unless the same parcel of Matter could tru∣ly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much more space at one time then at another (which I take to be physically impossible) I do not yet apprehend.

But two ways of trial there are, which we imployed to shew, that the Icy bubbles are nothing near filled with true Air, whether Men will have

that pre-existent in the water, or stollen in from without, or genera∣ted anew; the former of the two ways of trials probably arguing, that these bubbles proceed not only (for that they may proceed partly we do not at all deny) from the Air pre-ex∣istent in the water, and the latter concluding more generally, that but a small part of the icy bubbles are filled with genuine Air.

8. And 1. we were invited to con∣jecture, both, that sometimes, or in some cases, the Air latitant in the wa∣ter might contribute to generate icy bubbles, though it was unable ade∣quately to fill them; and again, that sometimes or in other cases such bubbles would be almost as nume∣rously generated, notwithstanding the recess of far the greatest part of that latitant Air, by the three follow∣ing Experiments taken verbatim out of our Collections.

I. We took fair water, and ha∣ving kept it in the exhausted Receiver of our Pneumatical Engine for a good while, till we perceived it not to send up any more bubbles, we pre∣sently

transferred it into snow and salt, where it was long enough be∣fore it began to freez, and then we observed, that the water did not swell near so much as common water is wont to do, and the ice seemed to have few or no bubbles worth taking notice of: but when I afterwards pla∣ced it between my Eye and the vigo∣rous flame of a Candle, I could per∣ceive, that it was not quite destitute of bubbles, though they were ex∣tremely small, in comparison of those, that would probably have appeared in ordinary water.

Thus far the first Experiment; the second follows, which was made at another time.

II. The water that had been freed from the bubbles in the Receiver, though it afforded an ice, that seem'd to have smaller bubbles, yet this ice being thaw'd, part of the water was gently poured into a pipe of glass, wherein being frozen, it swell'd con∣siderably enough above its first level, and besides burst the glass, being also very opacous by reason of the bub∣bles.

The third Experiment was more industriously prosecuted, as may ap∣pear by this ample Narrative of it, transcribed out of our Collections.

III. We took a small Egg with a pretty long neck, and pouring in water till it reach'd an inch within the stem, conveyed it into a long slender Cylindrical Receiver, provi∣ded on purpose to make trials with such tall glasses, the Air being by de∣grees drawn out of the bubbles ap∣peared from time to time greater and greater, and when the Receiver was well exhausted, the water seemed to boil a longer time then one would have expected, and sometimes the bubbles ascended so fast and great, that we were in doubt, whether the water did not boil over the top of the Pipe: the exhausted Receiver was permitted to be so for a good while, till the water had discharged it self in bubbles of its Air, and then the glass∣Egg was removed into a vessel fur∣nished with ice and salt, and there left ten or twelve hours, that all the water, save that in the neck, might be throughly frozen, and then we found

it to have risen a great way above its first height, and removing it into an Air temper'd like that wherein the first part of the Experiment was made, & having left it there in a quiet place for ten or twelve hours to thaw leisurely (lest too warm an Air, or too much stirring the glass might be an occasion of generating new bub∣bles,) in the exterior part of the ice near the glass, we saw pretty store of bubbles, but when that was thaw'd, the rest of the ice appeared of a pecu∣liar and unusual texture, having no determinate bubbles, that I could easily distinguish, but seeming al∣most like a piece of frosted glass, where the Parts, that made the Aspe∣rity, were exceeding thick set, but this ice swam in the water, wherein∣to the rest had been dissolved before it was all thawed: when there yet remained a lump about the bigness of a small Walnut, we reconveyed it in∣to the Receiver, to try whether upon the exuction of the Air, the ice would be presently melted, but the alteration produced, was so small, if any, that we durst not ground any

thing upon it. The Receiver being exhausted, there did at length appear some bubbles in the water, but they were not numerous, and a hundred of them seem'd not to amount to one of those larger ones, the same water had yielded us the first time it was put in: in the ice also some small bubbles disclosed themselves, which we did not perceive there before, wherefore we took out the Egg, and found (the ice being now thaw'd) that the water was subsided to the mark we had made, before it was expos'd to con∣gelation, if not some very little way beneath it: Then we went about to find the Proportion wherein this dis∣pirited water was expanded by glaci∣ation, but in pursuing this there hap∣ned a mischance to the glass, which kept the Experiment from being so accurate as we designed. And there∣fore, though it seemed to us, that it amounted to about the twelfth part, which is less then that of the undispi∣rited water, yet we designed the re∣petition of the Experiment. Only in this we could not be mistaken, that the expansion wrs considerable, since

the water rose three inches and a half in the stem, though the whole water in the Egg and stem too, weighed but two ounces and a half. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the vessel had not been unluckily cracked, we should have frozen the water once more, and then sealing up the glass Hermetically, and suffering the ice leisurely to thaw, should have in∣verted it, and broken it under water, and have proceeded with it as we had done with some other glasses in the formerly mentioned Experiments.

9. [A little glass Cylinder open only at one end, of a convenient length, was thrust into a deep and wide mouth'd-glass about half filled with a mixture of Ice and salt: but the Cylinder was neither so quite fil∣led, that the water should run over, nor yet far short of being so; that, (for all the opacous mixture of Ice and Salt) we might guess at the freezing of that part of the water, that we could not see by the changes appearing in the other. Then con∣veying all into a Receiver, that we had in readiness beforehand, we quickly pumped out the Air, upon

w^ch there came both from the upper & lower parts of the water, great store of Bubbles to the top, where most of them brake into the Receiver, having found upon trials purposely made, that the Engine had continued stanch all the while, and perceiving by the intumescence of the superior parts of the water, that the other were frozen, we let in the external Air, and ha∣ving removed the Receiver, and ta∣ken out the mixture before the Ice was half melted, we found the water, as high as the mixture reached, to be turn'd into ice, which besides some large and conspicuous bubbles had small ones enough to render it opa∣cous; and upon the account of this expansion it was, that the water did in the free Air continue a good deal higher then the mark, it was but level with, when the Cylinder was expo∣sed to freez.]

10. The other way we employ'd to examine what was contained in icy bubbles, and which seemed clear∣ly enough to manifest, that they are very far from being filled with true and springy Air, is intimated in the

last clause of the foregoing narrative, but will be best understood by the an∣nexed Experiments transcribed just as I find them registred in my Collecti∣ons: and though they be prolix, and contain some few Particulars, that make not directly for the purpose I alledge them for, yet I think not fit to dismember or to epitomize them, or otherwise to alter any thing in them, partly, that the inference I make from them, may be the less mistrusted, partly, because the way of Experimenting being altogether new, will be best apprehended by the subjoyned Examples, and partly too, because those Particulars that relate not directly to the occasion of our mentioning these trials, may be useful to illustrate or confirm some thing that is already delivered, or is hereafter to be delivered in the pre∣sent History of Cold.

11. [We took this day a glass of* 1.25 the form of an Egg, but of double the capacity, out of whose obtuse end rose up a long Cylindrical neck, capable to receive the end of my little finger, and no more, this being fill'd

with common water, till the liquor reached a pretty way within the pipe, and the surface of the water being carefully marked on the outside, was placed in a vessel, wherein ice very grosly beaten, was mingled with a convenient Proportion of salt (ac∣cording to our way of Glaciation) the Mixture not reaching up to the mark by above an inch. The Expe∣riment afforded us these Particulars.

I. A heedful Eye did not perceive the water sensibly to subside before it began to freez.

II. The water began to swell, and some parts of it next the side or bot∣tom of the glass, to freez within a quarter of an hour.

III. The ascent of the water in the pipe increased so fast, that within an hour, from the time the glass was put in, it did rise 4. inches and 2/9 above the mark, & afterwards the swelling con∣nutied so, that we took it out, though a good part of the water remain'd un∣frozen, it had reach'd five inches and somewhat more then a half above the first Mark.

IV. The ice and salt being pur∣posely

kept always beneath the sur∣face of the water, the lower parts of the water were frozen, and never the upper surface.

V. During all this great Elevation of the water, there appeared no bub∣bles worth taking notice of in the un∣frozen parts of the liquor, but the ice was very full of them, divers of which toward the latter end of the Experiment were very large Bubbles (but not all of them round) some be∣ing about the bigness of hail shot, some small like Mustard seed, and others again not much inferior to little pease.

VI. Having taken out the glass, when the water was at the highest mark, we did upon a certain design, pour in as much sallet Oyl as swam about two inches above it, and then the glass was nimbly at the flame of a Lamp seal'd up, during which time the included water subsided a little, but the glass being again put into the ice and salt, the Cold quickly resto∣red the water to its former height, and there remained about an inch and a half of the seal'd glass unpossessed

by the two contain'd liquors.

VII. Then with a good pair of scales we weigh'd the glass-Egg first in the Air, and then in the water (the better to discern, whether any shrinking of the glass interven'd in the case,) where it hung freely, and was left hanging in its Equilibrium with its opposite weight.

VIII. Whilest it thus hung, upon the thawing of the ice many bubbles, great and small ascended (the great ones with a wrigling motion) and va∣nish'd at the top.

IX. As the ice thaw'd, the water and oyl descended, till the whole ice was return'd to water, at which time we observ'd these two remarkable things, the one, That the Equilibri∣um remain'd the same; the other, (which was more considerable) that the water was subsided again as low as the first mark, with which it was level before it began to swell, with∣out falling beneath it, notwithstand∣ing the recess of such a multitude of Bubbles, divers of which were very large.

X. The glass being inverted, the

seal'd end, which was drawn slender, was gently broken under water, of which some, being impell'd in, did sensibly reduce the Air at the oppo∣site end into a narrower room; and, as one of the spectators observ'd, into a much narrower, which is conso∣nant enough to reason.

XI. The glass being again invert∣ed, and held till it was setled, we found, that the water drawn in toge∣ther with the water it found there, and the oyl, possess'd the same places, (as appeared by the marks in the Ca∣vity of the Receiver,) that they did, when it was seal'd up.

XII. And lastly, having thrown out the oyl, and employing, where need was, a little water of the same kind we had made use of all this while, we found the glass fill'd to the highest mark, to weigh 4374. grains, when it was fill'd but to the lowest mark, 4152. grains, and when quite empty'd 1032. So that the water contain'd betwixt the highest and lowest mark, and rais'd by the Glaciation, was about a fifteenth part of the water set to freez, and

probably would have amounted to much more, if the water had been all frozen.]

12. [A large glass-Egg being ta∣ken* 1.26 with a proportionably big stem, we poured water into it, till it reach∣ed about an inch above the bottom of the stem, and fastning a mark there, we exposed it all night to freez in snow and salt, which was so placed, as not to reach so high as the bottom of the stem; the next day about ten of the clock we found the water ri∣sen in the stem about 15. inches above the mark, the whole Cylinder of water being fluid by reason of the snows not reaching to it. (Then up∣on a design to be elsewhere mentio∣ned, we seal'd up the glass by a very slender pipe, that had been before purposely drawn out to a pretty di∣stance from the body of the Cylinder, that the glass might be seal'd, in a trice before the flame of a Candle could sensibly rarifie the Air, and af∣ter a while we broke off the Apex of this slender pipe in prosecution of our former Design.) Then suffering the water to swell freely, within seven

or eight hours it reach'd the very top of the glass, a drop or two running over at the slender Orifice thereof, so that in all, the water ascended about 19. inches above the first mark: then we tried by the flame of a candle to seal the glass, but by reason of the Rarefaction of some of the water, by the Heat, into vapours, by which some of the other water was, from time to time, spurted against the flame of the Candle, we found it troublesome enough to seal it up, the vessel being removed into a warm place, till next morning, and all the ice in the belly of it (for the water in the stem con∣tinued fluid) being thawed, the wa∣ter subsided, not only to its first mark, but a little beneath it, by rea∣son of that which was thrown out, upon occasion of the sealing of the glass: but when we came to invert this, after the manner above menti∣on'd, into a vessel of water, to see how much of the space deserted by the thaw'd Ice, was fill'd with Air, and how much was fill'd with a sub∣tiler substance, or empty, just then a mischance frustrated our Expectati∣on.]

13. [An Egg about the same big∣ness* 1.27 with the former, was placed to freez in beaten ice and salt, and in less then a quarter of an hour, it was risen near an inch above the Mark, where the surface of the water was at the first, and the water in the ball and the joyning of the neck was frozen into Laminae. After an hour and a quarter, those Laminae, that before appeared in the beginning of the neck, now disappear'd, but the ball seem'd frozen into a white ice, and the water in the neck was risen above the first mark four inches and a half. There now appear'd abundance of small bubbles, continually ascending through the neck (which so continu'd all the time after, till it was quite thaw'd) and the white ice appear'd full of bubbles. The Experiment be∣ing further pursu'd, the water ascen∣ded higher and higher, till it had reach'd about eight inches above the first mark: Then the top of the pipe, being with a Lamp drawn out, into a very slender Cylinder (for the con∣veniency of sealing up) the glass was again put into the ice, that the Air

heated by the Lamp might cool, up∣on which the water continued swel∣ling, till it began to run over at the orifice of the slender pipe, which being held by in the flame of a candle, was in a trice seal'd up, so that the whole glass now appear'd full of water, bating an inconside∣rable Quantity of rarifi'd Air, (not amounting to the bigness of half a small Pea) that remain'd contiguous to the seal'd part; the Egg being brought into a warm room, was kept there all night, and a good part of the next morning, before the ice was quite thaw'd, which when it was, the water was found subsided to the first mark, and which being done, the glass was inverted, and the seal'd end immers'd a good way under wa∣ter, where being broken, the exter∣nal Air impell'd the water in the Ba∣son into the Cavity of the pipe, inso∣much, that when we took it out, which we did, as soon as we thought nomore water was impell'd up, re∣inverting the glass, we found, that the admitted water reach'd seven inches above the first mark, and left

an inch and a half of the stem, before it began to be wire-drawn, besides as much of the slender part of the stem, as by guess amounted to a quarter of an inch or more, so that it seem'd, that the Bubbles, which made the wa∣ter swell, and appear'd in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, amounted to an inch and three quar∣ters of Air, which consequently seem'd to be for the most part genera∣ted by this operation, and to seven inches either of a vacuum, or some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 substance, which by its ha∣ving no spring to resist the Pressure of the outward Air, appear'd not to be Air: We could not exactly measure the Quantity of water we had in all, and the proportion of it betwixt the marks, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 having left the glass in the window, to try whether time or Cold would make the admitted water shrink (which we did not find it to do the weather was so sharp, that beginning (as we concluded) to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the water in the stem, the in∣creasing ice burst out the belly of the glass into many pieces.]

Another time.

14. [A seal'd glass being broken

under water, there was impell'd into the Cylinder ten inches and a little above a half. And the mark, it should have risen to, was eleven inch∣es and a quarter above the first and lowest mark.]

Another time.

15. [In the same Bolthead, where∣in* 1.28 the greatest condensation of the Air was tri'd, the water was by the Cold made to swell very near a foot above the mark it rested at, when it began to freez; then the glass being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up, the contain'd water was re∣moved, and suffered leisurely to thaw, and upon the Dissolution of the ice, the water fell back to the for∣mer mark: lastly, the glass being in∣verted, the Apex was broken off un∣der water, and the water in the stem was by the outward Air, pressing up∣on the water in the Bason, with some Impetus and noise driven up into the Cavity of the glass; and, the glass being seasonably and warily remov'd from the Bason, we found there had been impell'd up of the water in the Bason, a little more then eleven in∣ches, so that there seem'd to be near

⅞ of an inch of Air generated or sepa∣rated by the former operation.]

Another time.

16. [In the same glass we made* 1.29 the water to swell about ten inches, and inverting the stem, and breaking the Neb under water, we found a∣bout ten inches of water to have been impell'd into the stem; so that in this there seem'd no generation of Air.]

17. To all these Experiments we shall subjoyn, in two words, that as in water, so in some aqueous liquors we found, that the icy Bubbles were not fill'd with Air (though we did not think fit to take the pains to mea∣sure their respective Expansions by being congeal'd:) For in that else∣where mention'd Experiment, where we expos'd Milk, Urine, and Rhe∣nish-wine to freez, when all those li∣quors were risen above their former marks, as is there related, our Notes inform us, that the Experiment was thus prosecuted.

18. [Being seal'd up (the forego∣ing words mention'd the above-na∣med expanded liquors) and suffer'd to thaw, the several liquors subsided

to their first marks or thereabouts, and the glasses being inverted and broken under water, we were by an accident hindred from observing what we desir'd in that which had the Wine, though when it was taken out of the freezing pot, it had ice, but not much, swimming in it. But in∣to the glass that had the Milk, the water was manifestly impell'd by the outward Air, and so it was into the glass that had the Urine, which be∣ing remov'd from the Bason, and re∣inverted, appear'd to have as much new liquor in its stem, as amounted by guess to five or six inches.]

19. To which Experiment we may add, that another time a seal'd glass of partly frozen Claret-wine being broken under water, the water was impell'd up between half an inch, and an inch above the mark, beyond which it would not have ascended, if the bubbles had been full of true and permanent Air.

20. If it be said, that though I have delivered too many Particulars about so empty and slight a Theme as Bubbles, I have this to answer, that

possibly all these Experiments have rather shew'd us, what it is not that fills them, then what it is, so that more then all these Experiments ap∣pearing requisite to clear up the Dif∣ficulties about them, I shall not think I have altogether mis-spent my time, especially if so many past Experi∣ments, both new, and not altoge∣ther impertinent, by their not having taught us enough about so despicable a subject as a Bubble, shall, as they justly may teach us Humility.

Title X. Experiments about the Measure of the Expansion and the Con∣traction of Liquors by Cold.

1. TO the Experiments (menti∣on'd in the Seventh and Ninth Titles) which shew, that wa∣ter has an Expansion, it will be pro∣per to subjoyn some of those, where∣by we endeavoured to measure that Expansion. And here we shall not content our selves to say, that where∣as the Authors, we had formerly oc∣casion to point at, take notice of their having raised water in a Bolthead half an inch or an inch by freezing, we have made it ascend a foot and a half and more; This, I say, we shall pass by, because that though by such Experiments we have very clearly and undeniably manifested the Ex∣pansion

of the water, yet unless the Capacity of the vessel be known, they will signifie but little towards the de∣termining the Quantity of that Expan∣sion, which yet is the thing we are now enquiring after, wherefore we shall add, that we employ'd two dif∣fering ways to measure this Expansi∣on.

2. The one was, by putting in, by weight, such a number of ounces of water, into a Bolthead, till the water was risen a pretty way in the long stem, wherewith it was filled, then marking on the outside, to what height every freshly added ounce of water reach'd in the stem, we after∣wards poured out a convenient Quan∣tity of the liquor (yet leaving enough to fill the whole cavity of the spheri∣cal or obtuse end of the vessel, and of the lower part of the stem) then lei∣surely freezing this remaining water from the bottom upwards, we obser∣ved, that when it was frozen, the ice that was made of 82. parts of water, filled, as one of our Notes inform us, the space of 91. and (if I mistake not the Character) an eight, so that by

this troublesome way of Examinati∣on, we found that the water by the Expansion, it received from Cold, was made to possess about a ninth part more space then it did before congelation.

3. [In another of our notes, we find as follows, 55, parts of water ex∣tended themselves by freezing into sixty and a half, about six of those parts remaining unfrozen, so that in this Experiment the waters Expansi∣on was not much (though somewhat) differing from what it was in that last mention'd.]

4. The other way we made use of to measure the Dimensions, that wa∣ter gains by freezing, was, to take a Cylindrical pipe of glass seal'd at one end, and left open at the other, at which we fill'd it with water to a cer∣tain height, that we took notice of by a mark appli'd to the outside, and then keeping it in an erected posture, and freezing it from the bottom up∣wards, we found, that it had acquir'd by a tenth part or thereabouts, great∣er Dimensions in the form of ice, then it possessed in the form of water.

But the nature of the particular par∣cel of liquor exposed to the Cold (for it is not necessary that all waters should be equally dispos'd to be ex∣panded by freezing) and some other circumstances, not now to be discour∣sed of, may well beget some little variety in the success of this sort of trials. For in one that we made carefully, we found the Expansion somewhat greater, then that last mentioned, as may appear by the following Note, which compar'd with what was lately delivered, of the trials we made by weight of the water's Expansion, may invite us to think, that we cannot much err by estimating in general, that the room that Ice takes up more then water, amounts to about a ninth part of the space possessed by the same water, before it was turned into Ice. The note we were speaking of, is this.

5. [In a more then ordinarily even Cylindrical glass, we exposed some water to freez, to measure its Intumescence, and found that it ex∣panded its self to about an eighth part, or at least a ninth upon glacia∣tion;

this we tri'd twice, and thought that the Intumescence might have been more considerable, but that in a Cylinder the freezing did not seem to succeed so well.]

But here we must resolve a difficulty, which though ordinary Readers may take no notice of, yet may breed a scruple in the minds of those that are acquainted with Hydrostaticks. For to such Readers this Account of ours may seem to be contrary to the Expe∣rience of Navigators into cold Cli∣mates, who tell us (as we shall have occasion to take notice in due place) of vast pieces of Ice, as high, not on∣ly as the Poops of their Ships, but as the Masts of them; and yet the Depth of these stupendious pieces of Ice, seems not at all Answerable to what it may be suppos'd to be, in case we compare together the Estimate a∣bove deliver'd of the Expansion of water, and that grand Hydrostatical Theorem demonstrated by Archimedes and Stevinus, That floating Bodies will so far, and but so far, sink in the Liquor that supports them, till the immersed part of the Body be equal to a Bulk of water,

weighing as much as the whole Body. For Captain James in his often cited Voy∣age, makes mention of great pieces of Ice, that were twice as high as the Top-mast-head of his Ship.

6. And the Hollanders in their fa∣mous Voyage to Nova Zembla, men∣tion one stupendious Hill of Ice, which I therefore take notice of here, not only because it has been thought the greatest that men have met with, but because they deliver its Dimensi∣ons, not as Captain James and Naviga∣tors are wont to do, by comparison with the unknown heights of some of the Masts of their Ships, but by cer∣tain and determinate Measures, which in the Icy Island, we are speak∣ing of, were so divided by the surface of the water, that there was 16. fa∣thome extant above it, though there were but 36. beneath it, which though a vast depth in it self, yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but little exceed double the height.

And the Danish Navigator Janus* 1.30 Munckius, imploy'd by his King to bring him an Account of Greenland, mentions some floating pieces of Ice,

that he met with and observ'd in that Sea, which though but somewhat above 40. fathome under water, were extant 20. fathome, that is (near half as much) above water, whereas it seems, that according to our above mention'd Computation of the Expansion of water, the part under the water ought to be eight or nine times as deep, as that above the water is high.

7. To clear this difficulty, I shall represent these three particulars.

First, that in our Computation the Ice that sinks so deep, is suppos'd to float in fresh water, whereas in the Observations of the above nam'd Na∣vigators, those vast pieces of Ice floated on the Sea-water, which by reason of its saltness, being heavier then fresh-water, Ice will not sink so deep into that, as into this. And that salt may hugely increase the weight of the water, wherein it is dissolv'd, may be clearly gather'd from the ponderousness of common Brine, and from the practise of seve∣ral sorts of Tradesmen, who to exa∣mine the strength of their Lixiviums,

and other Saline Liquors are wont to try, whether they will keep an Egg floating, which we know common water will not do. And I have also by the Resolution of some Metalline Bodies in fit Menstruums made Li∣quors, that are yet much more pon∣derous, then is sufficient for the sup∣port of Eggs.

But yet we must be so candid, as to take notice of what some Modern Geographers deliver with probabili∣ty enough, namely, That nearer the poles the Seas are not wont to be so salt, as in the temperate and the Tor∣rid Zones, and those Northern being not so salt as our Seas, there is the less to be allow'd for the difference in gravity (and consequently in the power to keep Ice from sinking) be∣twixt those Seas and ours.

8. But secondly, this lesser salt∣ness of the water in the Northern Seas, may, as to our case be recompenc'd by the greater coldness of it. For though, as we have formerly obser∣ved, the Condensation of fresh wa∣ter, effected here by a degree of Cold capable to make it begin to freez, is

not so great as most men would ima∣gine; yet besides that, I have often taken pleasure to make the same Bo∣dy to sink or ascend in the same wa∣ter, by a much less variation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cold then that we have been mentioning; it is to be consider'd, that the degree of Cold, to which water was brought in the Experiment deliver'd in the fourth Section, to which we are now looking back, was but such a degree as would make fresh water begin to freez; whereas the salt Sea-water, being indispos'd to congelation, may by so vehement a Cold as reigns in the Winter season in those gelid Cli∣mates, be far more intensly refrige∣rated, and thereby more condens'd then common water is here, by such a measure of Cold, as may begin to freez small portions of it. But though, what we have hitherto represented, may well be look'd upon as not incon∣siderable to the purpose for which it has been alledg'd, yet the main thing, that is to remove the scruple suggest∣ed by the height of Icy hills above the water, is,

9. Thirdly, that such Hills of Ice

are not to be look'd upon as intire and solid ones, but as vast piles or lumps, and masses of Ice, casually and rudely heap'd up and cemented by the excessive Cold, freezing them together by the intervention of the water that washes them, which piles of many pieces of Ice are not made without great Cavities intercepted, and fill'd only with Air, between the more solid Cakes or Lumps; so that the weight of these stupendious pieces of Ice, is not to be estimated by the bigness they appear of at a distance from the Eye, but considering how much Air there is intercepted be∣tween the Icy Bodies, of which they are compiled, there may be a hol∣low structure of Ice reaching high in∣to the Air, and yet the whole Ag∣gregate or Icy pile, will press the subjacent water on which it leans, no more then would as much water, as were equal in Bulk only to the im∣mers'd parts; as we see in Barges loaden with Boards, which though pil'd up to a great height above the water, make not the vessel to sink more then a Lading that would make

a far less show, and oftentimes be all contain'd within the Cavity of the vessel, provided it be more ponde∣rous in specie. But to enter into any further Consideration of these Hydro∣statical matters, would be improper in this place, especially since we have* 1.31 elsewhere treated of them. And that these floating Hills and Islands of Ice, are not intire and solid pieces of it, we shall otherwhere have occasi∣on to shew out of Navigators, and even in the Observation, we have mentioned out of Janus Munck, the Learned Relator of it Bartholinus, takes notice, that those vast pieces of Ice (we have been mentioning) that reach'd 20, fathome above water,* 1.32 were compiled of store of Snow frozen together.

10. These Considerations may serve to render some Account of those stupendiously tall pieces of ice, whose extant part bears so great a proportion to the immersed part, when the whole mass does really float. But I confess I doubt, that not only in the Examples we have al∣ledg'd, but in other eminent ones of

mountains of ice, if I may so call them, there may be a mistake, and that the height of them above the water, would be far less, and the depth under water far greater, if the ice had water enough to swim freely. For Sea-men by reason of the diffi∣culty, are not wont to measure the height of those pieces that float at li∣berty in the Sea. And as for those that are on ground, as their heights lye far more convenient to be measu∣red, so the measurers not knowing how long they may have been on ground, for ought I know, much of that admir'd height, may be attribu∣ted to the snows, that from time to time fall very plentifully in those fro∣zen Regions, and are compacted to∣gether, either by the Sun, whose Beams sometimes begin to thaw it, and sometimes by the water of the waves that beat against the Ice, and being congeal'd with the snow, does as it were cement the parts of it toge∣ther, and sometimes by both of these causes. So in the instance alledg'd* 1.33 out of Captain James, of pieces of ice that were twice as high as his Top∣mast-head;

it is said also, that they were on ground in 40. fathome. And in the other Example mention'd out of Bartholinus, though there be 40. fathome attributed to the immer∣sed part of the ice, yet that measure is not exclusive of a greater, for it is said, that the ice reach'd downwards above 40. fathome; and how much downwards, and whether as far as the ground, we are left at liberty to guess. And in that stupendious piece of Ice recorded in the Nova Zembla voyage, to have been in all 52. fa∣thome, that is, 300. and twelve foot deep, though it be granted what they affirm, that it was 16. fathome above the water, which is almost a third part of the whole depth; yet I ob∣serve, that of this Icy mountain it is said, that it lay fast on the ground. So that as on the one side it seems pro∣bable, that the upper part of Islands of ice may be increas'd by snow; and as I remember, that in that famously inquisitive Navigator Mr. Hudsons voyage for the discovery of the North-west passage, 'tis rela∣ted, that his company was

* 1.34 so well acquainted with the Ice, that when Night, or foggy or foul weather took them, they would seek out the Broad∣est Islands of Ice, and there come to An∣chor, and run and sport, and fill water that stood the Ice in ponds very fresh and good. So on the other side we know not, how much lower the Dutch-mens Ice and Captain James's would have reach'd into the Sea, in case the ground they rested on, had not hindred them. For though one might probably think, that these are the greatest depths that any Hills of Ice have been observ'd to attain, that mention'd by the Hollanders reaching 36. fathome beneath the water, and that menti∣on'd by Captain James, no less then 40. fathome: yet I find in Mr. Hud∣sons Voyage, that the English in the Bay, that bears his Name, met with more then one or two Islands of Ice, of a fargreater depth underwater. For among other things, the Relator has this memorable passage; In this Bay, where we were thus troubled with Ice, we saw many of those mountains of Ice a ground, in six or seven score fathome wa∣ter. And if the Sea had been deep

enough, even these stupendious moles of Ice would probably have sunk much lower, and so have lessened the heights of the mountains.

11. I know that delivering the mea∣sure of the Expansion of water alone, I have not said all that may be said about the Expansion of Liquors: But because, as it has not yet appear∣ed to me, that any Liquor is expand∣ed by Cold, unless by actual freez∣ing; I doubted, whether Aqueous Li∣quors, as Wine, Milk, Urine, &c. were otherwise expanded by conge∣lation, then upon the Account of the water or phlegmatick (and, in a strict sense, congealable,) part con∣tain'd in them; and whether it were worth while, for a man in haste, to examine, their particular Expansi∣ons, Notwithstanding which, I would not discourage any from try∣ing, whether or no by the differing Dilatations of Aqueous Liquors, some of them of the same, and some of them of differing kinds, we may be assisted to make any estimate of the differing proportions they con∣tain, of phlegm, and of more

spirituous or useful Ingredients.

12. After what has been hitherto de∣livered concerning the Expansion of Li∣quors by Cold, it may be expected we should say something of the mea∣sure of their Contraction by the same Quality. But as for water, which is the principal Liquor, whose Dimen∣sions are to be consider'd, I have for∣merly declar'd, that I could seldom or never find its contraction (in the Winter season when I tried it) to be at all considerable. And I shall now add, that having for greater certain∣ty, procur'd the Experiment to be made by another also, in a Bolthead, the Account I received of it, was, that he could scarce discern the wa∣ter in the stem to fall beneath its sta∣tion, (mark'd at the upper part of the pipe,) when the water in the Ball was so far infrigidated as to be∣gin to freez. Though I will not de∣ny, that in warmer Climates, as Ita∣ly, or Spain, the contraction of the water a little before glaciation be∣gins, may be somewhat consider∣able, especially if the Experiment be made in Summer, or in case (either

there or here) the water expos'd to freez be put into a vessel very advan∣tageously shap'd, or brought out of some warm Chamber or other place, where the heat of the Air, that sur∣rounded it, had rarifi'd it. But to examine the measures of Contracti∣on in the several Liquors, and with the nice Observations, that such a work, to be accurately prosecured, would require, would have taken up much more of my time then I was willing to imploy about a work which I look'd not on as important enough to deserve it. And therefore I shall here add nothing to what I have said under the Title of the De∣grees of Cold, touching the contraction of spirit of Wine, and of oyl of Tur∣pentine, by the differing degrees of that Quality. And as for the con∣densation of Air, the vastest fluid we deal with, I did indeed think fit to measure how much Cold condenses it. But the account of that Experi∣ment will be more opportunely deli∣ver'd in * 1.35 one of the following Dis∣courses.

Title XI. Experiments touching the Ex∣pansive Force of Freezing Water.

1. HAving shewn that there is an Expansion made of water, and Aqueous Bodies, by Congelati∣on, let us now examine how strong this Expansion is, and the rather be∣cause no body has yet, that we know of, made any particular trials on purpose to make discoveries in this matter, so that although some unhappy Accidents have kept our Ex∣periments from being as accurate as we designed, (and as, God assisting, we may hereafter make them) yet at least we shall shew this Expansion to be more forcible, then has hitherto been commonly taken notice of, and assist men to make a somewhat less uncertain Estimate of the force of it,

then they seem to have yet endeavou∣red to enable themselves to make.

2. And 1. we shall mention some Experiments, that do in general shew, that the Expansion of freezing water is considerably strong.

We took a new Pewter-bottle, ca∣pable to contain, as we guess'd, a∣bout half a pint of water, and having fill'd it top full with that Liquor, we scru'd on the stopple, and exposed it during a very frosty night, to the cold Air, and the next morning the water appeared to have burst the Bottle, though its matter were me∣talline, and though purposely for this trial we had chosen it quite new, the crack appeared to be in the very sub∣stance of the Pewter. This Experi∣ment we repeated; and 'twas one of those bottles fill'd with Ice that had crack'd it, which a Noble Virtuoso would needs make me (who should else have scrupled to amuse, with such a Triffle, so great a Monarch, and so great a Virtuoso) bring to his Majesty, to satisfie him, by the wide∣ness of the crack, and the Protube∣rance of the Ice, that shewed it self in

it, that the water had been really ex∣panded by Congelation.

3. We also tried, whether or no a much smaller Quantity of water, would not, if frozen, have the like Effect, and accordingly, filling with about an ounce of water a scru'd Pewter box (such as many use to keep Treacle & Salves in) quite new, and of a considerable thickness, we found, that upon the freezing of the included water, the vessel was very much burst.

Afterwards filling a Quart Bottle (if I mistake not the capacity) with a congealable liquor, and tying down the Cork very hard with strong Pack∣thread, we found that the frost made the liquor force out the stopple in spite of all the care we had taken to keep it down.

But afterwards we so well fastned a Cork to the neck of a quart bottle of Glass, that it was easier for the congealing liquor to break the vessel, then to thrust out the stopple, and having for a great many hours expos'd this to an exceeding sharp Air, we found at length the bottle burst, al∣though

it were so thick and strong, that we were invited to measure the breadth of the sides, and found that the thinnest place, where it was bro∣ken by the Ice, was 3/16 of an inch, and the thickest ⅜ that is twice as much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we also by the help of the frost broke an earthen bottle of strong Flanders metal, of which the thinnest part that was broken, was equal by mea∣sure, to the thinnest part of the other.

4. But the above mention'd Instan∣ces serving only to declare in general, that the Expansion of water by Cold is very forcible, I thought fit to at∣tempt the reducing of the Matter somewhat nearer an Estimate less re∣mote from being determinate, and because the water expos'd to congela∣tion, may be probably supposed to be Homogeneous, we judg'd, that the quantity of it, may very much va∣ry its degree of Force, and because some may suspect, that the Figure al∣so may not be inconsiderable in this matter, we thought fit to make our Trials in a Brass vessel, whose Cavi∣ty was Cylindrical, and which to

make it stronger, had an orifice but at one of its ends: and whose thick∣ness was such, that we had reason to expect, that whilest the top remain∣ed covered, but with a reasonable weight, the included water would find it more easie to lift up that weight, then break the sides. To this Cylinder we fitted a cover of the same mettal that was flat, and went a little way into the Cavity, leaning also upon the edges of the sides for the more closer stopping of the ori∣fice; the cavity of this Cylinder was in length about five inches, and in breadth about an inch and three quar∣ters. This Cylinder being fill'd top full with water, and the cover being carefully put on, was fastned into an Iron frame, that held it erected, and allowed us to place an iron weight, amounting to 56. pound, or half a hundred of common English weight, which circumstance I mention (be∣cause the common hundred that our Carriers, &c. use, exceeds five score by twelve.) But this vessel being exposed in a frosty night, to the cold Air, the contain'd water did not the

next morning appear to be frozen, and the trial was another time that way repeated with no better success, as if either the thickness or clearness of the mettal had broken the vio∣lence of the external Airs frigefactive Power, or the weight that oppressed the Cover had hindred that Expansi∣on of the water, which is wont to accompany its Glaciation.

Wherefore we thought it requi∣site to apply to the outside of the ves∣sel a mixture of salt with ice or snow, as that which we had observed to in∣troduce a higher degree of Cold then the Air alone, even in very frosty nights; and though this way it self, the glaciation proceeded very slowly, and sometimes scarce at all, yet at length we found, that the water was by this means brought so far to freez, that on the morrow the ice had on one side swelled above the top of the Cylinder, and by lifting the cover on that side, had thrown down the in∣cumbent weight; but in this trial the cover having been uniformly, or every where lifted up above the up∣per orifice of the Cylinder, we re∣peated

the Experiment divers times, as we could get opportunity, some∣times with success, and sometimes without it; and of one of the chief of our Experiments of this sort, we find the following account among our Collections.

5. [The hollow brass weight, be∣ing about one inch and thee quarters in Diameter, and the brass cover put on, was loaded with a weight of 56. pound upon the cover, and expos'd to an excessively sharp night, the next morning the cover and the weight were found visibly lifted up, though not above (that we could discern) a small Barley-corns breadth, but the thickness of the brass cover was not here estimated, which was much less then half an inch, which according to former observations, one might ex∣spect to see the ice ascend. But that which we took particular notice of, was, that the inclosed Cylinder of ice, being by a gentle thaw of the su∣perficial parts taken out, appear'd so full of bubbles, as to be thereby made opacous: Also when in the morning the Cylinder was brought into my

Chamber, before the fire was made, the 56. pound weight being newly ta∣ken off. at a little hole, that seemed to be between the edge of the Brass and Ice, there came out a great ma∣ny drops of water, dilated into nu∣merous bubbles, and reduced into a kind of sroth, as if upon the removal of the oppressing weight the bubbles of the water had got liberty to ex∣pand themselves, but this lasted but a very little.]

6. After this, the difficulty we have often met with in the placing of great weights conveniently upon the cover of a Cylinder, and the Expe∣ctation we had to find the Quantity of the water, we made use of, ca∣pable upon its Congelation, to lift up a much greater weight, invited us to make trial of its Expansive force, by some what a differing way, which was, to fit a wooden plug to the Cavi∣ty of the Cylinder (after we had suf∣fered it to soak a convenient time in water, that, swelling as much as it would before, it might be made to swell no more by the water, which would lye contiguous to it in the ves∣sel)

and then to drive it forcibly in, till by considerable weights append∣ed to the extant part of the plug, when the Cylinder was inverted, we could not draw it out; the success of one of these Trials is thus set down in our Collections.

7. [A Plug was driven into the Cavity of a Brass Cylinder, first fil∣led with water, the Plug being also well soaked, then the Cylinder be∣ing inverted, the Plug took up half a hundred and a quarter of a hundred weight, and would possibly have ta∣ken up much more, and being expo∣sed to a very sharp night, the freezing water thrust out the plug about a bar∣ley-corns breadth, quite round above the upper edge of the Cylinder, and it freezing all that day and the next night, it was again exposed, the plug not being yet taken out, and then the plug was beaten out a little more, namely (in all) near a quarter of an inch.]

8. Thus we see, that the expansive endeavour of the water forced a re∣sistence, at least equal to that which would have been made by a weight

of 74. pound, and probably, as the note intimates, would have appear'd able to do more, if we had had con∣venient weights and Instruments, wherewith to have measur'd the strength of the waters endeavour out∣wards, which some subsequent Trials, made us think very considerable, though not finding their Events set down in our notes, we think it fit at present to leave them unmentioned.

But one thing there is in these tri∣als, that I think not unworthy a Phi∣losophers notice, and his considering, namely, that this endeavour of the water to expand it self, is thus vigo∣rous, though the uttermost term to which it would expand it self, in case it were not at all resisted, would be but to about a ninth, or at most an eight part of the space it possest be∣fore it began to freez; whereas Air may by Heat (which * 1.36 yet we have elsewhere shewn, will not reduce it to any thing near its utmost expansion) be brought to possess (though not to fill) according to the diligent † 1.37 Mersen∣nus's observation, seventy times, the Dimensions it had before Rarefacti∣on,

and consequently the Air expand∣ed by Heat, does by its endeavours, tend to acquire above 60. times the space that the water does, when ex∣panded by so high a degree of Cold, as is capable to turn it all into Ice: not to mention that the expansion to which the Air tends upon the Ac∣count of its own spring, is, (as we shew in another* 1.38 place) many times greater then that to which Mersennus could bring it upon the bare Account of Heat.

9. There remains yet one way, whereby we hop'd, though not to measure the Expansive force of freez∣ing water, yet to manifest it to be prodigiously great, or in case we fail'd of this aim, to produce at least some other Phaenomena relating to Cold, that would not be inconsider∣able. And though our endeavours succeeded not, yet because a happier opportunity may bring them to be one way or other succesful, we shall an∣nex, That we caus'd to be made, an Iron Ball of between two and three inches in Diameter, which Ball was solid, save that in the midst there

was a small Cavity left to place a little water in, together with a fe∣male screw, as they call it, reaching from the outward surface of that in∣ternal cavity; and to this was appli∣ed a strong Iron screw, so fitted to the internal cavity of the other screw, as to fill it with as much exactness as could be obtained. And this screw was made to go so hard, that it re∣quir'd to be screw'd in by the help of a Vice, that it might not be forc'd out, without breaking the Iron it self. Our design in imploying this Instrument was, that having well fill'd the internal cavity with water, and forc'd in the screw as far as it could be made to go, the Instrument thus charg'd with water, might be expos'd to the highest degree of Cold we could produce. For having thus ordered the matter, we thought we might expect, either that the water how much soever we heightned and lengthned the Cold, would not freez at all, being hindred from the Ex∣pansion belonging to Ice in compari∣son of water; or, if it did freez, that one of these two things would hap∣pen,

either that the expansive force of that little water, would by forcing such an Iron Instrument, manifest its strength to be stupendious, or by not breaking it, present us with ice with∣out Bubbles, or at least not rarer and lighter, then the water it was made of; but for want of a sufficient Cold our designs succeeded not, so as to satisfie us, though we more then once attempted it. For the great thickness of the Iron being consider'd, we were not sure that the waters not freezing, might not proceed rather from the thickness and compactness of the metal, then from its resistence to the expansion of water. And therefore we must suspend the infe∣rences, this Experiment may afford us, till we have opportunity to make trial of it, with a Cold not only ve∣ry intense, but durable enough, the want of which last circumstance keeps us from daring to build any thing on our Experiment.

10. And here we may take notice, that it may be an inquiry, more wor∣thy a Philosopher, then easie for him, whence this prodigious force,

we have observ'd in water, expanded by glaciation, should proceed. For if Cold be but, as the Cartesians would have, a privation of Heat, though by the recess of that Ethereal substance, which agitated the little Eel-like particles of the water, and thereby made them compose a fluid body, it may easily enough be con∣ceiv'd, that they should remain ri∣gid in the Postures wherein the Ethe∣real substance quitted them, and thereby compose an unfluid Body like Ice: yet how these little Eels should by that recess acquire as strong an endeavour outwards, as if they were so many little springs, and expand themselves too with so stu∣pendious a force, is that which does not so readily appear. And on the other side in the Epicurean way of ex∣plicating Cold, though the Phaeno∣menon seems some what less difficult; yet it is not at all easie to be salv'd: For though, granting the Ingress of swarms of Cold Corpuscles, the Bo∣dy of water may be suppos'd to be thereby much swell'd and expanded, yet besides that these Corpuscles

stealing insensibly into the Liquors they insinuate themselves into, with∣out any shew of boisterousness or vio∣lence, 'tis not so easie to conceive how they should display so strange a force against the sides of those strong vessels that they break, when they may as freely permeat or enter them: besides this, I say, we observe that in Oyl, which requires a far greater de∣gree of Cold to be congeal'd to a good degree of hardness, the swarms of frigorifick Atoms that invade it, are so far from making it take up more room then before, that they re∣duce it into less, as may appear by those former Experiments which ma∣nifested, that Cold does not expand, either oyl or uncongealable Liquors, but condense them.

11. After what I have thus largely delivered, concerning the expansive endeavour of freezing water, I hope I may be allow'd to leave to others (if they shall think it worth the la∣bour) the prosecution of the like Ex∣periments upon Wine, Milk, Urine, and other Liquors abounding with Aqueous parts, concerning which

we shall only in general remind those that may have forgotten it, That by some of our Experiments it appears, that such Aqueous Liquors are expan∣ded by congelation, and, that their endeavour outwards is considerably forcible, seems more then likely from what we formerly noted out of the Dutch Voyage to Nova Zembla, where 'tis related, that by the ex∣treme Cold, both some of their other Barrels, and some of those that were hooped with Iron, were, as they speak, frozen in pieces, that is, ac∣cording to our Conjecture, burst to∣gether, with the Hoops, whether of Wood or Iron, by the expansive force of the imprison'd Liquors brought to freez.

12. To which I shall add, that when I asked an Ingenious person, whether in Russia, where he liv'd a good while, Beer and Wine did not, when brought to congelation, break the vessels they were frozen in; He Answered, That he had not observed wooden vessels to have been broken by them, (perhaps because of their yield∣ing) but glass and stone Bottles often.

Title XII. Experiments touching a New way of estimating the Expan∣sive force of Congelation, and of highly compressing Air without Engines.

1. THere is yet another way, that I bethought my self of, at once to measure the force wherewith freezing water expands it self, and to reduce the Air to a greater degree of condensation, then I have as yet found it brought to by any unquesti∣onable way of compressing it: But whereas by this method to determine exactly the Expansive force of the water, it were requisite not only to know the quantity of the water, and that of the Air exposed to the Cold, but to make the Experiment in vessels conveniently shap'd to measure the

Dilatation of the one, and the com∣pression of the other; our Experi∣ments being made in a place where we were not provided of such glasses, we were not able to make our trials so instructive and satisfactory, as else we might have done; nevertheless we shall not scruple to subjoyn those of them, that we find noted down among our Collections, allowing our selves to hope, that will not be un∣acceptable or appear impertinent, not only upon the account of their novel∣ty, but for two other reasons.

2. The first, because though they do not accurately define the Expan∣sive force of freezing water, yet they manifest, that it is wonderfully great, better perhaps then any Experiment that has been hitherto practised (not to say, thought of) as may appear by comparing what we have delivered in another Treatise, of the great force requisite to compress Air con∣siderably, with the great compressi∣on of Air that has already been this way effected.

3. The second, because this new way affords us one of condensing the

Air much farther then hitherto it has, by any method I have heard of, been unquestionably reduced, I say, un∣questionably, because though the di∣ligent Mersennus, and others, seem to have conceived himself, to have re∣duced it in the wind-Gun into a very narrow room, yet besides that, by our Expedient, we have compressed it beyond what these Ingenious Men pretend to: Besides this, I say, I have long much questioned, whether the way of compressing Air in a wind-Gun, which both they and we have imploy'd, may safely be relied on; for the oyl or some other ana∣logous thing, that is wont this way to be imploy'd, and the overlooking of several circumstances, that are more necessary to be taken into diligent consideration, then wont to be so, may easily enough occasion no small mistake in assigning so great a degree to the compression of the Air; but our Exceptions against this way of measuring it, may be more oppor∣tunely discours'd of in another place. And therefore we will now proceed to take notice, that of the two known

ways of compressing Air, the clear∣est and most satisfactory, seems to be that which is performed in the wind Fountain, as 'tis commonly called, where yet I have seldom, if ever, seen the Air, (that I remember) by all the violence men could use to sy∣ringe in water, crowded into so little as the third part of the capacity of the vessel. And an ingenious Artificer, that makes store of these Fountains, being consulted by me, about the fur∣ther compressing of Air in them, he deterr'd me from venturing to try it, by affirming to me, that both he and another skilful Person of my Ac∣quaintance, had like to have been spoiled by such attempts; for endea∣vouring to urge the Air beyond a mo∣derate degree of compression, it not only burst some Fountains made of Glass, but when the Attempt was made in a large, but thick vessel, made of strong and compact Flan∣ders Earth (the same with that of Jugs and stone Bottles) the vessel was by the over-bent spring of the Air burst with a horrid noise, and the pieces thrown off with that violence, that

if they had hit him, or his Friend that assisted him in the Experiment, they might have maimed him, if not killed him out right, so that the greatest unquestionable Compression of the Air seems to have been that, recorded in the Fifth Chapter of our Defence against the learned Linus, where nevertheless, we could reduce the Air by the weight of a Cylinder of Mercury of about 100. inches, (which consequently might near countervale a Cylinder of six score foot of water) but into a little less then a fourth part of its usual extent; but how much further the Air may be compressed by our new purposed way, it is now time to shew by the ensuing notes, of which we have not omitted any that we could find, both that some scruples, which might else arise about the way we imployed, may be prevented, or satisfied, and that the way, we imployed in practi∣sing this method, might by some va∣riety of Examples be the better un∣derstood.

4. [We took a large glass-Egg,* 1.39 with a Cylindrical stem about the

bigness of my middle finger, and pouring in water, till it reach'd about a fingers breadth higher then the bottom of the stem, we set it to freez in snow and salt, for some hours, with the stop of the stem (which was drawn out into a very slender pipe almost at right angles with the stem) open, and there left it for some hours, and the water was risen betwixt six and a half, and seven inches. This we did in order to ano∣ther Experiment, but then easily and nimbly sealing up the slender pipe above mentioned, that the Air in the stem might not be heated, we let it continue in the snow, sometimes ad∣ding fresh for about 24. hours to ob∣serve, to what degree the water, by expanding it self, would compress the imprison'd Air. The length of the Cylinder of Air to be condens'd at the time of the sealing, was (ac∣counting by Estimation for the slen∣der pipe newly taken notice of) al∣most 9 ⅞ inches. This space we ob∣served the ascending water as the ice increas'd below, to invade by de∣grees: (for we watch'd it, and mea∣sur'd

it from time to time) so much, till at length the water reach'd to 8. inches and ⅞ almost, above the stati∣on (which we had carefully mark'd with a Diamond) in which we found it, when the glass was seal'd up, leaving but about an inch of Air at the top, so that of the whole space be∣fore possess'd by the Air, the water had intruded into near nine parts of ten; then being partly apprehensive the glass would hold no longer, but have its upper part blown off, as it happened to us a little before with another vessel, and partly being desi∣rous to try that which follows, we leisurely inverted the glass, that the Air might get up to the ice, for all the water in the stem had been pur∣posely kept unfrozen, and having provided a Jar to receive the water that should be thrown out, we broke the slender pipe which we had seal'd up, and immediately as we expected, the compressed Air with violence and noise, blew out of the stem into the Jar about ten inches of water, which was somewhat more (between half an inch and a whole inch, by rea∣son

of the Impetus of the self expand∣ing Air) then the space possess'd by the Air, before it began to be com∣press'd. And besides this, such a strange multitude of Bubbles, that were formerly repress'd, did now get liberty to ascend from the lower parts of the glass to the top of the re∣maining water, that it somewhat emulated that which happens to bot∣led Beer; upon the taking out of the Cork. N. B. when the Air was com∣pressed beyond seven inches, we ob∣serv'd divers times, that the inside of the glass possess'd by the Air, and nearest to the water, was round a∣bout, to a pretty height, full of very little drops like a small dew, but when we came to break the glass, we took noe such notice, whether the rising water had lick'd them up, or their concourse made them run down into it, or for some other reason, we determine not.]

Another.

5. [We took a single vial filled* 1.40 with water, about half an inch above the lower part of the neck, and lea∣ving about two inches of Air in the

remaining part of the neck, which was drawn out into a slender pipe, like that of the glass last mentioned, we seal'd it up, the Air being first well cool'd, and exposing it to freez, we observ'd a while after, that it had by guess condens'd the Air into lesser room. A while after, being in ano∣ther Chamber, we heard a conside∣rable noise, and imagining what it was, we went directly to the glass, whose upper part consisting of about an inch of the neck, besides the slen∣der pipe, we found had been blown off from the table upon the ground, the body and part of the neck remain∣ing in the snow; but this glass was of a mettal that uses to be more brittle then white glass.]

Another.

6. [A round white glass, almost fill'd with water, was seal'd up with care to avoid heating the included Air, which amounted to a Cylinder of about two inches and ⅞; after a while the water swell'd and compres∣sed the Air almost two inches, that is full two thirds: and then (as we conjectur'd, because the snow reach∣ing

too high, froze it in the neck) we found the glass crack'd in many pla∣ces of the Ball, and the top thrown off at some little distance from it.]

Another.

7. [A large single vial seal'd, in whose neck the Air was not condens'd to half its former room, just as we were going to break it under water, to observe the sally of the compress'd Air, suddenly blew off with a good noise, and threw from the table al∣most the whole neck of the Vial in one intire piece, which is near four inches long, and at the Basis above an inch broad.]

8. [A glass about the bigness of a Turkey Egg, and of an oval form, with a Neck almost Cylindrical, but somewhat wider at the lower then the upper part, was fill'd with wa∣ter, till there was left in the neck four inches and a half, whereof the last quarter of an inch, and a little more, was much narrower then the rest, be∣ing drawn into a conical shape, that it might be easily seal'd at the Apex; along this Cylinder, from the surface of the water, to the top of the glass,

was pasted a list of Paper, divided into inches and quarters, and then the glass being carefully and expeditious∣ly seal'd up by the flame of a candle, we observ'd, that by holding the glass a while in a warm hand, and a room where there was a good fire, the water was swell'd up near a quar∣ter of an inch, but placing the glass amongst solid pieces of ice mixt with salt, the water quickly began to sub∣side upon the Infrigidation, and a while after beginning to freez, it be∣gan to swell, and by degrees com∣press'd the Air, till it had crowded it into less then a 17. part, by what seem'd indisputable, for by esti∣mate, it seem'd to some to be crow∣ded into less then a 20. part, is not a much lesser part of the room it for∣merly possess'd, which difference of Estimates, notwithstanding the divi∣ded Paper, proceeded from the change of the figure of the upper end of the glass, from the Cylindrical, and to shew that there was no leak at the place where the glass was seal'd; besides, that by prying diligently, we could discern none; besides this,

I say, when the pressure of the thus crowded Air grew too strong for the resistence of the glass, it burst with a noise, that made us come to it from several places of the house; the vessel broke not in the Cylindrical part (as I may so speak) but in the oval, the whole pipe with the seal'd end re∣maining entire, the ice appear'd full enough of Bubbles, which made it white and opacous, and the water that had ascended into the neck, upon the breaking, was all driven out of it.]

Thus far our Collections, but be∣cause we had in another glass, where the operation was sooner dispatch'd, an opportunity of watching & obser∣ving somewhat more exactly, we will add,

9. That the last, and possibly the best Experiment we had of compres∣sing Air by freezing, was made in a short and strong glass. Egg, whose ball was very great in proportion to the stem, that the expanding of the water might have the more forcible operation: This vessel being exactly seal'd, and having a divided list of

paper pasted along the stem, was set to freez with snow (or ice) and salt, and the contain'd water did quickly begin to crowd the Air into a lesser room, and for a good while ascend∣ed very fast, till at length it having thrust the Air into so small a part of the Cavity of the pipe, that we vehe∣mently suspected there might be some unheeded flaw or crack of the glass, at which the Air had stollen out, we drew near the vessel, and attentively prying all about it, to try if we could discover any ground of our suspition, we found (as far as the divided list, and other circumstances could inform us) that the Air (supposing none of it to have got away) was reduc'd by our Estimate into the 19. part of the space it possess'd before. And this our curiosity prov'd not unseasonable, for whilest we were narrowly survey∣ing the glass, to spy out some flaw in it, we were quickly satisfied there had been none, by a huge crack made upon the Eruption of the included Air, whose spring being by so great a compression made too strong for the glass to resist, it did with a great

noise break the ball of the glass into many pieces, throwing the unfrozen part of the water upon me, and also throwing off the stem of the Egg, which yet I had the good fortune to recover intire, and which I yet keep by me as a rarity.

10. Thus far we then proceeded in compressing the Air, which being done in vessels Hermetically seal'd, where no Air can get in or out, seems to me a more unexceptionable way, then those that have hitherto been thought of. But further, we could not then prosecute it for want both of convenient glasses, and of ice or snow, of which if we were provided, and particularly of strong glasses, we should little doubt of reducing the Air to a yet more considerable de∣gree of compression.

11. We may add on this occasion, that we look'd upon the same way as somewhat less unpromising then others, that have been hitherto us'd to try the compression of water; for though hitherto neither the Experi∣ments of Ingenious Men, nor those made by our selves have fully satisfi'd

us, that water admits any more com∣pression, then it may suffer upon the account of the little parcels of Air, that is wont to be dispersed among it, yet the unsuccesfulness may per∣haps (for I propose it but as a mere conjecture) be imputed to the po∣rousness of the vessels, wherein by the ways already practis'd, the Ex∣periment must be made, whereas in this new way of ours, not only the force wherewith the compress'd Air presses upon the water, grows at length to be exceeding great, and is appli'd not with a sudden Impetus, as when a Pewter vessel is knock'd with a Hammer, but by slow and regular degrees of increase, but the water is kept in a vessel impervious to its sub∣tilest parts, so that it may indeed crack the glass, but cannot get out at the pores, as water compress'd is wont to do at those of metalline ves∣sels. The prosecution of this Expe∣riment to bring it to any thing of Ac∣curateness, we omitted, partly through forgetfulness and Avocati∣ons, and sometimes for want of con∣veniency to try it. But by the first of

the lately mention'd Experiments, about the condensation of Air, it seems by the strong multitude of Bubbles, which upon the breaking of the glass appear'd in the water that had been compress'd betwixt the Air and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that those two Bodies had very violently compress'd it: and this we are the more apt to be∣lieve, because that another time, when we had seal'd up some Air, and water in a glass-Egg, and permitted the water to swell by the operation of the Cold, but till it had reduc'd the Air, included with it, to about three quarters of the space it possest before, even then (I say) to try whether the subjacent water were not also compress'd by the Air it urg'd, we broke off the seal'd Apex of the glass, and perceiv'd, as we expected, the water to ascend, and that to the height of a quarter of an inch, as we found by measure. But such trials having not been, as we just now ac∣knowledg'd, duly prosecuted, we shall at present content our selves to have nam'd this way of attempting the compression of water, without ground∣ing any Inferences upon it.

Title XIII. Experiments and Observations touching the sphere of Acti∣vity of Cold.

1. THe sphere of Activity of Cold, or to speak plainer, the space, to whose extremities every way the action of a Cold body is able to reach, is a thing very well worth the enquiring after, but more diffi∣cult to find, then at first one would imagine: For to be able to assign the determinate limits, within which, and not beyond them, a cold Body can operate, several things are to be ta∣ken into consideration; as first, what the degree of Cold is, that belongs to the assigned Body: For it seems rational to conceive, that if a cold Body as such, have a diffusive vertue, those that have greater degrees of

Cold, as Ice and Snow, will be able to diffuse it to a greater distance, as we see that a coal of Fire will cast a sensible heat much further then a piece of wood, that is heated without being kindled. Secondly, the Medi∣um through which the Diffusion is made, may help to enlarge the Bounds, or straiten the Limits of it, as that medium is more or less dispos'd to receive or to transmit the Action of the cold Agent. Thirdly, Not only the Consistence, and Texture of the Medium, but its Motion, or Rest may be considered in this case. For in frosty and snowy weather, men observe the winds that come from frozen lands, to blow more cold, then winds from the same Quarter would do, in case there were no Ice nor Snow in their Passage. Fourthly, There may be made very differing Estimates of the Diffusion of Cold, according to the Instrument that is imploy'd to receive, and acquaint us with the Action of Cold. For a li∣quor or other Body may not appear cold to him, that examines it with a Weather-glass, whilest he shall feel

it cold with his hand; and, as we else∣where also note, to that sensory it self, as 'tis variously dispos'd, the same object will seem more or less cold; so much may the Predispositi∣on of the Organ impose upon the un∣skilful or unwary. Fifthly, The ve∣ry bulk of a cold Body may very much inlarge or lessen its sphere of Activity, as we may have occasion to shew ere long. And besides there may be divers other things, that may render it very difficult to ascertain any thing in this matter. And therefore I shall reserve them for other oppor∣tunities, and observe now in general, that in such small parcels of Ice it self, as in our Experiments we are wont to deal with, we have found the sphere of Activity of Cold ex∣ceeding narrow, not only in com∣parison of that of heat in fire, but in comparison of the Atmosphere, if I may so call it, of many odorous Bo∣dies, as Musk, Civet, Spices, Roses, Wormwood, Assa dulcis, Assa foetida, Castoreum, Camphire, and the like; nay, and even in comparison of the sphere of Activity of the more vigo∣rous

Loadstones, insomuch that we have doubted, whether the sense could discern a cold Body, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then by immediate Contact?

2. And to examine this, having taken a piece of Ice, we did not find upon trials, that I partly made my self, and partly caus'd in my presence to be made by others, that if a mans Eyes were close shut, he could cer∣tainly discern the Approach of a mo∣derately siz'd piece of Ice, though held never so near his fingers ends. Nay, which is more considerable, having had the curiosity to make the Trial, with one of those very sensible Thermoscopes I have formerly men∣tion'd (wherein a pendulous drop of liquor plays up and down in a slen∣der pipe) I found, that by holding it very near to little Masses of snow (somewhat compacted too) the mo∣vable drop, did not betray any ma∣nifest operation of so cold a neigh∣bouring Body; but if the glass were made to touch the snow, the effect would then be notable, by the hasty descent of the pendulous drop, or its motion towards the obtuse part of the

Instrument, in case that were not perpendicularly, but laterally ap∣pli'd to the snowy Lumps. But this languidness of operation, may per∣haps proceed in great part from the smallness of the Pieces of Ice that were imploy'd: For hearing of a Merchant, that had made divers Ob∣servations about Cold in Greenland, I desir'd, by the mediation of a very learned Friend, to be inform'd, whe∣ther or no in the night they could per∣ceive those vast heaps, or rather mountains of ice, that are wont to float up and down in that Sea, by any new and manifest accession of Cold, and was inform'd by way of Answer to that Question, that being at Sea, they could know the ap∣proach of Ice, as well by the increase of Cold, as by the glaring light which the Air seem'd to receive from the neighbouring Ice.

3. But that which makes me sus∣pect, that there may in this account be some mistake, is, that I have not yet met with any like observation in any of the voyages into gelid Cli∣mates, that I have had occasion to

peruse, though in some of them the Navigators frequently mention their having met with vast rands (as some call them) and Islands of mountain∣ous ice in the night. And 'tis, as I remember, the complaint of one or two, if not more of them, that the Ship lay close by such vast pieces of ice, without their being aware of it, by reason of the fogs. By which it seems that there was no sensible Cold diffused to any considerable distance, whereby they might be advertised of the unwelcome neighbourhood even of so much ice: But possibly the ap∣proach of far smaller masses of ice, would have been sensible to them in such a Climate as ours, where the organs would not have been indispo∣sed to feel, by a long accustomance, of any thing near so intense a degree of Cold, as that which then reigned in those Northern Seas.

4. Whilest we were considering the Difference, betwixt the operati∣ons of even the Coldest Bodies at the very nearest Distance, and upon im∣mediate Contact, we thought it an Experiment not altogether unworthy

to be tri'd, whether, though ice and snow alone, that is, unassisted by salts, would not in some of our for∣merly mention'd Experiments freez water, through the thickness even of a thin glass, they may not yet do it when the water is immediately conti∣guous to them. And I remember, that we took a conveniently shap'd Glass, and having frozen the contain∣ed water for some hours, from the bottom upwards, till the ice was grown to be of a considerable thick∣ness, we mark'd, what part of the glass was possess'd by the unfrozen water, and then removing the vessel to a little Distance from the snow, and salt, it stood in before, we let it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there, to try whether the ice would freez any part of the contigu∣ous and incumbent water; but some intervening accidents hindred us from being able to derive any great satisfa∣ction one way or other from our tri∣al.

5. Wherefore we shall add by way* 1.41 of Compensation, that the diligent Olearius relates, that at Ispahan, the Capital City of Persia, though it be

seated in a very hot Climate, and though it seldom freez there above a finger thick, and the ice melt pre∣sently at Sun-rising, yet the Inhabitants have Conservatories, which they furnish with solid pieces of ice of a good thickness, only by pouring at night great store of water at conveni∣ent intervals of time, upon a shelving floor of Free-stone or Marble, where∣on, as the water runs over it, the most dispos'd of its parts, are in their passage arrested, and frozen by the contiguous ice, which by this means (says my learned Author) may be brought in two or three successive nights, to a very considerable thick∣ness.

6. We several times gave order to have this Experiment tried in Eng∣land, but partly through the negli∣gence of those we imploy'd, and partly upon the score of intervening circumstances, our expectation was but ill answered. And in this case I mention intervening circumstances, because having caus'd a servant to pump in the night, upon a not very thin plate of ice, that was laid shel∣ving

upon a Board, and another flat piece of Ice being about the same time laid under a place, where water deri∣ved from a neighbouring spring, is wont continually to drop, he brought me word, that not only in this last nam'd place, the ice melted away, but that under the pump, instead of increasing in thickness by the waters running over it, it was thereby ra∣ther dissolv'd. At which somewhat wondring, I went in the morning my self to the pump, and causing a good flake of ice to be in a convenient po∣sture plac'd under it, I observed the water as it came out of the pump, and was falling on the ice, to smoak, as if the depth of the Well had made the water, though very Cold to the touch, somewhat warm in compari∣son of the ice, and thereby fitter to resolve then to increase it; (which inconvenience may be prevented by suffering the water of deep Springs and Wells, to stand to cool in the Air, before it be put to the Ice,) and this, though the neighbouring Air were, as I found by manifest proofs, so cold, that I was not tempted to

impute the unsuccesfulness of the Ex∣periment, rather to its want of a suf∣ficient coldness, then the water's: So that till I have an opportunity of making a further Trial, I cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more to the Persian way of augment∣ing ice. But to proceed, our having met with but an unsatisfactory Ac∣count of this Experiment, which we were the more troubled at, because this seem'd a promising way of try∣ing that, which otherwise is not so easily reduc'd to Experiment; for the Temperature of the Air, must be seriously consider'd in assigning the Cause of divers trials, that may be made for the resolving of the same Question. For to omit other Ex∣amples, here in England we find, that water poured on snow, is wont to hasten the Dissolution of it, and not to be congeal'd by it; whereas ha∣ving inquir'd of an Ingenious Person, that liv'd a good while among the Russians, he inform'd me, that it was their usual way to turn water and snow into ice, by pouring a conveni∣ent Proportion of that liquor into a great quantity of snow, and having

also inquir'd, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ice had not the like operation, he told 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that twas usual, and he had seen it pra∣ctis'd in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to cement Ice to Buildings, and other things, and al∣so to case over Bodies, as it were, with Ice, by gradually throwing wa∣ter upon them. But I doubt, whe∣ther that Effect be to be ascrib'd bare∣ly to the Contiguity of the Ice, be∣cause I learn'd of him, that this way of increasing ice is practis'd in very frosty weather, when water thinly spread upon almost any other Body, would be frozen by the vehement sharpness of the Air.

7. The Glaciations, that nature unguided by Art, is wont to make, beginning at those parts of Bodies, at which they are expos'd to the Air, it usually happens, that they freez from the upper towards the lower parts. But how far in Earth and Water (the most considerable Bo∣dies, that are subject to be frozen) the frost will pierce downwards, though for some hints, it would afford, worth the knowing, is not easie to be defin'd, because the deepness of the

frost may be much varied by the de∣gree of Coldness in the Air, by which the Glaciation seems to be produc'd, as also by the greater or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dura∣tion of the frost, by the looser or clo∣ser texture of the Earth, by the na∣ture of the Juices wherewith the Earth is imbu'd, and by the constitu∣tion of the subjacent, and more inter∣nal parts of the Earth, some of which send up either actually warm, or po∣tentially hot and resolving steams, such as those that make corrosive li∣quors in the bowels of the Earth; so that the frost will not seiz upon, or at least cannot continue over Mines; and I have seen good large scopes of land, where vast quantities of good Lime-stone lay near the surface of the Earth, on which I have been assur'd by the Inhabitants, that the snow will not lye. There are divers other things, that may vary the depth to which the frost can penetrate into the ground, (I say, into the ground, because in most cases it will pierce deeper into the water.) But yet that we may not leave this part of the History of Cold altogether uncontribu∣ted

to, we will add some of our Notes, whereby it will appear, that in our Climate the 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 less into the ground, then many are pleas'd to think.

8. The notes I find about this mat∣ter are these that follow, which I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unaltered, because 'twere tedious, and not worth while to add the way we imploy'd, and the cau∣tions we us'd in making the observa∣tions, but we shall rather intimate, that the following trials were made in a Village about two miles from a great City.

[I. Jan. 22. After four nights of frost, that was taken notice of for ve∣ry hard, we went into an Orchard, where the ground was level, and not covered with grass, and found by digging, that the frost had scarce pierc'd into the ground three inches and a half. And in a Garden nearer the house, we found not the Earth to be frozen more then two inches be∣neath its surface.

II. Nine or ten nights successive frost froze the grasless ground in the Garden, about six inches and a half,

or better in depth, and the grasless ground in the Orchard, where a wall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it from the south Sun, to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of about eight inches and a half, or better.]

[February the 9. we digg'd in an Orchard near a wall, that respects the North, and found the frost to have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ground 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a foot and two inches, at least above a foot: 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the eight day since it was 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 inches and a half.]

[A slender pipe of glass, about 18. inches long, and seal'd at one end, was thrust over night into a hole, purposely made with a Spit, straight down into the ground, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the water being in the same level with that of the Earth, the next morning the Tube being taken out, the water appear'd frozen in the whole Capacity of the Cylinder, but a little more then three inches. But from this stick of ice, there reach'd downwards a part of a Cylinder of ice of about six inches in length, the rest of the water remain'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉, though it were an exceeding sharp night, preceded by a Constitution of

the Air, that had been very lasting, and very bitter. The Earth in the Garden, where this Trial was made, we guess'd to be frozen eight or ten inches deep, as it was in another place about the same house. But is this Tube had not been in the ground, the ambient Air would have frozen it quite through.]

9. Another Note much of the same import, we find in another place of our Collections.

Finding that by reason of the mild∣ness of our Climate, I was scarce to hope for any much deeper Congela∣tion of the Earth or Water, I ap∣pli'd my self to inquire of an Ingeni∣ous Man, that had been at Musco, whether he had observed any thing there to my present purpose, as also to find in Captain James's Voyage, whether that inquisitive Navigator had taken notice of any thing, that might inform me, how far the Cold was able to freeze the Earth or Wa∣ter in the Island of Charleton, where that Quality may probably be suppo∣sed to have had as large a sphere of Activity, as in almost any part of the

habitable world: And by my Inqui∣ries I 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that even in frozen Re∣gions themselves, a congealing de∣gree of Cold pierces nothing near so deep into the Earth and Sea, as one would imagine: For the Traveller, I spoke with, told me, that in a Gar∣den in Musco, where he took notice of the thing I inquir'd about, he found not the ground to be frozen much above two foot deep. And in Captain James's Journal, the most that I find (and that too, where he gives an Account of the prodigiously tall ice they had in January) con∣cerning the piercing of the frost into the ground, is this, that The ground at* 1.42 tenfoot deep was frozen. Whence by the way we may gather how much sharper Cold may be presum'd to have reigned in that Island, then even in Russia. And as for the freezing of the water, He does in another place occasionally give us this memorable Account of it, where He relates the manner of the breaking up the Ice in the frozen Sea, that surrounds the Island we have been speaking of. It is first to be noted (says he) that it doth* 1.43

not freez (naturally) above six foot, the rest is by accident, such is that Ice, that you may see here six fathome thick. This we had manifest proof of by our digging the Ice out of the Ship, and by digging to our Anchors before the Ice broke up. The rest of that account not concern∣ing our present purpose, I forbear to annex, only taking notice, that not∣withstanding our lately mention'd Experiment of freezing water in a glass Tube thrust into the Ground, yet it seems, that at least where Captain James winter'd, the water was not much above half so thick fro∣zen as the Earth. But we have al∣ready noted the indisposition of salt∣water to congelation, and whether fresh water would not have been deeper frozen may be justly doubted.

Title XIV. Experiments touching the diffe∣ring Mediums through which Cold may be diffus'd.

1. IN examining whether Cold might be diffus'd through all Mediums indefinitely, notwithstand∣ing their Compactness or the Close∣ness of their Texture, we must have a Care not to make our Trials with Mediums of too great thickness, least we mistakingly impute that to the Nature of the Medium which is in∣deed caus'd by the distance which the Medium puts betwixt the Agent and the Patient. For the mixtures of Ice and Snow, wherewith we made our Experiments, will operate but at a very small distance, though the Me∣dium resist no more then the common Air, as may appear by some of the

Experiments recorded in this Trea∣tise.

This premis'd, we may proceed to relate, that having plac'd a copious mixture of ice and salt in Pipkins glaz'd within, and in white Basons glaz'd both within and without, we observ'd, that the outside of both those sorts of vessels was crusted over with ice: though, however the bak'd Earth had not been compact, nor the vitrifi'd surfaces of a very close Texture; the very thickness of the vessels was so great, that it seem'd it would scarce have been able to freez at a greater distance.

2. By the Experiments formerly mention'd of freezing water in Pew∣ter bottles, it appears, that Cold is able to operate through such mettal∣line vessels.

3. And this may be somewhat confirm'd by one of the prettiest Ex∣periments, that is to be perform'd by the help of Cold, namely, the ma∣king Icy Cups to drink in. The way we us'd was this; We caus'd to be made a Cup of Lattin (by which I mean Iron reduc'd into thin plates,

and tinn'd over on both sides) of the shape and bigness I intended to have the Cup of; then I caus'd to be made of the same matter another Cup of the same shape with the for∣mer, but every way less, so that it would go into the greater, and leave a competent interval for water, be∣twixt its convex surface, and the con∣cave of the other. This innermost Cup was furnished with a rim or lip, by which it lean'd upon the greater, and by whose help its sides and bot∣tom were easily plac'd at a just and even distance from the sides and bot∣tom of the other; but the Distance between the two bottoms is made greater, then that between the sides, that the icy Cup might stand the firmer, and last the longer. The in∣terval between the two parts of this Mould being fill'd with water, and the Cavity of the internal Cup being fill'd with a mixture of ice and salt, (partly to freez the contiguous wa∣ter, and thereby cooperate to the quicker making of the Cup and partly by its weight to keep the wa∣ter from buoying up so light a Cup,)

the external part was surrounded with ice and salt, whose Cold so po∣werfully penetrated to the internal metalline Mould, that the water was quickly frozen, and (the Parts of the Mould being disjoyn'd) appeared turn'd into an icy Cup of the bigness and figure design'd. And these Cups being easily to be made, and of vari∣ous shapes (and that in the midst of Summer, if snow or ice be at hand) are very pleasant triffles, especially in hot weather, when they impart a very refreshing coolness to the drink poured into them, and though they last not long, especially if they be im∣ploy'd to drink Wine, and such like spirituous Drinks in, yet whilest some are melting, others may be provided, and so the loss may be ea∣sily repair'd; all the difficulty we met with, was to disjoyn the parts of the Mould which are wont to stick very fast to the ice they include. And we tri'd to obviate this, some∣times by annointing the inside of the Mould with some unctuous and not offensive matter, to hinder the Adhe∣sion of the ice, and sometimes by ap∣plying

some convenient heat both to the convex part of the external, and the concave part of the internal piece of the Mould, which last mention'd way is quick and sure, but lessens the durableness of the Cup.

(We were lately inform'd, that this way of making Cups of Ice, is set down 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Argenis, and 'tis like enough, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Man may have learn'd it amongst some of the Virtuosi of Italy he convers'd with: But if we that learn'd it from none of them, had not been taught it by Ex∣perience, we should scarce have ven∣tur'd to try it upon the Credit of a Romance; that sort of Composures being wont to be fabulous enough to pass but for Poems in Prose.)

4. The learned and industrious Mathematician Erasmus Bartholinus, mentions in his newly publish'd Dis∣course de Figura 〈◊〉〈◊〉, an Experi∣ment, by which he tells us, that some Masters of Natures secrets, do easily, even in the midst of heat, reduce wa∣ter into Air. For they put a little snow or ice into a Funnel, and there∣by so refrigerate and condense the

ambient Air, that there will dew trickle down the sides of the Fun∣nel: By which means it has been said, that some Ingenious Men have hop'd to make an artificial Fountain in the midst of Summer. But I here mention this Experiment rather, because 'tis not unlikely to please those to whom 'tis new, and because having purposely tri'd it in large and thick funnels of glass, it may be pertinent∣ly enough deliver'd in this place, (where we are treating of the Trans∣mission or Propagation of Cold; through close and thick Mediums,) then because we expect to make of it that use, especially that Oecono∣mical use, that has been lately intima∣ted. For first, 'twill be very hard to prove, that 'tis the very Air it self, and not rather the vapours swimming in it, that are by this means transmu∣ted into water. And secondly, 'tis true indeed, that a mixture of snow and salt will condense vapours on the outside of a Funnel, but either they, that hop'd to make this use of the Ex∣periment, have little Experience of it, and write conjecturally, or else

they have made it with a success very differing from ours. For though, we imploy'd a large Funnel, and suspen∣ded it by a string (artificially enough ti'd about it) in the free Air: And though the mixture of ice and salt we put in, were sufficiently infrigidating (as will appear by and by) and far more so, then ice or snow alone would have been, yet that mixture being not able to condense the vapo∣rous Parts of the Air into dew, much, if at all, longer then the mutual Dis∣solution of the salt and snow lasted, the liquor that was this way obtain'd, and dropp'd down at the bottom of the Funnel (whose internal Perfora∣tion ought to be carefully stopp'd, least any of the resolved snow and salt should fall through, and spoil the other liquor) was indeed sweet like rain water, but so very little, as well, as so slowly generated, that it amounted not any thing near to that which the snow, imploy'd and spoil'd to make it, would have afforded. So that it may be question'd, whe∣ther some cooling liquors, which can as well as this mixture condense

the vapid Air into water, and whose Texture is not destroy'd in this opera∣tion, as that of the snow is, might not be more hopefully imploy'd to obtain water from the Air; to which I shall only add this one thing, That the mixture of snow and salt did turn the vapours, that fasten themselves to the outside of the glass, first into Ice, before they dropt down in the form of water; in almost all our Trials of this nature, as well in thick Funnels, as in other and thinner glasses.

5. That in Hermetically seal'd glas∣ses, an included mixture of snow and salt will freez the vapours of the Air on the outside of the glass, divers of the Experiments of the present Trea∣tise do manifestly evince, which ar∣gue, that even so extremely close a Medium as Glasses, is not able to hin∣der the Transmission of Cold. And this is not superfluously added, be∣cause in vessels not Hermetically seal'd, it may be pretended, that 'tis the in∣ternal Air that communicates its Coldness by some unheeded, but im∣mediate intercourse, with the exter∣nal.

After this we thought it worth an Experiment, to try, whether, or how, Cold would be diffused through a Medium, that some would think a Vacuum, and which to others would seem much less dispo∣sed to assist the Diffusion of Cold, then common Air it self; to compass this, the Expedient we bethought our selves of, was, to suspend a slen∣der glass full of water in one of the small Receivers belonging to our Pneumatical Engine, and when the Air was very carefully pump'd out, to bury the exhausted Receiver in a copious and ready prepar'd mixture of Ice and Salt, to see, whether not∣withstanding the withdrawing of the Medium, the water suspended in a kind of Vacuum, as to Air or gross substances would yet be frozen by the Cold. That Event of our trials, which alone I find among my Notes, is registred in these terms.

6. [A small pipe seal'd at one end, was, at the other, fill'd almost with water, and was put into a Receiver, consisting of a somewhat long and slender Tube of Glass, seal'd at one

end, and inverted upon the Engine plate, then the Air was carefully ex∣hausted, for the pump was ply'd a while after no Air appear'd to come forth in any bubble out of the Recei∣ver, through the external water; nor did the water in the small pipe within, disclose any number of bub∣bles worth taking notice of: then by the help of an almost Cylindrical plate of Iron, beaten Ice and Salt, were heap'd against the outside of the Receiver, about the height, to which the water in the small pipe reach'd. And at length, though, as we all thought, much more slowly then such a Congelation would else have been perform'd, the water was for the most part frozen in odd kind of flakes from the top to the bottom, and the ice seem'd not to have any considerable number of Bubbles.]

7. There is one Experiment, I have made about the Transmission of Cold through indispos'd Mediums, which may not be unworthy to be here in∣serted. For I had once a mind to try, whether a cold Body could ope∣rate through a Medium, that was, as

to touch, actually hot, and had its heat continually renew'd by a soun∣tain, as it were, of heat, that perpe∣tually diffus'd through it, new sup∣plies of warm Liquor, so that the cold Body could not here, as in other cases, first allay the heat of the Medi∣um, and then lessen it more and more, till it had quite extinguish'd it. To compass this, I had soon after an op∣portunity of making some trials pre∣sented me: For being at the Mineral Springs at Tunbridge, to drink those wholsome waters for my healths sake, I soon accustomed my self to drink them in considerable Quanti∣ties very early in the morning, when they were exceeding Cold, and some∣times drinking them in bed, as well as sometimes at the Springs-head, I had the Curiosity to observe, whe∣ther in case I took them down very fast, they would not through the warm Muscles and outward Parts of the Abdomen, diffuse a sensible Coldness; and upon more Trials then one, I found, that by laying my warm hands on the outside of my Belly, I there felt at least, as it seem∣ed

to me, a manifest and conside∣rable Degree of Coldness. And when I related this to some ingenious Persons, that were better acquainted with those Springs then I, they told me, that there was among those ma∣ny that then resorted to those famous Springs, a Knight, whose Name I remember not, whose Disease being judg'd formidable, the Physicians en∣joyned him to drink in a morning two or three times the Quantity, that afforded me the Observation I was relating, and that when this Knight had fill'd his Belly with so much wa∣ter, he us'd mightily to complain of the Coldness it diffus'd through his Abdomen, insomuch that he was fain to ply those parts long with hot Napkins clapp'd to them, one after another, which yet, as he com∣plain'd, were soon refrigerated by the excessive Cold that the water dif∣fus'd to the outside of his Belly, which yet nevertheless was not, that I could learn, at all prejudic'd, no more then mine, by so sensible and piercing a Cold.

8. It may be doubted, whether in

case water be not fluid upon the ac∣count of a congenite motion in the Corpuscles it consists of, its fluidness may not proceed from the agitation of the ambient Air, either immedi∣ately contiguous to the surface, or communicating its agitation to the water, by propagation of its Impulse through the vessel that interposes betwixt them. To contribute to the clearing of this, and some other things, we devis'd the following Ex∣periment. We provided a glass∣bubble of about the bigness of a Wal∣nut, and the form almost of a Pear, whose stem was purposely made crooked for the conveniency of sus∣pension. This being fill'd with wa∣ter (which is troublesome enough to be done, unless one have the knack) we hung it at one end of a thread, whose other end we past through a Cork, by a perforation purposely made: into which, we afterwards fastned the thread, by thrusting in a small peg to rivet it in. Then filling a glass not very broad, but yet fur∣nished with a mouth wide enough to receive the bubble, with oyl of Tur∣pentine,

such as we bought it at the shops, we stopp'd the orifice with the newly mention'd Cork, so that the seal'd Bubble hanging at it, was covered, and every way surrounded by the oyl of Turpentine, which be∣ing a liquor, that (at least in such Colds as we here have) will not freez, we plac'd the glass in beaten Ice and Salt, and as it were buri'd it therein, and at the end of about three hours (having been diverted by some occa∣sions from taking it sooner out) we found, as we had conjectured, that notwithstanding that, the oyl of Tur∣pentine continued perfectly fluid as before, yet the Bubble totally im∣mersed in this heating Chymical oyl, was frozen throughout, not except∣ing that which was harboured in the little Neck or Stalk, and when I came to lift it out of the liquor, the glass being crack'd (as we supposed by the Cold) the string brought up a little part of that which was nearest to it; the rest in the form above mentioned, staying behind and subsi∣ding. And that which was remark∣able in this piece of Ice, was, that

when we had taken it out, it appear∣ed cleft very deep (from the outside almost to the centre) according to a line drawn from the slenderest part of it, almost as if one should with a knife cut a Pear in two, from the stalk downwards, according to its whole length. And these two pieces were easily enough separable, and (to adde that circumstance) for trial sake we left them divided in the same liquor and vessel, with some thawing Ice and Salt about them, for 14. or 15. hours, without finding them any thing near so much wasted or resol∣ved into water, as most would have expected.

Whilest the above mentioned Bubble was exposed to be frozen, we likewise placed by it in another vessel a Glass-Egg, whose Ball and a little part of its stem we had fill'd with some of the very same parcel of oyl of Turpentine, and placing about the sides of this Egg some ice and salt, we observed, as we expected, that the liquor was, after a little while, made by the Cold to subside about half an inch, so that 'tis worth some

Philosophers considering, why, if according to the lately mention'd Atomical doctrine, Cold be made by the introduction of swarms of real and extended, though Atomical Bo∣dies, they should pervade the oyl, and contract it without freezing it, but freez the water without contract∣ing it, but expending it rather.

9. [A small bubble of the bigness of a very little Nutmeg, fill'd with water, and Hermetically seal'd up, was by a cork and a string suspended in spirit of Wine, so as to be sur∣rounded therewith, and being expo∣sed to the Air the same night, in the stopt glass, was the next morning found altogether frozen, though the spirit of Wine it self were not at all so: But another bubble, by the help of a string Cork, and piece of Lead, carefully suspended in a strong solu∣tion of Sea-salt, and exposed at the same time in a like vessel with the former, when they both came to be look'd upon, appear'd to be no more frozen then the brine it self, which was not so at all.]

10. [A glass Bubble of the big∣ness

of a small Nutmeg, fill'd with water, and Hermetically seal'd, be∣ing immersed by a weight of Lead fastned to it, beneath the surface of a very salt Brine, but yet not so as to reach the bottom of the liquor or glass, was exposed all night to freez, in weather that was extraordinarily cold, but neither the imprison'd wa∣ter, nor the other appeared to be at all frozen. The like Experiment we repeated another frosty night, but without freezing either of the liquors. But to show the usefulness of repeat∣ing Experiments about Cold, if there be opportunity, and especially in such cases, where the degree or some other circumstance may much vary the event, we will add, that ha∣ving exposed a Bubble like that new∣ly mention'd, and immers'd in spirit of Wine, we found the next morning the water in the bubble turn'd into ice, and having likewise exposed such a bubble immers'd in very strong Brine, to be frozen by a mixture of ice and salt, within about two hours after, we found the bubble broken,

as we suppos'd, upon the Expansion of the water upon its growing Ice. And we also found the upper part of the bubble with the Ice sticking to it, and the other part of the glass was crack'd, with lines running from a point almost like the Pole and Meri∣dian in a Globe, whence we conclu∣ded the glass to have been, as 'tis probable, burst asunder upon the Expansion of the fresh water into ice, and that the Reason why there re∣main'd but a comparatively little par∣cel of ice, was probably, that the salt water getting in at those crannies or chinks, dissolved as much of the new made ice, as in a little while it could easily reach.]

Besides,

11. [We fill'd a glass bubble with fair water, and having Hermetically seal'd it, we suspended it by a string fastned to the cork in the cavity of a wide mouth'd glass, well stopt, so that the bubble was every way at a good distance from the sides, bot∣tom, and top of the glass. This we did to try, whether a sufficient de∣gree

of Cold at that distance, would be freely transmitted through the glass, without the intervention of a visible liquor, and accordingly we found the suspended Bubble crack'd by the ice that fill'd it.]

Title XV. Experiments and Observations touching Ice.

1. A Great part of our present Hi∣story, being imploy'd about delivering the Phaenomena of Congela∣tion, it is not to be expected, that in this Section, where we treat of Ice as a distinct part of our Theme, we should deliver all those particulars, that have occurr'd to us, wherein ice is concern'd. And therefore we shall restrain our selves to the mention of those, that belong to ice, considered, as it consists of intire and distinct Por∣tions of congeled water. Aud though we shall deliver some few Experi∣ments of our own, such as we had any opportunity to make, yet much the greater part of this Section will fitly enough be taken up by Collecti∣ons

out of Travellers, and Naviga∣tors, into those Colder Regions, that afford much considerabler, or at least much stranger Observations concern∣ing ice, then are to be met with in so temperate a Climate as ours. And what we have to deliver in this Secti∣on, will naturally be divided into two parts, the one consisting of our own Experiments, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the other containing some Passages, that we have selected out of Voyages, or that have been afforded us by the Relati∣ons of credible Travellers. And of these two sorts of Observables, that which has been first mention'd shall be first treated of.

2. Some that have been in the East Indies inform us, that in some parts of those Countries, they were look∣ed upon as great Liars, for affirm∣ing, that in Europe the fluid body of water, was often without any arti∣fice or endeavour of Man, turned in a few hours into a solid and compact Body, such as Ice. And certainly, if custom did not take away the strang∣ness of it, it would to us also appear very wonderful, that so great a

change of Texture should be so easi∣ly and inartificially produced. But how solid the Body of ice is, or ra∣ther how strong is the mutual adhesi∣on of its parts, has not yet, that we know of, been attempted by Experi∣ments to be reduced to some kind of Estimate; and indeed so many things must be taken into considerati∣on, that it will be difficult to arrive at any more then a fair conjecture in this matter; especially, because (〈◊〉〈◊〉 think) it may justly be doubted, whether or no differing degrees of Cold may not vary the degree of compactness of the ice, and my doubt will not perhaps appear groundless, if I add, that having, to satisfie my self, inquired of an intelli∣gent Person, that liv'd some years in Russia, he answered me, that he found the ice of those parts to be much harder then that of these.

3. We had in our thoughts divers ways to Estimate the cohesion of the parts of ice, whereof one was, to freez water in a hollow metalline Cylinder, and taking out the ice, and keeping it in a Perpendicular po∣sture

cast into a scale weigh'd before∣hand, and carefully fastned to the bottom of the ice, more and more weight, till the mere weight broke the Cylinder, and this we had thoughts to try in Cylinders of diffe∣ring Diameters and lengths, but wanted conveniencies to make the Experiments; (which if they were made (as some of our Trials were) in the open Air, and in places expo∣sed to some gelid wind, it would the better secure the ice from being weakned or thaw'd during the Tri∣als.)

4. We therefore attempted by another way, to investigate the strength of ice. For we took a plate of it, of an uniorm, and also of a considerable thickness, and with sides cut parallel, that it might serve for a kind of leaver, and plac'd it betwixt two wooden Bars, whose distance we knew, and then laying on it a great weight, the Centre of whose Pressi∣on, as near as we could estimate, was equally, or in determinate mea∣sures, distant from the woodden ful∣crums: we endeavoured to try, how

great a weight it would support; but in the Village, where we made the trials, we could not get weights that were conveniently shap'd, and pon∣derous enough, to break it, and though we caused a Man to stand up∣on it, yet neither could his weight break it, till he chanced to add an impressed force with his foot, to the weight of his Body. So that being unable to determine, what that addi∣tional and impressed force might amount to, almost all that we could safely conclude, either from this Ex∣periment, or some other ways of tri∣al with scales, and other ways that we made use of (but for want of con∣veniencies unsuccesfully) was, that the force of ice to support weights, is much greater then men are wont to imagine, which seems somewhat the more strange, because it is not here in England so solid a Body, as by this one would guess: for not only glass would readily scratch it deep enough, but even with common Knives we would cut it, and that with great ease.

5. Yet one not inconsiderable Ac∣count

I was able to give my self of the strength of ice, which I find in my Notes thus delivered.

[There was taken a piece of ice three inches long, and three broad, and somewhat less then a quarter of an inch thick; this was laid cross∣ways upon a frame, so that the two parts, on which the ice lean'd, were distant three inches, then there was taken an Iron, shap'd like the figure of (the common Arithmetical Cy∣pher, that denotes Seven) 7, to whose hanging leg, if I may so call it, there was fastned at the end, which was under the middle of the ice, a scale, into which several weights were put, such as by some former Trials we guess'd to be almost as much as the ice would well suffer, after which the horizontal leg of the Iron was very gently laid upon the ice, as near as we could guess, in the middle of the distance, between the two sides of the frame, and conse∣quently parallel to them both, then the weights not proving altogether sufficient to break the ice, we let them hang a while at it, and observ'd how

the edge of the incumbent leg of Iron (which edge was * 1.44 broad) did work it self downwards into the ice, so that by our guess, when the ice broke, as after a while it did, it had lost at one end of the Incision, if I may so call it, half its thickness, and at the other, about a third part of it.

The weights that broke it, amount∣ed to 17. pounds Haberdupois, and 117. ounces Troy.

6. The Experiment was repeated with all the former circumstances, only the piece of Ice was two inches and a half broad, and a quarter of an inch thick, the distance of the frame was three inches, as before, the weights that broke it, were 17. pounds Haberdupois, and 48. ounces Troy. The horizontal arm of the iron had melted somewhat more then half through the ice when it broke, viz. more then ⅔ of the thickness at one end, and somewhat less then half at the other.

7. We divers times intimated in some of the first Sections of our pre∣sent History, that the addition of salt to Ice, did hasten the dissolution of it,

which though it may be easily proved by some other Phaenomena of our Ex∣periments, yet it will not be amiss to mention here a couple of particular trials, by which we have more ma∣nifestly evinc'd it: And first, we di∣vers times took a broad and flat plate of ice, less then a ¼ of an inch thick, and having placed it horizontally up∣on a joyn'd-stool, (a table, or any other flat piece of wood will do as well) we strewed here and there a convenient quantity of Bay-salt upon it, and though we observed, that, if the surfaces of the ice and stool, were not both of them flat, and congruous enough, the ice would be thaw'd in∣deed, but the other part of the Expe∣riment would not well succeed; yet when we made the trial carefully, and watchfully, the plate of ice part∣ly thaw'd by the salt, would be so firmly frozen to the stool it leaned on, that we were fain with an iron instrument, to knock it all to pieces, before we could sever it from the stool, into whose pores the ice newly generated by the Experiment, did pierce so deep, that notwithstanding

our knocking, many little parcels of ice would continue to stick close to the wood, whose pores they had in∣vaded. But the circumstances which in this Experiment made the most to our purpose, are these two; The one, that having sometimes laid the salt but on few, and somewhat di∣stant parts of the plate, the interme∣diate parts would many of them re∣main unfrozen to the stool, whilest those, where the salt had been laid, were frozen so hard to it. And the other circumstance is, that the gros∣ser grains of salt, would so far dis∣solve the ice whereto they were con∣tiguous, as (if I may so speak) to bu∣ry themselves therein, whilest the other parts of the ice, upon which, or near which, no salt had been laid, kept their surfaces smooth and intire. We tried likewise two or three times to freez a plate of ice to a flat piece of wood, by making use of Aqua fortis, instead of common salt, but the Ex∣periment succeeded not well, though once we brought the ice to stick to the wood manifestly, but not strong∣ly.

8. To this we shall add, the fol∣lowing Experiment, which when we watchfully made it, succeeded well, and I find it among my notes set down in these terms.

[Solid fragments of ice having pret∣ty store of salt thrown on them, upon the first falling of the salt among the ice, there was produced a little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 noise, and for a good while after there manifestly ascended out of several parts of the mixture, conveniently held betwixt a candle and the eye, a steam or smoak, like that of warm meat, though the night were rainy and warm, and though the morning had not been frosty.]

The mention here made of the crackling noise made by the ice upon the addition of salt, (which seemed to proceed from the crackling of the brittle ice, produc'd by the operation of the salt upon it) brings into my mind an Experiment I had formerly made, whereof a greater noise of the same kind is a Phaenomenon: though the Ex∣periment were chiefly made for the Discovery of the texture of Ice: The event of the trial I find thus set down among my notes.

9. [We took some cakes of ice, each of the thickness between an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and a ¼ part of an inch, but not so ve∣ry compact ice, as to be free from store of bubbles; some good Aqua fortis dropp'd upon this, did quickly penetrate it with a noise, that seem'd to be the cracking of the ice, under∣neath which the sowre liquor was ve∣ry plainly to be tasted; Oyl of Vitri∣ol did the same, but much more po∣werfully, and without seeming to crack the ice which it past through; so that though but three or four drops were let fall upon the plate, it imme∣diately shew'd it self in drops exceed∣ingly corrosive on the other side of the ice. And the like success we had with a trial made with the same li∣quor upon three such plates of ice frozen one upon the top of another.]

10. Having proceeded as far as we were able towards the bringing the strength of ice to some kind of Esti∣mate, by such Experiments as we had opportunity to make here, we thought it not amiss to seek what in∣formation we could get about this matter among the Descriptions that

are given us of Cold Regions: But I have not yet found any thing to have been taken notice of to this purpose worth transcribing, except a passage in the Arch-Bishop of upsal, wherein though the estimate of the force of Ice be, as we shall by and by show, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after a gross manner, yet since this it self is more then I have met with elsewhere, I think it worth subjoyning, as our Author de∣livers it in these terms: Glacies (says* 1.45 he) primae & mediae hyemis adeò fortis & tenax est, ut spissitudine seu densita∣te duorum digitorum sufferat hominem Ambulantem, trium vero digitorum equestrem Armatum; unius palmae & dimidiae, turmas, vel exercitus milita∣res; trium vel quatuor palmarum inte∣gram Legionem seu myriadem populorum, quemadmodum inferiùs de bellis Hyema∣libus memorandum erit.

But though this be sufficient to af∣ford us an illustrious Testimony of the wonderful strong cohesion of the parts of ice, yet we mention'd it but as a popular way of estimate, which may better embolden Travellers, then satisfie Philosophers, in regard

that the Author determines only the thickness of the ice, and not the di∣stance of that part of it, that supports the weight from the shore or brink, on which, as on a Hypomochlion, the remotest part of the ice does lean or rest. And if we consider the ice as a Lever, and the Brink or Brinks on which it is supported, as a single or double sulcrum, the distance of the weight may be of very great mo∣ment in reference to its pressure or gravitation on the ice, which may much more easily support the weight of divers men plac'd very near the prop, then that of one man plac'd at a great distance from it, as will be easily granted by those, that are not strangers to the Mechanicks, especi∣ally to the nature and properties of the several kinds of Levers. But not now to debate, whether in certain cases, the ice we speak of, may not re∣ceive some support from the subja∣cent water, nor whether some other circumstances may not sometimes be able to alter the case a little, our ve∣ry considering the ice as a single or double Lever, though it may hinder

us from measuring the determinate strength of ice upon Olaus's Observati∣on, yet it will set forth the strength of it so much the more, since by his indefinite expressions he seems suffi∣ciently to intimate, that when the ice has attain'd such a thickness, its resi∣stance is equivalent to such a weight, without examining on what part of the ice it chances to be placed.

11. Thus far our Experiments concerning ice (with the Appendix subjoyned out of Olaus to the same purpose.) We will now proceed to some of the observations we have met with in Seamens Journals, and elsewhere. I say to some, because to enumerate them all, would spend more time and labour then I can af∣ford, and therefore I shall restrain my self to the mention of some few of the chiefest.

I. And in the first place for confir∣mation of what I deliver'd at the be∣ginning of this Section, from the re∣port of a Traveller into Russia, touching the hardness of ice in those gelid Climates, in comparison of our ice, which I have found it easie

to scrape with glass, or to cut with a knife; I shall subjoyn this passage of Captain G. Weymouth, in his Voyage for the Discovery of the Northwest* 1.46 passage. As we were (says he) break∣ing off some of this Ice, which was very painful for us to do, for it was almost as hard as a rock, &c.

II. Next to shew, that it was not a superfluous wariness, that made me in a former Section doubt, that even the ice made of Sea-water might be altogether or almost insipid; I will subjoyn, that I have since met with some Relations, that seem to justifie what is there deliver'd. And in one of our Englishmens Voyages into the Northern Seas, I find more then one instance to my present purpose, though I shall here set down but one, which is so full and express, that it needs no companions: Our Naviga∣tor speaking thus; About nine of the* 1.47 Clock in the forenoon, we came by a great Island of Ice, and by this Island we found some pieces of Ice broken off from the said Island, and being in great want of fresh water, we hoysed out our Boats of both Ships, and loaded them twice with Ice,

which made us very good fresh water.

But all this notwithstanding, I yet retain some scruple, till those that have better opportunity to make a more satisfactory Experiment shall ease me of it. For though by these Narratives it seems more then pro∣bable, that the ice in the midst of the Sea consists but of the fresh Particles of water, that plentifully concur to compose the Sea water, yet besides that, in case the fresh water were ta∣ken, as some of that, I have found mentioned in Voyages, has confessed∣ly been, from the top of the ice, it might possibly be no more then melt∣ed snow, which, as we elsewhere take notice, does in those extremely cold Regions easily freez upon the ice it falls on, and oftentimes much in∣creases the height of it: Besides this, I say, the Argument from the insipid∣ness of the resolved ice, will conclude but upon supposition, that as that ice was found in the Sea, so it was also made of the Sea water; which though it may have been, yet I some∣what doubt, whether it were or no, since I find some Navigators of the

most conversant in the cold Climates to inform us, That most of those vast Quantities of ice that are to be met with about Nova Zembla, and the strait of Weigats, and that choke up some other passages, whereby men have attempted to pass into the south Sea, are compos'd of the accu∣mulation of numerous pieces of ice (cemented together by cold water) that are brought down from the great River Oby, and others, so that it may very well be suppos'd, that these* 1.48 mountainous pieces of ice may be some of these, which, upon the shat∣tering of ice in Bays and straits, partly by the heat of the Sun, and partly by the Tides, may be after∣wards by the winds and currents dri∣ven

all up and down the Seas, to parts very distant from the shore, and some of these it may be, that our Countreymen met with, and ob∣tain'd their fresh water from: Which I the rather incline to think, because that (as we shall have occasion to ob∣serve in another Section) the main Sea it self is seldom or never frozen. But my scope in all this, is, but to propose a scruple, not an opinion.

III. The next and principal thing concerning ice, is the bigness of it, which I find, by the Relations partly of some Acquaintances of my own, and partly of some Navigators into the North, to be sometimes not only prodigious, but now and then scarce credible. And therefore, as I shall mention but few instances, that I have selected out of the best Journals, and other writings I have met with, so I shall add a few more Testimo∣nies to keep them by their mutual support, from being entertain'd with a Disbelief, which their strangeness would else tempt men to.

Of the vastness of single mountains of ice, the most stupendious Exam∣ple,

that for ought I know, is to be met with in any language but ours, is that, which I formerly took notice of out of the Dutch Voyage to Nova Zembla, which was ninty six foot high (that is above twenty foot high∣er, than on a certain occasion I found the Leads of Westminster Abbey to be.) But 'tis probable, that our Captain James met with as great, if not greater: For though in some places he mentions divers hills of Ice, that were aground in 40. fathom water, and consequently were as deep under water, as that newly taken notice of out of the Hollanders: And though* 1.49 he elsewhere mentions other pieces of no less depth, and twice as high as his top-Mast head, and this in June, yet elsewhere, and long after rela∣ting his return home, he has this pas∣sage;* 1.50 We have sail'd through much mountainous Ice far higher then our Top∣Mast head: But this day we sail'd by the highest that I ever yet saw, which was in∣credible indeed to be related.

But the stupendiousest piece (for heighth and depth) of single Ice, that perhaps has been ever observ'd and

measur'd by men, is that which our Famous English Seaman Mr. W. Baf∣fin (whose name is to be met with in many modern Maps and Globes) mentions himself to have met with upon the coast of Greenland, whose whole Relation I shall therefore sub∣joyn, not only because of the stupen∣diousness of this piece of ice, but be∣cause he takes notice of an observati∣on, which I knew not to have been made by any, and comes somewhat near the estimate, we formerly made, of the proportion betwixt the extant and immers'd parts of floating ice, only the following Estimate makes the extant part somewhat greater then we did, which may easily pro∣ceed from other mens having, as Mr. Baffin here does, grounded their computation upon what occurr'd to them at Sea, or in salt water, where the ice must sink less, then in fresh water, such as my Estimate suppos'd. Our Navigators words then are these, The 17. of May we sail'd by many great* 1.51 Islands of Ice, some of which were above 200. foot high above water, as I prov'd by one shortly after, which I fonnd to be

240. foot high, and if the report of some men be true, which affirms, that there is but one seventh part of Ice above water, then the height of that piece of Ice which I observed was one hundred and forty fa∣thoms, or one thousand six hundred and eighty foot from the top to the bottom. This proportion I know doth hold in much Ice, but whether it do so in all, I know not.

Thus far of the height and depth of single pieces of ice: as for the other Dimensions (the length and breadth) I remember not, that I have read of any, that had the Curiosity to measure the extent of any of them, excepting Captain James, whose Ship being once arrested, between some flat and extraordinary large pieces of ice, he and his men went out to walk upon them, and he took the pains to measure some of the pie∣ces,* 1.52 which he says he found to be a 1000. of his paces long. And pro∣bably among so many mountains and Islands of ice, there would have been found some intire pieces, of a great∣er extent then even these, if men had had the curiosity to measure them.

Hitherto we have treated of the

bigness of single pieces of ice, we will now proceed to say something of the dimensions of the aggregates of many of them, among which having selected four or five as the principal, I remember my self to have yet met with, I presume it will be sufficient to subjoyn them only.

About ten of the clock we met with a mighty bank of ice, being by supposition seven or eight leagues, or twenty four miles long, (says that experienced Eng∣lish Pilot James Hall, in his Voyage of Denmark for the discovery of Green∣land.)

Another of our English Naviga∣tors mentions, that even in June all the Sea (wherein he was indeavouring to sail) as far as he could see from the top of a high hill, was covered with ice, saving that within a quarter of a mile of the shore it was clear round about once in a Tide. By which last clause, it seems, that this vast extent of ice, was either one intire floating Island, or at least a vast bank or rand (as some Seamen term it) of ice.

But the strangest account of banks of ice, that I have yet met with in

any sober Author, is that which is mention'd by the learned French Hy∣drographer, Fournier, who relates, that in the year 1635. the French fleet sailing to Canada, met with several pieces of ice, as high as steeples, and particularly one, whether piece or bank of ice (for the French word Glace may signifie either) which they were troubled to coast along for above forty leagues. If this be the same story, (as one may suspect it to be, by the circumstances of the place, and fleet,) there is a great mistake in another place, where our Author speaks of the vastness of the ice: but if it be another story (as some diffe∣ring circumstances argue) the French it seems met with ice far more stu∣pendious, then even that already mentioned. For, (says our Author) in the Sea which washes Canada,* 1.53 there is often seen, even in the moneth of August, to pass by, Ices much bigger then Ships. In the year 1635. the French Fleet sailing there, coasted along, for three days and three nights, one that was above 80. leagues long, flat in some places like

vast Champions, and high in others like frightful hills. The lat∣ter part of which passage may con∣firm what we formerly deliver'd in another Section, concerning the un∣equal compagination of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Islands.

To what has been said touching the extent, and other dimensions of floating, or at least loose pieces of ice, it will be fit to add something of the extent of ice, coherent to one or both of those shores, that bound the water, whose upper part is con∣geal'd. And in the first place, we shall out of many instances to our present purpose, that might be bor∣rowed from the writings of Olaus Magnus, select this one memorable one that shall serve for all: Neque mi∣nori bellandi impetu (says he) Sueci ac* 1.54 Gothi super aperta glacie, quam in ipsa solidissima terra confligunt; imo, ut pri∣us dictum est, ubi antea aestivo tempore acerrima commissa sunt bella Navalia, eisdem in locis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concreta, aciebus militari modo instructis, Bombardis ordi∣natis, habentur horrendi conflictus. Adeo solida glacies est in equestribus turmis sufferendis, amplitèr vel strictè collocatis.

I pretermit then, what he elsewhere relates of the Voyages and Wars made in Winter by the Northern Nations. They that have liv'd in those Countries, relate, as things most known and samiliar (what has been confirmed to me by more then one unsuspected eye witness) the long Journeys that are commonly ta∣ken upon the Icy Bridges, or rather plains, by travellers, with all their Carriages to very distant places. And that which may bring credit to these strange relations, by shewing, that no less unlikely ones are sometimes true, is, what all Europe knows, that within these three years the whole Swedish Army, led on by their King, march'd over the Sea to the Island of Zeeland, where Copenhagen the Capi∣tal City of Denmark stands.* 1.55 But it may seem much more strange, which I will therefore add, that as in the North Countries frequently, so sometimes even in the warmer Regi∣ons of the East, the Sea it self, has by

the Cold, been congeal'd to a pro∣digious breadth. Insolitum est, (saith Bartholinus) quod refert Constantinus* 1.56 Manasses in Annalibus accidisse, Theo∣philo imperante, ut hyems saeva mare co∣geret in glaciem ad profunditatem sanè immensam, humidúinque illud Elemen∣tum, Lapidis ad duritiem, fluxione pror∣sus ademptâ, redigeret. And Michael Glycas relates, That in the year 775.* 1.57 the Winter was so sharp in the East, that along the Coast, the Sea (he means the Mediterranean) was frozen for 50. leagues, and the Ice was compacted as in∣to a rock, 30. Cubits deep; so strange a Quantity of snow, likewise falling, that it was rais'd to the height of 30. Cubits above the Ice, which likewise agrees very well with what we formerly no∣ted, touching the possible increase of the height of some pieces of ice by the falling of the snow upon them.

IV. It remains now, that we sub∣joyn a few promiscuous observations concerning ice, that are not so readi∣ly reducible to the three foregoing heads.

And we shall begin with what was taken notice of by the Dutch in their

Nova Zembla Voyage, where rela∣ting how they fastned their Ships to a great piece of ice, to shelter them∣selves from the stormy winds, There (add they) we went upon the ice, and wondred much thereat, it was such man∣ner of Ice: for on the top it was full of earth, and there was found about 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eggs, and it was not like other ice, for it was of a perfect Azure colour, like to the skies, whereby there grew great contention of words amongst our men, some saying that it was ice, others that it was frozen land; for it lay unreasonable high above the water, it was at least eighteen fathom under the water, close to the ground, and ten fathom above the water.* 1.58

The like blew colour in rocky pie∣ces of ice, I remember I have some∣where found, to have been taken no∣tice of by a modern Navigator, or whether the words of Virgil, con∣cerning the frigid Zone, Caerulea gla∣cie concretae, atque imbribus atris, be∣long to this subject, I leave others to consider, nor shall I stay to examine, whether this blewness, that has been observ'd in ice, be always an inherent or permanent colour, or else some∣times

one of those that are styl'd Em∣phatical.

'Tis very considerable, if it be true, what is related by Olaus Mag∣nus, concerning the degenerating (if I may so speak) of ice, from its won∣ted hardness in the Spring of the year. For in the same Chapter, where he gives us the lately transcri∣bed account of the strength of Ice in those Northern Countries, after ha∣ving interpos'd some other passages, he subjoyns these words; Liquescente* 1.59 tamen glacie ad principium Aprilis, nul∣lus ejus spissitudini, minus fortitudini, nisi in aurora, ambulando confidit, quia solis diurno aspectu tam fragilis redditur, ut quae-equestres armatos paulo ante porta∣verat, vix hominem nunc sufferre possit inermen.

This puts me in mind to add, that oftentimes in the writers of Journies and Voyages, we meet with mention of great noises made by the breaking of ice, and in this very Chapter our Archbishop taking notice of the clefts that sometimes happen in Champions of ice, adds, That when the ice chances thus to open, especially if

it be in the night, the noise of it maybe heard a far off, like the loud and horrid noise of thunder, and of earthquakes. And on this occasion may be subjoyn∣ed a couple of passages extant in dif∣ferent places of the formerly menti∣on'd James Hall's Voyages: The first is thus delivered; When we met with a huge and high Island of ice, we steering hard to board the same, and being shota little too Northwards of it, there fell from the top thereof, some quantity of ice, which in the fall did make such a noise, as though it had been the report of five Ca∣nons. But the next passage is more directly pertinent to our present sub∣ject, and is couch'd in these words; About twelve of the clock this night, it being still calm, we found our selves sud∣denly compassed round about with great Islands of ice, which made such a hideous noise, as was most wonderful, so that by no means we could double the same to the west∣ward, wherefore, &c.

Of these kind of icy thunders (as some travellers call them) there are divers instances to be met with, mention'd in the several Voyages of the Hollanders, & particularly in those

to Nova Zembla: But many of those noises seem to be made by the dash∣ing of the great pieces of ice against one another: But if it happen, when the ice (as sometimes it is said to do) seems to cleave, as it were, of its own accord; to us that live in a tempe∣rate Climate, it may be a matter of some dispute, whence these loud ruptures of ice may proceed. For Olaus Magnus, in the Chapter above cited, does not improbably ascribe them to the warm exhalations, that in some places ascend out of the ground. And I remember, in fa∣vour of this opinion, that I once cau∣sed divers pieces of thick ice to be brought out of a cool place into a somewhat warm room, and listen∣ing, observ'd a noise to come from them, as if it had been produced by store of little cracks made in them, but somewhat or other prevented me from repeating the Experiment, and satisfying my self about the Conje∣cture. But having lately inquired of an intelligent Polander, that has tra∣velled much upon these icy plains, he agreed with our Author, and

others, as to the frightful noise, that are produc'd by these cracks of ice, but affirm'd upon his own observati∣on (for that I particularly inquired after) that these great clefts were of∣ten made, not by thawing heat, but by excessive cold, and that he had ta∣ken notice of them in extremely sharp weather. Indeed we some∣times observe, that in very bitter frosts the frozen ground will cleave, as we elsewhere have occasion to take notice. But whether that be not a different case from this, or whether the Polonian Gentleman were not mistaken, or whether both these men∣tion'd accounts of the cleaving of ice, may on different conjunctures of cir∣cumstances take place, we leave to farther inquiry.

There is a tradition concerning ice, about the famous Volcan-Hecla, in Island, which, though verily believ'd among the superstitious vulgar of* 1.60 those parts, is spoken of so slightly by Blefkenius, who being upon that coast, had the curiosity to sail purposely thi∣ther, that I think it not worth while to take any farther notice of it. But

'twere too tedious to set down in this Section, (which the strangeness and variety of the Theme has made so prolix already) the other things, that may be mentioned without im∣pertinency concerning ice; and there∣fore we shall here desist from so la∣borious a task, as also omit the hand∣ling of snow and hail: For though they are reducible to ice, yet I shall at least suspend the treating of them, partly because Bartholinus and Meteo∣rologists have sav'd much of my la∣bour, and partly for the reason new∣ly intimated, so that we shall con∣clude this Section as soon as we have taken notice, that there is yet some∣what relating to ice, which, being in itself considerable, and whereof hi∣therto no experimental account ap∣pears to have been given, what we our selves have tried about it, may challenge to be treated of apart.

Title XVI. Experiments and Observations touching the duration of Ice and Snow, and the destroy∣ing of them by the Air and several Liquors.

1. IT may be an Experiment, as well instructive as new, to de∣termine, what liquor dissolves ice sooner then others, and in what pro∣portion of quickness the solutions in the several liquors are made. For Men have hitherto contented them∣selves to suspect in general, that there are other liquors potentially hot, wherein ice will sooner dissolve, then it will in water. But this opi∣nion either being grounded upon no Experience at all, or taken up upon the sight of what happens to pieces of ice, which no care was taken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 re∣duce

to the same bulk and figure, no more then to measure attentively how long one outlasted the other; we thought fit to try, if we could not bring this matter to Experiment, and make a determination in it, though not exactly true, yet less remote from exactness then had been yet, for ought I know, so much as attempt∣ed.

2. In order to this we procured some bullet moulds, and having first carefully stopped the little Crevice, that is wont to remain betwixt the two halfs of the mould, with a good close Cement, we afterwards filled them with water, and carefully clo∣sed up the orifice of the hole, at which the water was poured in, and then setting the mould to freez in ice and salt, we found it difficult enough to keep the water (more or less of it) from running away through some un∣perceiv'd passage, before the cold could have time by congealing it to arrest it. But after a while, when we had thus made a bullet of ice, we found it a new and greater difficulty to get it whole out of the moulds,

without warming them, for by that way we could indeed loosen the ice, but then we could not avoid thawing it too, and that most times not uni∣formly: wherefore we tried by grea∣sing the inside of the moulds to keep the ice from sticking so close to them, (notwithstanding the distention the water suffered by its being frozen) but that we might pick out the bullet entire, and this succeeding well enough, we hoped by this way to ob∣tain our end, which was to have a competent number of pieces of ice of equal bulk, and of the same figure to be put at once to thaw in several li∣quors; but we could by no means procure moulds, which had any number of distinct cells of the same bigness, those long pairs of moulds that were to be met with in shops, having their distinct cells generally made on purpose of very different bignesses, which rendred them alto∣gether useless for our design. Wherefore we were fain, for want of an exacter way, to take a glass pipe of the most even and Cylindrical that we had, and of a bore capable to ad∣mit

a big mans little finger, this glass being stopt at one end, and kept open at the other, was filled to the height of about half a foot or more of fair water; and ice, and salt, being heaped up about it, that the cold might reach as far as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did, it was quickly frozen. In the mean while, I had caused several wide mouth'd glasses to be brought into my Chamber (wherein, by reason of some indisposition, that hindred me from going abroad, I kept some fire) and having poured several liquors into these glasses, which had been placed all on a row, we suffered them to rest there a while, that the ambi∣ent Air might have time to reduce them, as far as it could, to its tem∣per, and consequently to the same temper as to heat and cold, and then with the warmth of ones hand, the included ice being loosened from the glass, as it was taken out, and a ru∣ler divided into inches and eights, being laid alongst it, with a knife a little warmed, the ice was soon, and yet not carelesly, divided into several small Cylinders of three quarters of

an inch, a piece; and these Cylinders thus reduced to as sensible an equality as we could, were nimbly and care∣fully put into the several liquors here∣after to be mentioned, and whilest we our selves watched very attentive∣ly, till each of these icy Cylinders was quite, and yet but just dissolved, we caused others to keep time by the help of a Pendulum, whose Vibrati∣ons were each a second mi∣nute (or 60. part of a Common Mi∣nute, whereof 60. go to make an hour) and it was easie for those we appointed, to watch the Vibrations of the Pendulum, notwithstanding the Quickness of its Motion, because it was fitted to a little Instrument purposely contrived for such nice ob∣servations, wherein a long Index mo∣ving upon a divided Dyal plate, did very manifestly point out the number of the Diadromes made by the Pendu∣lum.

3. This Experiment was after∣wards repeated twice with Cylinders of ice, each of them an inch long, and though the successes of these trials were various enough, yet we shall subjoyn

both the last, (as being made with more advantage then the first) that the more light may be gathered from them, and that at least we may dis∣cover how difficult it is to make such Experiments in this matter, as that all the nice circumstances of them may safely be relied on.

I. Trial.

• 1. Oyl of Vitriol, where a Cylin∣der of Ice, of an iuch long, being put into, lasted 5. minutes.
• 2. Spirit of Wine, (in which the ice sunk) lasted 12. minutes.
• 3. Aqua fortis lasted 12 ½ minutes.
• 4. Water lasted about 12. minutes.
• 5. Oyl of Turpentine lasted (not good) 44. minutes.
• 6. Air lasted 64. minutes.

II. Trial.

• 1. In Oyl of Vitriol, where an inch of Cylindrical ice lasted 3. minutes.
• 2. In Spirit of Wine, lasted 13. minutes.
• 3. In Water, lasted 26. minutes.
• 4. In Oyl of Turpentine, lasted 47. minutes.
• ...

• 5. In Sallet Oyl, lasted 52. minutes.
• 6. In the Air, lasted 152. minutes.

4. We likewise thought it worth trying, whether there would be any difference, and how much difference there would be in the Duration of pieces of ice of the same bulk and fi∣gure, some of them made of com∣mon water, and others of frozen Wine, Milk, Oyl, Urine, and other spirituous liquors; these several pie∣ces being exposed to be thaw'd in the same Air, or other ambient liquor.

5. We also tried whether Motion would impart a heat to ice, by nim∣bly rubbing a strong piece of ice upon a plate of ice, and though this seem∣ed to hasten the dissolution in that part of the icy plate, where the Al∣trition had been made, yet we were unwilling to determine the matter, till further and exacter trial have been made.

6. And this brings into my mind an Experiment, that has by some been thought very strange. The occasion I remember was, that I received the last Winter the honour of a visit

from a Nobleman of great eminency and learning, who chancing to come in, while I was making some trials with ice, would needs know what I was doing with it, but the presence of a very fair Lady, in whom Hymen had made him happy, and of some other Company of that Sex, that he brought along with him, inviting me to give him the answer, that I thought would be most suited and acceptable to his Company, I mer∣rily told him, that I was trying, how to heat a Cold liquor with ice, and to satisfie him, that was no impossi∣bility, I held out an open mouth'd glass, full of a certain liquor (which for some just reasons I do not de∣scribe, but do plainly teach it in an opportuner place) and desired them to feel, whether it were not actually Cold, and when they were satisfied, it was so, I chose among the pieces ofice, that lay by me, that I judg'd by the eye to be fit for my purpose, (for every piece was not so, for a rea∣son I elsewhere shew,) and throw∣ing it into this liquor, it did not only in a trice vanish in it, but the Lady,

I was mentioning, seeing the liquor smoak, and advancing hastily to try, whether it were really warm, found it so hot, that she was quickly fain to let it alone, and had almost burnt her tender hand, with which she had, in spight of my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wasion, taken hold of the glass, which Her Lord him∣self could 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indure to hold in his. But this Experiment, which for the main I have repeated before compe∣tent witnesses, though it be not im∣pertinent to the History of Cold, yet I shall not build much upon it, be∣cause, how strange soever many have been pleased to think it, I shall else∣where shew, that I made use of a certain unperceivable slight, which, in my opinion, did as well, as the na∣ture of the liquor and the texture of the ice, contribute to the suddenness and surprizingness of the Effect.

7. But to return to the duration of the effects of Cold, I think those much mistaken, who imagine, that the effects of Cold do continually depend upon the actual presence and influence of the manifest efficients, as the light of the Air depends upon

the Sun, or Fire, or other luminous body, upon whose removal it imme∣diately ceases. For when cold agents have actually brought a disposed sub∣ject to a state of congelation, though the manifest efficient cause cease from acting, or perhaps from being, the effect may yet continue. For in most cases, if a certain texture be once produced in a body, it is agreeable to the constancy of nature, that it per∣severe in that state, till it be forcea∣bly put out of it, by some agent ca∣pable to overpower it, and though we usually see ice and snow, as it were of their own accord to melt away, when the frosty constitution of the Air ceases; yet the cause of that may be not barely the cessation of frosty weather, but that those ea∣sily dissoluble bodies are exposed to the free Air, which being heated by the Sun beams, and perhaps by calo∣rifick expirations from the earth, is furnisht with an actual cause, upon whose account it destroys the texture of the ice and snow; but even here above ground, if snow be well com∣pacted into great masses, in which

by reason of the closeness of the little icickles, but little Air is allowed to get between them, I have seen such masses of snow last so long, not only in thawing, but in rainy weather, as to be wondered at, and if such snow (or ice) be kept in a place where it may be fenced from the Sun, and other external enimies, though the place, it is lodged in, be not any thing near cold enough to produce ice, yet it will, as some trial hath taught me, preserve ice and snow for a very long time.

Appendix to the XVI. Title.

AN eminent instance to confirm what is delivered at the close of the foregoing Section, is afforded us by the conservatories, wherein snow and ice are kept all the Summer long. Of these I have seen in Italy, and else∣where; but supposing I had the com∣mand of some Italian, and other books, wherein I should meet with

the dimensions, and other circum∣stances that belong to them, my find∣ing my expectation disappointed by those books, makes me think it very well worth while to subjoyn some∣what about things, that may give us opportunity of making a multitude of Experiments about Cold. And therefore meeting the other day (by good chance) with my ingenious friend Mr. J. Evelyn, his inquisitive travels, and his insight into the more polite kinds of knowledge, and par∣ticularly Architecture, made me de∣sire and expect of him that account of the Italian way of making conser∣vatories of snow, that I had miss'd of, in several Authors; and having rea∣dily obtain'd my desire of him, I shall not injure so justly esteem'd a style as his, to deliver his description in any other words, then those ensu∣ing ones, wherein I received it from him.

[The snow Pits in Italy, &c. are sunk in the most solitary and cool'd places, commonly at the foot of some mountain or elevated ground, which may best protect them from

the Meridional and Occidental Sun, 25. foot wide at the orifice, and a∣bout 50. in depth, is esteem'd a com∣petent Proportion. And though this be excavated in a Conical form, yet it is made flat at the bottom or point. The sides of the Pit are so joyc'd, that boards may be nail'd up∣on them very closely joynted. (His Majesties at Greenwich newly made on the side of the Castle-hill, is, as I re∣member, steen'd with Brick, and hardly so wide at the mouth.)* 1.61 About a yard from the bottom is fix'd a strong Frame or Tressle, upon which lies a kind of woodden grate; the top or cover is double thatch'd, with Reed or Straw, upon a copped frame or roof, in one of the sides whereof is a narrow door-case, hip∣ped on like the top of a Dormer, and thatch'd, and so it is complete.

To conserve Snow.

They lay clean Straw upon the grate or wattle, so as to keep the Snow from running through, whilest they beat it to a hard cake of an icy consistence, which is near one foot

thick, upon this they make a layer of straw, and on that snow, beaten as before, and so continue a bed of straw, and a bed of snow, S. S. S. till the pit be full to the brim. Fi∣nally, they lay Straw or Reed (for I remember to have seen both) a competent thickness over all, and keep the door lock'd. This grate is contriv'd, that the snow melting by any accident in laying, or extraordi∣nary season of weather, may drain away from the mass, and sink without stagnating upon it, which would ac∣celerate the Dissolution, and there∣fore the very bottom is but slightly steen'd. Those who are most cir∣cumspect and curious, preserve a tall Circle of shady trees about the pit, which may rather shade, then drip upon it.]

Thus far this learned Gentlemans account of Conservatories of Snow. And on this occasion I might add what the Dutch in their Nova Zembla Voyage relate, namely, that the three and twentieth of June, though it were fair Sunshiny weather, yet the heat was not so strong as to melt the Snow, to afford them

water to drink, and that in spight of their being reduc'd to put Snow into their mouths, to melt it down into their throats, they were compelled to indure great thirst. But because it was in so cold a Cli∣mate, that this duration of the Snow was observ'd, I shall rather take no∣tice, that in the Alps, and other high mountains, even of warmer Cli∣mates, though the snow doth partly melt towards the end of Summer; yet in some places, where the refle∣ction of the Sun beams is less conside∣rable, the tops will even then remain covered with snow, as we among ma∣ny others have in those Countries ob∣served. And for further confirmati∣on of the Doctrine deliver'd at the end of this 16. Title, I shall subjoyn a Passage, which having unexspect∣edly met with in an unlikely place of Captain James's Voyage, I think not fit to leave unmention'd here, not on∣ly because 'tis the sole artificial obser∣vation that I yet met with, concern∣ing the lasting of ice, and so may re∣commend to us the Ingenuity of an Author, whose Testimony we some∣what frequently make use of, but be∣cause

the observation is in it self re∣markable, and notwithstanding the difference of places may serve for the purpose we alledge it: Our Naviga∣tors* 1.62 words are these; I have in July, and in the beginning of August taken some of the Ice into the ship, and cut it square two foot, and put it into the Boat, where the Sun did shine on it with a very strong reflex about it. And notwith∣standing the warmth of the Ship (for we kept a good fire) and our breathings, and motions it would not melt in eight or ten days. And it is also considerable to our present purpose, what the same Author elsewhere has about the du∣rableness of the Congelation of the ground not yet thaw'd at the begin∣ning* 1.63 of June. For the ground (says he) was yet frozen, and thus much we found by experience in the burying of our men, in setting up the Kings Standard towards the latter end of June, and by our Well at our coming away, in the beginning of July, at which time upon the land, for some other reasons, it was very hot wea∣ther.

Title XVII. Considerations and Experiments touching the Primum Fri∣gidum.

1. THe dispute, which is the Pri∣mum Frigidum, is very well known among Naturalists; some contending for the Earth, others for the Water, others for the Air, and some of the Moderns for Nitre: But all seeming to agree, that there is some Body or other, that is of its own nature supremely Cold, and by par∣ticipation of which, all other cold Bodies obtain that quality.

2. But for my part, I think, that, before men had so hotly disputed, which is the Primum Frigidum, they would have done well to enquire, whether there be any such thing or no (in the sense newly express'd.) For

though I make some scruple, reso∣lutely to contradict such several Sects of Philosophers, as agree in taking It for granted, yet I think it may be not irrationally Question'd, and that upon two or three accounts.

3. For (first) it is disputable enough, as we shall hereafter see, whether cold be (as they speak) a positive quality, or a bare privation of heat, and till this question be de∣termined, it will be somewhat im∣proper to wrangle sollicitously, which may be the Primum Frigidum. For if a Bodies being cold, signifie no more, then its not having its insen∣sible parts so much agitated, as those of our Sensories, by which we are wont to judge of tactile qualities; there will be no cause to bring in a Primum Frigidum, upon whose ac∣count particular Bodies must be cold, since to make this or that Body so, it suffices that the Sun or the Fire, or some other agent, whatever it were, that agitated more vehemently its parts before, does now either cease to agitate them, or agitate them but very remisly: So that, till it be de∣termin'd,

whether cold be a positive quality, or but a privative; it will be needless to contend, what parti∣cular Body ought to be esteem'd the primum frigidum (in the sense above specifi'd.)

4. Secondly, Though it be taken for granted, not only by the Schools, but by their Adversaries the Chymists, that heat and moisture, driness and gravity, and I know not how many other qualities, must have each of them a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or a princi∣pal subject to reside in, upon whose account, and by participation of which, that Quality belongs to the other Bodies, wherein it is to be met with; though this be so, I say, yet we have* 1.64 elsewhere fully enough manifested, that this fundamental Notion, upon which much of the Doctrine of Qualities, is both by A∣ristotelians, and vulgar Chymists, su∣perstructed, is but an unwarrantable conceit, and therefore not sufficient for a wary Naturalist to build the Notion of a primum frigidum upon; there being indeed many qualities, as gravity, and figure, and motion,

and colour, and sound, &c. of which no true and genuine 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 can (for ought I could ever yet dis∣cover) be assigned: and because heat and cold are look'd upon as Diame∣trically opposite Qualities, we may consider, that it will be very hard to show, that there is a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of heat; since stones, and mettals, and plants, and animals, and (very few excepted) all consistent Bodies, we are conversant with, may by mo∣tion be brought to heat, which to attribute to the participation of some portion or other of the imaginary Element of fire, is not only precari∣ous (being affirm'd by many, and* 1.65 prov'd by none) but erroneous, or at least needless, as we have more at large declar'd in other papers.

5. A third thing, that induces me to question, whether there be a pri∣mum frigidum, is, that among those Bodies, that the chiefest Sects of Phi∣losophers, whether Ancient or Mo∣dern, have pitch'd upon, there is not any, that seems clearly to deserve the title of the primum frigidum. But to make this appear, we must di∣stinctly

(though as briefly as our de∣sign will permit) consider those four several Bodies, which we have (at the Beginning of this Section) taken notice of, to stand in competition, in the Opinions of Philosophers, for the title of primum frigidum.

6. First, then Plutarch and others contend, that it is the Earth; but, to omit other Arguments, we see, that the Earth is frozen not by its own cold, but by its vicinity to the Air, as may be argued by this, viz. that the congealing cold even in the midst of Winter affects but the surface of the Earth, where it borders on the Air, and seldom pierces above a few feet, or, at most, yards, beneath that part wherein the Earth is expo∣sed, and immediately contiguous, to the Air, as may appear by what we have formerly deliver'd concerning the small depth, to which frosts reach in the ground. And therefore if the Earth be protected from the Air (though by so cold a Body as water) it may be kept unfrozen all the Win∣ter long, as may be gathered from that remarkable practise in the great

Salt-marshes of the French Islands of Xaintonge, where, as a diligent Writer of that Countrey, very well vers'd in the making of the French Salt, informs us, when once the season of Coagu∣lating Salt by the heat of the Sun is quite past, the Owners are careful by opening certain Sluces to over∣flow all the Banks, and Dams, that make and divide the Salt-ponds, and serve for the Workmen to pass to* 1.66 and fro: for (says my Author in his own language) if they left those Marshes (or Salt-works) uncovered, the frost would make such havock amongst them, that it would be ne∣cessary to make them up again every year, but by means of the water, they are preserv'd (or kept in repair) from year to year: which practise I the rather mention, because the hint, it affords, as it is considerable to our present purpose, so it may on some occasions be applicable to practises useful to humane society.

7. Besides, the Earth being (ac∣cording to those we reason with) the coldest, heaviest, and solidest of Ele∣ments, it is not so probable, as to ex∣cuse

them from the need of proving it, that those excessively cold Agents, that freez the Clouds into Snow and Hail, should be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Exhalations carried up to the middle Region of the Air, especially since it must be done by Agents, either hard to be guess'd at, or considerably hot. And 'tis not easie to give a reason, why, if Elementary Corpuscles steaming from the Earth, have such a congeal∣ing cold, where they are disunited, and but interspers'd among the par∣ticles of Air, the Mass of the Earth it self, whence those exhalations are suppos'd to proceed, should not be able also to congeal water, since the Terrestrial Corpuscles being more thick set, and united in a Clod of Earth, then in an equal portion of the Atmosphere, it seems, that where the frigorifick matter is more dense, the cold should be more vehement, as Philosophers observe, that heat is more intense in a glowing bar of Iron, then an equal portion of the flame of kindled Straw.

8. But (not to repeat what we for∣merly mention'd about Colds being

a Privation) there is another Argu∣ment against the Earths being the primum frigidum, and that is taken from the Subterraneal fires, which breaking forth in many places of the Earth, as in Aetna, Vesuvius, Hecla, the Pico of Tenariffe, &c. seem to ar∣gue a Subterraneal fire, upon whose existence not only many Chymists build great matters, but even divers Philosophers have adopted it, and the learned Gassendus himself seems so far to countenance it, as to imploy it as one Argument of the Earths being naturally neither hot nor cold. The mention of this Subterraneal fire brings into my mind some things that I have met with amongst good, though not Classick, Authors, and amongst men that have been either diggers of (or conversant in) Mines, not improper to be here taken notice of. For though I do not now intend to declare my opinion about the Cen∣tral fire, either of the Chymists, or Cartesians, and though the Examples newly mention'd, and such other seem to me but very inconsiderable, in reference to the whole Earth, yet

'tis observable to our present purpose, that there should be so much Subter∣raneal heat or warmth, at least ge∣nerally to be met with: For even where there appear no manifest signs of Subterraneal fires, I have known those, that were wont to go to the Bottom of deep Mines, complain, that a very little Exercise would put them into a great sweat; and a learned and experienced French Doctor, that hath written in his own Language of Stones and Jewels, affirms, that in such Mines the Subterraneal Vapors and Exhalations, are visibly so abun∣dant, and likewise so hot, that the Mine-men are constrain'd (which a person I spoke with affirmed to me, touching himself) to work in their shirts, by reason of the great heat they there felt, and though I would have been glad to know, whether those deep places would have appear'd as hot, when judg'd of by a seal'd Wea∣ther-glass, as they did to the Mine∣mens Sensories, because of some little doubt I harbour'd, whether much of that copious sweating, and seeming heat, might not proceed from the

thickness of the dampish Air, and its* 1.67 unfitness for Respiration; yet, be∣cause a Virtuoso, that had a Lead∣Mine of his own, in which he wrought himself for curiosity, an∣swered me, that he was not wont to find any difficulty of breathing in the place, where he was so apt to sweat; and since I find not, that others have complain'd of having their respirati∣on incommodated in such places, un∣less by Accidental Damps, my scruple was much abated, and the rather, because the Author lately mention'd,* 1.68 expresly affirms, that the Sudorifick heat (if I may so speak) is to be found in the Bowels of the Earth, as well in Summer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Winter, which prevents the ascribing of it to Anti∣peristasis. And in other places then Mines 'tis generally observ'd, that Wells and Springs freez not, if the place, whence the water is drawn, be very deep, but, as we have observ'd elsewhere, that it oft comes up smoaking, and, as it were, reaking, which argues, that at the least the Earth, wherein it was harbour'd, or through which it pass'd, was, if not

warm, free from such a degree of Cold, as might be exspected in the Earth, if it were the primum frigidum. Nor can it be reasonably pretended, that the Subterraneal heat comes from the Beams of the Sun, since learned Men have observed, that* 1.69 those heat not the Earth above six or seven foot deep even in Southern Countries, and though we should allow them to pierce three times as far, yet that would not be conside∣rable to the depth of the Mines above mentioned, and if the lower part of the Earth were of its own nature cold, and received the heat, it dis∣closes only from the Sun and Stars; the deeper men dig, the lesser of heat and steams they would meet with, whereas the above cited French Minerallist affirms, that the lower they go, the more vapours, ex∣halations, and heat they find.

9. But because this learned man delivers this circumstance in a dog∣matical, rather then an historical way, I will add somewhat out of a relation (whence I have

* 1.70 elsewhere ta∣ken other parti∣culars) made by a 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 likewise, that had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 curiosity to descend him∣self into the deep Mines of Hunga∣ry, some of which, that he went down into, may be collected by his Narrative, to have three or four 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fathom, that is eighteen, or twenty four hundred foot of perpen∣dicular depth. This Author then re∣lates, that after he had descended about 180. or a hundred fathoms, he came into a very warm Region of the Earth, which lasted to the bot∣tom of the Mine, and is so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both Winter and Summer, that the La∣borors are wont to work in it with∣out their clothes, and he was scarce able to indure the heat of it, al∣though the external Air were very hot: the weather being very fair, and the moneth July,

* 1.71 He adds, that he having de∣manded of the Overseer of the Mine, whence this heat came, he was answer'd, to that and seve∣ral other questi∣ons, That it came from the lower parts of the earth; that in all deep Mines, after one is past the Colder crust of the earth, one comes into a region, that is perpetually warm, and that where ever they dig the ground, after they are come to such a depth (which he elsewhere menti∣ons to be about 80. or a hundred fa∣thom) they feel no more any cold, but a perpetual heat, how deep soe∣ver they dig, (* 1.72 yet without obser∣ving, that after they are once into that warm region, they find the heat sensibly increase, the nearer they ap∣proach to the centre of the earth,

unless by accident they happen to dig through vains of hotter Minerals.) And these answers (subjoyns my Au∣thor) I received not in one Mine alone, or from a single overseer, but in all the Mines, and from all the Masters of them; so that if these were not mistaken, we may safely conclude, that as far as experience can inform us, the body of the earth in its lowermost parts, where 'tis presum'd to be coldest, is every where, and that considerably, hot. I said, if these Mine-men were not mista∣ken, because having been in the bot∣tom of some Mines my self, though I find it acknowledged, that 'tis still warm in the bottom of deep ones, yet I confess, I somewhat suspect by what I have observ'd, that this degree of heat, which our French Physician found in the Hungarian Mines, might be rather in great part from the pecu∣liar nature of those places, or of the Minerals generated there, then bare∣ly (as he and those that inform'd him suppose) from the greatness of their depth beneath the surface of the earth; for I know several mixtures,

besides those that are common, of bodies neither of them actually hot, which will produce a considerable degree of heat. And very credible eye witnesses affirm, that in some parts of England, they dig up good store of a kind of Mineral, which is thought to be of a Vitriolate nature, which by the bare addition of com∣mon water, will grow hot, almost to ignition. So that the Hungarian Mines being deep, and as appears by our Authors Narrative, being not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of water enough to make a Subterraneal Spring in the Mine its self, besides what water may plenti∣fully ascend in the forms of vapours, and moisten the Oar, it may be sus∣pected, that either the water, or some appropriated Mineral spirit or juice (of which the bowels of the earth may contain divers, that we know nothing of) may produce to∣gether with the Mineral a warm steam, which for want of sufficient vent in those narrow, and close pla∣ces, may heat them considerably, which conjecture may be countenan∣ced by these three circumstances,

that I took notice of in our Authors Narrative; one, That the smoak that copiously ascended out of the Mine by the perpendicular grove, was not barely hot, but consisted of stinking exhalations, which were so saline, and fretting, as oftentimes to cor∣rode and spoil both the woodden lad∣ders or stairs, and the iron instru∣ments of the diggers. The other, that the overseers themselves of the Mines, told Morinus (as we lately saw) that they in some places met with veins of hot Minerals, which made it hotter, then the bare vicinity of those places to the centre of the earth would have done. And lastly,* 1.73 as our Author was de∣scending into the golden Mine at Cremnitz, he found in one place, the heat to increase as he descended more and more, (which seems not to agree with a passage we lately mention'd out of him) and to exceed any he had met with in any other Mine; and afterwards the overseer bringing him into a room,

that abounded with smaragdine Vi∣triol, (the Mineral whence this heat proceeded) though the room were spacious, he found there, besides a sharp spirit very offensive to his throat, so troublesome a heat, that he was ready to faint away with sweating, and very much wondered how the diggers were able to work there. And elsewhere the Author himself notes, that such hot Mines of Vitriol, or Sulphur, may be found even in the first region of the earth, (as he calls that which is somewhat near the surface, and which he thinks 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to name the cold region) and with∣in a large sphere of activity make it perpetually hot. But this, as I was in∣timating, I mention but as a suspici∣on, or a conjecture, and notwith∣standing that the degree of heat may be much increased in these Mines, by the concurrance of accidental cau∣ses, in case the conjecture be admit∣ted; yet since the frequency of a sen∣sible degree of heat in very deep pla∣ces does very little favour their opi∣nion, that will allow the earth to have no other heat, but what it re∣ceives

from the Sun beams, or by the manifest fire of burning hills, as Aet∣na and Vesuvius. And if it should be objected, that this Subterraneal heat is adventitious to the Earth, which is supremely cold of its own nature; Gassendus might reply, that 'tis as likely, that the coldness of it near the superficies may be adventitious too, and that it appears at least as mani∣festly, that the one proceeds from the contiguous Air, as it does, that the other proceeds from some inclu∣ded fire; and if I misremember not, he hath this consideration, that 'tis somewhat strange, that Nature should have intended the Earth for its summum frigidum, and yet that a great part (and for ought we know the greatest) should be constantly kept warm, either by the Sun, as un∣der the Torrid Zone, or by the Sub∣terraneal fires. But the objection mention'd against Gassendus, opposes but one of the Arguments we have al∣ledg'd against the Earths being the primum frigidum, and would leave the others in their force, though it did more convincingly answer, that,

against which 'tis framed, then it seems to do.

10. And if the Patrons of the Earths coldness, to evade the Argu∣ments I have alledged, should pre∣tend, that when they affirm the Earth to be the primum frigidum, they mean not the Elementary Earth, but some Body that is mingled with it; I shall desire to know, which 'tis they mean of the many other Bodies, that make up the Terrestrial Globe, that we may examine what right it has to that Title; and in the mean time I shall conclude against them, that the Earth it self has none, since they grant a colder Body then it, and such a one as the earth must be beholding to, for the greatest degrees of cold∣ness it chances to possess.

11. But though I presume, enough has been said to make it appear un∣likely, that the Earth should be the primum frigidum, yet I must in this dissent from the learned Gassendus, that he thinks the Earth, not only not to be the primum frigidum, but not to be naturally cold any more then hot. For the insensible parts of the Earth,

like those of other firm Bodies, be∣ing heavy, and perhaps gross, and either having no constant motion at all, or at least a far more remiss agi∣tation, then that of our Sensories; it seems to follow, that the Earth must seem cold to us, unless it be by the communicated heat, or motion of some extrinsick Agent, put into a degree of agitation, that belongs not to its nature; and for the like reason I think it not improbable, that pure Earth should in its own Nature be colder, then either pure Water or pure Air, since the Earth being a consistent Body, its component par∣ticles are at rest among themselves, or at least mov'd with an almost in∣finite slowness, whereas Water and Air being fluids, their component particles must be in a restless and va∣rious motion, and consequently be less remote from heat, which is a state wherein the various agitation of the minute particles is more vehe∣ment.

12. And if those, that plead for the Earth, had declar'd, that they meant not the pure or Elementary

Earth, but that part of the Terrestri∣al Globe, that is distinct from the Sea, and other Waters, that make it up, and would have Earth in that sense not to be the primum frigidum, but only the summum frigidum, per∣haps they might have a better plea for their Opinion, then they can urge for theirs, who contend for the Water or the Air, especially, if to coun∣tenance their Opinion, this memo∣rable observation be added, which I have met with* 1.74 among those Na∣vigators, that have had the greatest Experi∣ence of the Fri∣gid Zone; for the Dutch, that sail'd thrice to Nova 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and once winter∣ed there, affirm in their first voy∣age, that the highest degrees of Cold are not to be met with in the main Sea, where yet men are most expos'd to the Opera∣tions

of the Air, and of the Water, but either upon the Land or near it. That accurate Geometrician and Hy∣drographer Fournier tells us, that in 1595. the Hollanders being intercept∣ed by Icy Scholes in the strait of Wei∣gats, and meeting with certain Mus∣covites, demanded of them, whe∣ther those Seas were always frozen, and were answered, that neither the Northern Sea, nor that of Tartary did ever freez, and that 'twas only that strait with the Sea contiguous to the shores of some Bays and Gulphs, that were frozen; and our judicious Author, not only adds, that in effect all those that sail into those parts re∣late, That all those Lumps of Ice are such as have been loosened, and seve∣red from the Islands, and the Rivers of the Samojeds and Tartars, but ad∣ventures to affirm in general terms, that 'tis certain, the main Seas never freez, and that 'tis but the confines, and shores of some of them, that are frozen.

13. That the water is the primum frigidum, the Opinion of Aristotle has made it to be, that of the schools, and

of the generality of Philosophers. But I can as little acquiesce in this opini∣on, as in the former, not finding it agreeable to what experience teaches us.

14. For not to mention, that it would be very difficult to prove, that divers very cold Bodies, as Gold and Silver, and Crystal, and several other fusible stones have in them any water at all, to which their coldness may with any degree of probability be ascribed; nor to urge the Argu∣ments, that some Modern contenders for the supreme coldness of the Air are wont to imploy; not (I say) to in∣sist on such things, I shall content my self to make use of this obvious 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Cold, that in Rivers, Ponds, and other receptacles of wa∣ter, the congelation begins at the Top where the liquor is expos'd to the im∣mediate contact of the Air, which sufficiently argues, that the Air is colder then the Water, since it is able not only sensibly to refrigerate it, but to deprive it of its fluidity, and congeal it into Ice, whereas if the water it self were the primum frigi∣dum,

either it ought to be, at least as to the major part of it, always con∣geal'd, or we may justly demand a reason, why, when it does freez, the glaciation should not begin in the middle, or at the bottom, as soon as at the Top, if not sooner. And our Arguments against the precedency of the water in point of coldness, may be strengthen'd by this, That frosts are wont to be hardest, when the Air is very clear, and freest from Aque∣ous vapors, whereas in rainy wea∣ther, wherein such vapors most a∣bound, the cold is wont to be far more remiss: To which we may add, what we lately deliver'd from the ob∣servation of Navigators, that even in the frigid Zone the main Sea, where yet the water is in the greatest mass, and so most likely, as well as advan∣tag'd to disclose its nature, never freezes, though the Straits, and Bays, and Gulphs be frozen over, which argues, that the greatest degrees of Cold are rather to be assign'd to the Air, or to the Earth, then to the Water, which by the practise for∣merly mention'd of the Masters of

the French Salt Marshes appears to be (when it is of a considerable depth) fitter to preserve Bodies from congelation, then to congeal them, which instance I the rather repeat, because it seems to argue, that the water is not so much as dispos'd to receive any very intense degree of cold at a remote distance from the Air: for though Navigators tell us of exceeding thick pieces of Ice, yet, as we have already elsewhere noted, we are not bound to believe, that the congealing cold has pierced any thing near so much as that thickness amounts to from the superficies of the Sea directly downwards; for though it were no great matter if it did, in comparison of that depth of the Sea, which, though the water be natural∣ly cold, the sharpest Air is unable to congeal, yet we have elsewhere pro∣ved, that those thick masses of Ice, are not solid and intire pieces, but rather heaps of many 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and other fragments of Ice, which run∣ning upon one another, or sliding un∣der one another, are by the congela∣tion of the intercepted water (and

perchance half thaw'd snow) as it were, cemented together into mis∣shapen and unweildy masses; which conjecture agrees very well with that observation of the Ingenious Captain James, which he delivers in these words.

It seldom rains after the middle of September, but snows, and that snow will not melt on the lands, nor sands: At low water, when it snows (which it doth very often) the sands are all covered over with it, which the half tide carries 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ously (twice in twenty four hours) into the great Bay, which is the common Ren∣dezvous of it. Every low water, are the sands left clear to gather more to the in∣crease of it. Thus doth it dayly gather in this manner, till the latter end of Octob. and by that time hath it brought the Sea to that coldness, that as it snows, the snow will lye upon the water in flakes, without changing its colour, but with the wind is wrought together, and as the Winter goes forward, it begins to freez on the surface of it, two or three inches, or more in one night, which being carried with the half tide, meets with some obstacle (as it soon doth) and then it crumples, and so runs

upon it self, that in few hours it will be five or six foot thick; the half tide still flowing, carries it so fast away, that by December it is grown to an infinite mul∣tiplication of Ice. Thus far this Navi∣gator, to which I shall add another passage out of one of his Countrey∣men (Mr. Hudson) (famous for the Northern Discoveries, that bare his name) by which, added to what has been elsewhere deliver'd to the same purpose, we may be invited to be∣lieve, that the vast Hills and Islands of Ice, that are to be met with about the Straits of Weigats and elsewhere, are not generated of the Sea it self.* 1.75 Its no marvel (says he) that there is so much Ice in the Sea towards the Pole, so many Sounds and Rivers being in the Lands of Nova Zembla, and Newland to ingender it, besides the coasts of Pe∣chora, Russia, and Greenland, with Lappia, as by proof I find by my Travel in these parts.

15. But for all this, I think not fit, as does the Ingenious Gassendus, and some others, to make the water in∣different, as to heat and cold. For, as I formerly noted concerning the

Earth; so I must now represent touching the water, that, setting aside the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Sun, which is but ad∣ventitious, where it does operate, and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 many vast portions of that Element, which it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reach, the insensible parts of water are much less agitated, then those of our Sensories temperately dispos'd, and consequently may in re∣gard of us be judg'd cold. For though water being a Liquor, I rea∣dily allow it a various Motion of its component Corpuscles, (that being requisite to make a Body fluid,) yet such an agitation, which is sufficient for fluidity, may be, and often is, far more remiss, then that of the spirits, Blood, and other liquors of so hot a Sanguineous animal as Man, as we see, that Urine, though after it has been long omitted, it continues a fluid Body, yet its parts are far less agita∣ted, then they were, when it came hot, and reeking out of the Bladder.

16. And upon this occasion, I shall add, what by inquiry I have learned, that (except the parts somewhat near the superficies of the water, which

the heat of the Sun, or the warmth of the neighbouring lower Region of the Air may give some warmth to) the whole Body of the Sea is very cold; for being very well acquainted with one, that for some time got a livelihood, by going down into the Bottom of the Sea, to fetch up what could be recovered out of shipwrackt vessels, I purposely inquired of him, what cold he felt under water, and he more then once told me, that though near the Top of the water the cold were very moderate, yet when he was necessitated to descend a great depth, he found it so great, that he could not very long support it; and particularly he told me, that having occasion to descend about twelve or fourteen fathom deep (which is no∣thing in comparison of the depth of many Seas) to fasten ropes to the Or∣dinance of a great ship, that was some years since cast away, near the coast of one of the Northern Coun∣tries, though the Engine that was let down with him supplied him so well with Air, that he was not incommo∣dated in point of Respiration, and

though he felt no other inconvenien∣cies, that might disswade his tarry∣ing longer, yet the cold was so great, and troublesome, that he was not able to endure it above two or three hours, but was constrain'd to re∣mount to a milder, as well as a high∣er Region. I wish'd several times he had had with him a seal'd Wea∣ther-glass (for ordinary Thermome∣ters would on that occasion have been unserviceable) to prevent some little doubt, that might be made, whe∣ther the intense Cold he felt might not be only and chiefly in reference to his Body, which might be so alter'd, and dispos'd by this new Briny Ambi∣ent, as to make such a disturbance in the course or texture of his Blood, as that which makes Aguish persons so cold at the beginning of the fit, though the temperature of the Ambi∣ent Body continue the same. But this is not the only person, that found the Sea Exceeding cold, for I re∣member* 1.76 Beguinus relates from the mouth of a Marseillian Knight, that was overseer of the Coral-fishing in the Kingdom of Tunis, that having

upon that coast let down a young man, to feel, whether Coral were hard or soft, as it grew in the water, when this man was come about eight fathom, near the Bottom of the Sea, he felt it exceeding cold. To which we shall add the testimony of a sober Traveller, Josephus Acosta, who tells* 1.77 us, That it is a thing remarkable, that in the depth of the Ocean, the water can∣not be made hot by the violence of the Sun, as in Rivers: Finally (he subjoyns) even as Salt-Petre (though it be of the na∣ture of Salt) hath the property to cool wa∣ter, even so we see by experience, that in some parts and havens, the salt water doth refresh, the which we have observed in that of Callao, where they put the water or wine which they drink, into the Sea in Flaggons to be refreshed, whereby we may undoubtedly find, that the Ocean hath this property to temper and moderate the excessive heat. For this cause we feel greater heat at Land then at Sea, cae∣teris paribus, and commonly Coun∣tries lying near the Sea, are cooler then those that are farther off. By all these testimonies, it seems to appear, that both in very cold Regions, and

very hot, the deep parts of the Sea seem to be very Cold, the Sun beams being not able to penetrate the Sea to any great depth; for I remember, that having enquired of the Diver I lately mentioned, whether he could discern the light of the Sun at any great distance from the surface of the water, he answered me, that he could not, but as he went down deep∣er and deeper, so he found it darker and darker, and that to a degree, that would scarce have been expected in so Diaphanous a Body as water is.

17. But this submarine cold (if I may so call it) though it be great and considerable, is not so intense, as to intitle water to be the primum frigi∣dum, since as cold as our Divers found it at the bottom of the Sea, they did not find it cold enough to freez the water there, as the Air often does at the Top.

18. The next Opinion we are to consider, is that of the Stoicks of old, and adopted by the generality of Mo∣dern Philosophers, that are not Peri∣pateticks, who assert the Air to be the primum frigidum: But being ere

long more particularly to treat of the Temperature of the Air, we will re∣serve till then to examine, whether it be cold of its own nature or not; but in the mean time, we shall here take leave to question, whether it ought to be esteem'd the primum frigidum. For not to mention, that Aristotle, and the Schools, with many other learned men, think the Air so far from being the coldest of the Ele∣ments, that they reckon it among the hot ones, because I confels their opi∣nion is not mine, not to represent the heat of the Air in the Torrid Zone, nor that by the generality of Philoso∣phers, the upper Region of the Air, which is believed to make incompa∣rably the greatest part of it, is always hot, and the lower Region is so too, in comparison of the middle, though the coldness even of this is not per∣haps unquestionable, not to urge any of these things, I say, I shall in this place mention only two observati∣ons.

19. The one is that, which I late∣ly recited, touching the great cold∣ness of the water in the deeper parts

of the Sea, for'tis not easie to show, how this great cold proceeds from that of the Air, whose operation seems not (as may be judg'd by that little way that frosts pierce into the moist Earth) to reach very far be∣neath the surface of the water, (inso∣much that Captain James, who had very good opportunity to try, allows not, in case the Ice be not made by accumulation, that the Frost pierces above two yards perpendicularly downwards from the surface of the water, even in the coldest habitable Regions.) And this will seem the more rational, if we consider, that in case the coldness of the Sea pro∣ceeded constantly from the Air, as such, the cold would be greater near the surface, where 'tis contiguous to the Air, then in the parts remoter from it, and yet the contrary may appear by the passages lately reci∣ted.

20. But if it be objected, that this at best can prove no more, then that the Air is not the primum frigidum, notwithstanding which, it may be the summum frigidum. For answer,

I must proceed to my second Argu∣ment, which will perhaps evince, that it is not that neither, for by the same way of arguing, by which those I am now dealing with endeavour to prove the Air to be the coldest Body in the World, I shall endeavour to prove, that it is not so: For their grand, and (as far as I remember) their only considerable Argument is drawn from Experience, which shows, that water begins to freez at the Top, where 'tis exposed to the Air; but to this vulgar Experiment I oppose that of mine, which I have often mentioned already to other purposes, that by an application of salt and snow, I can make water, that would else freez at the Top, begin to freez at the Bottom, or at any side I please, and that much sooner then the common Air, even in a sharp frosty night, would be able to con∣geal it; and when in exceeding cold weather the Ambient Nocturnal Air had reduc'd a parcel of Air purposely included in a convenient glass, to as great a degree of condensation as it could: I have more then once by the

External application of other things, been able to condense it much farther, which argues, that 'tis not the Air as such, but some adventitious frigori∣fick Corpuscles (taking that term as I do in this Treatise in a large sense) that may sometimes be mingled with it, which produce the notablest de∣grees of cold, or upon whose Ac∣count the Air produces them. And if these be duly applied, water will be congealed, whether Air comes to touch the surface of it or no; nay, though Bodies, which the Air can ne∣ver penetrte nor congeal any of their parts, be interpos'd, as may appear by the Experiments formerly menti∣on'd of freezing water included in glass bubbles, and suspended in oyl of Turpentine, and other uncongealed Liquors; and it is worth taking no∣tice of, by them that conclude the Airs being the primum frigidum, from the waters beginning to freez at the Top, where 'tis contiguous to the Air, that it is there also where the Ice begins to thaw.

21. Besides the three Opinions we have hitherto examin'd, there is a

fourth, that justly deserves to be se∣riously consider'd; for the learned and ingenious Gassendus is suppos'd, though I doubt how truly, to be the Author of it, and though according to his custom, he speaks warily, and not so confidently of it, yet in his last writings he much countenances it; yet some eminently learned men, as well of our own, as of other Nati∣ons, have resolutely enough embra∣ced it. According then to these, the congelation of Liquors, and the cold we meet with in the Air, Water, and other Bodies, proceeds from the admixture of Nitrous exhalations, or Corpuscles introduc'd into them: And as I have a great respect for di∣vers of these mens persons, so I like very well in their opinion, that they do not ascribe the supreme degree of frigefactive Virtue to the Air it self, but to some adventitious thing, that is mingled with it; but whereas they pitch upon Nitre, as the grand Uni∣versal efficient of cold, I confess I cannot yet fully acquiesce in that Te∣nent. For though I am not averse from allowing Salt-Petre to be one

of those Bodies, that are endued with a refrigerating power, and to be co∣piously enough dispers'd through se∣veral portions of the Earth, yet for ought I know, there may be not only divers other causes of cold, but di∣vers other Bodies qualified to be Ef∣ficients of cold, as well as Salt∣Petre.

22. And first, if cold be not a po∣sitive quality, but the absence of heat, the removing of calorifick Agents will in many cases suffice to produce cold without the introduction of any Nitrous particles into the Body to be refrigerated. But because 'tis dispu∣table, whether cold be a positive quality or no, we will urge this Ar∣gument no further, till the Contro∣versie be decided, and till then, as it will remain not improbable, we pro∣pose it as no other, but proceed to the next.

23. In the second place, I see not as yet any proof, that the great cold, we have formerly mention'd to be met with in the depths of that vast Body the Sea, especially when it is greater elsewhere, then nearer the

Top, where the Air may better com∣municate its coldness to it, must be the effect of Nitrous Atoms, which must certainly swarm in prodigious multitudes to be able to refrigerate every drop and sensible particle of so stupendiously vast a Body as the Oce∣an. Besides that I remember not to have found or known it observ'd, that Nitre, especially in vast quantities reaches near so deep in the Earth, as those parts of the Sea, that are found exceeding cold. And as the halitu∣ous part of Nitre is more dispos'd to fly up into the Air, then dive down into the Sea, so we find no great do∣cuments of its having its grosser and sensible parts abounding in the Sea∣water, since the evaporations of that leaves not behind it Salt-petre, but common Salt. But these, though no light considerations, are not those, that most weigh with me.

24. For (in the next place) I am not satisfied with the Experiences I find alledged to prove, that 'tis by Nitre, that the Air and the neighbo∣ring parts of the Earth, and Water (not to repeat the objections I lately

borrowed from the Sea) receive their highest degrees of Cold. For when Gassendus and others tell us, that 'tis Nitre resolv'd into exhalations, that make the gelid Wind, which refri∣gerates all things it touches, and pe∣netrating into the water, congeals it, this, I say, to me will seem precari∣ous, untill Gassendus (or some other for him) tell us, what Experiments they are (which he seems in one place to intimate) that this new Doctrine depends on; for, I, confess, that for my part, I who have perhaps had more opportunity to resolve Nitre, have seen no great feats, that the steams of it have done, more then those of other saline Bodies in the production of cold; and the spirit of Nitre, which is a liquor consisting of the volatile parts of that resolved salt, not only does not (that I have observed) appear to the touch to have considerably, if at all, a greater actu∣al cold, then that of divers other Li∣quors, but seems to have a potential heat. For whether or no the Exha∣lations of Nitre be able to congeal water into Ice, I have formerly ob∣serv'd,

serv'd, that the spirit of Nitre or Aqua fortis will dissolve Ice into wa∣ter, very near, if not altogether as soon as the spirit of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it self, which inflamable Liquor is generally acknowledg'd to be in a high degree potentially hot. If Gassenaus did not mean such steams of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as these which I have been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of, it had not been amiss to have signified what other kind of Corpuscles of re∣solved Nitre he meant, without lea∣ving his Reader to divine it; and if we may judge of other Experiments, which we lately* 1.78 took notice, that Gassendus seems to intimate, by that which he sets down a little after, compar'd with that he had mention'd a lit∣tle before: I am not likely much to be convinc'd by them, but shall ra∣ther be tempted to suspect, that learn∣ed man might be impos'd upon by others to write that, as matter of fact,

which he never had tried, and yet own not the having it only by report. For whereas he seems to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that dissolved Nitre mingling it self with water, freezes it, and that in Sum∣mer, yet I must freely 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that although 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other Learned Mo∣derns teach the same thing (but with∣out any mans avouching it, that I know, upon his own experience) I, who am no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Nitrous Expe∣riments, have never been able to pro∣duce, or so fortunate, as to see any such effect, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 somewhat strange to me, that Chymists, who make such frequent solutions of Nitre, and ofrentimes with less water, then is sufficient to dissolve it all, so that by consequence the proportion of the Nitre to the Water, must have run through almost all the possible mea∣sures of proportion, should never so much, as by chance (as I can hear) have observ'd any such matter: and that which makes me thus interpret Gassendus his meaning, (though in one of the two passages, wherein he sets down this Experiment, he men∣tions also snow, or ice to be added to

the Nitre) is, that in the first of those two passages, he ascribes the conge∣lation to Nitre alone, without speak∣ing of either ice or snow; and in the other place, not only his words seem to import, that* 1.79 notwithstanding the addition of the other ingre∣dients, the Cor∣puscles of the Nitre expiring out of the mixture, and penetrating into the water, are they that make it freez, but the Exigence of his dis∣course seems to require such an inter∣pretation: for to say it is the Cor∣puscles of the Nitre, that were har∣bour'd in the ice or snow, that freez the water they invade, is no better then to beg the Question. For be∣sides that, he ought to prove, that there are multitudes of the Cor∣puscles of Nitre, lodg'd in snow and ice: Besides this, I say, since these two Bodies are said to be water be∣fore they were congealed, to grant what his Explication supposes about ice and snow, is to grant in effect,

that Nitre alone (without ice or snow) can turn water into ice, which is the thing that Experience warran∣ted us lately to deny; and if this be all, that is meant by the Experiment, the mixing of Nitre with the ice, or the snow, will signifie very little, to evince what should be proved. For, if instead of Nitre you take Sea-salt, or the spirit of Salt, nay, the infla∣mable part of Wine, the Experi∣ment will succeed; and yet I think Gassendus would not have the Cor∣puscles of these Bodies to be frigori∣fick, like those of Nitre, which yet they may be prov'd to be by the same Argument, which is imployed to show, that the Corpuscles of the Ni∣tre, which is added as a distinct in∣gredient to the ice, or to the snow, are the Efficients of the Congelati∣on.

25. Having thus examin'd Gassen∣dus his Experiments, we will now, as our next and last Argument touching this subject, subjoyn our own, as far as we can find any of them among our notes, some of which follow in these words.

26. [As cold as they think Salt∣petre to be, who teach its spirituous parts to be the Grand and Catholick efficients of cold, yet we found, that it would dissolve ice readily enough, as well as Sea-salt, &c. are wont to do, as we collected from this, That roch'd Petre mingled with ice, would freez the vapors wandring in the Air, to the outside of the single Vial, wherein we made the Experiment, which the ice alone would not have done; and having placed some 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sie beaten Nitre (of the same parcel) in little heaps here and there upon plates of ice, we manifestly found them to sink into the ice, which ar∣gued their dissolving it; and having put some of it upon a thick and smooth piece of ice, we found, that it had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a hole quite through it, whilest the surrounding part of the ice remain'd of a good thickness.]

27. [We took a large single Vi∣al, almost full of water, and put it into as much roch'd Petre, as by keeping it a good while by the fires side, we could dissolve in it, of which one mark was, that there re∣main'd

a pretty deal of Salt intire 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Bottom of the liquor, this being expos'd to the Air, during an ex∣tremely sharp night, and a good part of the day, the solution was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so hard to the very Top of the liquor, that having broken the glass, we could hardly break the included mass. But at the Bottom there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pear'd some liquor, with Crystals of Nitre well figur'd, that seem'd to have shot in it, and argued the Wa∣ter to be sufficiently impreguated with the Salt.]

28. [As for the spirituous parts of Nitre, so far forth as their temper, as to heat or cold, can be judg'd by distillation, and by Weather-glasses, they are not actually more cold then some other Liquors, and appear ra∣ther to be potentially 〈◊〉〈◊〉, then cold, at least they seem indispos'd to turn water into ice, since we have 〈◊〉〈◊〉; that the spirit of Nitre will readily enough turn ice into water.]

29. These three foregoing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 show, that Salt-petre is no such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 derfully cold Body, but that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are others colder, as being able to

freez water, which Nitre could not congeal. Nay, they manifest, that Nitre, which is said to be the effici∣ent of ice, does thaw and dissolve it, and so seems at least in reference to It, to be rather hot then cold.

30. I shall now add one note more, to show it does not always make water so much as equally cold with the common Air; the Experi∣ment I find thus recorded.

31. [We took a seal'd Weather∣glass,* 1.80 and by a little pulley fastned to a frame, suspended it in a solution of roch'd-Petre, as strong as we could make it, without heat, as appear'd by a pretty Quantity of Nitre, that had continued some days undissolved in the vessel, which was a Beer-glass, with a flat Bottom. After the Ball of the Weather-glass had been sus∣pended in this liquor, to try, whe∣ther the Ambient Air were not at this time colder then the Liquor, (it being a cloudy and windy day, and betwixt the hours of 11. and 12.) though both the Weather-glass and it, had stood some days in the same place. I lifted up the glass out of

the water by the string it hung by, that I might not touch it with my warm hands, and found the Liquor in the glass to descend by degrees, about two divisions (which were eights of an inch) and then by the string lifting up the Weather-glass, and putting again the solution of Ni∣tre under it, the included Liquor was impell'd up again two divisions, and sometimes two divisions and a half, for to satisfie my self the more fully, I repeated the Experiment se∣veral times, and observ'd, that the included liquor usually ascended the first division, so fast, that the eye could perceive its progress, and that the ascent upon the immersion in the dissolv'd Nitre was discernably quick∣er, then the descent upon the remo∣val of the Weather-glass into the open Air, though the space both of the one and of the other were about, either two divisions, or two divisions and a half.]

32. If it be here demanded, what then I think of the frigifactive Virtue of Nitre, I must answer, that I have not yet fully satisfi'd my self concern∣ing

it, but thus much I am not wil∣ling to deny, That among divers other Bodies, that upon several oc∣casions exhale from the Terrestrial Globe, those Corpuscles that are of a Nitrous Nature, may be for the most part well qualified to refrige∣rate the Air, and I am not indispos'd to think, that there may be store of little saline Bodies of kin to Nitre, that (especially at certain times) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in great multitudes to and fro, in some parts of the Atmosphere; but that this aerial salt, which some moderns call volatile Nitre, should be true and perfect Salt-petre is more then I am sure of, and that this Salt alone should be the summum frigidum, is more then as yet I am convinc'd of; especially, since, for ought I know, there may be in the bowels of the Earth, (whence I have seen many concretes digg'd out, whose very names and outsides are for the most part unknown, even to Chymists themselves) divers other Bodies be∣sides Salt-petre, whose steams may have a power of refrigerating the Air, as great in proportion to their

Quantity, as those of Salt-petre; and since common salt in artificial glaciations, is found to cooperate as powerfully, as Salt-petre it self, and since it is undeniably a Body, of which there is a vast quantity in the Terrestrial Globe, and which by reason of the Sea, where it abounds, is exceedingly diffus'd, I see no great reason, why we may not aswel esteem that kind of Salt among the Catholick efficients of Cold, and the rather, because that the smallest Corpuscles, our eye discerns of Sea∣salt, are wont to be, (though not exactly) of a Cubical figure, which is that figure, Philoponus informs us, the great Democritus of old (justly admir'd by Gassendus) assign'd to the Atoms of cold, whereas, according to Gassendus himself, the Corpuscles of Nitre, at least as far as sense has inform'd us, are not the most conve∣niently shap'd to produce cold, since he labours to show, that the figure of frigorifick Atoms is to be Tetrahe∣drical or Pyramidal, whereas the Crystals, or Grains, great or small, into which good Salt-petre shoots,

are wont to be Prismatical having their base Sexangular; but to return to what I was saying, concerning the congealing of water, with ice, I shall subjoyn, that the same Experiment countenances my conjecturing, that oftentimes it may not be emanations of one Salt, or other Body, but a peculiar and lucky conjunction of those of two or more sorts of them, that produces the intense degree of cold, as we see, that ice and snow themselves have their coldness ad∣vanc'd (as to its effects) by the mix∣ture either of Sea-salt or Nitre, or spirit of Wine, or any other appro∣priated additaments. Nay, I may elsewhere have occasion to shew, that actual Cold, may be manifestly promoted, if not generated, by the addition of a Body that is not actual∣ly Cold. But to all this I must add, that I doubt whether any of those sa∣line or Terrestrial expirations, either single or conjoyned, be the adequate causes of cold, since, for ought I know, there may be other ways of producing it, besides the introducti∣on of frigorifick, whether Atoms or

Corpuscles, of which we may have occasion to take some notice hereaf∣ter. In the mean time, having dis∣cours'd thus long against the admit∣ting a primum frigidum, I think it not amiss to take notice once more, that my design in playing the Sceptick on this subject, is not so much to reject other mens probable opinions, of a primum frigidum, as absolutely false, as 'tis to give an account, why I look upon them, as doubtful.

Title XVIII. Experiments and Observations touching the Coldness and Temperature of the Air.

1. I Have shewn in the former Secti∣on, that the Air is not the Primum Frigidum, but yet I cannot readily yield my assent to the Opinion of the learned Gassendus, and some others, (who have written before, and since him) that the Air is of it self indiffe∣rent, that is, neither cold, nor hot, but as it happens to be made, either the one or the other by external A∣gents. For if we take Cold in the obvious and received Acception of the word, that is, for a Quality relative to the senses of a Man, whose Organs are in a good or middle Tem∣per, in reference to Cold and Heat, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 am hitherto inclinable to think,

that we may rather attribute Cold∣ness to the Air, then either Heat, or a perfect Neutrality as to Heat and Cold. For to make a Body cold as to sense, it seems to be sufficient, that its minute Corpuscles do less agitate the small parts of our Organs of Feeling, then they are wont to be agitated by the Blood, and other fluid parts of the Body; and conse∣quently, if supposing the Air devoid of those calorifick and frigorifick Atoms, to which the learned Men, I was naming, ascribe its heat and cold, it would constitute a fluid, which either by reason of the minuteness of its parts, or their want of a suffici∣ently vehement motion, would less affect the sensory of Feeling, then the internal liquors, and spirits of the body are wont to do, and so it would appear actually cold. Nor is it necessary, that all liquors, much less all fluids, should be as much agi∣tated as the blood and vital humors of a humane body, as we see (to omit what in the last Section is men∣tion'd about newly emitted Urine, and to skip other obvious instances)

in those Fishes and other Animals, whose Blood and analogous Juices are always, and that in the state, which passes for their natural state, actually Cold to our Touch. And I see no sufficient reason, why we should not conceive the Air even in its natural state, (at least as far forth as it can be said to have a natural state) to be one of the number of cold Fluids. For as to the main, if not only, Argument of Gassendus, and others, namely, That, as we see the Air to be easily heated by the Action of the Sun, or the fire, so we see it as easily refrigerated by ice, and snow, and Northerly winds, and other Efficients of Cold, and that heat and cold reign in it by turns in Summer and in Winter: This only proves, what I readily grant, that the Air is easily susceptible at several times of both these contrary Quali∣ties, but it does not shew, that one is not more connatural to it, then the other, as we see, that the water may be easily depriv'd of its fluidity by the circumposition of snow and salt, and reduc'd to be fluid again by the Sun,

or the Fire; and yet according to them, as well as others, fluidity, not Firmness, is the natural quality of water. But this is not that, which I lay most weight upon, for I conside∣red, that it is manifest and acknow∣ledg'd by these learned Men them∣selves, that the heat of the Air is ad∣ventitious to it, and communicated by the beams of the Sun, or of the Fire, or by some other Agents natu∣rally productive of heat, as well in other Bodies as the Air: And 'tis also evident, that upon the bare absence, (for ought else that appears) of the Sun, or Extinction of the Fire, or removal of the other causes of heat, the Air will, as it were of its own ac∣cord, be reduc'd to Coldness. Whereas, that there are swarms of frigorifick Atoms diffus'd through the Air, from which all its coldness proceeds, is but an Hypothesis of their own, far from being manifest in it self, and not hitherto, that I know of, prov'd by any fit Experiment or cogent reason. And though in some cases I am not adverse to the admit∣ting such Corpuscles, as may in a

sense, be styl'd frigorifick, yet I see not why we should have recourse to them in cases where such a bare cessa∣tion, or lessening of former motion, as may easily be ascrib'd to manifest causes, may serve the turn, as to a Sensible (for I now consider not the causes of the Intenser) Coldness in the Air, without taking them in. And the opinion, I incline to, has at least this advantage, that the Air seems to be as rightfully term'd cold, as Iron, Marble, Mercury, Crystal, Salt∣petre, and such other Bodies, which men unanimously look upon as such, there being none of these to which the Argument imploy'd against the coldness of the Air, is not applicable, save that the Air being a fluid of a looser and finer Texture does sooner receive, and lose the impressions of heat and cold. And yet if a Block of Marble, for instance, or an Iron Bul∣let were remov'd into one of those empty spaces, that Gassendus and some others suppos'd to be beyond the bounds of this world, I see not why it should not be rather cold, then either warm, or in a state of perfect

Neutrality: Since when the Cor∣puscles of Heat, and those of Cold had extricated themselves, and were flown away into the neighbouring Vacuum, the component Particles of the stone or metal, whose implicated Texture would hinder their Dissiliti∣on, remaining much less agitated then our Organs of feeling are by the warm blood and spirits, that vivifie them, must, if applied to those sen∣sories, appear Cold.

2. But I shall not upon this subject spend any farther discourse, since perhaps the dispute, either may be, or at least may easily be made Ver∣bal: For in case those I argue with, should so explain their opinion, as not to deny, that in its own nature the Air, left to its self, may be reputed Cold in reference to the sensories of men, who are warm animals: But say, that nevertheless, comparing it indefinitely to other then humane bo∣dies here below, it is so easily suscep∣table of both the contrary qualities, that neither of them seems predomi∣nant in it; and that when it is consi∣derably either cold or hot, it is made

so by adventitious agents: I shall not much contend with them, especially if it can clearly be made our, that there are great quantities of such cold spirits, as Cabaeus and Gassendus sup∣pos'd to be universally productive of cold (more or less) in all bodies, where they get admission; but of these cold spirits more perhaps else∣where. Our principal business in this Section being to deliver Experiments and Observations, and because we shall mention but few of the former sort, we will dispatch them first.

3. [November the 20. 1662. we took a Weather-glass fill'd to a conveni∣ent height with well rectifi'd spirit of Wine, and Hermetically seal'd, this we inclos'd in a glass Receiver of a Cylindrical form, of about two inches Diameter, and about a foot and a half high, and having cement∣ed on the Receiver, we let it alone for some hours, that it might per∣fectly cool. Then drawing out the Air, and watching it narrowly, we observ'd, that the liquor in the Weather-glass descended a little, though but a very little upon the first

Exuction of the Air, and a little, though it seem'd somewhat less, upon the second, but afterwards we did not find it sensibly to descend. This subsidence of the liquor in all amounting to about the length of a Barley corn, we attributed to the stretching of the glass by the spring of the included Air, when the ambient was withdrawn, and accordingly upon our allowing a Regress to the excluded Air, we saw the spirit in the Thermometer, rise about half a Barley-corns length to the place whence it began to subside. After∣wards we suck'd out, and let in the Air of the Receiver, as before, with like success, as to the descent and re∣mounting of the liquor.

4. N. B. We tri'd with a very hot Handkerchief appli'd in a convenient place to the outside of the Receiver, whether the included Weather-glass would receive impressions from it, the Air, that was wont to be interme∣diate, being remov'd; but we did not find the liquor in the Weather-glass sensibly to swell, either by this way, or by casting upon it the concentrated

beams of a candle trajected through a double convex glass. But when the Air was readmitted into the Cavity of the Receiver, then the same Hand∣kerchief, heated a fresh, and applied, made the spirit of Wine sensibly, though but little more, to ascend: Of which yet it seem'd something difficult by reason of the Nicety of the Experiment to estimate with any thing of certainty the Cause.] So that upon the whole matter, till the Experiment be repeated in Airs of differing tempers, to verifie, whether 'twas the withdrawing of the wonted pressure, or the recess of the sub∣stance of the Air, that made the li∣quor included in the Thermoscope subside, and till the Experiment be repeated with the further observation of other circumstances (which reite∣ration of the Trial we intended, but were by intervening accidents hin∣dred) the recited Experiment will not afford much more then good hints towards the Discovery of the Temperature of the Air.

5. I have* 1.81 elsewhere taken notice, that air included in Vessels sufficient∣ly

strong and well clos'd, was not sensibly, or at least not considerably con∣dens'd by Cold, but when the Air was not so included, as not to be in some part or other expos'd to the pressure of the outward Air or Atmo∣sphere, it would then by a degree of Cold, capable to freez water, be ma∣nifestly reduc'd into a less room. But how much this Contraction or Condensation of the air may amount to, I did not there subjoyn, nor has the measuring of it been, that I know of, attempted by any man. Where∣fore we thought fit to indeavour something in this kind, of which we shall annex a brief account, whereby it will appear upon the whole matter, that in the Climate, we live in, the Cold does not so considerably con∣dense the Air, as most men seem to have hitherto imagin'd.

6. And first, it will not be amiss to intimate, that among other ways we tried to measure the shrinking of the Air by sealing it up in glasses furnish'd with long and very slender stems, that by breaking off the tips of those glas∣ses immers'd under water, when by

the Cold Air of a frosty night, or the Circumposition of snow and salt, the included air was highly refrigerated, the water might (by the pressure of the Atmosphere upon it) be impell'd into the Cylindrical cavity of the broken glass, and by its greater or lesser Ascent therein shew, how much the internal Air had been made to shrink upon the account of the Cold. But this way, for reasons too long to be here deduc'd, we found it trouble∣some and difficult to practise with any thing of certainty. Nor did we ever, that I remember, by this way bring the refrigerated air to lose a∣bove a 30. part of its former dimen∣sions.

7. We would have tried also to mea∣sure the Condensation of the air by the ascent of water into the stem of a Bolthead, so inverted, that the ori∣fice of the stem might be under the surface of the water, and the Bolt∣head kept erected. But this way we disapproved, because it was likely (and indeed we found it so by expe∣rience) that the external air would first freez the uppermost part of the

water contain'd in the stem, and thereby hinder its ascent, and per∣haps occasion the bursting of the low∣er part of the said stem.

8. Wherefore though for want of a sufficient Quantity of some liquor, that would neither freez like water, and aqueous Bodies, nor congeal like common oyl, and the like unctuous Juices, we found it for a while some∣what difficult to practise the Experi∣ment, yet bethinking our selves of the indisposition that Brine has to Conge∣lation, we made so strong a Brine with common salt, that with it (and as I remember, with oyl of Turpen∣tine also, of which we chanc'd to have some quantity by us) we made divers Trials, of which I had two among our Collections, which we shall here subjoyn, whereof the one informs us, that an Egg being invert∣ed into salt water, the Cold of a fro∣sty night made the air shrink in the Pipe near five inches; and the other (which is the accuratest I meet with among my Collections) gives me this account, That January the 29. the Air extended into 2057. spaces,

was by the cold of the sharp and fro∣sty night contracted into 1965. spa∣ces, so that in extraordinarily cold weather, the most we could make the Air lose of its former dimensi∣ons by the additional Cold of the Atmosphere, was a 22. part, and a little more then a third: And this was the greatest condensation of the Air, that we remember our selves to have observ'd, though we were so careful, as after we had placed marks, where the incongealable li∣quor reach'd in the pipe, that when the internal air was expos'd abroad to the cold, we caused servants to watch, and from time to time to take notice (by placing marks) of the various ascents of the liquor, especi∣ally early in the morning, least we should omit taking notice of the greatest contraction of the air, which omission (by reason that the Cold∣ness of the ambient air does often∣times begin to be remitted before we can feel it to be so) is not easily a∣voided without watchfulness.

9. But having thus observ'd the Con∣densation of included air by the natu∣ral

and unassisted Cold of the exter∣nal air, we thought fit to prosecute the trial somewhat further, and in regard we conceiv'd the Cold of a mixture of snow and salt to be far more intense, then that of the mere ambient air alone, we endeavoured to measure, as near as we could, how much the one exceeded the other: And though we found, that by pro∣secuting the lately mention'd Trial in the glass-Egg by the application of ice and salt to the Elliptical part of the vessel, the liquor rise by our Esti∣mate near four inches more (then those five w^ch it had risen already, up∣on the account of the Refrigeration of the included air by the bare cold of the external:) Yet by prosecuting the other Experiment (made the 29. of January) at the same time, when we were making it, we did some∣what more accurately determine the matter. For by applying ice and salt to the outside of the vessel, we found, that the included air was con∣tracted from 1965. spaces, to which the Cold of the ambient air had re∣duc'd it, into 1860. spaces, so that

the Circumposition of ice and salt did as much, nay somewhat more condense it, after the mere Cold of the external air had contracted it as far as it could, then the bare, though intense, Cold of the ambient air could condense it at first, and the greatest degree of adventitious Cold we were able to give by the help of nature or of art, did not make the air expos'd to it, lose a full tenth part of its for∣mer Dimensions: on which occasion it may not be unworthy observation, That there is no greater Disparity betwixt the proportion in which the Cold was able to condense the Air, and that wherein the Cold was able to expand water.

10. This is all that at present I think fit to say concerning the interest that Winds may have in the Temperature of the Air. And therefore I will now proceed to those other particu∣lars, wherewith I not long since said, that I intended to close up this Secti∣on; and I might on this occasion sub∣joyn many things, but partly haste, and partly other considerations will confine me to those, that relate to

the effects of Cold upon the Air in a more general way.

11. And first, we will observe, that Cold may hinder in an almost incre∣dible measure, the warming operati∣on of the Sun upon the Air, not only in the hottest part of the Day (for that may sometimes happen, even in our Climate) but at several times of the Day, even in the heat of Sum∣mer.

12. I remember I once accidentally met with an intelligent and sober Gentleman, who had several times sail'd upon the frigid Zone, and though an intervening accident sepa∣rated us so suddenly, that I had not opportunity to obtain from him the resolution of above two or three questions; yet this I learned of him belonging to our present purpose, That by the help of a Journal he kept, he call'd to mind, that upon the coast of Greenland he had observ'd it to snow all Midsummer night, which affirmation of so credible a person, imboldens me to add some other re∣lations, which I should else have scrupled at.

13. Mr. Logan an English Merchant, that Winter'd at Pecora, one of the Northern Towns of Muscovy, relates, that being there at a great Salmon∣fishing, there hapned about the close of August (which in many Countries is wont to be the hottest time of all the year) so strong a Frost, which lasted till the fourth day, That the* 1.82 Ozera was frozen over, and the Ice dri∣ving in the River to and again, broke all the Nets, so that they got no Salmon, no not so much as for their own Victuals.

14. Captain G. Weymouth mentions, that in July, though he was not near the Latitude of Nova Zembla, much less of Greenland, yet sailing in a thick fog, when by reason of the darkness, it occasioned, he thought good to take* 1.83 in some of his sails, when his men came to hand them, they found their Sails, Ropes, and Tacklings so hard frozen, that it did (says he) seem very strange unto us, being in the chiefest time of Sum∣mer.* 1.84

15. In the fifth Voyage of the English to Cherry Island, which lies betwixt 74. and 75. degrees of Latitude, they observ'd, that the wind being at

North-east upon the 24. of July, It freez'd so hard, that the Ice did hang on their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And in the seventh Voy∣age (which was made three years af∣ter) to the same Island, they menti∣on, that on the 14. of July the wind be∣ing* 1.85 Northerly, they had both snow and frost.

16. The next thing that we shall take notice of, is the degree of Cold, which the Efficient causes of that Quality, whatever they be, are able to produce in the air; but of this we must not here treat indefinitely, the strange effects of cold upon other bo∣dies being most of them produc'd by the intervention of the cold first dif∣fus'd in the Air, and those are treat∣ed of in a distinct Section, wherefore we shall now give two or three in∣stances of the sudden operations of the Cold harbour'd in the Air.

The formerly mention'd English Ambassador into Russia, Dr. Fletcher, gives us two instances very memo∣rable to our present purpose. When* 1.86 you pass (says he) out of a warm Room into a Cold, you will sensibly feel your breath to wax stark, and even stifling

with the cold, as you draw it in and out. So powerfully and nimbly does the intensely refrigerated Air work upon the Organs of respiration.

[And whereas a very credible person, now chief Physician to the Russian Emperor, being ask'd by me concerning the truth of what is re∣ported, sometimes to happen at Musco, and is reputed the eminentest proof that is readily observable of the extreme coldness of the air, assur'd me, that he himself saw the water thrown up into the air, fall down actu∣ally congeal'd into ice: Dr. Fletcher confirms this Report. For] our Am∣bassador also says, That the sharpness of the Air you may judge of by this, for* 1.87 that water dropped down, or cast up into the Air, congeal'd into Ice before it come to ground. And I remember, that inquiring about the probability of such Relations, he answered me, That being at the famous Seige of Smolensko in Russia, he observ'd it to be so extremely cold in the fields, that his Spittle would freez in falling betwixt his mouth and the ground, and that if he spit against a Tree, or a

piece of wood, it would not stick, but fall to the foot of it.

17. Among the Phaenomena of Cold, relating to the air, I endeavour'd to observe, whether upon the change of the Weather, from warm or mild, to cold and frosty, there would ap∣pear any difference of the weight of the Atmosphere by its being plentiful∣ly furnish'd with a new stock of such frigorifick Corpuscles as several of the modern Philosophers ascribe its coldness to, but though I several times observ'd by comparing a good Barometer (and sometimes also un∣seal'd Weather-glasses furnish'd one with a tincted Liquor, and the other with Quicksilver) with a good seal'd Weather-glass, furnished with pure spirit of Wine, that upon the com∣ing in of clear and frosty weather, the Atmosphere would very early ap∣pear sensibly heavier then before, and continue so, as long as the cold and clear weather lasted; yet by reason of some considerations and Trials, that breed some scruple in me, I refer the matter to more frequent and last∣ing observations, then I yet have been

able to make, in which it will con∣cern those that have a mind to prose∣cute such Trials, not only to consider, whether or no the increased gravity of the Atmosphere may not proceed from some other Cause, then the coming of frigorifick Atoms into the Air; but to have a special care, that their Barascopes be more carefully freed from the Air, that is wont to lurk in Quick silver it self, as well as other Liquors, then those in the ma∣king of the Torricellian Experiment Tubes usually are, least that Air get∣ting up into the deserted part of the Tube, do by its expansion and contra∣ction, obtain an unsuspected interest in the rising and falling of the subja∣cent Mercurial Cylinder, and so im∣pose upon them.

18. Another Effect that the Cold espe∣cially in Northern Countries has of∣tentimes upon the Atmosphere, is, the making the Air more or less clear then usually it is. For in the Nor∣thern Voyages, the Seamen frequent∣ly complain of thick and lasting Fogs, whose causes I shall not now consi∣der, but some help to guess at them

may be given by what we are about to add, namely, that it very fre∣quently happens on the contrary, That when the cold is very intense, the air grows much clearer then at other times, probably because the Cold by condensing precipitates the vapours, that thicken the air, and by freezing the surface of the earth, keeps in the steams, that would else arise to thicken the air. Not to dis∣pute, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it may not also some∣what repress the vapours, that would be afforded by the water it self, since some of our Navigators observe, that even when it was not cold enough to freez the surface of the Sea, it would so far chill and infrigidate it, that the snow would lye on it without melting.

19. I remember a Swedish extraordi∣nary Ambassador, and a very knowing person, whom I had the honour to be particularly acquainted with, would say, when he saw a frosty day accompanied with great clearness, that it then look'd like a Swedish win∣ter, where when once the frosty wea∣ther is setled, the sky is wont for a

very long time to be very serene and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and here in England we usu∣ally observe the sharpest frosty nights to be the clearest. But to confirm our Observation by a very remark∣able instance, I shall borrow it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Navigator very curious of Celesti∣al Observations, which circumstance I mention to bring the greater credit to the following observation of Cap∣tain James, which in his Journal is thus delivered: The thirtieth and one* 1.88 and thirtieth of January, there appear∣ed in the beginning of the night more Stars in the Firmanent, then ever I had before seen by two thirds. I could see the Cloud in Cancer full of small Stars.

20. To determine what effect the cold∣ness of the air may have upon the Re∣fractions of the Luminaries and other Stars, I look upon as a work of no small difficulty, and that would re∣quire much consideration as well as time, wherefore I shall only add two or three narratives, supplied me by Navigators, without adding at pre∣sent any thing to the matters of fact.

21. The first is that famous Observa∣tion of the Dutch in Nova Zembla, who

take great pains to evince by several circumstances, some of them highly probable, that they were not mista∣ken in their account of time, accord∣ing to which they concluded, that they saw the Sun, whom they had lost sight of eleven weeks before, about fourteen days sooner then he ought to have appear'd to them, which difference has been, for ought I know to the contrary, by all that have taken notice of it, ascrib'd to the strangely great Refraction in that Gelid and Northern air.

22. And as for that other extremely cold Country, where Captain James wintered, it appears by his Journal, that he there made divers Celestial, and other observations, which gave him opportunity to take notice of the Refraction, and he seems to com∣plain, that he found it very great, though among the particulars he takes notice of, there are some that seem not very strange, nor are there any that are near so wonderful, as that newly mention'd of the Hollanders in Nova Zembla, however in regard of the extreme coldness of the Winter

air in Charleton Island, it may be worth while to take notice of the fol∣lowing passages out of his Journal, since they may at least help us to con∣jecture what is not to be expected in reference to Refractions from the coldness of the air as such. The 21.* 1.89 of January (says he) I observed the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 what exactness I could (it being very clear Sunshine weather) which I found to be 51. 52. This difference is by reason that here is a great Refraction. Which last clause is very obscure, unless it refers, as one may guess it does, to what he had elsewhere said, That his first coming to the Island, he took the Latitude with two Quadrants,* 1.90 and found it to be inst 52. degrees, with∣out any minutes. Elsewhere; my 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.91 (says he) by these glasses I compar'd to the Stars coming to the Meridian. By this means we found the Sun to rise twenty minutes before it should, and in the evening to re∣main above the horizon twenty mi∣nutes (or thereabouts) longer then it should. And all this by reason of the Refraction.

And in another place, March the

15. This evening (says he) the moon* 1.92 rose in a very long oval alongst the Hori∣zon.

I shall add one passage more out of our Author, concerning Refractions, not only because it may bear Testimo∣ny to some relations of the like kind, that I have mention'd in another Treatise; but because it is concluded with an observation, that (if there be nothing of mistake in it) is odd enough. I had often (says he) obser∣ved* 1.93 the difference betwixt clear weather, and misty Refractious weather in this manner. From a little Hill, which was near adjoyning to our house, in the clear∣est weather, when the Sun shone, with all the purity of Air that I could conceive, we could not see a little Istand, which bare of us south south-east some four leagues of; but if the weather were misty (as afore∣said) then we could often see it from the lowest place.

23. Hitherto I have treated of the Temperature of the Air in general, and though the past Discourse have been prolix enough, yet possibly I may have no fewer things to say, if I would at present fall upon the parti∣cular

consideration of the three Regi∣ons into which the Air is wont to be distinguished. For I confess I am not altogether without scruples, both as to the Number, and as to the Li∣mits, and as to the Qualities assign'd to these Aerial Regions. But (as I have partly declar'd in ano∣ther* 1.94 Tract) though I had time to enter upon so intricate a Disquisition, yet till I have an opportunity to con∣sult some other papers, I know not whether what I have noted touching these difficulties, may not more pro∣perly belong to another Treatise, then this of Cold.

24. Having thus dispatch'd the few Ex∣periments I can meet with among my papers, concerning the Coldness of the Air, I now proceed to subjoyn some observations, that have occurr'd to me in the writings or verbal Rela∣tions of Navigators and Travellers about that subject. But in regard, that the greatest part of the Phaenome∣na of Cold, which nature of her own accord presents us with, seem to be produc'd, either mediately or im∣mediately by the Air, we intend not

here to treat of the coldness of the air in the largest sense, but only to take notice of some of the choicer instan∣ces, that seem to belong to our pre∣sent Argument. And these we shall annex, either as Promiscuous Obser∣vations at the Close of this Section, or as Illustrations or proofs of the three following Observations.

I. The first I shall propose in these terms, that the greater or lesser coldness of the Air in several Climates and Coun∣tries, is nothing near so regularly propor∣tionate to their respective distances from the Pole, or their vicinity to the Equator, as men are wont to presume.

This puts me in mind of what I have formerly, either heard from a skilful man, or observ'd my self a∣bout the difference betwixt places of the same latitude in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere; namely, That of places equally distant the one from the Northern, the other from the Southern Pole, the latter are ge∣nerally much colder then the former. And as I remember, I long since no∣ted some things to this purpose; but being not at present able to recover

them, I shall propose this only, as that which may deserve an inquiry, being not yet satisfi'd, but that in the Examples I had taken notice of, some accidental and concurrent cau∣ses may have occasion'd the greater coldness observ'd in the places seated on the other side of the Line; as on this side of it, the like causes may much vary the coldness of differing places of equal latitudes, as we are now going to shew by the following testimonies.

1. How excessive a Cold reigns at Musco and thereabouts in the Winter time, when many men lose their no∣ses or their toes, and some their lives by the extremity of the cold, we have several times occasion to take notice of in this Treatise. And yet at Eden∣burgh, which I find some of our mo∣dern Navigators to place more Nor∣therly by above a degree, there, I say, and in the neighbouring places, the air is known to be temperate enough, and the cold very tolerable: And 'tis affirm'd, that the snow very rarely lyes any long time on the ground after it is fallen.

2. In the Voyage made for disco∣veries northward, by Mr. Poole, in the year 1610. I find this passage, I was* 1.95 certifi'd, that all the Ponds and Lakes were unfrozen, they being fresh water, which putteth me in hope of a mild Sum∣mer here, after so sharp a beginning, as I have had, and my opinion is such (and I assure my self it is so) that a passage may be as soon attain'd this way by the Pole, as any unknown way whatsoever, by reason the Sun doth give a great heat in this Climate; and the Ice (near the 79. degree) I mean that that freezeth here, is nothing so huge as I have seen in 73. de∣grees.

To this agrees the testimony of the Hollanders in their first Voyage to Nova Zembla, in which the writer of it, Gerat de Veer, speaks thus, We have* 1.96 assuredly found, that the only and most hinderance to our Voyage, was the Ice, that we found about Nova Zembla, un∣der 73, 74, 75, and 76. degrees, and not so much upon the Sea, between both the lands, whereby it appeareth, that not the nearness of the North Pole, but the Ice that cometh in and out from the Tar∣tarian Sea about Nova Zembla, caused 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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〈◊〉〈◊〉 to feel the greatest cold. Therefore in regard, that the nearness of the Pole was not the cause of the great cold that we felt, &c. And a little after, — It is true (says he) that in the Country lying un∣der 80. degrees (which we esteem to be Greenland) there is both leaves and grass to be seen, wherein such beasts, as feed of leaves and grass, as Harts, Hinds, and such like beasts, live, whereas to the contrary in Nova Zembla, there grow∣eth neither leaves nor grass, and there are no beasts there, but such as eat flesh, as Bears and Foxes, &c. although Nova Zembla lyeth 4, 5, and 6. degrees more Southerly from the Pole, then the other land aforesaid.

And to this purpose I remember what is related by the learned Jose∣phus* 1.97 Acosta, concerning the Heats and Colds in the Torrid Zone, and else∣where: When I pass'd (says he) to the Indies, I will tell what chanc'd unto me, having read what Poets and Philosophers write of the burning Zone, I perswaded myself, that coming to the Aequinoctial, I should not indure the violent heat, but it fell out otherwise, for when I pass'd, which was when the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was there for Ze∣nith,

being entered into Aries, in the moneth of March I felt so great a cold, as I was forc'd to go into the Sun to warm me: what could I else do then but laugh at Aristotles Meteors, and his Philoso∣phy, seeing that in that place, and at that season, when as all should be scorch'd with heat, according to his rules, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and all my companions were a cold? in truth there is no Region in the world more pleasant and temperate, then under the Equinocti∣al, although it be not in all parts of an equal temperature, but have great di∣versities. The burning Zone in some parts is very temperate, as in Quitto, and on the plains of Peru, in some parts very cold, as at Potosi, and in some ve∣ryhot, as in Ethiopia, Brasile, and the Molucques. And within two Chap∣ters after, he discourses more largely of some of these Particulars. And again Chapter the 12. You may conti∣nually (says he) see upon the tops of these* 1.98 mountains snow, hail, and frozen waters, and the cold so bitter, as the grass is all wither'd, so as the men and beasts, which pass that way, are benumm'd with cold. This, as I have said, is in the burning Zone, and it happens most commonly

when they have the Sun for Zenith.

These Testimonies of a learned man, that writes upon his own knowledge, I thought it worth pro∣ducing, to make it probable, that as in several Countries the heat does not always answer to the nearness of pla∣ces to the Line, so in Northern Re∣gions the cold may not always be proportionate to their vicinity to the Pole. In Mr. Hudsons second voy∣age written by himself, he mentions that above 71. degrees, though they were much pester'd with ice, about the end of June, that day (when this* 1.99 hapned) was calm, clear, and hot wea∣ther, adding of the next day also, that it was calm, hot, and fair weather. And Acosta tells us, that we see these dif∣ferences, not only on the land, but also on the Sea: there are some Seas where they feel great heat, as the report of that of Mazambigus, and Ormus in the east, and of the Sea of Panama in the west. There are other Seas in the same degree of height very cold, as that of Pe∣ru, in the which we were a cold, when we first sail'd it, which was in March, when the Sun was directly over us. In

truth on this continent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Land and Sea are of one sort, we cannot ima∣gine any other cause of this so great a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but the quality of the wind that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 refresh them.

But to multiply no more instances, we shall conclude with this one, That Charleton Island, where Captain James winter'd (and of which we so often have occasion to make mention in our History) though it seems by the effects to be a colder Region, then even the Countrey about Musco, and perhaps as cold as Nova Zembla it* 1.100 self; yet Captain James, who had several times occasion to take the lati∣tude of it, and assignes it the same Elevation, and consequently, the same Distance from the Pole with Cambridge, whose latitude he reckons to be 51. degrees besides minutes, and whose air is very well known to be very temperate. And it is re∣markable, that though this place, whose latitude is short of 52. degrees, was found uninhabitable by reason of* 1.101 the cold, yet not only in Mr. Hudsons Voyage, the writers admonish the Readers to take notice, That although

they ran along near the shore, they found* 1.102 no great cold, which made them think, that if they had been on shore the place is temperate: And yet in this place they reckon themselves to have reach'd the 78. degree of latitude: And our re∣center Navigations inform us, that several parts of Greenland, to which this newly mentioned coast belong'd, are well enough inhabited: And one of our English Navigators assures us, that the true height of Pustozera in Russia is no less then 68. degrees and a half, if not more, and yet that is a town not only well inhabited, but of great trade; but in Hudsons voy∣age I find what is more strange, That under the 81. degree of latitude, be∣yond which they discovered land very far off, but (beyond which none is thought to have actually sail'd to∣ward the Pole) they found it during the whole day clear weather, with little wind,* 1.103 and reasonable warm. And beyond 80. degrees, they not only found a stream or two of fresh water, but found it hot on the shore, and drank wa∣ter to cool their thirst, which they also com∣mended.

II. The next observable I am to propose about the coldness of the Air, is this, That the degrees both of Heat and Cold in the air may be much greater in the same climate, and the same place, at several seasons of the year, or even at several times of the same day, then most men would believe.

For the proof of this Proposi∣tion, we shall subjoyn two sorts of Testimonies, of Travellers, and Na∣vigators, the former shewing, that in Countries, where it is very cold in Winter, it may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be hot in Summer; and the latter mani∣festing, that even on the same day, as well as in the same place, the heat and cold, that succeed one another, may be one of them sensible, though the other were extreme, or may perhaps be both of them conside∣rable.

To make this good, we shall produce the following Testimonies.

1. Dr. Giles Fletcher, English Am∣bassador to the Muscovian Emperor, in his Treatise of Russia, and the ad∣joyning Regions, has this memorable

passage to our present purpose. The whole Countrey (says he) differeth very much from it self, by reason of the year, so that a man would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to see the great* 1.104 alteration, and difference betwixt the Winters and Summers in Russia. The whole Countrey in the Winter lyeth under snow, which falleth continually, and is sometime of a yard or two thick, but great∣er towards the North; the Rivers, and other waters are all frozen up, a yard or more thick, how swift or broad soever they be, and this continueth commonly for five moneths, to wit, from the beginning of November, till towards the end of March; what time the snow beginneth to melt, so that it would breed a frost in a man to look abroad at that time, and see the Winters face of that Countrey. And a little after he adds: And yet in the Summer time you shall see such a new hew* 1.105 and face of a Countrey, the woods (which for the most part are all of Fir and Birch) so fresh, and so sweet; the Pastures and Meadows so green, and well grown (and that upon the sudden) such variety of flowers, such noise of Birds (especially of Nightingals, that seem to be more loud, and of a more variable note, then in other

Countries) that a man shall not lightly travel in a more pleasant Countrey. And some lines after, As the Winter ex∣ceedeth in cold, so the Summer inclineth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much heat, especially in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of June, July, and August, being much warmer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Summer Air in England.

Almost like things have been much more recently affirm'd by the learned Olearius, Secretary to the* 1.106 Duke of Holstein's Embassy into Rus∣sia, and now Bibliothecarius to the pre∣sent Prince of Holstein. And an ac quaintance of mine, who, after ha∣ving liv'd in Italy, pass'd a Summer in Russia, assur'd me, that he scarce in Italy did ever eat better Melons, then some which he had eaten at Musco, of a strange bigness, which bears witness to that almost incre∣dible Relation of Olearius, who (af∣ter having much prais'd their good∣ness at Musco) affirms, that he there met with Melons of 40. pound weight, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he there teaches* 1.107 the Culture.

At the royal City of China,* 1.108 which scarce exceeding the 42. de∣grees

of latitude, one would expect, that as the Summer is very warm, so the Winter should be very mild, as it is observ'd to be in divers places of Spain, Italy, and Greece, that have the same, or a more Northern lati∣tude: and yet the learned Jesuite Martinius, who liv'd many years in China, assures us, that usually for four whole moneths together, all the Rivers are so hard frozen, that not only all Ships are clos'd, and kept immovable by the Ice, but that also horses, wagons, and even the heaviest carriages do securely pass over the Ice. Concerning which, he adds this strange circumstance, that 'tis usually made in one day, though to its dissolution it require many.

Prosper Alpinus in his learned* 1.109 Treatise de medicina Aegyptiorum, tells us, that at Grand Cayro, where he practis'd Physick, though that fa∣mous Metropolis of Aegypt be distant but six degrees from the Tropick of Cancer, yet the Air, which in Sum∣mer is almost insupportably hot, in Winter is sometimes very considera∣bly cold; adding, that there is not

any sort of Diseases that proceed (as he is pleas'd to speak) from distillati∣ons from the head, to which the peo∣ple are not there subject: To these instances we shall annex but two more, but those remarkable ones.

The first is mention'd by Pur∣chase, as communicated to him by an eye witness, in these words. This I thought good at our parting to ad∣vertise thee, That Mr. Hebey hath af∣firm'd to me, touching the diversity of weather in Greenland, that one day it hath been so cold (the wind blowing out of some quarter) that they could scarce handle the frozen Sails; another day so hot, that the pitch melted of the Ship, so that hardly they could keep their Clothes from pollution: yea, he hath seen at midnight Tobacco lighted or fired by the Sun beams with a glass. The other example I am to produce, is no less remarkable; namely, that in the often mention'd Charleton Island, where that winter was as sharp, per∣haps as any known place of the habi∣table world, Captain James his Journal gives us this account of the

weather: In June the sixteenth (says* 1.110 he) was wondrous hot, with some thunder and lightning, so that our men did go in∣to the Ponds ashore to swim, and cool themselves, yet was the water very cold still. Here had lately appeared divers sorts of Flies, as Butterflies, Butchers∣flies, Horse-flies, and such an infinite abundance of blood-thirsty Muskitoes, thatwewere more tormented with them, then ever we were with the cold weather. These (I think) lye dead in the old rotten wood all the Winter, and in Summer they re∣vive again. Here be likewise infinite companies of Ants, and Frogs in the Ponds upon the land.

Thus we see, what difference there may be in the same place, be∣twixt the temperature of the Air in Winter, and Summer. We shall now add what may appear more strange, that there may be very great disparities in the heat and coldness of the air, not only in the same place, but within the compass of the same day.

The lately mention'd Alpi∣nus, affords me an example to this purpose, in Aegypt its self, where one

would expect a much more uniform heat. Hyeme (says he) nocturnus aer admodum frigidus observatur, qui ob orto* 1.111 sole paulo post, parum incalescit, in meri∣dieque plurimum: adveniente vere no∣cte rursum infrigidum permutatur, ita, ut aer ille valdè inaequalis sit dicendus, ab ipsiusque illa inaequalitate plurimi morbi originem ducunt atque generantur, qui eo tempore per urbem vagantur.

The learned Olearius relating how he travelled with the Ambassa∣dors, whose Secretary he was, over a branch of mount Taurus, takes no∣tice, that it being after the middle of June, the air of that hot region of Persia oblig'd them only to travel by night, and yet the nocturnal cold was so great, that they were all benum∣med with it, insomuch, that they were hardly able to alight from their Horses; adding, that the sudden change from an extreme cold, to the excessive heat, they were again ex∣pos'd to the next day, cast no less then 15. of their company into strong burning feavers at once. (Which brought into my mind the complaint of good Jacob, who, though he liv'd

in an Eastern Countrey, when he had said, that in the day the drought consu∣med him, adds, and the frost by night.)

And the same curious travel∣ler mentions, that in another Coun∣trey in Persia, call'd Faclu, notwith∣standing the heat of the region (at the end of March, at which time they pass'd that way) they saw and felt in one night, which they were forc't to pass without their tents, both lightning, and thunders, and winds, and rain, and snow, and ice.

We will conclude with a re∣markable instance, afforded us by the Journal of the English that win∣tred at Charleton Island. The season here in this Climate (says the often quo∣ted Author of the voyage) is most un∣natural; for in the day time it will be ex∣treme hot, yea, not indurable in the Sun, which is, by reason that it is a sandy Coun∣trey. In the night again, it will freez an inch thick in the Ponds, and in the Tubs about, and in our house, and all this towards the latter end of June.

III. The third observable I intend∣ed to take notice of, about the Cold∣ness of the Air, may be compriz'd in

this Proposition, That in many pla∣ces the Temperature of the Air, as to Cold and Heat, seems not to depend so much upon the Elevation of the Pole, as upon the Nature and Cir∣cumstances of the winds that blow there.

It would require a very long Discourse, to treat in this place of Winds in general, and much more to examine the several causes of winds, that are assign'd by several Authors, and therefore when I have once given this intimation, that di∣vers of these opinions may be more easily reconcil'd, then the maintain∣ers of them seem to have thought, to the Truth, if not to one another: The causes that may produce wind, being so various, that many of those propos'd, may each of them in some cases be true, though none of them in all cases be sufficient: having hint∣ed this, I say, it may suffice on this occasion, to subjoyn three or four ob∣servations, to prove and illustrate the matter of fact delivered in the Proposition.

And first, 'tis a known Obser∣vation

in these parts of the world, that Northerly and Northeasterly winds, do at all times of the year bring cold along with them, and commonly if it be Winter, Frost. And here in England I have some∣times wondred at the power of the winds, to bring not only sudden Frosts, but sudden Thaws, when the frost was expected to be setled, and durable, which yet seems to hold commonly, but not without excepti∣on. For during one of the conside∣rablest Fits of Frost and Snow, that I have taken notice of in England, I remember, that I observed (not without some* 1.112 wonder) that the Wind was many days Southerly, unless it may be said, That this Southerly Wind was but the Return of a stream of Northerly Wind, which had blown for many days be∣fore, and might by some obstacles, and agents, not here to be inquir'd after, be made to wheel about, or recoyl hither, before it had lost the

greatest portion of the refrigerating Corpuscles it consisted of before.

The formerly mention'd Pros∣per Alpinus, attributes strange things to the Northerly wind, that blows in Aegypt, as to the cooling and re∣freshing the Air, in spight of the vio∣lent 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that would otherwise be 〈◊〉〈◊〉. (And many in Egypt* 1.113 ascribe to the Aetesian Winds, that almost mi∣raculous ceasing of the Plague at Grand Cairo, of which we else∣where speak.) Dominatur autem aer* 1.114 (says he) summè calidus, ipsius caeli, ut dictum est, ratione, quod haec civitas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tropico Cancri tantum 6. gradibus di∣stet. Quâ brevi inter-capedine dum sol ad illum accedit Tropicum, & illorum Zenith fit propinquior, aer ille valdè in∣calescit, & nisi Aetesiae venti tunc à septentrione spirarent, vehementissimus, & qui vix à nostris perferri possit, ca∣loris aestus sentiretur.

Advenae nostri iis provenientibus ad* 1.115 subterranea loca confugiunt, in quibus

morantur quousque ille ventorum ardor residerit atque cessaverit. Conjunxit haec incommoda Deus Optimus, cum aliis quibusdam bonis, nam ubi calidissimi illi venti conticuere, statim à Septentrione flare alii incipiunt, qui subitaneum in∣flammatis atque laxatis corporibus solati∣um praestant. Si enim illi diu perseve∣raverint, nemo in eâ regione vivere possit.

Whence winds should have this power to change the Constituti∣on of the Air, and especially to bring cold along with them, is not so easie to be determin'd. Indeed the other Qualities, and even the heat, that is observable in winds, may for the most part be probably enough deriv'd from the Qualities of the places, by which they pass. Of this we have already given an example or two in the passages lately mention'd. And it may be further confirm'd by what Acosta says, that he himself saw in some parts of the Indies: namely, That the Iron Grates were so rusted and* 1.116 consumed by a peculiar wind, that pres∣sing the mettal between your fingers, it would be dissolv'd, and crumbled, as if it had been Hay or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Straw. And

this Learned Traveller, who seems to have taken peculiar notice of the winds, affords us in divers places of his Book several Examples to confirm what we were saying (though he take not the nature of the regions, along which the wind blows, to be alone in all cases a sufficient Cause of their Qualities) of which yet we shall now mention but these two memo∣rable passages. In a small distance* 1.117 (says he) you shall see in one wind many diversities. For example, the Solanus or Eastern wind is commonly hot and troublesome in Spain; and in Murria, it is the coldest and healthfullest that is, for that it passeth by the Orchards, and that large Champiane which we see very fresh. In Carthagene, which is not far from thence, the same wind is trouble∣some, and unwholsome. The Meridi••∣nal (which they of the Ocean call South, and those of the Mediterranean Sea, Me∣zo Giorno) commonly is rainy, and boisterous, and in the same City, whereof I speak, it is wholsome and pleasant. And in his Description of Peru, speaking of the South and South-west,* 1.118 he affirms, that this wind yet in this

region is marvellous pleasing.

But though, as we were say∣ing, many other Qualities of winds may be deduc'd from the Nature and Condition of the places, by which they pass: And though the heat also, which Prosper Alpinus (as we lately took notice) attributes to the South∣erly winds, that blow in Egypt, may be probably ascrib'd to the heated Exhalations and vapours they bring from the Southern and parched Regi∣ons they blow over; yet whence the great coldness of Northern and East∣erly winds should come, may be scrupled at by many of the modern Philosophers, who with divers Carte∣sians will not admit, that there are any Corpuscles of Cold.

And possibly I could, about these matters, propose some other difficulties, not so easie to be resol∣ved. But not being now to discuss the Hypothesis about Cold, I think it will be more proper in this place, instead of entring upon disputes and Speculations, to subjoyn an Experi∣ment that I made, to give some light about this matter.

Considering then that I had not met with any Trial of the Nature of that I am about to mention, and that such a Trial might possibly prove Luciferous, I caused a pretty large pair of ordinary Bellows to be kept a good while in the Room, where the Experiment was to be made, that it might receive the Temperature of the Air in that Chamber, then pla∣cing upon a board, one of those flat Bottom'd Weather-glasses, that I elsewhere describe to contain a mo∣vable drop of pendulous water, by blowing at several times with inter∣missions upon the bubble or lower end of the Weather-glass, though the wind blown against my hand, were, as to sense, very manifestly cold, yet it did not cool the air included in the Bubble, but rather a little warm'd it, as appear'd by a small, but sensible, ascension of the pendulous drop each time, that, after some interpos'd rest, the lower part of the glass was blown upon, which seem'd to proceed from some small alteration towards warmth, that the air received by its stay (though short) in the Bellows,

as seem'd deducible from hence, that if by closely covering the Clack, the matter were so ordered, that the Air, that should come into the Bellows, must come in all at the nose; if this nose being held very near the bubble of the Weather-glass, the Air were, by opening the Bellows, suddenly drawn in, that stream of air or wind coming from a part of the window, where the air was a little cooler, then that which was wont to come out of the Bellows, would not, as the other, make the pendulous drop rise, but rather the contrary.

This done, we proceeded to shew by Experiment, That though a wind were nothing, but a stream of Air, yet in its passage it might ac∣quire a considerable coldness distinct from that which it has by vertue of its motion, though upon the score of that, we see that air mov'd by a fan, (or as in our newly mentioned Tri∣al) by a pair of Bellows, might to our touch, feel Cold, nor did we forbear to expect a good event of our Trial, upon the doubt that may be rais'd, whether there be frigorifick

Corpuscles or no: For whatever be∣come of that question, I thought I might expect, that whether or no Ice emit Corpuscles, that are universal∣ly frigorifick, yet the air being, ei∣ther by them, or upon what account soever, highly refrigerated, the Corpuscles that compose this cold Air, being most of them driven on before it, by the wind that meets them in its way, will, in a sense, prove frigorifick, in regard of a less cold body, which they shall happen to be blown upon, and accordingly, having provided a ridge Tyle invert∣ed, and half fill'd the Cavity, which look'd upwards, with a mixture of ice and salt, and having likewise put the Iron pipe of the Bellows upon that mixture, and then covered it with more of the same, that so the Pipe being surrounded, as far as con∣veniently it could be, with ice and salt, the air contain'd in it, might thereby be highly refrigerated, I found, that blowing wind out of the Bellows upon my hand, that wind felt much more cold, then that which had been before blown upon myhand,

out of the same Bellows, before the frigefactive mixture was appli'd to it. But for fear my sense of feeling should deceive me, I caus'd a Wea∣ther-glass, made after the common manner, but with a more slender pipe, to be so plac'd, that the nose of the Bellows (which together with the Tyle and Ice, was upheld with a frame) lay in a level with the bubble of the Thermometer, and then blow∣ing the refrigerated air of the Bellows npon the globular part of the glass, I saw the water in the Cylindrical part and shank, manifestly ascend, as it was wont to do upon the refrige∣ration of the included air: And as this Ascension of the liquor continu∣ed, during three or four blasts of the Bellows, so upon the cessation of the artificial wind, the water subsided by degrees again, till by fresh blasts it was made to ascend. Lastly, ha∣ving repeated this Experiment, we thought fit to trye, how much the air, refrigerated immediately by the frigorisick mixture, would produce a colder wind then the former, and accordingly, drawing back the nose

of the Bellows, that the air, that should be blown out, might pass along the Cavity left in the frigori∣sick mixture by the Iron pipe (of the Bellows) which we had withdrawn, the wind was manifestly more cold, then before, and had a greater ope∣ration on the Weather-glass, it was blown upon.

This Experiment, if carried on, and prosecuted, may possibly prove more Luciferous; but I will not take upon me here to determine, whether all cold winds must be neces∣sarily made so, by frigorifick Cor∣puscles properly so call'd, since I have sometimes suspected, that some winds may be cold, only by consist∣ing of, or driving before them, those higher parts of the Air, that, by rea∣son of the languid Reflection of the Sun beams, in that upper (or per∣haps Arctick) region of the Air, are for the most part very cold. For it may be observ'd, that Rains often∣times very much and suddenly refri∣gerate the lower Air, when no wind, but what the clouds and rain make, accompanies them, as if they

brought down store of cold air with them from that uper Region; which Acosta, and one I conversed with, that visited far higher mountains, then the Alps, affirm to be in some places (for I am not satisfi'd, that 'tis so every where) exceedingly cold, both in hot Climates, and in hot sea∣sons of the year. And I observe, that the Hollanders do, in more places then one or two, mention the Nor∣therly and North-easterly winds, to be those, that brought them the pro∣digious colds they met with, though Nova Zembla, where they were ex∣pos'd to them, be so Northwards, that it lies within 16. or 17. degrees of the Pole it self. This being a bare suspition, it may suffice to have touch'd it. But I shall subjoyn two or three instances on the occasion of our proposition, concerning the in∣fluence of the winds upon the air, and to show more particularly, That even cold winds receive not always their Qualities, so much from the Quarter whence they blow, as from the Regions over which they blow: I shall therefore begin with what is

delivered by Mr. Wood, in his New Englands prospect. Whereas in Eng∣land* 1.119 (says he) most of the cold winds and weathers come from the Sea; and those situations, are counted most unwhol∣some, that are near the Sea-coast, in that Countrey it is not so, but otherwise. And having added, as his reason, that the North-east wind, coming from the Sea, produces warm weather, melting the snow, and thawing the ground; he subjoyns, only the North-west wind coming over the Land, is the cause of extreme cold wea∣ther, being always accompanied with deep snows, and bitter frosts, &c. To which passages we shall add only one out of Captain James, as being considerable to our present purpose. The winds (says he) since we came hi∣ther,* 1.120 have been very variable and uncon∣stant; and till within this fortnight, the Southerly wind was coldest. The reason I conceive to be, for that it did blow from the main Land, which was all covered with snow, and for that the North winds came out of the great Bay, which hitherto was open.

Title XIX. Of the strange Effects of Cold.

1. TO enumerate and prosecute all the several Effects of Cold, being the chief work of the whole Book, it is not to be expected, that they should be particularly treat∣ed of in this one Section of it, where∣in I shall therefore confine my self to mention only those Effects of Cold, that are not familiar, but seem to have in them something of wonder∣ful; nor must I take notice of All them neither, least I should be guilty of useless Repetitions, but only of them, which either are not at all, or are but incidentally or transiently de∣livered in the foregoing Sections. Nor is it to be expected, that I should 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 credit for the truth of every 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the Relations I am about to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For if they had not some∣thing

of extraordinary, and conse∣quently, that may beget some Diffi∣dence in wary men, they would not be proper for the title of this Section, and most of them, that they may be fit to be plac'd here, must be the Ef∣fects of such extreme degrees of Cold, that I cannot in this temperate Climate of ours, examine the truth of them by my own Trials, so that all I can do, is, to make choice of such Relations, as are almost all of them delivered by the Relators, as upon their own Knowledge. And even this may perchance, not only gratifie and excite the Curiosity of some, who are pleas'd with no things so much, as with those, that have somewhat in them of Prodigy, and (which is more considerable) their Narratives may afford the Ingenious such strange Phaenomena, that the Ex∣plication of them may serve, both to exercise their wits, and try their Hy∣pothesis.

2. It seems not necessary, in the marshalling these observations, to be scrupulous about method, but yet to avoid confusion, we shall first men∣tion

the Effects of Cold, as to those four great Bodies, of that part of the Sublunary World we live in, that are commonly reputed Elements, and thence we will proceed to take notice of the Effects of Cold upon some other inanimate Bodies, and, for an instance of its operation on li∣ving Creatures, upon men.

3. Of the power of Cold, either to straiten the sphere of activity of fire, or to hinder its wonted effects, the chief examples I have met with are recorded, partly by the Dutch in Nova Zembla, and partly by Captain James, when he winter'd in Charleton Island. These Hollanders in one place speak thus; The twentieth it was fair and still weather, the wind Easterly, then* 1.121 we wash'd our Sheets, but it was so cold, that when we had wash'd and wrung them, they presently froze so stiff, that although we laid them by a great fire, the side that laid next the fire thaw'd, but the other side was hard frozen, &c. Elsewhere thus, We were in great fear, that if the ex∣tremity of the Cold grew to be more and more, we should all dye there, with cold, for what fire soever we made, it would not

warm us. And because it were tedi∣ous to transcribe all that their Jour∣nals afford us to our present purpose we will conclude with this passage, Hereby we were so fast shut up into the House, as if we had been prisoners, and it was so extreme Cold, that the fire almost cast no heat, for as we put our feet to the fire, we burnt our hose before we could feel the heat, so that we had work enough to do to patch our hose, and which is more, if we had not sooner smelt then felt them, we should have burnt them ere we had known it. Though Captain James wintred in a Countrey many degrees remoter from the Pole, then Nova Zembla, yet in one place he gives us this account of the colds power to re∣strain or oppose the action of fire. The Cooks Tubs, wherein he did water* 1.122 his meat, standing about a yard from the fire, and which he did all day ply with melted snow water, yet in the night sea∣son, while he slept but one watch, would they be firm frozen to the very Bottom. And therefore was he fain to water his meat in a Brass Kettle, close adjoyning to the fire; and I have many times both seen and felt, by putting my hand into it;

that side which was next the fire was very warm, and the other an inch frozen. I leave the rest to our Cook, who will almost speak miracles of the Cold.

3. Thus far our Enlish Navigator, whose relation compar'd with those of the Hollanders, make me not so much wonder, as I once did, that men should relate to Marcus Polus, that there is a certain Plain in Tartary, situated between some of the highest mountains in the World, where if fire* 1.123 be kindled, it is not so bright, nor so effectual to boil any thing, as in other pla∣ces. For so Purchase renders that pas∣sage; whence occasion has been taken to impute to Marcus Polus, a writer not always half so fabulous, as many think him, that he affirm'd, that there was a Countrey in Tartary, where fire could not be kindled.

4. And as for the other newly mention'd relations of Seamen and Travellers, though to us, that live in England, they cannot but seem very strange; yet I am kept from rejecting them as utterly incredible, by consi∣dering, that ice and snow having be∣fore their Congelation been water,

must in probability owe their Cold∣ness, to that which reign'd in the Air: So that if in any place Nature has, either so plentifully stock'd the Air it self with frigorisick exspirati∣ons, or other Corpuscles (if we will admit any such) or have upon any other account rendred it as cold as it can make ice and snow to be even here amongst us, I know not why the Northerness of the climate, and per∣haps some saline expirations from the Earth and Sea, may not there diffuse through the air a cold superior to that, which by small Quantities of ice (or snow) and salt, can at a small distance be produc'd here. And this cold is so intense, that by pouring some water on a Joynt-stool, and placing on it a silver Tankard, or other convenient vessel, we may, as experience has assur'd me, with beat∣en ice (or snow) and salt, and a little water (which is added to hasten the solution of the other) nimbly stirr'd together in the pot, make the mix∣ture freez the external water quite through the Tankard; and they may be by this way so hard frozen toge∣ther,

as that by lifting up the pot, you may lift up the Joynt-stool too, and that (which is the circumstance, for which I mention this) just by the fire, which in this case is unable to hinder so difficult an operation of the Cold.

5. Thus much of the effects of cold, in reference to fire. What the same quality may perform upon Air, we shall say but little of in this place, because we treat of those Phae∣nomena, partly in the foregoing Secti∣on of the coldness of the Air, and partly in other places. Only we shall not here pretermit a testimony of the learned Olearius, who, as an eye witness, confirms what we else∣where deliver of the high degree of cold, to which the Air may be brought. For he tells us, That in Muscovy he experimentally found, that* 1.124 which others left recorded in their wri∣tings, That ones spittle would be congeal'd before it reach'd the ground, and that wa∣ter would freez as it was dropping down.

6. Of the effects of cold upon wa∣ter, we shall not need to say much in this place, since the two notablest

of them being, the power cold has to congeal water suddenly, and the force it has to turn vast quantities of it into sollid ice. Of the former I have newly given, out of Olearius, an example as eminent as almost any that is to be met with, and of the latter also, I have given several in∣stances in the Section, that treats of ice: Yet two or three notable instan∣ces, which we do not elsewhere men∣tion, 'twill not be improper to deli∣ver in this place.

7. The first declares, that not∣withstanding the warmth of the in∣side of a mans mouth, his spittle may be frozen even there. The 27. of Sep∣tember (they are the words of Gerat* 1.125 de Veer) it blew hard Northeast, and it froze so hard, that as we put a nail into our mouthes (as when men work Carpen∣ters work they use to do) there would Ice hang thereon, when we took it out again, and make the blood follow. The like re∣lation (if I misremember not) I have met with in a modern English Navi∣gator, and it is very little, if at all more strange, then what is affirm'd by Queen Elizabeths Ambassador to

the Russian Emperor: In the extre∣mity of winter (says Doctor Fletcher, speaking of Muscovia) if you hold a pewter Dish, or Pot in your hand, or any other mettal, except in some chamber, where their warm Stoves be, your fingers will stick fast to it, and draw off the skin at the parting.

8. The other instance I intended to mention, is this, that though Ma∣crobius, and other learned men, both ancient and modern, will not allow salt water to be congealable; yet the Dutch at Nova Zembla relate, that even in the midst of September (and a the Marginal note says, in a night) It froze two inches thick in the salt water.* 1.126

9. As to the effects of violent colds upon the Earth, what they would prove upon pure and Elementary Earth (if any such there be) I can but conjecture; but as for that im∣pure or mingled Earth, which we commonly tread on, the effects of ex∣treme cold upon that, may be very notable. For Olearius relates, that in the year 1634. the cold was so bitter at Musco, that in the great market-place, he saw the ground open'd by it so, that

there was made a cleft of many yards long, and a foot broad. [And the present great Duke of Muscovies Physician being asked by me concerning the truth of such relations, answered me, that he himself had in those parts seen the ground reduc'd by the cold, to gape so wide, that a childs head might well have been put into the cleft.]

10. 'Tis somewhat strange, that the violent heat of Summer, and the ex∣treme cold of Winter should both of them be able to produce in the ground the like effects; but whether to make these gaping chinks, that we have been speaking of, the surface of the ground expos'd to the air, being first frozen, is afterwards broken by the expansive force of the moist earth underneath, to which the cold at length pierces, and congealing it, makes it swell, and heave, and so burst or cleave the hard and frozen crust of the ground, which cannot sufficiently yield to it, whether this (I say) may produce the clefts we were speaking of, or whether they must be deriv'd from some other cause, not having yet made the expe∣riments,

I thought upon, to clear the matter one way or other, I do not as yet pretend to determine, but will rather subjoyn the second observation I purpos'd to mention of a strange operation of Cold upon the ground, and it is afforded us by the Dutch in their often quoted third voyage to Nova Zembla: In one place of which they tell us, That when they had built them a wooden house, and were going to* 1.127 shut themselves up in it, for the winter, they made a great fire, without the house, therewith to thaw the ground, that they might so lay it, viz. the wood about the house, that it might be the closer, but it was all lost labour, for the earth was so hard, and frozen so deep into the ground, that they could not thaw it, and it would have cost them too much wood, and there∣fore they were forced to leave off that la∣bour.

11. After what we have said a∣bout the strange effects of cold, in re∣ference to fire, air, water, and earth, we will now proceed to take notice of its effects upon confessedly compounded Bodies, whether inani∣mate or living; but of the former

sort of mix'd Bodies (I mean those that have not Life) it will not be ne∣cessary to say much in this Section, in regard that we have in many other places, upon several occasions had opportunities to mention already most of the particulars that belong to that head. For we elsewhere take notice, that violent Colds will freez Beer, Ale, Vinegre, Oyl, common Wine, and even Sack and Alegant themselves. We have likewise no∣ted, that the Cold may have a no∣table operation, upon Wood, Bricks, Stone, vessels of Glass, Earth, and even Pewter, and Iron themselves, to which Bartholinus out of Janus Muncks Voyage to Greenland, allows us to add vessels of Brass (though these are not immediately broken by the Cold, but by the included Li∣quors which it dilates) and divers strange effects of Cold upon inani∣mate Bodies, which 'twere here troublesome to recapitulate, may be met with dispers'd in several places of the present History. Wherefore having only intimated in general, that, though many plants are pre∣serv'd

by a moderate cold, yet it has been observ'd, that most Garden∣plants are destroy'd by excessive de∣grees of it, we will pass on to consi∣der the effects of Cold upon animals, and of the many observations, that we have met with among Travellers, concerning this subject, we shall, to avoid prolixity, deliver only the con∣siderablest, and those that we find attested by very credible Writers.

12. Captain James speaking of the last of the three differences he makes of Cold (namely, that which he and his company felt in the woods) gives this account of it; As for the last, it* 1.128 would be so extreme, that it was not en∣durable; no clothes were proof against it, no motion could resist it. It would more∣over so freez the hair of our Eye-lids, that we could not see; and I verily believe, that it would have stifled a man in a very few hours.

13. Olearius giving an account of the Air of Muscovy, and especially the Capital City of it, The Cold (says he) is there so violent, that no* 1.129 Furs can hinder it, but sometimes mens Noses, and Ears, Feet and Hands will

be frozen, and all fall off. He adds, that, in the year 1634. when he was there, they could not go 50. paces with∣out being benumm'd with cold, and in danger of losing some of their Limbs. And yet to add, that remarkable ob∣servation upon the by, the same Au∣thor, near the same place, speaking of Musco, and the neighbouring Pro∣vinces distinguished from the rest of that vast Empire, says, That the Air* 1.130 is good and healthy, so that there one scarce ever hears of the Plague, or any other Epidemical diseases. And he adds, that for that reason, when in the year 1654. the Plague made havock in that great City, the thing was very surprizing, no∣thing like it having been seen there in the memory of men.

14. Our already divers times men∣tion'd English Ambassador Dr. Flet∣cher, speaking of the cold that some∣times happens in Russia, witnesseth thus much of it. Divers (says he) not only that travel abroad, but in the ve∣ry* 1.131 markets and streets of their Towns are mortally pinch'd, and kill'd with all; so that you shall see many drop down in the streets, many Travellers brought into the

Towns sitting dead, and stiff in their sleds. Divers lose their Noses, the Tips of their Ears, and the Balls of their Cheeks, their Toes, Feet, &c. Many times when the winter is very hard and extreme, the Bears and Wolves issue by troops out of the woods, driven by hunger, and enter the Villages, tearing and ra∣vening all they can find, so that the inha∣bitants are fain to flee for the safeguard of their Lives.

15. To descend now to observati∣ons, that do some what more punctu∣ally set forth the more particular Phae∣nomena of Cold, in reference to mens Bodies, take the following Observa∣tion. The 15. of March some of their men, that had been abroad to kill Deer, returned so disabled with cold, which did rise up in blisters under the soals of their feet, and upon their legs, to the bigness of Walnuts, that they could not recover their former estate (which was not very well) in a fortnight after. This may be con∣firmed by that passage of the Hollan∣ders, where speaking of their prepa∣ring springes to take Foxes, they add,* 1.132 that they did it with no small trouble; for that if they stay'd long without doors,

there arose Blisters upon their Faces and Ears. We did dayly find by experience (says Captain James) that the cold in* 1.133 the woods would freez our faces, or any part of our 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that was bare; but it was not so mortifying, &c.

16. The Dutch speaking of the pains they were fain to take to dig away the snow, that cover'd the house, and choaked up their door, adds, that in that laborious work,* 1.134 they were forc'd to use great speed, for they could not long endure without the house, because of the extreme cold, al∣though they wore Foxes skins about their heads, and double apparel upon their backs.

17. The lately mention'd Captain James relates, that in Charleton Island he was fain to cut the hair of his head short, and shave away all the hair of his face, because the Isicles, that* 1.135 would be fastned to it, made it, as he speaks, become intolerable.

18. And he elsewhere relates, that once he and his Companions, having been for a little while parted into two companies, had their faces, hair and clothes so frozen over, that they could not

know each other by their habits, nor* 1.136 (which is a considerable circum∣stance, for whose sake chiefly I men∣tion this passage) by their voices.

19. And the same Author gives this account of the death of the Gun∣ner of his Ship, whom he calls a strong hearted Man, and who died before the end of November. He had (says our Author) a close boarded Cab∣bin in the Gun-room, which was very close indeed, and as many clothes on him as was convenient, (for we wanted no clothes) and a pan with coals of fire conti∣nually in his Cabbin, for all which warmth his plaister would freez at his wound, and his bottle of Sack at his head.

20. The 11. of December (says Ge∣rard* 1.137 de Veer) it was fair weather, and a clear Air, but very cold, which he that felt not would not believe, for our shooes froze as hard as horns upon our feet, and within they were white, so that we could not wear our shooes, but were forc'd to make great pattents, the upper part being sheep skins, which we put on over three or four pair of socks, and so went in them to keep our feet warm, yea, and the clothes upon our backs were white over with frost.

21. Which may be somewhat confirmed by this passage of Captain James. The clothes on our Beds would be* 1.138 covered with hoar frost, which in this little habitacle was not far from the fire. We might adde to all these, this other passage of the often mentioned Gerard de Veer. The 26. of December,* 1.139 it was foul weather, the wind North-west, and it was so cold, that we could not warm us, although we used all the means we could with great fires, good store of clothes, and with hot stones and Billets laid upon our feet, and upon our Bodies, as we lay in our Cabbins, but notwithstanding all this, in the morning our Cabbins were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 zen, &c. But we shall not insist on such passages, as this last recited, because that of the force of cold to repress and withstand the fire, we have already deliver'd as remarkable things, as will be easily met with, in approved Writers, in the former part of this present Section.

22. I have my self met with a knowing and very credible person, that related to me of the cold of Rus∣sia, where he travelled, little less strange things, then those I have men∣tioned

of it out of Books; and if I did not want the Historians name, I should make small difficulty to add, That since I made a good progress in this present Section, a very learned Traveller (though not into cold Countries) related to me, upon the occasion of what I was treating, what he affirm'd to have met with in an approv'd History of the strange operation of the inclemency of the Air upon multitudes of men at once, namely, that about the year (if he rightly remember it) 1498. an Army of the Turks making an incursion into Poland, upon their return was sur∣prized with such an extremity of Cold and of Snow, that though it were but (if he mistake not) in No∣vember, forty thousand of them (the whole Army consisting of seventy thousand) perish'd through the ex∣tremity upon the place.

23. Amongst the many Relations I have met with of the fatal Effects of Cold in the Northern Countries, I took notice not without a little wonder, as well as trouble, that I could not find, that any of the Rela∣tors

had the curiosity to see what change was made in the internal parts of the Bodies so destroy'd, which yet were an inquiry very pro∣per to have been made, but at length the other day an ingenious Person having shew'd me a Book newly pub∣lish'd in French, containing the De∣scription of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Province he calls 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as I was skimming it over, with hope to find some obser∣vations about Cold, I lighted on a relation, which though not such as I desir'd, is more then I have any where else found, and I take the more notice of it, because, that though the very name of this Pro∣vince is scarce hitherto known to us in England, yet having a while after by good chance met with an intelli∣gent Polonian Lord, and having in∣quired of him, whether he had ever been in that Country, he both told me, that he had been quarter'd there, and by his Answers and Relations did countenance divers particularities of it, mention'd by this French officer (named Monsieur de Beauplan) who liv'd long there. This Author then

after having taken notice, that this fertile Province, though but situated in the same height of the Pole with Normandy, is oftentimes subject to excessive colds (which circumstance I mention as a further confirmation of something of the same nature delive∣red in the former Section) gives an Account of two differing Effects of this Cold upon the Bodies of men: The one being a peculiar kind of sick∣ness, the other Death.

24. The first which I remember not to have elsewhere met with, is, that sometimes when the natural heat proves strong enough to protect the Toes, and Cheeks, and Ears, and other parts, that are either more re∣mote from the heart, or more ten∣der from a sudden mortification; yet unless nature be assisted, either by good Precautions, or Remedies, she cannot hinder the cold from produ∣cing in these parts Cancers, as pain∣ful as those which are caus'd by a scalding and malignant humour, and which let me see (says my Author) when I was in those Countreys, that cold was not less cutting nor power∣full

to destroy things, then the fire to consume them: He adds, that the beginning of these Cancerous sores is so small, that what produces the pain scarce equals the bigness of a Pea, and yet in few days, nay sometimes in few hours it spreads so, as to de∣stroy the whole part it invades, which he confirms by the Example of two persons of his acquaintance, who in a trice lost by Congelation the badges of their Sex.

25. As to those that are kill'd with Cold, our Author informs us, that they perish'd by two differing kinds of death. For some being not sufficiently fortifi'd against the cold by their own internal heat, nor com∣petently arm'd against it by Furs, In∣unctions, and other external means, after having had their hands and feet first seized by the cold, till they grow past feeling it, there the rest of their Bodies are so invaded, that they are taken with a (kind of Lethargick) Drowziness, that gives them ex∣treme Propensity to sleep, which if indulg'd to, they can no more awake out of, but dye insensibly. And

from this kind of Death our Author adds, that he was several times snatch'd by his servants, who were more accustom'd to the cold, and seasonably forc'd him to awake out of those drowzinesses, which they knew to be most dangerous. And that sometimes the death by cold is indolent enough, the Relations of some intelligent acquaintances of mine, who have been in exceeding cold Countries, do confirm.

26. But the other way whereby cold destroys men, is that, which is the most remarkable in our Author, and though less sudden is more cruel. For he tells us, that sometimes the cold seizes mens Bodies in the reins, and all about the Wast (and especi∣ally horse-men underneath the Armor of the Back and Breast) and strait∣ens, as he speaks, those parts so for∣cibly, that it freezes all the parts of the Belly, especially the Guts, so that though they have keen appetites, they cannot digest, or so much as re∣tain the lightest and easiest Aliments, without excepting Broths themselves, but presently reject them by vomit,

with unspeakable gripings and pains, and so continually complaining of their condition, and sometimes cry∣ing out, as if some body were tearing out their bowels, they end their mise∣rable lifes, being often brought by the violence of their torments to the brink of madness and despair, before they come to that of the grave. And our Author having seen some of these departed wretches open'd, says, that they found the greatest part of their guts black, burn'd up, and as it were glew'd together, whence he thinks it probable, that, as their bo∣wels came to be spoil'd and gangre∣nated, they were forc'd to those complaints and exclamations; and we may add, That probably upon the same cause depended those continual vomits of what they eat or drunk; the Gangrene of the guts hindering the descent of Excrements downwards, as it often falls out, in the true Iliaca Passio, and the Peristaltick, or the usual motion of the parts being inver∣ted, as it also frequently happens in the same disease. There is no doubt but Anatomists and Physicians will

think this account very imperfect, but yet I think my self beholden to the Author for it, because 'tis not the best, but the only, that I have hither∣to yet met with of this matter, though I could wish it had been much more full and particular, and that he had also open'd those Animals, and espe∣cially their brains, that he mentions to have been kill'd suddenly, and without pain, by cold. For such in∣formations (whose want, as far as our Climate will permit, I have had thoughts of supplying by Experi∣ments upon other animals) would perhaps satisfie me one way or other about a conjecture I have had, and been able to countenance by several trials upon Vegetables and dead Ani∣mals, about the cause of mortificati∣ons produc'd by excessive cold.

27. What effects a violent Cold may have upon the bodies of other animals then men, I scarce find at all taken notice of by the Writers I have met with, and what I remember up∣on that subject amounts to but few particulars: The French Author lately quoted, takes notice in general,

that the cold in Ukrain, as the Polan∣ders call it, is sometimes so great, as to be scarce supportable by horses, and some other tame beasts.

28. This same Author also men∣tions a certain fourfooted Animal called Bohack, which is said to be peculiar to those parts, and hides himself under ground in the Winter; and having inquir'd of the lately mention'd Polish Nobleman con∣cerning this beast, he told me, that being in that Province he had one presented him as a rarity, upon an occasion proper enough to be menti∣on'd here: For some of the Poles chancing to dig (for some purpose that I remember not) in a certain re∣tir'd place, were surpriz'd to find un∣der ground, an Animal not familiar to them, and though this creature was so frozen and stiff, that they thought it to be stark dead, yet when they came to flea it for its skin, be∣ing awaken'd by pain, it recovered life again, as was brought as a rarity to the Commander, from whom I have the relation.

29. That some other animals may

be frozen till they are stiff, and yet recover, I shall (ere long) have oc∣casion to observe at the close of the 21. Section. And therefore I shall now add but this, That whereas 'tis a Tradition among Travellers into Northern Climates, that both Birds and wild Beasts are in icy and snowy Countries ordinarily turn'd white, if not at all times, yet at least in the Winter by the coldness of those gelid Climates, I dare neither admit the position as a thing that is true univer∣sally, nor reject it as a thing that is never so. For not now to enquire, whether whiteness proceeds from the coldness of the Countrey, or from some setled seminary impression, or from the imagination of the females affected by the vivid whiteness of the snow, that almost all the year long is the constant object of their sight: I find by the Voyages I have perus'd, that Navigators often mention their meeting with 'store of white Bears and Foxes in Nova Zembla, and other very Northern Regions, as also their meeting sometimes with herds of white Deer: And in the Alps, al∣ways

covered with snow, good Au∣thors mention their having met with white Partridges; to which purpose I remember, that when I was in Sa∣voy, and the neighbouring Countries, which have mountains almost perpe∣tually cap'd with snow, I heard them often talk of a certain white kind of Pheasants to be met with in the up∣per parts of the mountains, which for the excellency of their taste were ac∣counted very great delicacies. But on the other side, the same Naviga∣tors treating even of the coldest Cli∣mates, seem to distinguish the white Bears from others of those parts.* 1.140 And as for a herd of white Deer, their co∣lour may pro∣ceed from seminal impressions, since here in England I have seen several Deer of that colour, and though Greenland be by some degrees nearer to the Pole then Nova Zembla, yet I have seen a live Deer brought thence somewhat differingly shap'd from ours, whose skin was not white, but rather a kind of dun: And to add

That upon the by, I took notice, that provident Nature to arm them a∣gainst the cold, had afforded him a Coat, that might have pass'd for a Fur.

30. Yet these two things seem re∣markable in favour of the efficacy of cold, the one, that in several cold Countries, as particularly Greenland, and Livonia, even Modern describers of them affirm, that Hares will grow white in Winter,* 1.141 and return to their native co∣lour in Summer. And the other, that though Charleton Island differ not one degree in Latitude from London; yet (as the cold is there prodigious, so) I remember, that Captain James some where takes notice of his having* 1.142 seen there, both divers Foxes, that were pied black and white, and white Partridges, though he could not catch them. But of the whiteness of Animals I elsewhere treat among other subjects, that belong to the Hi∣story of Colours. And having al∣ready been more prolix then I intend∣ed

in setting down the observations of others, I think it now time for me to resume the mention of my own Expe∣riments, divers of which, though made before others, that have been already mention'd, X or XII. Sections of, I thought fit for to reserve for this place, both for other reasons, and because, this place seems proper for Experiments, that have a nearer ten∣dency to the hinting or the examining the more general Hypothesis about Cold.

Title XX. Experiments touching the weight of Bodies frozen and un∣frozen.

1. SInce divers of those ingenious men, that have of late revived, and embraced the Doctrine of the old Atomists, teach us, that water is turned into ice by the introduction of frigorifick Corpuscles, which Demo∣critus of old is said to have believed to be cubical (and to which other Phi∣losophers of late have assigned other shapes indeed, but yet determinate ones) we thought fit not so much for our own satisfaction, as for that of others, to try, whether or no a Liquor by its increase of weight, when frozen, would betray any sub∣stantial accession of the Corpuscles of Cold, which according to the Epicu∣rean

Principles, may, by reason of their smallness, pass in freely, and in vast multitudes, at the pores of other Bodies, and even of glass, and which by reason of the same small∣ness, must be supposed exceedingly numerous to be able to arrest the mo∣tions of such multitudes of minute Corpuscles, as must go to the ma∣king up of any considerable quantity of water.

2. And first we made a trial with Eggs, of which our Notes give us the following account.

3. [We took a good pair of Scales and placing them upon a frame (pur∣posely made for such Experiments, as required, that the things to be weigh∣ed should remain long in the bal∣lance) we put into one of these a couple of Eggs, and having counter∣poised them with brass weights, we suffered them to continue all night in a Turret (built as it had been made for an observatory) that the breaking of the Eggs, or any such other acci∣dents might not hinder the success of our endeavours (which were to try, whether the Corpuscles of Cold,

which divers Philosophers suppose to be the Efficients of Congelation, would make them any whit heavier,) but we were somewhat surprized, when the next morning, after a very sharp night, going up to the Turret, we found (the scales and frame being in good plight) the Eggs to be grown lighter by very near four grains.]

Thus far the Note.

4. But though we afterwards re∣peated the Experiment once or twice (if not oftner) yet having been by in∣tervening avocations diverted from registring the circumstances of the events; I dare not now trust my me∣mory for any more, then that some of the circumstances seemed odd enough, but uncertain, and that I desisted from prosecuting the Expe∣riment, chiefly for this reason, that an increase of weight in exposed Eggs was scarcely to be hoped for, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seemed probable, that part of the more subtile and spirituous Cor∣puscles contained in the Egg do con∣tinually, by little and little, get away through the pores of the skin and shell; that, seeming to be the rea∣son

why Eggs long kept have usually within the shell, a manifest, and sometimes very considerable cavity unfilled with either yelk or white, which Cavity seems to have been left by the recess of the subtile parts we have been mentioning, so that al∣though the frigorifick Atoms should by their ingress add some, not alto∣gether insensible weight to the Egg, yet that would not, unless perhaps in the very nick of time, when the Congelation is first actually made, be taken notice of, by reason of the greater decrement of weight, that proceeds from the Avolation of the more subtile parts of the Egg it self.

5. And to satisfie our selves about this matter, we took four hen Eggs, and counterpoised them carefully in a good pair of Scales, which were suspended at a frame, that the bal∣lance might be kept unstirr'd in a qui∣et room, wherein we had placed it, and suffering it to continue there for a pretty while, we observ'd, that though it were Winter, and though the room wherein it stood were de∣stitute of a Chimney, yet that Scale

wherein the Eggs lay, did almost dayly grow manifestly lighter, so that it was requisite, from time to time, to take a grain out of the oppo∣site scale, to reduce the ballance to an Equilibrium. And by this means we found the Eggs after some time to have lost eight grains of their former weight, but how much more they would have lost, if we had continu∣ed the Experiment, the need we had of the Scales kept us from discover∣ing.

6. Upon this occasion I will add, that I us'd some endeavours to satisfie my self about this inquiry, viz. whe∣ther Eggs being once actually frozen (for those mention'd in the former Note, might lose their weight before they were so) and kept in a pair of good Scales fasten'd to a frame in some quiet place, well fenc'd from the Sun, would by the cold of the Air in freezing weather, be kept for any considerable time, without a sen∣sible diminution of weight, but an unexpected thaw hindered us from seeing the success of what we design'd of this nature, both as to Eggs, and

also some other Bodies: For if the Experiment were very carefully tri'd upon a competent variety of them, it might possibly assist us to guess, especially in Camphire, and some other easily exhalible bodies, what interest Cold may have in suppres∣sing or diminishing the expiration of their Effluvia.

7. But to return to the weight of Bodies frozen and unfrozen, we at∣tempted to discover somewhat about it by several ways, according as the differing accommodations, we were furnish'd with, permitted. And of these trials I will mention four or five, as well of the less, as of the more accurate, as my memory or Notes supply me with them.

8. One of the less Accurate ways we imployed to try, whether ice, in which according to the Atomists, great store of these frigorifick Cor∣puscles must be wedged, would not upon their expulsion or recess, leave the water lighter then was the ice, was that which follows, wherein to hasten the Experiment, we mingled a little salt. And though we fore∣saw

there would be a difficulty from the Adhaesion of the vapors of the ex∣ternal Air, to the outside of the glass we were to employ, we thought, that inconvenience might be remedied by well wiping off the frost, or dew from the outside of the glass, till it were clean and dry: The event of the trial we find succinctly set down among our Notes as follows. [A single vial sealed up with ice and salt, being wiped dry, and weighed, was found to weigh four ounces four drachms and a half, when it was quite thawed, it was found to weigh somewhat more then a grain less then its former counterpoise.]

But more accurate and satisfactory Trials about this matter, I find thus set down in one of my papers.

9. [We took a vial more thin then those that are commonly us'd, that, of the Aggregate of that and the Li∣quor, the glass might make so much the lesser part: This vial was fur∣nished with a somewhat long neck, which at the flame of a Lamp was drawn by degrees slenderer and slen∣derer, that being very narrow at the

Top, it might the more readily and conveniently be seal'd, notwithstand∣ing the waters being in it; then we almost fill'd it with that Liquor, I say almost, because a competent space ought to be left unfill'd, to allow the water, swell'd by glaciation, room to expand it self: This vial with the li∣quor in it, was plac'd in a mixture of snow and salt after our usual manner, and when the glass appear'd almost full of ice, it was taken out, and nimbly clos'd with Hermes's seal, presently after this was weigh'd in a pair of very good Scales, and the vial together with the contain'd liquor, amounted to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 38. gr. ss, which yet was not all ice, because these things could not be done so nimbly, but that some of the ice began to thaw, before we were able to dis∣patch them quite, the vial thus seal'd being remov'd, and suffered for two or three hours to thaw, when the ice was vanish'd, we weigh'd again the seal'd glass in the same Scales, and found, that it weigh'd, as before, at least, if there were any difference, it seem'd to weigh a little more.] But

this Increment that amounted not quite to ½ a grain, might easily be at∣tributed to some difference in the weights and grains themselves, wherein 'tis not easie to find a perfect exactness, or to some little unheeded moisture, that might adhere to some part of the vial.

10. And because it may be wish∣ed, that as this Experiment shews the weight of Ice resolv'd into water, to be the same with that of the solid ice, so we had tri'd, whether the weight of water congeal'd into ice, would be the same with that of the former fluid water, we will subjoyn what immediately follows in the same paper in these words.

11. [We took a seal'd vial, very thin, that it might be lighter, but not so large as the other, by about a third, as amounting in the lately mention'd Scales but to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. gr. 41. when we had seal'd it up with the water in it. This vial we plac'd as we had done the other, in a mixture of snow and salt, freezing it warily, lest being seal'd, it should break, then we remov'd it into the same

Scales, to try, whether it had got any weight by the suppos'd subingression of the Atoms of Cold, which many learned men take to be the efficients of Congelation; but it either weigh∣ed just as before, or if there were any difference, it seem'd to have lost ¼ of a grain. Being suffer'd to thaw, and put into the same Scales again, it weigh'd just as much as it did, when frozen, though the weights were nu∣merically the same, and about ⅛ would sway the Scales, or at least be sensible upon them. But note, that I was careful this last time to wipe the outside of the glass with a linen cloth, because I have observ'd, ac∣cording to what I elsewhere deliver, that, in case ice be any thing hastily thaw'd, it may produce a dew on the outside of the glass, as I suspected, that even the warm Air might in some measure do in this, and if it had not been for this suspition, some adhe∣ring dew, that I was thereby enabled to detect and wipe off, before I put the vial into the Scales, might easily have impos'd upon us.

12. These Trials I presume may

give some satisfaction about the inqui∣ry, for the resolving whereof, I thought fit to make them.

13. But I was also desirous to see, whether any difference, as to weight, would be produc'd by freezing and thawing (if I may use those expressi∣ons in this case) Iron, Stone, Wood, or the like solid and permanent Bo∣dies, which I intended to have ex∣actly weigh'd, before and after their being expos'd to the Air, and also af∣ter the frost was gone, (and all this against Counterpoizes not expos'd to so great a Cold) would discover any sensible alteration, as to weight, that might safely be ascrib'd to the Cold. And though Avocations, and the negligence of one that we imploy'd, kept us from bringing the matter to such an issue as was desired, yet the Trials seem'd not altogether irratio∣nal, since we have formerly made it probable (and have since met with fresh instances to confirm it) that even Stones, and Metals, may resent some change of Texture by the opera∣tion of some degrees of Cold. And indeed induc'd by such considerations

of that kind, as seem'd the least doubtful, I remember I sometime made several experiments of the weight of some metals, and stones, both before and after they had been much expos'd to a more vehement Cold, then would have suffic'd to turn water into ice, and also after they had been, if I may so speak, thaw'd in a warm Air. But the pa∣per in which we registred the events of these trials having been mislay'd, I dare not charge my memory with the particulars. Only, if I mistake not, one or two of the stones seem'd to have increased in weight, after having been buried in our frigorifick mixture, which I was apt to impute to some particles of the ice resolv'd into water by the salt, that was mingled with it, and (being perhaps made more piercing by the saline particles associated with them) im∣bib'd into the pores of the stone. For I remember, that having procur'd an Experiment, that I then wanted con∣veniency to try my self, to be made by an ingenions person, upon a stone hard enough to bear a good polish,

I was by him inform'd, that the stone by having been kept a while in water, did, though it were afterwards wip't dry, discover a manifest increase of weight: and in confirmation of my conjecture, I shall add, that from a sort of stones, that are of a texture close enough to be usually polisht; I did, as I expected, obtain by distil∣lation (and that without a naked fire) a considerable quantity of an almost insipid liquor, which I suspected to be in good part but water soaked in∣to the stone, for reasons, that 'tis not worth while here to discourse of; the cause of my mentioning these particulars being, that (I hope) they may make those, that shall hereafter try such Experiments, cautious how they draw inferences from them, and may invite them to expose the bodies, they would make trial of, rather to the cold of the free Air in very sharp weather, (for want of which, we our selves could not do what we ad∣vise) then to artificial glaciations at least, unless they be so ordered, that nothing that's moist come to touch the bodies to be wrought upon.

14. But such Trials as these newly mention'd, and others of the like kind, we must leave to be prosecuted by those, that are furnish'd with ac∣curate Scales, and leisure; for want of the latter of which, and some∣times too of the former, we were fain to give over the pursuit of them, which troubled us the less, because those made with the seal'd Vials were diligently made; and as for di∣vers others, we made them, as we were saying, more to be able to gra∣tifie others, then to satisfie our selves, because though in case there should unquestionably appear some sensible increase or decrement of weight, upon that which the Ato∣mists would call the Accession or Expi∣ration of frigorifick Corpuscles; it would afford a plausible Argument in favour of the Epicurean Doctrine, about the generation of ice; yet if no such change of weight should be found upon the freezing or the thaw∣ing of water, or any other Body, I doubt whether it may, on the contra∣ry, be safely concluded, that the A∣tomists Theory of Cold is false. For

possibly they may pretend, that the Atoms of Cold may not have either gravity or levity, any more then the steams of Electrical Bodies, or the Effluvia of the Loadstone. Nay, though we should admit the frigori∣fick Corpuscles not to be altogether devoid of gravity, it may yet be said, that when they invade the Bo∣dy, they freez, they expel thence some other preexistent Atomes, that may also have some little weight, and that the frigorifick Corpuscles, that flie, or are driven away, may be succeeded by some such, when bodies come to be thaw'd. But of this no more at present.

Appendix to the XX. Title.

THe Experiments recorded in the foregoing Section, may perchance in this regard prove more useful then I was aware of, that they may keep men from being misled by the contrary accounts, that I find to

have been given of the weight of ice, and water, by no obscure writers. For (to spare one of the famousest of the Ancients) Helmont in the Treatise he calls Gas Aquae, where he gives an account of the congelation of water, which I confess to be unintelligible enough to me, and where he is plea∣sed to ascribe to I know not what ex∣tenuation of part of the sulphur he supposes to be in water, that levity of ice, which the bubbles, it contains, af∣ford us an intelligible and ready ac∣count of, delivers very positively this Experiment. Imple (says he) lage∣nam* 1.143 vitream & magnam frustis Glaciei, collum verò claudatur sigillo Hermetis, id est, per vitri ibidem liquationem: pona∣tur haectum lagena in bilance adjecto pon∣dere in oppositum, & videbis quod prope∣modum octava sui parte aqua post resolu∣tam glaciem erit ponderosiior seipsa glacie. Quod cum millesies ex eadem aqua fieri possit, &c. Thus far Helmont, who in case he take lagena vitrea in the or∣dinary acception of the word, would have made us some amends for this erroneous account, if he had taught us the way how he could seal such a

broad vessel, as a glass flagon, Her∣metically. But what has been deli∣ver'd in the foregoing Section, will sufficiently shew, what is to be thought of this Experiment of Hel∣monts. And for further confirmati∣on, we have several times weigh'd ice frozen, and reduc'd to water, with∣out finding any cause to doubt, but that Helmont was mistaken. And particularly upon the last Trial I made of this kind, having fill'd a wide mouth'd glass with solid frag∣ments of ice, together with it a∣mounting to a pound (of which the glass alone weigh'd somewhat above five ounces) I whelm'd over the mouth of it another flat bottom glass, that if any vapours should ascend, they might be condens'd into drops, as in the like case I had formerly ob∣serv'd them to do. And this ice being thaw'd in a warm room, as no drops were seen to stick to the inside of the inverted glass, so the other glass be∣ing again put into the same Scales, appear'd almost exactly of the same weight as formerly, whereas the ice alone, that had been resolv'd, a∣mounting

to much above eight oun∣ces, according to Helmonts proporti∣on, the weights should have been augmented by a whole ounce at least: And I make little doubt, but that if the Experiment had been tri'd in greater quantities of ice, the event would have been very little, if at all, different. But I purposely chose in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Experiments about cold, to make my I rials in no greater quan∣tities of matter then I have done, be∣cause 'tis very difficult to get scales strong enough to weigh, without be∣ing injur'd, much greater weights, and yet be accurate enough to disco∣ver truly such small differences, as are fit to be taken notice of in such Experiments. But to return to Hel∣mont, notwithstanding all that we have said against what he delivers about the weight of ice, yet because I take this inquisitive Chymist to have been, in spite of all his extrava∣gancies, a Benefactor to experimen∣tal learning, I am willing to suggest on his behalf, that possibly much of the additional weight he ascribes to the resolv'd ice, may have proceed∣ed

from that which would not have been taken notice of by an ordinary Experimenter. For (as I not long since intimated) I have (sometimes pur∣posely, and sometimes by chance) by thawing ice in clos'd vessels some∣what hastily, produc'd a copious dew on the outside of the vessels, which dew, as being made by the condens'd vapours of the ambient Air, ought to be wip'd off, before the vessel be put into the scales to weigh the melted ice: And 'tis possible also, that Hel∣mont may have err'd in the manner of weighing his Lagena, whatever he mean by it, it being usual even for learned men, that are not vers'd in Statick's, to mistake in Experiments, which require, that things be skilfully and nicely weigh'd: How far this excuse may be* 1.144 appli'd to a late Commentator upon Aristotles Meteors, who says, he tri'd, that water frozen is heavier then unfrozen, being a stran∣ger to that Authors writings, I shall not consider: only whereas Helmont

and He seem to agree very little in their Affirmations, it will be perhaps more difficult to accord them, then to determine, by the help of our for∣merly register'd Experiments, what may be thought of both their Relati∣ons.

Yet I shall add on this occasion, That if I had not devis'd the above mention'd way of freezing water by Art in Hermetically seal'd glasses, I should have found it difficult to re∣duce, what is affirm'd by Manelphus, which I then dreamt not of, to an ac∣curate Experiment; for though I had imploy'd a seal'd glass, (which I have not heard, that he or any other has yet made use of to that purpose) yet if I had in that vessel expos'd the water to be frozen the common way, 'tis odds (though it be not absolutely certain) that the water beginning, as 'tis wont to congeal at the Top, the Expansion of the subsequently freez∣ing water would break the glass, and so spoil the Experiment: And for the same reason I have sometimes in vain attempted, to examine the weight of water frozen, by nature, accord∣ing

to her wonted method in open vials. And if insteed of glasses, you make use of strong earthen vessels, there is danger, that something may be imbib'd, or adhere to the porous vessel, and increase the weight, and by some such way, or by some mi∣stake in weighing, 'tis very probable Manelphus may have been deceiv'd, which I am the more inclin'd to think, if we suppose him a sincere writer, not only because of some things I have taken notice of about congelations made in earthen vessels, but because, when I have instead of an earthen, made use of a metalline pottinger (both which sorts of vessels have in common this inconvenience, that their ponderousness makes them less fit for accurate Scales) there appear'd cause to suspect, either that our Au∣thor did not use metalline vessels, or, which I rather suspect, that he want∣ed skill or diligence in weighing. For as I find no intimation of his ha∣ving imploy'd any peculiar or artifi∣cial sort of vessels, so, if he us'd such as we have newly been speaking of, and had weigh'd them carefully, I

cannot but think, that instead of find∣ing the ice heavier then the water 'twas made of, he would have ra∣ther found it lighter. For I remem∣ber, that having once expos'd all night a pottinger almost full of com∣mon water, to an exceeding sharp Air, and having caus'd it the next morning to be brought me, when the liquor was throughly frozen, I found it to have lost about 50. grains (if I misremember not) of its former weight, and though this event were consonant enough to my conjectures, yet for greater certainty I repeated the Experiments another 〈◊〉〈◊〉 night with this new caution; that the pot∣tinger and water, together with the counterpoise, were kept suspended in the Scales, to be sure that no effusi∣on of any part of the water in carry∣ing it abroad to the open Air, should be made without being taken notice of; but the next morning (somewhat late) the vessel with the contain'd water now congeal'd, appear'd to have lost about 60. grains: and with the like success the Trial was reitera∣ted once more, and that in weather

so sharp, that I am not apt to think, the water expos'd by Manelphus, be∣gan to freez sooner then ours. But the event was not unexpected, for besides that I consider'd, that in these kind of Experiments, part of the wa∣ter, notwithstanding the exceeding coldness of the Air, must in all like∣lihood fly away before the surface of it began to be congeal'd, I judge it not improbable, that not only the fluid part, but even that, which was already congeal'd, might continually lose some of its Corpuscles, and by their recess lose also somewhat of its weight. And least these conjectures should seem too too unlikely, 'twill not be amiss to add in favour of the first of them, that having purposely provided a large Pewter Box, with a cover to screw on it, and having fill'd it almost full of water, (I say almost, because if the vessel had been quite full, the congealing cold might have burst it) and carefully weigh'd the Aggregate of both (which a∣mounted to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. gr. 11. whereof the vessel weigh'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. and gr. 8.) we expos'd the water after the Top

of the pot was screw'd on, to hinder the Avolation of it, to the freezing Air all night, and the next morning found it frozen from the top to the bottom, though not uniformly and perfectly, but found not one grain difference betwixt its present and its former weight: And as for the second conjecture newly propos'd, though it may seem somewhat strange, yet it is confirmable by this Experiment; that having plac'd divers lumps of so∣lid ice in a Pottinger, which toge∣ther with them weigh'd a pound, consisting of 16 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and having expo∣sed these things in the same scales, wherein they were weigh'd, to the free Air on a very frosty night, we found the ice to have lost the next morning 24. grains of its weight, and the weather continuing so cold, that it froze hard all day long in the shade, I gave order to have it kept out of the Sun in the same scales, during all that time, and a good part of the fol∣lowing night, and then weighing it the second time, found, that the whole decrement of weight, did now amount to five grains above two

drachms, though the weight of the ice without the pottinger were but about seven ounces; and when we had kept about 13. ounces of ice in a very frosty night expos'd to the cold Air, it had lost as early as the next morning a good deal above two drachms of its former weight: But these Statical observations have per∣haps already but too much swell'd this Appendix.

Title XXI. Promiscuous Experiments and Observations concerning Cold.

1. I Hope it will not be imagined, that I have such narrow thoughts of the subject I treat of, Cold, as to believe, that I have compriz'd under those few Titles, prefix'd to the Secti∣ons of this Historical Treatise, all the Particulars that I knew to belong to so comprehensive a Theme, as would readily appear, if I thought it con∣venient to insert here the Scheme of Articles of inquiry, that I drew up to direct my self, what inquiries and Experiments to make. But though there were divers of those Heads, to which I could say so little, that I judg'd it improper to assign them di∣stinct Titles, because as to some of

them, I had not time and opportuni∣ty to make those Trials, which if I had not wanted those Requisites, might have been made even here in England: and because also, as to more of them, I conceiv'd my self unable to produce in this temperate Climate, so strong and durable a Cold, as seem'd necessary to make the trials, that might be referr'd to them, suc∣ceed so far, as to satisfie my doubts, either affirmatively, or negatively: Though, I say, these, and some other Considerations kept me from increasing the Number of the Titles, among which I have distributed the Experiments and Observations, that make up the foregoing part of this Treatise, yet since divers particulars have occurr'd to me, which though they seem not properly reducible to the foregoing Titles, do yet belong to the subject and design of this Trea∣tise, I think it fit to annex them in this place, and without any other order then that, wherein they shall happen to occur to me, throw them into this one Section, together with some loose Experiments, and divers

Relations, that I have met with among Navigators and Authors, that have travell'd into the Northern Cli∣mates, touching Cold, not forbear∣ing to insert promiscuously among them, some few Paralipomena, which if they had seasonably come to my hands, or into my mind, might have had a more proper place among the foregoing Sections, or have compo∣sed a Title by themselves. Where∣fore though the Observations will not be altogether unaccompanied with Experiments, yet for the reasons a∣bove intimated, much the greater part of what is to be deliver'd under this Title, will consist of Collections out of Voyages, in which the strange things mention'd, being such as we cannot examine by our own Trials, I can equitably be thought answer∣able for the Truth of nothing, but the Citations.

2. I remember I tri'd at several times divers Experiments, to disco∣ver, whether or no congelation would by constriction of the pores of Bodies, or vitiating their Texture, or arresting the motion of their parts,

hinder them from emitting those Ef∣fluvia, that we call odors, but the Register of these Observations, be∣ing unhappily lost in one of my late removes, I dare add but these few, wherein I have no cause to distrust my memory.

3. I did in the Moneths of Decem∣ber and January, at several times ga∣ther differing sorts of flowers in frosty weather, but in most when they were freshly gather'd, and hastily smelt to, I could scarce perceive any sensible smell, whether it were, that the causes above hinted, hinder'd the expiration of the odoriferous steams, or that the cold had some undiscern∣ed influence upon the Organ of smel∣ling, which made the sense more dull, or that the same cold kept the Alimental juice of the flowers from rising in such plenty, and abounding so much with spirituous parts, as was usual at the more friendly seasons of the year: and this seem'd the more likely to be one reason of the Phaeno∣menon, because most of the flowers were flaggy, and as it were ready to wither, and because also a Primrose,

that was vigorous and fresh in its kind, had an odor, that was mani∣festly (and 'twill easily be believ'd, that it was not strongly) sweet, and genuine.

4. I took also about an ounce by guess of Rose-water, and putting it into a small vial, after I had smelt to it, it was expos'd to freez in the open Air, and when it began to have ice in it, I then smelt to it again, but found not the perfume considerably, if so much as manifesty abated, and lastly, having suffer'd it to continue in the Air, that was then very sharp, till 'twas quite frozen, and discover'd no liquor, when the vial was turn'd upside down, the ice notwithstanding was not distitute of a graceful and ge∣nuine sent, though it seem'd some∣what faint; but after the ice was re∣duc'd to water again, the fragrancy appear'd considerable. But on this occasion 'twill not be improper to subjoyn this Caution, That care must be had in Trials of this Nature, to make ones estimate betimes, for if a man should stay too long about it, there is danger, that the warmth of

ones breath and face may relax the pores, or thaw the surface of the ice, that is held near his Nose, and both free and excite the Corpuscles of smell, that are imprison'd there, that so instead of ice he may smell a li∣quor. The reasonableness of which advertisment may be justifi'd by an Experiment that I am about to an∣nex. For being pretty well confirm∣ed by the casual and unwilling Obser∣vations of one of my friends, curious in making sweet water, That even Liquors, more easie to be spoilt then Rose-water, would not have their fragrancy destroy'd, though perhaps impair'd, nor so much as their odors for the time quite imprison'd and sup∣press'd by congelation, and this ap∣pearing congruous to what I former∣ly noted of the Effluviums, that may by the Decrement of weight be ga∣thered to issue from ice it self, I thought it worth while to try, whe∣ther stinking Liquors would not be more alter'd by congelation, then odoriferous ones: and accordingly having procur'd some rain water, that had been kept in a Tub, till it

stunck so strongly, that I could hard∣ly endure it near my nose, I caus'd a pottinger 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it to be expos'd all night to a very sharp Air, and exa∣mining it the next morning, when it was all turn'd into ice, neither I nor some others, to whom it was offer'd, could perceive any stinck at all in it: and having in another place, but with as stinking water, repeated the Experiment, when the pottinger was the next morning brought to my beds side, I found it to smell abominably, whereupon guessing, that this differ∣ence proceeded from some thaw made by the warmth of the room in the superficial parts of the ice, I found it to be so indeed, partly by the help of the light, which discove∣red a little liquor upon the ice, and partly by exposing the vessel with that liquor in it to the cold Air again, by whose operations an ice was pro∣duc'd, that was perfectly inodorous; and I remember, that one of these parcels of ice being thaw'd, seem'd to be less stinking then before

* 1.145 it had been frozen, and if I had not been di∣verted, I should have tried, whe∣ther this ice, that did not emit o∣dors, would e∣mit like other ice, Effluvia, discoverable by the Scales: for whether the ice would lose of its weight, which seem'd the more pro∣bable, or would not, the event may afford a not inconsiderable hint.

5. It is a thing not only remark∣able, but scarce credible, that though the Cold has such strange and Tragical effects at Musco, and else∣where in Cold Countries, as we have formerly mention'd, especially a little after the beginning of this 18. and somewhere in the 19. Section, yet this happens to the Russians and Livonians themselves, who not only by living in such a Countrey, must be accustomed to bitter Colds, but, who to harden themselves to the Cold, have us'd themselves, and thereby brought themselves to be able

to pass to a great degree of Cold, from no less a degree of heat, without any visible prejudice to their healths. For I remember, that having inqui∣red of a Virtuoso of unquestionable credit, whether the report of our Merchants, concerning this strange custom of the Muscovites and Livoni∣ans were certainly true, he assur'd me, that it was so, at least as to the Livonians, among whom being in their Countrey, he had known it practis'd. And the same was affirm∣ed to me by an ingenious person, a Doctor of Divinity, that had occa∣sion some years since to make a jour∣ney to Musco. And the Tradition is abundantly confirm'd by Olearius, whose Testimony we shall subjoyn, because this seems one of the eminent∣est, and least credible instances, that we have yet met with of the strange power that custom may have, even upon the Bodies of men. 'Tis a won∣derful thing, says he, to see how far* 1.146 those Bodies (speaking of the Russians, that are accustomed and hardned to the Cold) can endure heat, and how when it makes them ready to faint, they

go out of their Stoves stark naked, both men and women, and cast themselves in∣to cold water, or cause it to be pour'd up∣on their Bodies, and even in Winter wal∣low in the Snow. To which passage our Author adds from his own obser∣vation particular Examples of the Truth of what he delivers.

6. I had several years since, the curiosity to try, whether there were any truth in that tradition, which is confidently affirm'd, (and experi∣ence by some is pretended for it) that the Beams of the Moon are cold, but though I were not able to find any such matter, either by the ununited beams of the Moon, or by the same beams concentred by such Burning∣glasses as I then had; yet having some years after furnish'd my self with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 large and extraordinary good met∣talline Concave, I resolv'd to try, whether those beams were not only devoid of cold, but also somewhat warmish, since they are the Sun∣beams, though reflected from the Moon. And we see, that his beams, though reflected from glasses not shap'd for Burning, may yet produce

some not insensible degree of warmth. But notwithstanding my care to make my Trials in clear wea∣ther, when the Moon was about the full, and, if I misremember not, with a Weàther-glass, I could not per∣ceive by any concentration of the Lu∣nar beams, no not upon a black object, that her light did produce any sensible degree, either of cold or heat; but perhaps others with very large glasses may be more succesful in their Tri∣als.

7. On this occasion I shall add, that meeting the other day in a Book∣sellers shop, with the works of the Learned Physician Sanctorius (whom I look upon as an inquisitive man, considering when and where he liv'd) a Picture drew my eyes to take off an Experiment, whereby he thinks to evince the light of the Moon to be considerably hot, which he says, he tri'd by a Burning-glass, through which the Moons light being cast up∣on the Ball of a common Weather∣glass, the water was thereby depres∣sed a good way, as appear'd to many of his disciples, amidst whom the

observation was made. But though this may invite me, when opportu∣nity shall serve, to repeat my Trials, yet I must till then suspend my assent to his Conclusion. For my Burn∣ing-glass was much better, then by the Narrative his seems to have been, and my Trials were perhaps at least as carefully and impartially made, as his Experiment in which this may probably have impos'd upon him; That performing the Experiment, a company of his Scholars, whilest they stood round about his Thermo∣scope, and stoop'd (as in likelihood their curiosity made them to do) to see by so dim a light the event of the Experiment, the unheeded warmth of their breath and bodies might, una∣wares to Sanctorius, somewhat affect the Air included in the Weather∣glass, and by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, cause that depression of the water, which he as∣crib'd to the Moon beams. But be∣cause this is a conjecture, I intend, if God permit, to repeat the Experi∣ment, when I shall have opportunity to do with a more tender Weather∣glass, then I had by me, when I made my former Observations.

To the XI. Title.

BY the unsuccesfulness of the for∣mer attempts made with an Iron instrument, I was invited, especially being at another place, where I was un∣furnish'd with such hollow Iron balls, as are mention'd Num. the 10. to sub∣stitute the following Experiment. I caus'd a skilful Smith to take a Pi∣stol barrel, guess'd to be of about two foot in length, and of a proportion∣able bore, and when he had by rivet∣ing in a piece of Iron, exactly stopp'd the touch-hole, I caus'd him to fit to the nose of the barrel a screw, to go as close as well he could make it, and then having fill'd it to the very top with water, I caus'd the screw to be thrust in (which could not be done without the Effusion of some of the water) as forcibly as the Party I im∣ploy'd was able to do it, that the wa∣ter, dilated by Congelation, might not either drive out the screw, or get between it and the top of the Bar∣rel,

and having then suspended this barrel in a perpendicular posture in the free Air, in a very cold 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which then unexpectedly happen'd, and gave me the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ma∣king the trial, I found the next morn∣ing, that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 water had thrust out a great part of the screw, notwithstanding, that to fill up inter∣vals, I had oyl'd it before, and was got out betwixt the remaining part of it, and the barrel, as appear'd by some ice, that was got out, and stuck round about the screw; wherefore the bitter cold continuing one day longer, I did the next night cause the intervals, that might be left betwixt the male and female screws, to be fill'd up with melted Bees wax, which I presum'd would keep the screw from being turn'd by the water: and having in other points proceeded as formerly, I found the next morning, that the screw held, as I desir'd, and the preceding night having been ex∣ceeding bitter, the cold had so forci∣bly congeal'd and expanded the wa∣ter, that it burst the Iron barrel some∣what near the top, and made a consi∣derable

and oblique crack in it, about which a pretty quantity of ice ap∣pear'd to stick, besides that there were three or four other flaws, at some of which smaller quantities of water appear'd to have got out. At the same time, that I bespoke this Iron Barrel of the Smith, I order'd him to get me a brass one fill'd up after the same manner, to make the Experi∣ment the more satisfactory. But though he could not procure it, yet the success was not unwelcome, be∣cause it was manifest, that there were cracks in the Iron in one place conspi∣cuous, and in others easily discove∣rable, by blowing into the barrel, and putting on the outside of the sus∣pected parts, either spittle, or some fit liquor, whose agitation plainly disclos'd the egress of the wind, and there appear'd small cause to doubt, but that these cracks were produc'd by the operation of the cold, since not only the Smith was a skilful man in his trade, and one that I us'd to imploy about Instruments, and also the barrel had been sometimes kept many hours fill'd with water, with∣out

appearing other then very stanch: but which is the considerablest cir∣cumstance the night before, the frost as I lately noted, was not able to make the water break out at any of these clefts, though it were able to force it self a way out at the screw, in spight of all the care we had taken to make it go close. I have only this circumstance to add about this mat∣ter, that when by thawing one part of the ice, some pieces of the rest were got out of the barrel, all I took notice of appear'd to be full enough of Bubbles, but yet such as seem'd lesser then ordinary, whether they were so by chance, or were determi∣ned to be so, by the resistence or com∣pression, which the freezing water found upon its endeavouring to ex∣pand it self in the barrel.

Appendix to the XVII. Title.

LOng since the writing of the fore∣going Section, meeting with a passage in Bartholinus, where he vouches Cabaeus for the Experiment of congealing water (without limit∣ing it to any season of the year) by putting Salt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into it and sha∣king it strongly, I was thereby con∣firmed, that I was not mistaken, in supposing, that Gassendus (mention'd in the former Section) did not ex∣clude that corporal and visible Nitre out of the number of the grand effici∣ents of congelation. For Cabaeus ha∣ving publish'd his comment upon Aristotles Meteors (whence this ex∣periment is taken by Bartholinus) be∣fore Gassendus publisht his Book, 'tis probable, that he as well as others borrowed the Experiment from him, and Cabaeus, as Bartholinus quotes him, prescribes the putting the Salt-petre its self into water, which being a while put into a brisk motion, will

after some agitation, not only refri∣gerate that water, but bring it to a true and proper congelation.

Wherefore suspecting, that this relation, wherein Bartholinus says, he will believe him without an oath, may have given rise to the opinions and affirmations of those ingenious writers, that have since ascrib'd such wonderful coldness to Nitre, and finding in Bartholinus, that Cabaeus's proportion betwixt the Nitre and the water, was that of 35. to a 100. that is almost as one to three, I thought it very well worth while to make Trial of an Experiment, which seem'd to me little less unlikely then considerable.

I took then a pound of good Salt∣petre, and near 3. pound of common water (to observe the more narrow∣ly Cabaeus's proportion) these being put into a large new Pipkin, were kept constantly and nimbly stirr'd a∣bout, sometimes by me, sometimes by one or other of my Domesticks relieving one another, when they were weary, but though the mixture was with a kind of broad glass spattle

kept in a brisk motion, that for the most part was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the manner of a whirle-pool, and sometimes a more confus'd agitation, and though we kept it thus stirring for almost an hour and a half, till we saw no like∣lihood of effecting any thing by try∣ing our selves any further, yet not only we could not perceive, that any Atom of true ice was produc'd, whereas according to our Authors we might have expected a true and perfect congelation of all or the greatest part of the water, but we did not find, that there was so much as any freezing of the vapours on the outside of the vessel; and for this reason we thought 〈◊〉〈◊〉, about the same time, to try the Experiments by another kind of Agitation, and mixing two ounces of Salt-petre with about six of water, in a conveniently siz'd vial, we did several of us succes∣sively vehemently shake the vial too and fro, till we were almost tyr'd; but neither this way was there pro∣duced the least ice within the glass, or the least congelation of the vapours of the Air on the outside of it. 'Tis

true, that when so great a proporti∣on of Salt-petre began to be dissolv'd in the Pipkin, the water had a sen∣sible increase of coldness, which af∣terwards seem'd to diminish, when once the Nitre was dissolv'd; but not to mention, that (if I much mi∣stake not) we have observ'd the wa∣ter to be refrigerated, when upon the dissolution of common salt, mul∣titudes of actually cold and solid Corpuscles came to be every way dispers'd through it; this coldness produc'd by the Nitre, was very far short of the degree requisite to con∣gelation: for to satisfie my self, that my sense did not misinform me, I took a good seal'd Weather-glass of about ten or twelve inches long, and immersing it into the cold mixture of Nitre and Water, I observ'd the tincted spirit of Wine in the stem to descend not inconsiderably, and when I perceived that degree of cold to have wrought its effect, I remov'd the Thermoscope into a vial fill'd with common water, about which I had caus'd to be plac'd a mixture of beaten ice and salt, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the

contained water, in which the ball of the Instrument being plac'd, the spirit of Wine hastily descended two or three inches below that place at which it stood, when 'twas remov'd out of the Nitrous solution: And for further satisfaction removing the Thermoscope once again into that solution, the spirit of Wine in the stem was hastily impell'd up, as if the bubble had been put into warm water. And once more the Wea∣ther-glass being remov'd into the for∣merly mention'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 water, the tincted liquor began to fall down hastily again, and within a while subsided almost into the bubble, whereupon to avoid injuring the in∣strument, we thought fit to take it out; so that upon the whole matter, if the learned Cabaeus were not delu∣ded by mistaking some Crystals of Nitre (which I have observ'd easily to shoot again in water, that has been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with it) for true and proper ice, I cannot but wonder at his asser∣tion, and must take the liberty to think my self warranted by so many Harmonious Trials, as I have found

unfavourable to the suppos'd su∣premeness of Cold in Salt-petre, to retain my former opinion about it, till more succesful Experiments with∣draw me from it.

'Tis a receiv'd Tradition among the Water-men and many others, that the Rivers, if not Ponds also, are frozen first at the bottom, and begin to thaw there. But though I find this opinion to be in request, not only among English Water-men, but among the French too, yet I think it may be very warrantably question'd: For 'tis evident in waters we expose to freez in large vessels, that the con∣gelations begin at the surface, where the liquor is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Air, and thence as the cold continues to prevail, the ice increases and thick∣ens downwards, and therefore we see, that Frogs retire themselves in frosty weather to the bottom of ditch∣es, whence I have had many of them taken out very brisk and vigorous, from under the thick ice that cover'd the water. And I have been inform∣ed by an observing person, that at least in some places, 'tis usual in

Winter for shoals of Fishes to retire to those depths of the Sea, if not of Rivers also, where they are not to be found in Summer. Besides if Rivers were frozen at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we must very frequently meet in the emergent pieces of ice, the shapes of those ir∣regular Cavities and Protuberances, that are often to be found in the un∣even soils, over which Rivers take their course, whereas generally those emergent pieces of ice are flat, as those flakes, that are generated on the surface of the water. Moreover if even deep rivers freez first at the bottom, why should not very many Springs and Wells 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first at the bottom too, the contrary of which nevertheless is obvious to be observ'd. In confirmation of all which we may make use of what we formerly noted (in the Section of the Primum Frigi∣dum) about the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Ma∣sters of the French Salt-works, who by overflowing the Banks and Cause∣ways all the winter, keep them from being spoil'd by the srost, which could not be done, if the waters they stand under froze as well at the bot∣tom, as at the Top.

But I find, that that, which de∣ceives our Water-men, is, that they often observe flakes of ice to ascend from the bottom of Rivers, to the Top, and indeed it often happens, that after the hard frost has continued a while, these emergent pieces of ice, do very much contribute to the freezing over of Rivers. For, com∣ing, in some of the narrower parts of them, to be stopp'd by the superficial ice, that reaches on each side of the River a good way from the Banks to∣wards the middle, those flat icy bo∣dies are easily cemented by the vio∣lence of the cold, and by the help of the contiguous water, to one ano∣ther, and by degrees straitning, and at length choaking up the passage, they give a stop to the other flakes of ice, that either emerging from the bottom, or loosened from the banks of the River, or carried down the stream towards them, and these be∣ing also by the same Cold cemented to the rest, the River is at length quite frozen over. And the reason why so many flakes of ice come from the bottom of the River, seems to be,

that after the water has been frozen all along near the banks, either the warmth of the Sun by day, or some of those many casualties, that may perform such a thing, does by thaw∣ing the ground, or otherwise loosen many pieces of that ice together with the earth, stones, &c. that they ad∣her'd to, from the more stable parts of the banks, and these heavy bodies do by their weight carry down with them the ice they are fastned to; but then the water at the bottom of the river being warm in comparison of the Air in frosty weather (since that even common water is so, we have* 1.147 manifested by experience, where we show how much sooner ice will be dissolv'd in water, then thaw'd in Air) the dispers'd ice is by degrees so wrought upon, that those parts by which it held to the stones, earth, or other heavy bodies being resolv'd, the remaining ice being much lighter bulk for bulk, then water, gets loose, and straightway emerges, and may perhaps carry up with it divers stones and clods of earth, that may yet hap∣pen to stick to it, or be inclos'd in it,

the sight of which perswades the Wa∣ter-man, that the flakes of ice were generated at the bottom of the river, whereas a large piece of ice may car∣ry up and support bodies of that kind of a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in case the ice it self be proportionably great, so that the Aggregate of the ice, and heavy bodies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not the weight of an equal bulk of water. On which oc∣casion I remember, that Captain James Hall in a voyage, extant in Pur∣chas, relates, that upon a large piece of ice in the Sea they found a great stone, which they judg'd to be three hundred pound weight. But of the Tradition of the Water-men we shall say no more, then that this hath been discours'd, but upon no great information, though the best we could procure; so that for further sa∣tisfaction, it were to be desir'd, that either by sending down a Diver, or by letting down some instrument fit to feel (if I may so speak) the bot∣tom of Rivers with, and to try, whe∣ther ice, if it met with any, be loose from, or uniformly coherent to the ground, and also bring up parcels of

whatever stuff it meets with there, the matter were by Competent Ex∣periments put out of doubt.

We took a seal'd Weather-glass furnish'd with spirit of Wine, and though not above 10. inches long in all, yet sensible enough, and having caus'd a hole to be made in the Cover of a Box, just wide enough for the smaller end of the Glass to be thrust in at, we inverted the Thermometer, so that the ball of it rested upon the cover of a Box, and the pipe pointed directly downwards, then we pla∣ced about the ball a little beaten ice and salt, and observ'd, whether, ac∣cording to our expectation, the tinct∣ed spirit, that reach'd to the middle of the pipe, or thereabouts, would be retracted upon the refrigeration of the liquor in the ball, and according∣ly the spirit did in very few minutes ascend in that short pipe above an inch higher, then a mark whereby we took notice of its former station, and would perhaps have ascended much more, if the application of the frigorifick mixture had been continu∣ed, by which, and another succeed∣ing 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

Experiment to the same purpose, it seems, that the condensation of li∣quors by cold, is not always effected by their proper gravity only, which ordinarily may be sufficient to make the parts fall closer together: but whether in our case the contra∣ction be assisted by some little tenaci∣ty in the liquor, or by the spring of some little aerial, or other spirituous and Elastick particles, from which the instrument was not perfectly freed, when it was seal'd up, or which happened to be generated within it afterwards, will be among orher things more properly inquir'd into in another place, where we may have occasion to make use of this Ex∣periment.

There is a famous Tradition, that in Muscovy, and some other cold Countries, 'tis usual out of Ponds and Rivers to take up good numbers of Swallows inclos'd in pieces of ice, and that the benumm'd birds upon the thawing of the ice in a warm room, will come to themselves a∣gain, and fly about amazedly for a while, but not long survive so great

and sudden a change. I have in ano∣ther Treatise already said somewhat about this Tradition, and therefore shall now say no more of it, then these two things. First, that I since was assur'd by a person of honour, that is very curious, and was com∣manded by (a many ways) great Prince to inquire out the truth of it, when he was in some of those Coun∣tries, where the thing is said to be familiar enough, and that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and soberest persons he could ask affirm'd the thing to be true: But (secondly) having lately inqui∣red about this matter of a knowing person of quality, that was born and bred in Poland, he answered me, That in the parts where he liv'd, it was a very general and unquestion'd opini∣on, that Swallows often hid them∣selves all the Winter under water in Ponds and Lakes, and Seggy places, and that the Fishermen, when having broken the ice, they cast their Nets for Fish, do draw them up benum∣med, but not dead, so that they quickly in Stoves recover their wings, but seldom after that prolong their

lives: But as for their being taken up in ice, he told me, he had not heard of it, though I see not why in case they commit themselves to shallow waters, as those of Ponds and Seggy places, often are a sharp lasting frost may not sometimes reach them. And therefore that which left me the greatest scruple about this Tradition, is, That this Gentleman, notwith∣standing his curiosity, could not affirm, that ever he himself had seen any ex∣ample of the thing he related.

But I will take this occasion to add, that having a mind in frosty weather to try some Anatomical Experiments about Frogs, one that I imploy'd breaking in a Ditch some ice that was very thick, and of which he was to bring me a quantity, found in the wa∣ter, that was under the ice, good store of Frogs (besides some Toads) which I found to be very lively, and divers of which I kept for certain uses a good while after.

To confirm, and to add some Pa∣ralipomena unto what I have deliver'd in the Second, and in the Twentieth Titles, about the frosts getting into

hard and solid bodies, I shall here subjoyn some particulars there omit∣ted, which I have learned partly from Experiments, and partly from persons worthy of credit, whom I purposely consulted about this mat∣ter.

And first as to the freezing of Wood, we have sometimes tri'd it by purposely exposing partly other Wood, and partly branches cut off from growing Trees, to an intense degree of Cold, by which the wood seem'd in one night to be for some little depth manifestly enough inva∣ded by the frost. But a domestick of mine having a little while since had occasion to fell an old Apple-tree, on a day that had been preceded by a fortnights bitter frost, came and in∣formed me, That he found, that the frost had evidently pierc'd into the ve∣ry middle of it, though it were about a foot in Diameter. And an Expe∣rienc'd Artificer, whose head and hand were much imploy'd about the building of great mens houses, told me, that he had often seen here in England pieces of Timber it self ma∣nifestly

frozen, and rendred exceed∣ing difficult to be saw'd, the frost al∣so appearing by evident signs to con∣tinue in the saw-dust. And there∣fore it will be the less strange, if in Poland the effects of Cold upon wood be more conspicuous. For a learn∣ed native assur'd me, that in his Countrey 'twas usual to have wood frozen so hard, that the Hatchets would not cut it, but rebound from it, and that 'twas very usual to hear in the night a great many loud cracks, almost like the reports of Pi∣stols, of the shingles or wooden tyles, wherewith in many places they cover their houses instead of Slate, and this (as I purposely ask'd) when the wea∣ther was dry, and excessively cold. When I likewise inquir'd about the thawing of wood, he told me, he had several times seen pieces of Tim∣ber, which having been throughly frozen in the Air, did, when brought into rooms made warm by Stoves, become cover'd with a kind of hoar frost, and made them look white, and that though his Bow (which he shew'd me) were very strong and

tough, as being made not of wood, but horn, and other close materials, it would be so chang'd by the frost, that unless special care were had in the thawing of it, it would break.

That Marle and Chalk, and other less solid terrestrial Concretions will be shatter'd by strong and durable frosts, is observ'd by Husbandmen, who thereby find it the better fitted to manure their land, the Texture of those bodies, during whose intireness, the parts most proper to feed grass and corn, are more lock'd up, being by congelation in great part dissolv'd, but that true and solid stones wont to be imploy'd in noble and durable Buildings, should be spoil'd by the frost, will perhaps to most readers seem very improbable. And there∣fore I shall here add what I have learn'd by inquiry of the ingeniousest and most experienc'd Mason I have met with, because it may not only surprize most readers, but prove an useful observation to him. Having then inquir'd of this Tradesman, whether he did not find, that some free stone, a name vulgarly known,

would not be spoil'd by the frost, he told me, that he had often observ'd both free stone and harder stones then that, to be exceedingly spoil'd by the frost, and reduc'd to crack or scale off, to the blemishing and pre∣judice of the houses, that are built of them. But because it may be object∣ed against this, that experience shews us, that divers of the stateliest Fa∣bricks in England have these stones for their chief materials, and yet indure very well the inclemencies of the Air, the reply may be, that the dif∣ference may not consist in the peculi∣ar natures of the stones imploy'd, but in the several seasons in which the same kind of stones are digg'd out of the Quarry. For if they be digg'd up, when the cold weather is alrea∣dy come in, and imploy'd in build∣ing the same Winter, they will, upon very hard frosts, be apt to be shatter'd or scale, but if they be digg'd early in the Summer, and suffer'd to lye expos'd to the Sun and Air, during all the heat of the Sum∣mer, these season'd stones, if I may so call them, may outlast many

sharp Winters unimpair'd. It seems to me worth trying, whether during their insolation, if that term may be allow'd me, there do not by the ope∣ration of the heat and air upon them, exhale a certain unripe mineral, sap, or moisture (whose recess may per∣haps be discover'd by weight) which if it remain in the stone, may by very piercing frosts be congeal'd almost like the sap in Timber-trees, and shatter the Texture of the stone, which agrees well with what was told me by an understanding person, that is Master of a great Glass-house, of whom having purposely inquir'd, whether he did not find, that his great earthen pots, which are made up with as little water as is possible, & are deservedly famous for their du∣rable Texture, had not that Texture alter'd and impair'd by very piercing frosts; he assur'd me, that if he did not take care to keep the frost (as they speak) from getting into them, those great and solid vessels, where∣in he us'd to keep his glass in fusion, would in the fire scale or crack (and perhaps fly) and become unservice∣able

no less then some weeks sooner, then if they had never been impair'd by the frost. And when I inquired, whether also glass it self would not be much prejudiced thereby, he affirm∣ed to me, that oftentimes in very hard frosts many glasses, that had continued intire for many weeks (for that circumstance I was sollicitous to ask about) would as it were of their own own accord crack with loud noi∣ses. But whatever prove to be the issue of such Trials, it will not be amiss to confirm the Phaenomenon it self, by the testimony of an illiterate, but very experienc'd French Aurhor, who on a certain occasion tells us, (as I also take notice in another* 1.148 Treatise) That he knows the stones of the mountains of Ardenne (famous enough in France) are harder then Marble, and yet the inhabitants of that* 1.149 Countrey do not draw them out of the Quarry in winter, because they are sub∣ject to the frost. And it has been divers times seen, that upon thaws, the rocks without being cut, have fallen down, and kill'd many.

But it may yet seem far more un∣likely,

that frosts should get into mettals themselves, and yet having ask'd the newly mention'd Polonian, whether he had observ'd any thing of that kind, he answer'd, that he had often by drawing out his sword and pulling out his pistols, when he had been long in the field, and came into a hot room, found them quickly al∣most whitened over, by a kind of small hoar frost. But whether this were, as he conceiv'd any thing, that was drawn out of the Steel, and set∣led on the surface of it, I want cir∣cumstances enough to make me wil∣ling to determine. But if we will credit Olaus Magnus, it must be con∣fess'd, that considerably thick pieces of Iron and Steel it self, will in the Northern Regions be render'd so brittle by the extreme frost, that they are fain to temper their instruments after a peculiar manner: his words, which being remarkable, I forbear* 1.150 to alter, are these, Videntur praeterea ferrei ligones certa ratione fabricati, quia his spissa atque indurata glacies cae∣teris instrumentis ferreis non cedens faci∣lius infringitur dum aliae secures chalybe

permixtae, in vehementi frigore ad so∣lum glaciei vel virentis arboris ictum in∣star vitri rumpuntur, ubi ligones praedi∣cti sive ferreae hastae fortissimi manent. Which testimony, notwithstanding what some have written to this Au∣thors disparagement, does not seem to me at all incredible. For I re∣member, that even here in England I have had the curiosity to cause trials to be made in very frosty weather, whereby, if an expert Smith I then us'd to imploy, did not gratis deceive me in the Irons I imploy'd, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may by such degrees of cold, as even our Climate is capable of, be render∣ed exceeding brittle, as he several times affirm'd to me, that there are some kinds of iron which he could hammer, and turn, as they phrase it, cold in open weather, which yet in very hard frosts would become so brittle, as by the same way of work∣ing easily to break, if not to flye asunder. And this he affirm'd both of Iron and Steel, of which latter mettal another very skilful workman, whom I also consulted, certifi'd the like: but though this disagreed not

with trials purposely made on Iron rods had inform'd me, yet presu∣ming, that in such a nice piece of work as a spring, some further satis∣faction about this matter might be obtain'd, I inquired of a very dexte∣rous Artificer, that was skill'd in ma∣king springs for others, whether or no he found a necessity of giving springs another temper in very frosty weather, then at other seasons, and he answered me, that in such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if he gave his springs the same temper, that he did in mild and open weather, they would be very apt to break. And therefore in very sharp seasons he us'd to take them down lower, as they speak, that is, give them a softer temper then at other times, which as it makes it probable, that the cold may have a consider∣able operation upon bodies, upon which most men would not suspect it to have one, so that discovery may afford a hint, that may possibly reach further then we are yet aware of, touching the interest that cold may have in many of the Phaenomena of nature.

I should here subjoyn, that in pro∣secution of what is deliver'd in the XX. Section about the weight of so∣lid bodies, that I there wish'd might be expos'd to a congealing Air, I did cause some Trials of that kind to be made in a very frosty night, especi∣ally with Bricks, but something that happened to the only Scales I then had fit for such an Experiment, made me doubt, whether some little in∣crease of weight, that seem'd to be gain'd by congelation, were to be re∣li'd upon, though there did not ap∣pear any hoar frost, or other thing outwardly adhering, to which the ef∣fect could be ascrib'd.

It is a Tradition, which the Schools and others have receiv'd with great veneration from their Master Ari∣stotle, that hot water will sooner freez then cold; but I do not much won∣der, that the learned 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as I find him quoted by Bartholinus, should contradict this Tradition, though he be himself a commentator upon that Book of Aristotle, wherein 'tis deliver'd. For I could never sa∣tisfie my self, that there is (at least

with our water, and in our Climate) any truth in the Assertion, though I have made trial of it more ways then one, but it may very well suffice to mention a few of the plainest and ea∣siest Trials, with whose success I am well satisfi'd as to the main, as the Reader also will, I doubt not, be; though not having, for want of health, been able to have so immedi∣ate an inspection of these, as of the rest of my Experiments, I was some∣times fain to trust the watchfulness of my servants (whom I was careful to send out often) to bring me word how long after the first freezing of the cold water, it was before the other began to be congeal'd.

We took then three pottingers, as near of a size as we could, and the one we fill'd almost to the top with cold water, the other with water, that had been boil'd before, and was moderately cool'd again, and the third with hot water; these three vessels were expos'd together in the same place to the freezing Air.

In the Entry of one of the Trials, I find, that being all three put out at

half an hour after eight of the clock. That the pottinger that contain'd the cold liquor began to freez at ¼ after ten.

That which contain'd the water heated and cool'd again, began to freez ¾ past ten.

And that which contain'd the hot water, at half an hour after eleven, and somewhat better. So that though all froze within the compass of two hours, yet the cold water began this time to freez an hour and a ¼ sooner then the hot.

These pottingers were earthen, but I elsewhere made the Trial in others of mettal, and there also the cold water began to freez, both before that which had been heated and cool∣ed again, and long before the hot.

Another time I measured out the water by spoonfuls into pottingers (not having then by me any fit Scales to weigh it) to be the more sure, that the quantities of water should not be considerably unequal, and then also the cold water froze a considerable while before the hot.

But my usual jealousie in the ma∣king

nice Experiments, tempting me to inquire, whether the water in some of the former Trials had not been heated in a stone Bottle, not a Skillet, it was confess'd, that it was so, but that the bottle us'd to contain nothing but Beer, and had been wash'd before-hand: And though I did not think, that the bottle could have any considerable influence on the Experiment; yet least it should be suspected, that the scalding wa∣ter, mighr have imbib'd some spiri∣tuous parts remaining yet among the minute dregs of Beer in the pores of the bottle, for the greater security I caus'd the water to be heated in a Skillet, and because in one of the Trials made in a Village, where we had not choice of pottingers, the cold water chanc'd to be put into one, that afterwards seem'd less, then that wherein the hot was expos'd, I did this very day repeat the Experiment, by putting cold water into a some∣what larger pottinger, heating the other water in a Skillet, and the event of the Trials is this,

That the cold water being put out

with the rest at ¾ after 6. began to freez somewhat before ½ after 7.

The water heated and cool'd a∣gain, began to freez ¾ after 7. And having these frozen waters a pretty while by me, I sent in for my own further satisfaction, for the hot wa∣ter, and found it not to be, in the least, frozen at half a quarter af∣ter 8. So that supposing it to conti∣nue half a quarter of an hour longer before the beginning of its congelati∣on, * 1.151 it was twice as long ere it be∣gan to freez, as the cold water had been.

By which we may see how well bestow'd their labour has been, that have puzled themselves and others, to give the reason of a Phaenomenon, which perhaps with half the pains they might have found to be but Chymaerical.

I have been the more circumstan∣tial in setting down these Trials, that I may express a civility to so famous a Philosopher as Aristotle, and also because Artificial Congelations, which we can commonly best com∣mand, and which we have the often∣est us'd about our other Experiments,

are not so proper for this. For ha∣ving formerly had the curiosity to take two pipes of glass made of the same Cylinder, that they might be of equal bore, and having seal'd each of them at one end, and having fill'd both to the same height, and then stirr'd them too and fro together in a mixture of beaten ice, water and salt, (which mixture I make use of for the effecting sudden Congelati∣ons) I found both waters to freez too quickly to make a notable disparity in the length of times, that they re∣main'd uncongeal'd: And we will not on this occasion omit one Phaeno∣menon afforded us by these Trials, because it may admonish men, how cautious they ought to be in making nice Experiments. For having once made the formerly mention'd Trial, with glass pipes, that were but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (as not exceeding the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a mans fore-finger) and having for greater caution put the hot water first into one glass, and then into another, we found one time, that the hot water froze first, and wondering at it, we examin'd the glasses, and

perceiving one of them to be more Conical or acuminated, where it had been seal'd up then the other, it seem'd probable, and afterwards ap∣pear'd true, that the water in this acuminated part, being suddenly frozen by reason of the slenderness of the glass there, promoted and acce∣lerated the Congelation of the rest, so that whether it were the cold or the hot water, that was put into that pipe, it would thereby gain a mani∣fest advantage.

In the foregoing Experiments (made in pottingers) I made use not only of cold and hot water, but of water that had been heated and cool'd again, though not reduc'd to its full pristine coldness, to prevent the Ob∣jections of some, that might pretend, that such water would have frozen sooner then Cold, which yet would not salve the common opinion which specifies not such water.

Postscript.

ANd it seems, that such Cautions as I have been mentioning, are not altogether useless. For acciden∣tally casting my eye upon the Circulus Pisanus of Berigardus upon Aristotles Meteors, I somewhat wonder'd to find, that an Author, who is look'd upon to be a great adversary of Ari∣stotle, except in his dangerous and ill∣grounded conceit of the eternity of the world, and some other errone∣ous opinions, does yet indeavour to justifie Aristotle by affirming, that his Experiment will succeed, if by heat∣ed water we understand, that which having been heated, is suffered to cool again, till it be reduc'd to the temper of other water which was not heated. For this refrigerated water he says, he has found to congeal much sooner then the other water, but this I confess I am very unapt to believe. For having divers times caus'd cold water to be expos'd to the

Air in frosty weather, with that which had been heated and cool'd a∣gain, and having set sometimes one of my Domesticks, sometimes ano∣ther, to watch them, the events did very much disfavour the assertion of our Author, though care was had of the circumstances most considerable in such an Experiment, as the matter, size and shape of the vessels; the equal degree of cold in the two seve∣ral parcels of water (into both which I sometimes dipp'd my finger to judge of them before they were ex∣pos'd) and the place, in which they were put both together to be frozen. But for further satisfaction, we else∣where took two pottingers, bought purposely for the making of Experi∣ments, of the same size and shape, and in the same shop; one of these we almost fill'd with cold water out of a glass, wherein we mark'd how high that water reach'd, that by fil∣ling the same glass to the same height with the refrigerated water, we might be able to measure out the same quantity into the other potting∣er. This done, I appointed one,

whose care I had no reason to distrust, to examine the tempers of the seve∣ral waters, with a more then ordina∣rily sensible Weather-glass, as a far safer Criterion then the bare touch, to judge of the coldness of liquors; these being reduc'd to the same tem∣per, were expos'd to a very sharp Air, and there watch'd by the per∣son, whom (being not well, and un∣able to support such weather my self) I appointed to attend the Experi∣ment, and he according to direction finding them begin to freez, as 'twere at the very same time, brought me in the two pottingers, in each of which I saw the beginnings, and but the beginnings of congelation, where the upper surfaces of the waters were contiguous to the containing vessels: so that having made this Experiment with much greater exactness then probably Berigardus did, or, for want of such instruments as I us'd, could make it, I cannot but suspect, supposing the common waters, he and I us'd, to be of the same nature, that he was either negligent or over-seen in affirming, that heated and refri∣gerated

water, will cool so much soon∣er, as he would perswade us, then other. * 1.152 And as I am not con∣vinc'd by experi∣ence, that it will freez sooner at all, so till he have bet∣ter made out the reason he seems to give of the Phaenomenon, I must que∣stion whether he rightly ascribe af∣ter Cabaeus (if I much misremember not) the congelation of water to a certain Coagulum, distinct from the cold spirits, that plentifully mingle with the water, which Coagulum it seems (for his style is not wont to be very perspicuous) that he would have to consist of certain dry Cor∣puscles, no less necessary to conglaci∣ate water, then Runnet to curdle Milk: And for what this Author says, * 1.153 that he must have im∣ploy'd boiling or scalding water, who affirms it to be less congealable then other, that mistake may be suf∣ficiently disprov'd by the several above recited Trials, wherein we

found water, moderately refrigerated, to freez much later then cold, and whereas Berigardus intimates, that the person whoever he be, that he dissents from, does unskilfully sup∣pose warm salt-water to be the less dispos'd to congelation for being salt, our Author is therein also mi∣staken; for though it be true what he alledges, that salt outwardly appli'd promotes the congelation of water, yet, that dissolv'd in water, it has a contrary effect, may appear by the familiar observation, that Sea-water is much more difficult to be congeal'd then fresh water: and to show, that 'tis not a property of Sea-water, but a water impregnated with common Salt, I have several times tri'd, that a strong solution of such salt in ordi∣nary water, will not at all be con∣geal'd by the being expos'd to the Air, even in very sharp frosts, as may be easily collected from some of the Experiments mention'd in the former part of this Book. Another particular there is (about the use of Allume in reference to freezing) in this often cited passage of Berigardus,

which I might here examine, if my hast and my indisposedness to ingage in a controversie of small moment, did not injoyn me to defer it till a fit∣ter* 1.154 occasion.

To confirm the power ascrib'd in the VI. Section to cold, as to the long preservation of bodies from cor∣ruption, 'twill not be amiss to add these two remarkable passages, the latter of which affords a good in∣stance of the improvement, that may be made of some degrees of cold to the uses of humane life.

The first observation is afforded us by some of our Countrey-men, in a Voyage extant in Purchas, where the writer of it speaks thus: Of the Samojeds, whose Countrey he visi∣ted,* 1.155 Their Dead they bury on the side of the hills, where they live (which is com∣monly on some small Islands) making a pile of stones over them, yet not so close, but that we might see the dead Body, the Air being so piercing, that it keepeth them from much stincking savour: so likewise I have seen their Dogs buried in the same manner.

The other observation is given us in the description of Iceland (made by one that visited it) to be met with in the same Purchas's Collections, where among other things he gives us this Account, which if I mistake not, I have had confirm'd by others, of their strange way of ordering and preserving their Fish. Having taken* 1.156 them, they pluck out the bones, and lay up their bowels, and make Fat or Oyl of them: They heap up their Fish in the open Air, and the purity of the Air is such there, that they are hardned only with the Wind and Sun, without Salt, better surely then if they were corned with Salt. And if they kill any Beast, they preserve the flesh without stinck or putrefaction, without Salt, hardned only with the Wind.

I know not whether 'twill be worth while to add to the fifth and sixth Numbers of the VII. Title, that, for further confirmation of our opi∣nion, that 'tis not Natures abhorren∣cie of a Vacuum, but the distension of the water, that breaks glasses, when the contain'd liquors come to be con∣geal'd, I did on set purpose fill seve∣ral vials (some at one time, and

some at another) to the lower parts of their necks (most of which were purposely made long) with common water, and though they were all left unstopp'd, that the external Air might come in freely to them; yet not only one of them, that I stirr'd up and down in a mixture of beaten ice, salt, and water, was hastily broken upon the congelation of the contain'd water, but several others, that were expos'd to be frozen more leisurely by the cold Air only, were likewise broken to pieces, by the ex∣pansion of the freezing water, as ap∣pear'd both by the gaping cracks, and also by this, that the ice was conside∣rably risen in the necks above the wa∣ters former stations, which had been noted by marks before; and if it had been more easie for the included wa∣ter to make it self room, either by stretching the glass, or (rather) leaving the superficial ice congeal'd at first in the neck, or by both those ways together, then to break the ves∣sel, the vial would probably have re∣mained intire.

I say probably, because I am not

sure, that there may not sometimes intervene in these Experiments some∣what that may need further observa∣tion and inquiring. For as it seems, that what I have been lately saying may be confirmed by an unstopp'd vial, which was expos'd at the same time to congelation, with this suc∣cess, that without breaking the vial the water was frozen, and the ice in the neck impell'd up a good way a∣bove the height, at which the liquor rested before it began to congeal; so on the other side I remember, that I have sometimes had a good store of liquor frozen in a vial, without breaking the glass, though a vial were stopp'd: as if the difference, that I have on other occasions obser∣ved betwixt glasses, whereof some are very brittle, and others more apt to yield, might have an influence on such Experiments, or that some pe∣culiar softness, or other property of the ice, that afforded me my obser∣vation, or else some other thing not yet taken notice of, were able to va∣ry their success.

In confirmation of what is deliver∣ed

in the VII. Section, about the ex∣pansion of water by freezing, I shall add, that having caus'd some strong glass-Bottles of a not inconsiderable bignéss to be fill'd with a congealable liquor, excepting the necks, which were fill'd with Sallet oyl, I observ'd, that in a somewhat long, and very sharp frost the contained water was so far expanded by congelation, that it not only thrust up the corks, but the cold having taken away the deflu∣ency of the oyl, that liquor together with the water, that could no longer be contain'd in the Cavities of the glasses, being as it seem'd, frozen as fast as it was thrust out of the neck, there appear'd quite above the upper part of the Bottles, Cylinders of di∣vers inches in height, consisting part∣ly of concreted oyl, and partly of congeal'd water, having on their tops the corks that had been rais'd by them.

It is a Tradition very currant among us, that when Ponds or Rivers are frozen over, unless the ice be sea∣sonably broken in several places, the Fishes will dye for want of Air.

And I find this Tradition to be* 1.157 more general, then, before I made particular inquiry into it, I knew of. For Olaus Magnus mentions it more then once, without at all questioning the truth of it, but rather, as if the general practise of the Northern Na∣tions to break in divers places their frozen Ponds and Rivers, were grounded upon the certainty of it. In the twentieth Book (which treats of Fishes) after having spoke of the reasons, why the Northern Fisher∣men imploy so much pains and indu∣stry to fish under the ice, and having said among other things, that the na∣ture of the Fish exacts it, he adds this reason, that, Nisi glacie perforata re∣spiracula* 1.158 susciperent, quotquot in flumine vel stagno versantur, subito morerentur. Another passage of the same Author, and taken likewise out of the same

(20.) Book you may meet with in the Margent, though in another place he seems to intimate another, and not an absurd, reason of the death of Fishes in Winter, where adver∣tising the Reader, that Ponds and Lakes did generally begin to freez in* 1.159 October, he adds, that Fish∣es are usually found suffocated, when the Thaw comes, where veins (or springs) of living water do not enter: by which passage he seems to make the want of shifted water cooperate to the suffocation of the Fishes. And to the same purpose I shall now add, that having inquir'd of a learned Na∣tive, that had had about Cracovia, (whose Territory is said to abound much in Ponds) whether the Polan∣ders also us'd the same custome, he answered me, that they did, and that sometimes in larger Ponds they were careful to break the ice in eight

or ten several places, to make so ma∣ny, either vents or Air-holes, for the preservation (as they suppos'd) of the Fish. And when I inquir'd of the often mention'd Russian Empe∣rors Physician, whether in Muscovy the frost kill'd the Fishes in the Ponds, in case the ice were not bro∣ken to give them Air, he answered, that in ordinary Ponds it were not to be doubted, but that in great Lakes he could not tell, because the Fisher∣men use to break many great holes in the ice for the taking of the Fish. For at each of these holes they thrust in a Net, and all these Nets are drawn up together in one great breach made insome convenient place near the middle of the rest.

It appears then, that the Traditi∣on is general enough, but whether it be well grounded, I dare not deter∣mine, either affirmatively or nega∣tively, till trial have been made in Ponds with more of design or of cu∣riosity, and watchfulness, then I have known hitherto done, men seeming to have acquiesc'd in the Tradition without examining it, and

to have been more careful, not to omit what is generally believ'd ne∣cessary to the preservation of their Fish, then to try, whether they would escape without it: Where∣fore, though for ought I know the Tradition may prove true, yet to in∣duce men not to think it certain, till experience has duly convinc'd them of it, I shall represent, That as much as I have in other Treatises ma∣nifested, how necessary Air is to Ani∣mals; yet whether Fishes may not live, either without Air, or without any more of it, then they may find interspers'd in the water they swim in, has not yet, that I know of, been sufficiently prov'd. For what we have attempted of that nature in our Pneumatical Engine, whether it be satisfactory or not, is not yet divul∣ged. And I remember not to have hitherto met with any writer, (ex∣cept Olaus be construed to intimate so much) that affirms upon his own ob∣servation, that the want of breaking ice in Ponds has destroy'd all the Fish. Besides, that possibly in fro∣zen Ponds, there may be other rea∣sons

of the death of the Fishes, that are kill'd (if any store of them be so) by very sharp frosts. For who knows what the locking up of some kinds of subterraneal steams, that are wont freely to ascend through water unfrozen, may do to vitiate and infect the unventulated water, and make it noxious to the Fishes, that live in it: perhaps also the excre∣mentitious steams, that insensibly is∣sue out of the bodies of the Fishes themselves, may by being penn'd up by the ice, contribute in some cases to the vitiating of the water, at least in reference to some sort of Fishes. For being desirous to learn from a person curious of the ways of preser∣ving and transporting Fish, whether some Fishes would not quickly lan∣guish, grow sick, and sometimes dy out-right, if the water they swam in were not often shifted, he assur'd me, that some kinds of them would: and it has not yet, that I hear of, been tri'd, whether or no, though Ponds seldom freez to the bottom, yet the water that remains under the ice (in which it self some Fishes may be now

and then intercepted) may not, even whilest it continues uncongeal'd, ad∣mit a degree of cold, that though not great enough to turn water into ice, may yet be great enough, when it continues very long, to destroy Fish∣es, though not immediately, yet within a less space of time, then that, during which the surface of the Pond continues frozen. But 'tis not worth while to be sollicitous about conjectures of causes, till we are sure of the Truth of the Phaenomenon; and these things are propos'd not so much to confute the Tradition, we have been speaking of, as to bring it to a Trial, which, having no opportunity to make in Ponds, I endeavour'd as well this Winter as formerly, to ob∣tain what information I could from Trials made in small vessels, with the few Fishes I was able to procure. And I shall subjoyn most of these Trials, not because I think them very considerable, but because they are, for ought I know, the only attempts of the kind, that have yet been made.

To satisfie my self, whether the

ices denying access to the Air, was that which destroy'd Fishes in frozen Ponds, I thought upon this Epedi∣ent, I procur'd a glass vessel with a large belly, and a long neck, but so slender, that it was only wide enough for the body of the Fishes to pass through, and then having fill'd the vessel with some live Gudgeons, and a good Quantity of water, the neck of it was made to pass through a hole that was left, or made for it in the midst of a metalline plate, or wood∣en Trencher, which could descend no lower then the neck, because of the inferior part of the glass that would not suffer it, and which serv'd to sup∣port a mixture of Ice (or Snow) and Salt, which was appli'd round about the extant neck of the glass. By this contrivance I propos'd to my self a double advantage: the first, that, whereas in broad vessels 'tis not al∣ways so easie, as one would think to be sure, that the surface of the water is quite frozen over in every part, by this way I could easily satisfie my self, by inverting the glass, and ob∣serving, that the ice had so exactly

choak'd up and stopt the neck, that no drop of water could get out, not any bubble of Air get in, and yet the Fishes had liberty enough to play in the subjacent water. The other con∣veniency was, that, the frigorifick mixture being appli'd to the neck, no water was congeal'd, or extremely refrigerated, but that which was contain'd in the neck, so that there seem'd no cause to suspect, that in case the Fishes, thus debarr'd of Air, should not be able to live in the wa∣ter, it was rather Cold, then want of Air that kill'd them. But though not having then been able, by reason of a remove, to prosecute these Trials to the utmost, nor to register all the circumstances, I shall not lay much weight upon it, yet I remember, that the included Fishes continued long enough alive, to make me shrowdly suspect the Truth of the vulgar Tradition.

Another time being destitute of the conveniency of such glasses, I caus'd some of the same kind of Fishes to be put into a broad and flat earthen ves∣sel, with not much more water, then

suffic'd perfectly to cover them, and having expos'd them all night to a very intense degree of cold, I found the next morning, that some hours after day, they were alive, and seem'd not to have been much preju∣diced by the cold, or exclusion of Air. 'Tis true, that there was a ve∣ry large moveable bubble under the ice, but that seem'd to have been ge∣nerated by the Air, or some Analo∣gous substance, emitted out of the Gills or bodies of the Fishes them∣selves: for, that the surface of the wa∣ter was exactly frozen over (which does not in such Trials happen so of∣ten, as one would think) I found, by being able to hold the vessel quite in∣verted, without losing one drop of water. And that this large bubble might possibly proceed from the Fishes themselves, I was induc'd to suspect, because having at different seasons of the year, for divers purpo∣ses kept several sorts of Fishes, and particularly Gudgeons, for many days in glass vessels, to satisfie my self about some Phaenomena I had a mind to observe, I have often by

watching them, seen them lift up their mouthes above the surface of the water, and seem to gape and take in Air, and afterwards let go under wa∣ter out of their mouthes and gills di∣vers bubbles, which seem'd to be portions of the Air they had taken in, perhaps a little alter'd in their bodies. And particularly in Lampries (of which odd sort of Fishes I elsewhere make mention) I have with pleasure, both observ'd and show'd to ingeni∣ous men, that being taken out of the water into the Air, and then held under water again, they very mani∣festly appear'd to squeez out, and that not without some force, at those several little holes, which are com∣monly mistaken for their eyes, nu∣merous and conspicuous bubbles of Air, which they seem'd to have ta∣ken in at their mouthes, if not also at those holes. But of these matters a fitter occasion may perhaps invite me to say more. To return now to our Gudgeons, I shall add, that to satisfie my self further, what cold and want of Air they may be brought to support, I expos'd a couple of

them in a bason, to an exceeding bit∣ter night, and though the next day I found the ice frozen in the vessel to a great thickness, and one of the Fish∣es frozen up in it, there remaining a little water unfrozen, the other Fish appear'd through the ice to move to and fro, and the ice being after∣wards partly thaw'd, and partly bro∣ken, not only that Fish was found lively enough, but the other, which I alone judg'd not to be quite dead, though, when the ice was broke, it lay moveless, did in a few minutes so far recover, as to tow after it (if I may so speak) a good piece, into which his tail remain'd yet inserted; and though one of these, and some other Gudgeons, that had been al∣ready weakned by long keeping, were once more expos'd in the Bason to the frost, and suffer'd to lye there, till they were frozen up, yet the ice being broken, in which they were in∣clos'd, though their bodies were stiff and crooked, and seem'd to be stark dead, lying in the water with their bellies upwards, yet one of them quickly recovered, and the other

not very long after began to show manifest signs of life, though he could not in many hours after so far recover, as to swim with his back up∣wards. 'Tis true, that these Fishes did not long survive, but of that, two or three, not improbable reasons, might be given, if it were worth while to name here any other then this, that the ice, they had been frozen up in, or the violence that was offer∣ed them by the fragments of it, when it was broken, had wounded them, as was manifest enough by some hurts, that appear'd upon their bo∣dies; yet some other Gudgeons were irrecoverably frozen to death, by be∣ing kept inclos'd in ice, during (if I misremember not the time) three days. And as for other Animals, I caus'd a couple of Frogs to be artifi∣cially frozen in a wide mouth'd glass, furnish'd with a convenient quantity of water, but though they seem'd at first inclos'd in ice, yet looking near∣er, I found, that about each of them there remain'd a little turbid liquor unfrozen, as if it had been kept so by some expirations from their bo∣dies.

Wherefore causing either the same, or two others, (for I do not punctually remember that circum∣stance) to be carefully frozen, and for a considerable while, I found, that notwithstanding the ice, into which most part of the water was re∣duc'd, not only one of them before the ice was broken appear'd to be perfectly alive, but the other that was moveless and stiff, and lying with the belly upwards in a Bason of cold water, whereinto it was cast, did in a very few minutes begin to swim about in it. I should have made more Trials at least, if not also more satisfactory ones, if I could have had Fishes and vessels, and cold weather at command: But upon the whole matter, though the Tradition, we have been examining, may per∣haps have some thing of truth in it, yet it seems to deserve to be further inquired into, both in reference to the truth of the matter of fact, the death of Fishes in frozen Ponds and Ri∣vers, and in reference to the cause, whereto that effect is imputed.

I met with an odd passage in Cap∣tain

James's voyage, which if it had been circumstantially enough set down, might prove of moment in reference to the weight of bodies fro∣zen and unfrozen, and therefore though I would not build any thing on it, yet I shall not omit it. The* 1.160 ninth (says he) we hoisted out our Beer and Cydar, and made a Raft of it, fast∣ning it to our shore-Anchor. The Beer and Cydar sunck presently to the ground, which was nothing strange to us, for that any wood or pipe-staves, that had layen un∣der the ice all Winter, would also sinck down so soon, as ever it was heav'd over board.

About the duration of ice I forgot, through hast, to add a relation of Capt. James, whereby it may appear, That though Wine abounds with ve∣ry spirituous and nimble parts, whence it resists congelation far more then water, yet if even this liquor came once to be congeal'd, the ice made of it may be very durable. For he sets down in his Journal, that when he came to his Ship again, he found a But of Wine, that had been all the Winter in the upper deck,

to continue as yet all firm frozen, though* 1.161 it were then the moneth of May.

When I treated of the great pro∣portion in some pieces of ice, that were aground, instead of taking no∣tice of the great piece of ice menti∣on'd by Gerard de Veer, to be 52. fa∣thom deep, the passage that was to be transcrib'd, was this other, hard by, which contains two examples of towers of ice, where the extant part reach'd upwards more then half as much as the immersed part reach'd downwards. We saw (says he) ano∣ther* 1.162 great piece of ice not far from us, ly∣ing fast in the Sea, that was as sharp a∣bove, as if it had been a Tower, where∣unto we rowed, and casting out our lead, we found that it lay 20. fathom fast on the ground under the water, and 12. fathom above the water. — We rowed to ano∣ther piece of ice, and cast out our Lead, and found that it lay 18. fathom deep, fast on the ground under the water, and 10. fathom above the water.

That snow lying long, and too long on the ground, does much con∣duce to the fertilizing of it, is a com∣mon observation of our Husbandmen.

And Bartholinus in his Treatise of the use of snow, brings several passages out of Authors to make it good: to which I shall add the testimony of our learned English Ambassador, Dr. Fletcher, who speaking of the fruitfulness of the soil, and hasty growth of many things in the great Empire of Russia, gives this account of it.

This fresh and speedy growth of the* 1.163 Spring there, seemeth to proceed from the benefit of the snow, which all the Winter time being spread over the whole Country, as a white robe, and keeping it warm from the rigour of the frost, in the Spring time (when the Sun waxeth warm, and dissolveth it into water) doth so throughly drench and soak the ground, that it is somewhat of a slight and sandymold, and then shineth so hotly upon it again, that it draweth the herbs and plants forth in great plenty, and variety, in a very short time.

As we made some Trials to disco∣ver, whether congelation would de∣stroy or considerably alter the odors of bodies, so we had the like curiosi∣ty in reference to divers other quali∣ties,

not only those that are reputed manifest, as colours and tastes, the latter of which we sometimes found to be notably chang'd for the worse in flesh congeal'd, but also those that are wont to be call'd occult, and among the qualities of this sort, I had particularly a mind to try, whether the purging faculty of Catharticks would be advanc'd or impair'd, or destroy'd by congelation, and for this purpose I caus'd to be expos'd thereunto divers purging liquors, some of a more benigne, and some of a brisker nature, and that in differ∣ing forms, as of syrup, decoction, infusion, &c. But for want of oppor∣tunity, to try upon the bodies of ani∣mals, what change the cold had made in the purging liquors, it had congeal'd, I was unable to give my self an account of the success of such Experiments; only since, in some of these Trials I had a care to make use of Cathartick liquors prepar'd by fermentation, (which way of pre∣paring them, is it self a thing, I else∣where take notice of, as not unwor∣thy to be prosecuted.) I shall add on

this occasion, that fermentation is so noble and important a subject, that the influence of cold upon it may de∣serve a particular inquiry. And I am invited to think, that that influ∣ence may be very considerable, part∣ly by my having observ'd (upon a Tri∣al purposely made) both that Raisins and water, (with which I was us'd to make Artificial Wines) did not in many days, whilest the weather was very frosty, so much as manifestly begin to ferment, though the water were kept fluid; and partly by my ha∣ving observ'd, that Beer will conti∣nue as it were new, and be kept from being, as they call it, ready to drink much longer then one would readily suspect, if very frosty wea∣ther supervene, before it have quite fi∣nished its fermentation, insomuch, that an experienc'd person, of whom I afterwards inquir'd about this mat∣ter, assur'd me, that Beer not duly ripe, would not sometimes in five or six weeks of very frosty weather, be brought to be as ripe as in one week of warm and friendly weather. But we have a nobler instance to our pre∣sent

purpose, if that be true which I learn'd from an intelligent French∣man, whom I consulted about this matter. For according to this expe∣rienc'd person, the way to keep Wine in the Must (in which state its sweetness makes it desir'd by many) is to take newly express'd juice of Grapes, and having turn'd it up be∣fore it begins to work, to let down the vessels (which ought to be very carefully clos'd) to the bottom of some deep Well or River, for six or eight weeks, during which time the liquor will be so well setled (if I may so speak) in the constitution, it has so long obtain'd, that afterwards it may be kept in almost the same state, and for divers moneths continue a sweet, and not yet fermented liquor, which some, in imitation of the French and Latins, call in one word, Must. And how by the help of Cold well appli'd, some other juices, that are wont to work early, and to be thereby soon spoil'd, may be long kept from working, the Reader may perchance learn in another Treatise, to which such matters more properly belong.

'Tis known, that the Schools define cold by the property, they ascribe to it, of congregating both Heterogene∣ous and Homogeneous things. I thought it not amiss to attempt the making some separations in bodies by the force of Cold. For if that hold true in this climate, which has been observ'd by Travellers and Naviga∣tors in Northern Regions; that men may obtain from Beer and Wine a very strong spirit, and a phlegme by congelation, it seems probable, that in divers other liquors the wa∣terish part will begin to freez before the more spirituous and saline, and if so, we may be assisted to make di∣vers separations, as well by cold, as by heat, and dephlegme, if I may so speak, some liquors, as well by con∣gelation as by distillation: but I doubt, whether the ordinary frosts of this Countrey can produce a de∣gree of cold great enough to make such divisions and separations in bo∣dies, as have been observ'd in the more Northern Climates. For though having purposely hung out a glass-bottle with a quart of Beer in it,

in an extraordinarily sharp night, I found the next morning, that much the greatest part of the Beer being turn'd into ice, there remain'd some∣what nearer the middle, but nearer the bottom, an uncongeal'd liquor, which to me and others seem'd stronger then the Beer, and was at least manifestly stronger then the thaw'd ice, which made but a spiritless, and, as it were, but a dead drink; yet in some other Trials my success was not so considerable as some would have expected. For having put one part of high rectifi'd spirit of Wine, to about five or six parts, if I misremember not, of common water, and having put them into a round glass, and plac'd that in beaten ice and salt, though the mix∣ture were in great part turn'd into ice; yet I could not perceive, that even two liquors so slightly mingled, were any thing accurately severed from one another, although once, to enable my self the better to judge of it, the spirit of Wine I imploy'd was beforehand deeply tincted with Co∣chinele, and therefore I the less won∣der,

that in Claret Wine I could not make any exact separation of the red and the colourless parts: However I thought it not amiss to try, how far in some other liquors this way of se∣parating the waterish, and more ea∣sily congealable part from the rest, would or would not succeed. And I remember, that a large glass vessel, wherein spirit of Vinegre was expo∣sed to the cold, a considerable part was turned into ice, whose swim∣ming argued it to be lighter then the rest of the liquor: but though I put some of this ice in a glass by it self, to examine by its weight and taste, when thaw'd, how much it differ'd from the uncongeal'd part of the spi∣rit, my hopes were disappointed by a misfortune, which was not repair∣ed by my exposing afterwards a smaller quantity of spirit of Vinegre to the Nocturnal Air, for that pro∣ved so cold, that the whole was turn∣ed into ice, wherefore I must reserve for another opportunity the prosecu∣ting that Experiment, as also the try∣ing, whether a separation of the Se∣rous or the Oleaginous parts of Milk

may be effected. For though once the frost seem'd to have promoted a separation of Creme, notwithstand∣ing that heat also may do it, and though another time there seem'd to be another kind of divulsion of parts made by congelation; yet for want of leisure to prosecute such Trials, they prov'd not satisfactory, no more then did some attempts of the like nature, that I made upon blood by freezing it. But notwithstanding these discouragements, I resolv'd to try, what I could do upon Brine. For calling to mind the Relations menti∣oned in the XV. Title, and elsewhere, which seem to argue, that in some cases the ice of the Sea-water may, being thaw'd, yield fresh water, and being the more inclin'd to think it worth Trial, by a Physician, I since happened to discourse with about this matter, who affirm'd to me, that sailing along the coast of Germany, he had taken out of the Sea ice, that be∣ing thaw'd, he found to afford good fresh water, I began to consider, whether we might not by cold, free salt water at some seasons of the year,

from a great deal of the phlegme, which 'tis wont to cost much to free them from by fire, and other means. For a little help towards the diminu∣tion of the fresh water, is look'd up∣on as so useful an Experiment, by many that boil salt out of the salt springs, that in some Countries, that are thought the skilfullest in that trade, they make their salt-water fall upon great bundles of small brush∣wood, that being thereby divided, and reduc'd to a far greater superfi∣cies, there may, in falling through, some of the purely Aqueous parts exhale away; wherefore dissolving one part of common salt in 44. times its weight of common water, that it might be reduc'd, either exactly, or near, to the degree of saltness, that has been by several writers observed in the water of our neighbouring Seas, and having likewise caus'd ano∣ther and much stronger Brine to be made, by putting in to the water a far greater proportion of salt, (for so there is in many of our salt springs) we expos'd these several solutions to the congealing cold of the Air in fro∣sty

weather, where the last menti∣on'd solution being too strongly im∣pregnated with the salt, continued some days and nights altogether un∣congeal'd; but that weaker solution, which emulated Sea water, being ex∣pos'd in a shallow and wide mouth'd vessel (that shape being judg'd the most proper we could procure for our design) the large superficies, that was expos'd to the Air, did, as we expected, afford us a cake of ice, which being taken off, and the rest of the liquor expos'd again to the Air in the same vessel, we obtain'd a second cake of ice, and taking the remain∣ing, which seem'd to be indispos'd enough to congelation, we found, that by comparing it with that, which was afforded us by the first cake of ice permitted to thaw, there appear'd a very manifest difference betwixt the water, whereinto the ice was resolv'd, scarce tasting so much as brackish, whereas the liquor, that had continued uncongeal'd, was considera∣bly salt in taste. And if I had had the conveniency of examining my self these two liquors Hydrostatically, as I

was fain to have them examin'd by another, I doubt not but by their weight, I should have discovered precisely enough the difference be∣tween them (which the person I em∣ploy'd found to be considerable) and consequently should have been assist∣ed to make an estimate of the advan∣tage, that might be afforded by the operation of the cold towards the freezing of the Brine from its super∣fluous water. But though I had not a quantity of ice great enough to sa∣tisfie me, whether that little brack∣ishness of taste, I have mention'd, proceeded from some saline Cor∣puscles, that concurr'd to the consti∣tuting of the ice it self, or did only adhere to the lower part of it, among other particles of the liquor, that re∣main'd uncongeal'd, yet perhaps 'twere not amiss to try, whether in very large, though not deep vessels, this Experiment, especially promoted by some expedients, that practise may suggest, may not in some sea∣sons and places, be brought to be of some advantage.

Whilest I was endeavouring by

some of the above recited Experi∣ments, to make some separations in liquors by congelation, I thought fit to try by the same means, what sepa∣rations I could make in some bodies, betwixt liquors, and those more stable parts among which they were ingag'd, hoping, upon considerations, which 'twere too long to enumerate, that, if such attempts should succeed, they might afford hints of a Lucife∣rous nature. I took then divers ve∣getable substances of differing kinds, as Turnips, Carrets, Beets, Apples, and tender wood, freshly cut off from growing trees, as also divers Animal substances, as Musculous flesh, Livers, Brains, Eyes, Tongues, and other parts, and expos'd them to a very sharp cold, that they might be throughly frozen. Now one of the chief things, that I propos'd to my self in this attempt, was, to try how far I could by congelation make dis∣covery of any thing about the Tex∣ture of Animals and Plants, that had not been taken notice of by Anato∣mists themselves, and would scarce otherwise be render'd visible. And

I easily found, that I had not ground∣lesly imagin'd, that in divers Succu∣lent bodies, both vegetable and ani∣mal, the sap or the juice, that was so dispers'd among the other parts, and divided into such minute porti∣ons, as not to be manifestly enough discriminated, might by congelation be both discern'd and separated from the rest. For in divers Plants, I found the Alimental juice to be con∣geal'd into vast multitudes of distinct Corpuscles of ice; some of which, when the bodies were tranversly cut with a sharp knife, and left a while in the Air, might be wip'd or scrap'd off from the superficies of the body, upon which 'twould after a while ap∣pear in the form of an Efflorescence, almost like meal: but in others I took a better and quicker course, for by warily compressing the frozen bo∣dies, I could presently make the icy Corpuscles start in vast numbers out of their little holes, and though some of these were so minute as to invite me to use a Microscope, that magni∣fi'd a little, (not having then any of my best at hand) yet in some bodies,

and especially in Carrets and Beets, the icy Corpuscles were big enough to be distinctly or apart conspicuous, insomuch, that I was not mistaken in hoping, that the figures, as well as sizes (for as to the Colour it was scarce discernible in the ice, produc'd in so deeply crimson a Root, as the Beet it self) of these little pieces of ice, might be guess'd at by the bigness and shape of the Pores, that were left in the more stable part, or (if I may so call it) the Parenchyma of the root, though in making an estimate of these Cavities, as well as in discovering the order, wherein they are rang'd, I found it useful to cut the frozen roots, sometimes according to their length, and sometimes quite cross. For by that means there would ap∣pear in Carrets, for example, of the larger sort, a great disparity in the order of the Pores, which, when the root was divided by a plain parallel to the Basis, appear'd plac'd in lines almost streight, tending almost like the spoaks of a wheel, from the middle to the circumference. But if the Carret were slit from one end to∣wards

the other, the icy Corpuscles and pores would seem rang'd in an order, that would appear very differ∣ing, but which I have not now the leisure to describe, no more then what I observed with a Microscope, about the ice and pores of Apples, the Tongues of Animals, Chips of green and sappy wood, &c. expos'd to congelation: only this I shall not pretermit, That as I many years since made (and, as I now find, too freely communicated) an Experiment, (men∣on'd* 1.164 long after in other papers; of freezing the eyes of Oxen, and other Animals, whereby the soft and the fluid humors of that admirable organ may be so hardned, as to become tractable, even to unskilful Disse∣ctors: So I did on this occasion ap∣ply that Experiment to the brains of Animals, which though too soft to be easily dissected, especially by those that are not dexterous, may by congelation be made very manage∣able by them: And besides, that in dissecting the hardned brain, it sometimes seem'd, that the knife did cut through multitudes of icy Cor∣puscles,

(as when one cuts a frozen Apple) the substance of the brain seem'd also to the eye to be stuffed with them, and the Ventricles of it did at least conspicuously harbour pie∣ces of ice, if it were not fill'd up with them; and the manifest difference of Texture, that there is between the white and yelk of a througly frozen Egg, and also betwixt the Crystal∣line and the Aqueous, and the Vitre∣ous humors of the eye, wherein by congelation the Crystalline alone lo∣ses its transparency, but acquires no conspicuous ice, whilest the others are full of ice, and that diaphanous, these and such like disparities, I say, may invite one to hope, that some things may by congealing of bodies, be discovered about their Texture, that may afford sagacious Anatomists improvable hints.

I know not, whether it will be thought worth while to take notice, That neither an Eye, nor a Liver, nor a lean piece of flesh, nor a live Fish, nor a living Frog, being frozen and put into cold water, was observ'd to be upon its thawing cas'd with ice,

as frozen Eggs and Apples are wont to be: because having forgot to make the Experiment above once, I dare not much rely on it; but whereas we have formerly observ'd, that conge∣lation does most commonly spoil, or at least impair Eggs, and Apples, and Flesh, and many other bodies, I think it may not be unworthy to be consider'd, how far, and in what cases we may give a Mechanical account of this Phaenomenon. For though the immersion of frozen bo∣dies in cold water be allowed to thaw them, with less prejudice, then if they were thaw'd hastily by the sire, or suffer'd to thaw themselves in the Air: yet there have been com∣plaints made; That notwithstanding this expedient, several bodies have been much the worse for having been throughly frozen, now since I have lately shown, that in many stable bodies, the Alimental juice is by con∣gelation turn'd into ice, and have formerly evinc'd, that water and aqueous liquors are expanded by con∣gelation, I see not why we may not suspect, that the innumerable icy

Corpuscles, into which the Alimen∣tal juice is turn'd by the frost, being each of them expanded proportiona∣bly to their respective bignesses, may not only prejudice the whole, by ha∣ving their own constitution impair'd, as has been formerly observ'd in Ali∣gant, and other Vinous liquors, but may upon their expansion crush in some places, and distend in others, the more stable parts, in whose Cavi∣ties they were harbour'd, and there∣by so vitiate their Texture, as to im∣pair some of their qualities, and dis∣pose the Compositum to corruption. How much Contusion may prejudice tender bodies, and accelerate putre∣faction, is evident in many fruits, especially the more tender ones, which having been bruised, quickly begin to rot in those parts, that have been injur'd. And 'tis agreeable to what has been formerly shown, to conceive, that in congelation there seems to happen an almost innume∣rable multitude of little contusions, made by the fluid parts harden'd and expanded by frost, of the formerly more stable parts every where inter∣cepted

between them: And though these icy Corpusces be but small, yet the sides of that stable matter, that separates them, and which they in∣deavour to stretch or crush, are of∣tentimes proportionably thin.

And we have formerly noted, That, besides that Eggs will be burst by having their Alimental juice fro∣zen, both shingles and stones them∣selves may have their Texture spoil'd by the congelation of the Mineral sap, that is in exceeding minute and insen∣sible particles dispers'd through those bodies: and the violation of the Tex∣ture of Plants, Herbs, and Animals, by the expansion of the aqueous and juicy particles, which, though they be not congregated, do abound in them, will be the less wonder'd at, if it be remember'd, that our former Trials manifest, that a few ounces of water congeal'd, did not only burst Glass and Pewter vessels, but even the Iron barrel of a Gun.

Whilest I was upon these Trials, I had also a curiosity to know, whe∣ther by freezing Animals to death, I could discover any such change in the

qualities or structure of their parts, as might help us to discover, by what means it is, that excessive colds kill men in Northern Countries, since such a discovery might probably be of good use to the People that live in those gelid Regions: But having ta∣ken a young Rabbet, as the tenderest and fittest beast, I could then procure for such a Trial, and having expos'd him all night to an extraordinarily bitter frost, without finding him otherwise mischiefed by it, then that one of his legs was swell'd and grown stiff, I was more inclin'd to resign over to others, then to repeat my self what seem'd to be an ill natur'd Experiment, though perhaps it may have much less of cruelty, then one would think, since some of our for∣mer observations have made it pro∣bable, that oftentimes the extinction of life by cold is a more indolent kind of death, then almost any other. But in a Rabbet purposely strangled, and presently expos'd intire to a bit∣ter cold, we found ice produc'd in such parts, as would have made us prosecute the Trial, had the want of

such Animals and of leisure not hinder'd us.

It is affirm'd by divers eminent writers, and those modern ones too, that water impregnated with the sa∣line parts of Plants, and afterwards frozen, will exhibite in the ice, the shape of the same Plant: And the learned, but I fear, too credulous, Gaffarel tells us, that this is no Rarity, being dayly shewn by one Monsieur de la Clave. But to what we have al∣ready publish'd in another Treatise,* 1.165 to shew, that this Experiment as it is wont to be deliver'd, is either un∣true, or very contingent; we shall need but to add, that, since the Expe∣riments there mention'd, we did again lately try, what could be done with Decoctions, that were richly imbu'd, and highly ting'd with the spirituous parts of the Vegetables; but this ice was by no means so figur'd as the Patrons of the Tradition pro∣mise: And I remember, that ha∣ving also made, for curiosity sake, a Lixivium with 16. parts of water, and but one of salt of Potashes, that the mixture might be sure to freez,

and having expos'd the liquor in a thin glass vial to an exceeding cold Air, we found the copious ice pro∣duc'd, to lye on the top in little sticks, not unlike those Prismatical bodies, wherein Salt-petre is wont to roch, and those parts of this ice, that were beneath the water, were shot in thin parallel plates, exceeding numerous, but (as one of our notes expresly in∣forms us) no way in the shape of Trees, by whose Incineration ne∣vertheless Polonian Potashes, (as eye witnesses, that deal in them, inform me) are made.

Long after the making of the new∣ly recited Experiment, I chanc'd to find, that the learned Bartholinus in the Treatise, we have often had occa∣sion to take notice of, says, That the water, wherein* 1.166 Cabbage has been decocted, will, when fro∣zen, represent a Cabbage, the vegetable spirits being, as he suppo∣ses, concentrated by the cold. How well this Experiment may succeed,

when made in a cold Countrey like his, I do not know: but not having my self, when I first took notice of it, the opportunity to try it satisfa∣ctorily by help of a frosty night, all I could do, was, to take a good deco∣ction of Cabbage, and filtrate it through Cap paper, that it might be, though yellow, yet clear, and then by the circumposition of our frigori∣fick mixture, we froze this liquor in a thin glass vial, but the ice did not, either to me or others, appear to have any thing in it like a Cabbage, or remarkably differing from other ice. And being afterwards befriend∣ed with two or three frosty nights, we expos'd a decoction of Cabbage, to be congeal'd by the Nocturnal Air alone, without the help of Art; but neither this way did the Experiment succeed well. And though once a few ounces of the decoction being lightly frozen in a vial, there appear∣ed in the thin ice, that adher'd to the inside of the glass, a figure not so ve∣ry unlike that of a Cabbage leaf, but that some such accident may have in∣vited our learned Author to think,

that the representations of Cabbages would constantly appear in their fro∣zen decoctions, yet I was inclin'd to think this figuration rather casual, by the curiosity I have had to freez the decoctions of several Herbs, some of them spirituous enough, as Rosema∣ry, and Penny-royal, without being able to find in the ice, I obtain'd from them, any conviction of the truth of the Tradition we are examining. And I have lately had more then once, by freezing fair water alone, after a certain manner, ice, that seem'd much more to exhibite the shapes of vegetables, then any decoctions of them, that I have made. And parti∣cularly I found more then once, that by putting hot water into a some∣what slender Cylinder of glass, and agitating it in a frigorifick mixture, consisting of beaten ice, salt, and water, so that it was very speedily frozen thereby, it was congeal'd into an ice much more regularly and pret∣tily figur'd, then I have seen it in di∣vers of the waters impregnated with the fix'd salts of Plants, though of these we are told such wonders.

Such particulars as these joyn'd with what I have elsewhere observ'd to the same purpose, make me, I con∣fess, somewhat surpriz'd to meet in Berigardus's forecited discourse upon Aristotles Meteors, such a passage as this; Paucis notum est, cur intra glaciem* 1.167 cernuntur interdum multiformes stirpium imagines in Ampullis vitreis, aquae super∣ficie tenus congelatae plenis. Hoc autem fit injecto in Phialas sale diversarum stir∣pium, nam ubi erit sal alicujus plantae & Artemisiae, in suo Lixivio glacies adhae∣rens vitro, refert ejus folia laciniosa: similiter in alia Phiala videbuntur folia Plantae, cujus sal in suam aquam fuerit injectus. Et nè quis hoc fortuito cadere putet, in aquâ saepius solutâ, & congela∣tâ eaedem imagines semper occurrent, ut vel ex eo dixeris multiplicem spiritum salis in principiis natur alibus esse ponen∣dum. Thus far this Author, who would have done well, if he had been so much more lucky, then other men, as to have performed these things, to assure expresly of his ha∣ving done so, those many ingenious men, that much distrust the relations of those Chymists, that are not of

the best sort: and 'tis of such suspici∣ous Authors, that I here declare once for all, that I would have the Reader understand all the passages of this Book, wherein I may seem to say any thing (for avoiding of tedi∣ousness) indefinitely to the disparage∣ment of Chymists. And in case he had not tri'd them, he should, in gratitude to the Authors of them, have told us, he had, what he delivers of them, but from others, and not have authoriz'd the untri'd reports of writers, not always too veracious by his building Theories upon them. And as for what he immediately sub∣joyns, and seems to rely on, out of Quercitan, (and other Spagyrical wri∣ters, who possibly had it themselves from him) about the seminal virtues surviving in the Ashes of burnt plants; though I will not here exa∣mine, or absolutely reject the opini∣on, because the discussion of it be∣longs to another place, yet as to the Experiment whereon Berigardus and others relye, namely, that the Lixi∣viums made of the Ashes of Plants, will exhibite, being congealed, the

figures of the pristine vegetables; besides that a general conclusion, as to other Plants, seems to be inferred from what happened in Netles only, I much doubt, whether that famous Experiment it self of the frozen Lixi∣vium of Netles, were more then ca∣sual, if it were not also assisted by an indulgent phansie. For having, after divers Experiments made with other fixed salts, purposely repair'd, for greater security, to the notedst Chy∣mist in England, to obtain from him some fixed salts, very faithfully pre∣pared, and intimating withal, that 'twas to try such an Experiment (which he was a favourer of) I did by mingling these salts each in a di∣stinct vial, sometimes with one, and sometimes with another proportion of water, and afterwards exposing them to the cold Air, obtain indeed divers portions of ice, but without any such figurations, as the learned Berigardus would have expected; though some of these Trials were made more then once, as well with the Lixivium of Netles, as with the Lees of other Plants: so that I

doubt this Author is more scrupulous in admitting some important truths, in which the best Philoso∣phers, as well Heathen as Christian, agree, then in examining the uncer∣tain Traditions of the Chymists, whose unsatisfactory way of setting down matters of fact, I am induc'd to take notice of his imitating, by finding, that in the very same page (that I have newly cited) he relates another Chymical Experiment in these terms. Velim porro ostendere mirabili Experientiâ, quàm sint penetra∣biles aliqui spiritus Corporei: Exarentur in charta literae, aceto albo, quarum nullum vestigium deprehendatur, claudaturque primis foliis Crassissimi alicujus Libri. Paretur alia Charta, quae inficiatur aqua illa faetida, ubi dilutum fuerit Auripig∣mentum, & exsiccata claudatur postre∣mis foliis ejusdem Libri leviter compres∣si, statim videbis in priori charta literas conspicuas, perinde ac si atramento 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fuissent. Now, though some thing like what is here propos'd to be done, may be perform'd, and other Phae∣nomena of the Experiment, such as he seems not to have been acquainted

with, may be also exhibited, after the manner I have* 1.168 elsewhere parti∣cularly set down, yet he must have good luck, that performs it only by the directions here given by our Au∣thor, who by omitting one of the chief ingredients, and some requisite circumstances, appears indeed ma∣nifestly enough to have heard of such an Experiment, but without seem∣ing to have sufficiently known, what he pretends to teach (at least as far as his bringing this Experiment as a proof, and the obscure style, he is wont to imploy in the little I have yet read of his Book, permits me to judge.)

But to return to the figurations of ice, notwithstanding such unsucces∣ful Trials about them, as I have been mentioning, I will not deny it to be possible, that a prepossessed and fa∣vourable spectator may think him∣self to have discern'd in the ice, the figures he look'd for there. For* 1.169 since the writing of the Essay not long since quoted, we have found, that several Bodies, and even Sea-salt, and Allume, to whom Nature has

given their own determinate figures, have, when dissolv'd in water, con∣curred with it to exhibite an ice very oddly, as well as prettily figur'd (nor will I presume to determine the utmost, that a lucky observer may sometimes meet with in this kind) but to name at present no other Argu∣ments, the figures this way produc'd, were too various and extravagant not to be referred to chance, and not to afford instances how much That can perform in the exhibiting of such Aparitions.

On which occasion I shall add, that I remember, I once show'd at the Royal Society, a glass head, whose inside was lin'd with a certain sub∣stance, that passed for saline, fashi∣oned into the figures of Trees, as cu∣rious, as if they had been drawn by a Limner; and yet as I produc'd these figures only by rectifying common oyl of Turpentine, from Sea-salt (which salt I elsewhere shew not to be necessary) in a certain degree of heat: so by varying that degree of heat, I could make the ascending steams settle in other figures; and I

can easily produce very pretty shapes of Trees, by distillation of that, which belongs not to the vegetable, but the animal Kingdom. And to these I could add divers other instan∣ces of the like tendency, to make it still the more probable, that though oftentimes one may happen to find pretty Idaeas's, or Apparitions in ice; yet the like, or as fine, may be pro∣duc'd by chance. And I have some∣times obtained by freezing Infusions, Decoctions, Spirits, Solutions, and other Liquors, as Vinegre (and par∣ticularly) Milk, and even common water, figures, that were so pretty, but withal so unconstantly produc'd, and so easily variable by circumstan∣ces, that as it would fill a Book par∣ticularly to describe them (which for that reason I hope to be excus'd for declining) so they would much de∣lude him, that should expect to find them every time the same, that he had found them once.

And to intimate That by the by, to make several Trials in a short time, and thereby produce variety of fi∣gures, 'tis not an ill expedient to ex∣pose

the liquor, one would have con∣geal'd, in very shallow vessels, or if it be put into other vessles, to leave it, but of very little depth. And if the vessel it self be highly refrigera∣ted, either by the cold Air, or by ha∣ving salt and ice applied to the out∣side of it, the congelation may suc∣ceed much the more nimbly; so that within a short while the same liquor, being divers times thaw'd and frozen again, may possibly exhibit variety of figures. And the production of ice may be also much accelerated, by dipping into the liquor, one would have congealed, the convex surface of some glass or other smooth body, that will not imbibe water; for there∣by the depth of the liquor will be ex∣ceedingly extenuated, and how much such a thinness or want of depth, may dispose a liquor to be speedily penetrated and congealed by the cold, may be guessed, by what is above delivered in the Section out of Olearius, of the way of multiply∣ing ice in Persia, by making water thinly diffuse it self over a plate of ice, or some other aptly figured,

and very cold body: In confirmati∣on whereof I will add on this occasi∣on, that I have seen a pair of Stairs, on which, though they were situated near to three Chimneys, commonly furnished with fire, almost all the day long, the water that was im∣ployed to wash them, being thinly spread with a Mop, would presently congeal (though they assur'd me it was hot, when 'twas begun to be laid 〈◊〉〈◊〉) and cover the Stairs with glossy filmes of ice. And I have likewise observed in a very sharp night, that the water which dropp'd down from the nose of a Pump, was so well congealed, as 'twas sliding away, that the ice thus arrested in its passage (in which 'twill easily be granted that it spreads it self very thinly) had rais'd a kind of icy pyra∣mid of a considerable bigness and height.

I forgot to mention in due places (and therefore think fit to take notice of it here) that when I was conside∣ring of the ways, whereby it might be manifested, to those that want nice 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or distrust their skill to use

them, whence that ice comes, that appears on the outside of frozen Eggs put to thaw in cold water, I found it somewhat difficult to pitch upon such a liquor as I desir'd. For if common water be the liquor imploy'd, it may be said, that it affords the matter, whereof the ice in question is made: and if I imploy'd liquors, that were spirituous or saline, it might be pre∣tended, that the frost (as they speak) did indeed come out of the frozen Egg, though the shell did not appear cas'd with ice, because as fast as the frost came to the outside of the Egg, it was resolv'd by the spirituous or saline Corpuscles of the liquor: wherefore as an expedient, I resolved to make use of oyl of Turpentine, as a liquor, which I had found incon∣gealable by the greatest cold, I had observed in our Climate, and which yet (as may appear by the third Pa∣ragraph of the XVI. Title) was more indispos'd, then common wa∣ter it self, to thaw any icy Efflores∣cence, that might be emitted by the Egg. But the Experiment was tri'd, without uniformity in the successes.

For the first time I put a frozen Egg into oyl of Turpentine, I did not ob∣serve, that any ice was produced on the outside: neither was the event differing, when another time I put two frozen Eggs together into a small vessel full of that oyl, though to re∣frigerate the liquor, the vessel was for a while placed upon a mixture of salt and ice, and though also the Egg∣shells at their gaping cracks (produ∣ced by congelation) discovered, that the contained liquor was well frozen. I intended to prosecute the Experi∣ment another time (wanting ice to do it then) because that once, when during the Trial I was hindred from watching it, one of my Domesticks, whom I ordered to look after it, as∣sured me, that the Egg, that was put to thaw in the oyl of Turpentine, had there obtained ice on the outside of it, which I should readily have believed, upon the score of a like observation, I had made my self, in two Eggs that were frozen to the bottom of the ves∣sel, wherein they had been put to thaw, were it not, that one or both of them had been, by a mistake, dipt

in water, before they were put into the above mentioned oyl.

Some Readers may have expected to find among the examples recited of the influence of cold upon the Air, that strange story, which is related by the learned Josephus Acosta, of the mountains of Pariacaca (which he se∣veral times tra∣versed) * 1.170 but be∣sides that I have delivered a great part of it alrea∣dy in another Treatise, I was loath to say more, till I had leisure (which I have not now) to discuss the scruples, that I have, not so much about the matter of fact, as about the cause, which perhaps may be something besides cold. But since I have mention'd this XVIII. Section, I will here take notice of what I then intended, but forgot to set down, namely, That to the instances al∣ledged to show, the coldness of re∣gions not to be always proportionate to their greater and less vicinity to the Pole, we may add a memorable one afforded us by a Countrey so well

known to many of us, as New Eng∣land, where, though the Winters are so long and bitter, as we have formerly related out of Mr. Woods's Prospect of that Countrey (which has been confirm'd to me by an Ame∣rican Physician, that liv'd there) yet that Region, which is so very much colder then ours, is in many places no less then a 10. or 11. degrees re∣moter from the Pole.

I shall add to the same XVIII. Se∣ction, that as to the Experiment I there mention'd concerning Winds, and which I associate with the testi∣mony of the newly named Mr. Wood; I find that the season of the year, and some other circumstances may vary it more, then one would easily have suspected. For though I faithfully recited the Phaenomena, as I then (and that sometimes with witness) took notice of them, yet some moneths after, and in other weather, having occasion to repeat the former part of that Experiment, I was somewhat surpriz'd at the success. For coming to blow upon the Ball of a seal'd Weather-glass, which though in its

kind very tender, might be probably presumed to be less so, then a Ther∣moscope made with a pendulous drop of water (such as that, menti∣on'd in the forecited Paragraph) I found, that if I continued to blow any thing long and briskly, the highly rectified spirit of Wine (which cir∣cumstance I therefore name, because possibly the nature of That may some∣what alter the case) would sometimes manifestly enough subside. And in that Paragraph of the 18. Title, where I recited the Experiment of the infrigidating Winds, I should more expresly have taken notice of this circumstance, that, to satisfie my self, that 'twas not the bare Wind, as such, whose operation upon the Air included in the Ball of a Wea∣ther-glass, made the liquor to as∣cend, we put a mark upon the height it stood at, when we had a pretty while blown upon it, and then with∣out removing the Bellows, put ice and salt about the Iron pipe of it. By which mixture the Air, that was afterwards blown through that pipe, was so cool'd in its passage, as to

make the liquor very manifestly to ascend, even in a Weather-glass, where I did imploy (as I have else∣where declared, that I often do) Quicksilver instead of water, or spi∣rit of Wine. And least the vicinity of the frigorifick mixture should be suspected to have caus'd this contra∣ction of the included Air, we did sometimes purposely intermit the moving of the Bellows, without re∣moving the Weather-glass; and though notwithstanding that vicinity, the liquor would begin a little to sub∣side; yet when ever the cold spirits or the Corpuscles of the highly refri∣gerated Air, were by the playing of the Bellows anew, approach'd to, or rather brought to touch in swarms the globular part of the instrument, the Mercury would manifestly ascend. And since we are speaking of Wea∣ther-glasses, I shall on this occasion subjoyn, That certain circumstances may also vary the success of another Experiment (somewhat of kin to that lately repeated, about the pen∣dulous Drop) which is briefly men∣tioned not far from the beginning of

the first Praeliminary Discourse. For though the common Thermometers, that are here wont to be sold in shops, have usually the Pipe of the Bolthead very large in proportion to the Ball, and therefore are in that place said to be Weather-glasses not nice, and though on such instruments in certain Temperatures of the Air (intimated by the word sometimes, im∣ploy'd in that passage) the Air blown out of a pair of Bellows against some part of the included Air, would not, especially at the beginning, make the Air sensibly contract it self, and the liquor ascend; though at the very first and second blast, the coldness of this artificial Wind, might be very sensible to the touch (which was the thing intended to be taught in that passage) yet having the curiosity with other Bellows, at ano∣ther season of the year, to blow long upon the Ball of a not common, but nice Weather-glass of my own ma∣king, furnished with a pipe, that was very slender, I divers times (but not always) found the tincted liquor manifestly enough to ascend, as if

the Wind, consisting of a more com∣press'd Air, did by containing a great∣er number of cold particles in the same room, more affect the internal Air, then the contact of the calm and lax outward Air did before; which disparity of events has given me the design of making further Tri∣als with differing Thermoscopes, at other seasons of the year, to see if I can bring the matter to some certain∣ty, by discovering the cause of this contingency, in which I afterwards suspected, that some light degree of warmth or coolness in the Bellows themselves, which, as being unmani∣fest to the sense, scap'd unheeded, might have an interest. When I was about some of the former Expe∣riments, I would willingly have had an opportunity of trying, with a good seal'd Weather-glass, what difference there would be, betwixt the cold of the nocturnal Air in a fro∣sty night, in places where the Air was kept calm, by being shelter'd from the wind, not by inhabited buildings, but by some Wall, or other body, whence any warm Efflu∣viums

were least to be expected, and betwixt the cold of the same Air, in places where cold winds, especially Northerly or Easterly did freely and strongly blow. But my occasions then confining me to a Town, I had not conveniency to make any secure observations of that nature; and even in a more commodious place, unless it were determined, whether there be Corpuscles properly and con∣stantly frigorifick, upon whose ac∣count some winds are so much colder then others, there may arise more scruples about this matter, then I must now stay to discuss.

There is one thing more, that, it may be, is not impertinent to mention, before I take leave of the XVIII. Title; for in confirmation of what is there delivered, concerning the Vi∣cissitudes of these troublesome de∣grees of cold and heat, within the the compass of the same Natural day, complain'd of by the Patriarch Jacob, and by Olearius, I shall add, that ha∣ving since had opportunity to inquire about such matters, of a learned Physician, lately come from the In∣dies,

he assur'd me, that notwith∣standing the violent heats of the day, he usually observed the nights to be so very cold, that he was perswaded some positively frigorifick steams, did in the night ascend out of the Earth, and make it very expedient, if not necessary, for those English, that live in the warmer parts of Ame∣rica, to imitate the Natives, in keep∣ing fires under their Hammacks, or hanging Beds.

I thought it might be a Luciferous Experiment, in relation to an Hypo∣thesis, that might be propos'd about cold, to try, whether, if two such li∣quors were provided, as by being mix'd together, would so far forth lose their fluidity, as to obtain at least the consistence of an Unguent, this impediment put to the former confused and greater agitation of their parts, would produce any sen∣sible degree of cold; this I thought fit to try, by immersing for a com∣petent time, the Ball of a tender seal'd Weather-glass, into each of the liquors apart, and then into the soft mixture, their coalition would

compose. To produce such a mix∣ture more ways then one, it was not difficult for me, by the help of some Experiments, I had provided to add to my History of fluidity and sirm∣ness. But though a strong solution of Minium (or calcined Lead) in spirit of Vineger, or a very strong infusion of good quick-Lime in water, will ei∣ther of them (and one of them I did make use of, though I have forgotten which) coagulate a just proportion of good Sallet Oyl (to name no other made by expression) into such a con∣sistence as I have been speaking of; yet for want of a seal'd Thermoscope, tender enough, I cannot now repeat the Experiment, and till I do, I dare not draw any conclusion from it, though, if I much misremember not, when I show'd it an ingenious person, neither he nor I could perceive, that the liquors, by being depriv'd of their fluidity, had acquir'd any thing of coldness discoverable by the seal'd Weather-glass.

It is much controverted among the Curious, whether water be capable of Compression, and divers have of

late inclin'd to the negative, upon ob∣serving a want of cogency in the Ex∣periments, that have been brought to evince the affirmative. What Tri∣als and Observations we long since made about this matter, may be met with in some of our other Treatises, wherefore I shall now subjoyn, that having imagin'd, that Cold might afford a hopefuller way, then (for ought I know) any man has us'd, of bringing this controversie to the dici∣sion of an Experiment, I made that attempt, that is mention'd in the XII. Title; in prosecution of which, as soon as I could procure some, though but some of the accommodations, which I long wanted; I made an Ex∣periment, which I shall subjoyn, be∣cause, though it be not so consider∣able, as with better implements I could have made it, yet the way, I chose, has (as I partly intimated else∣where) these two advantages; that the force imploy'd to compress the Air, is both very great, and very gra∣dually, and slowly appli'd; and that the vessel will not, like those that have been hitherto made use of, give

any passage through its pores to wa∣ter, though violently compress'd.

We took then a Round Ball of glass, furnish'd with a moderately long Pipe, and having fill'd it with water, till the liquor reach'd within some inches of the top, it was Herme∣tically seal'd up, and then the water by a mixture of beaten ice and salt, was made to freez from the bottom upwards, that without breaking the glass, the unfrozen water, by the ex∣pansive endeavour of that which was freezing, might be impell'd upwards, and so at once, both compress the Air, and be press'd upon by it, ha∣ving by this means condens'd the Air, as far as we thought safe to do in a glass, that was not strong, we cropt of the small Apex of the glass, and immediately the compress'd Air flew out with a great noise, and that part of the Pipe which was unfill'd with water, was fill'd with smoak, that made it look white, and great store of little bubbles hastily ascend∣ed from the lower parts of the water, to the upper (where most of them quickly broke) in such a way, as put

me in mind of what usually happens upon the opening of vessels that con∣tain'd bottled Beer. But that which was principally to be noted, was this, that besides the bubbles or froth, the water it self (at least supposing, that no little unheeded bubbles that did not quite emerge, could sensibly con∣tribute to its height) immediately as∣cended in the Pipe about ¾ of an inch, which (having carefully mark'd the first and second stations, with a Dia∣mond on the outside of the glass) 'twas easie for us to measure.

I have elsewhere propos'd a suspi∣cion, that in the attempts, that had been till then made, to compress wa∣ter, the condensation (in case there were really any) might perchance proceed from the compression of the Aerial particles, that I have shown to be wont to ly dispers'd in the pores of common water. But though the considerable expansion of water, not∣withstanding the breaking of the bub∣bles in our present Experiment, seems manifestly to argue, that this could be but a concurrent cause (if it had any sensible effect at all) of our Phaenomena,

yet I dare not absolutely rely, even up∣on an Experiment, that seems so co∣gent, till I have satisfi'd my self, that no springiness, which I have some∣times suspected, might be in the ice, had any interest in the produc'd effect; and that the great pressure of the for∣cibly condens'd Air, did not make the glass it self stretch or yield. For if it were able to do so, then the parts of the violently distended glass, upon the removal of the forcible pressure of the Air (which must cease upon the breaking of the Hermetical seal) re∣turning to their former straitness be∣low, will make the water ascend somewhat higher in the pipe. But though I could not procure glasses, as well very thick, as conveniently sha∣ped, wherewith to examine this suspi∣cion, which I would likewise have tri'd by the bulk of the glass in water, before and after the letting out of the compress'd Air; yet because most Readers will probably think so much caution more then necessary, I shall add, that if I had not wanted conve∣niencies, and had not had mischances, the Experiment would in likelihood

have been advanc'd, especially care being taken, that the Air left in the pipe should be well refrigerated be∣fore its being seal'd up (as we some∣times did by ice and salt, applied in a perforated Box to the outside) lest part of its spring should depend upon an evanid degree of heat, upon which account the pipe ought beforehand to be drawn so slender, that the glass may be melted together in a trice. For though for want of strong glasses, & the best sort of instruments to seal up such with, the success was not still so considerable as I hop'd for; yet as 4. or 5. other Trials, made, as well with another liquor, as with water, did exhibit a manifest intumescence of the liquors (without computing the froth produc'd at the top;) so in the Expe∣riment lately mention'd, if we had judg'd them strong enough to indure such a compression of the included Air, as we have often made on other occasions, the effect would probably have been much more considerable: For though the difference betwixt the length of the same water compress'd and uncompress'd, amounted to an

Aqueous Cylinder of ⅜ of an inch in height, yet the Air, that made this compression of the water, was it self reduc'd but from 8. inches to 5. so that it took up almost half its former room, whereas we have sometimes reduc'd it to an 18. or 20. part thereof. If I had been accommoda∣ted with one of my Pneumatical En∣gines, I should have tri'd, whether water being first carefully freed from the latitant Air in the exhausted Re∣ceiver, and then compress'd after the manner hitherto recited, the event of the Trial would have been consi∣derably varied.

I might add as other Phaenomena of our Experiment, that when we broke off the seal'd Apex of the glass, be∣fore the included Air was much com∣press'd, there neither 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be any great noise made, nor any consider∣able froth produc'd, at the top of the water, and that having had the curi∣osity to repeat the Experiment in one of the same glasses, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us'd, and with the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that had been already compress'd in it, we found, that upon the break∣ing

off the Hermetical seal the second time, the water did nevertheless as∣cend in the Pipe betwixt ⅛ and ¼ part of an inch. And to these particulars I could both add other circumstances, that I took notice of in the same Ex∣periment, and subjoyn many other Experiments and Observations, but that I am already tyr'd. And though I have not found Cold to be a subject over-fruitful in Experiments Pleasing and Curious, yet now I am grown somewhat acquainted with it, I find it may suggest so many other new ones, that since the Barrenness of my Theme, will not easily put a period to this Treatise, 'tis fit that now at length I should let my Weariness and want of Leisure do it.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pag. 58.
• * 1.2

  Olai Mag∣ni Gent. Sept. Hist. Lib. 11. Cap. 24.
• * 1.3

  Olaus Magnus in Historia Gentium Septentri∣onalium, lib. 11. cap. 20. & 21.
• * 1.4

  Cap. 6. pag. 42.
• * 1.5

  See the Praelimi∣nary Dis∣courses.
• * 1.6

  4. Jan. 15.
• * 1.7

  See the latter part of the next Title.
• * 1.8

  In the Dis∣course touching the pri∣mum fri∣gidum.
• * 1.9

  Gulielmus Fabritius Hildanus de Gangr. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cap. 10.
• * 1.10

  Barthol. de usu Nivis pag. 80.
• * 1.11

  Pag. 74.
• * 1.12

  Pag. 79.
• * 1.13

  Barthol. de figurâ ni∣vis pag. 79
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. de usu Nivis pag. 83.
• * 1.15

  Capt. James's Trav. pag. 76.
• * 1.16

  Barthol. de usu Nivis Cap. 12.
• * 1.17

  Of the usefulness of Experi∣mental Philosophy:
• * 1.18

  Purch. Lib. 3. cap. 5. Sect. 2. pag. 493.
• * 1.19

  Pag. 73.
• * 1.20

  Pag. 67.
• * 1.21

  Lib. 1. Sect. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cap. 5. pag. 122.
• * 1.22

  Nicholaus Zucchius, & Melchi∣or Cornae∣us
• * 1.23

  It froze so sore with∣in the house, that the Walls & the Roof thereof were frozen two fingers thick with Ice, and also in our Cabins, where we lay all those three days, while we could not go out. Gerat de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his third Voyage.
• * 1.24

  Pag. 64.
• * 1.25

  Feb. 4. 1661.
• * 1.26

  Decemb. 11. 1662.
• * 1.27

  Decemb.
• * 1.28

  Decemb.
• * 1.29

  Decemb. the 17.
• * 1.30

  Barthol. de Nivis usu Chap. 6.
• * 1.31

  In our Hydrosta∣tical Pa∣radoxes.
• * 1.32

  Ex nive copiosa glaciata compacta.
• * 1.33

  Pag. 14.
• * 1.34

  Mr. Hud∣sons Voy∣age for the discovery of the North-west passage, written partly by Mr. Aba∣cuck Pricket.
• * 1.35

  In the Sect about the Tem∣perature of the Air.
• * 1.36

  New Exp. Phy∣sico-mech. Exper. 6.
• † 1.37

  See the forecited place.
• * 1.38

  The Ap∣pendix to the Physi∣co-mecha∣nical Ex∣periments.
• * 1.39

  Decemb. the 13.
• * 1.40

  Decemb. 13.
• * 1.41

  Voyage de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & de Per∣se, Liv. V.
• * 1.42

  Pag. 63.
• * 1.43

  Pag. 86.
• * 1.44

  The breadth was, I know not how, omit∣ted in the note, but as I remem∣ber, it was about an 8. part of an Inch.
• * 1.45

  Olaus Ma. Gent. Sep∣tentr. Hist. Lib. 1. Cap. 14.
• * 1.46

  Purchas. Lib. 4. Cap. 13.
• * 1.47

  Purchas. lib. 4. cap. 13. pag. 813.
• * 1.48

  Neither hereafter will I marvel, though the strait of Weigats be stopped up to the Northeast, with such huge mountains of Ice, since the Rivers Oby and Je∣nesce, and very many more, whose names are not yet known, pour out such a quantity thereof, that in a manner it is incre∣dible: For it cometh to pass in the beginning of the Spring, that in places near unto the Sea, the Ice through the excessive thick∣ness, and multitude thereof, doth carry down wood before it. And without doubt this is the cause, that about the shore of the strait of Weigates, so great abundance of floatiug wood is eve∣ry where seen: and whereas in that strait near nnto Nova Zem∣bla, it is so extreme Cold, it is no marvel, if in regard of the nar∣rowness of the strait, so huge heaps of Ice are gathered and frozen together, that in the end they grow to sixty, or at least to fifty fathomes thickness: Says the Description of the Countreys of Siberia, Samojeda, &c. extant in Purchas's third part of his Pilgrim. Lib. 3. Cap. 7.
• * 1.49

  Pag. 14.
• * 1.50

  Pag. 106.
• * 1.51

  Purchas. lib. 4. cap. 18. pag. 837.
• * 1.52

  Pag. 17.
• * 1.53

  Hydrogra∣phie du P. G. Fourni∣er, liv. 9. cap. 29. compar'd with the 22. Chap. of the same Book.
• * 1.54

  Olai Mag. lib. 3. cap. 2. pag. 334
• * 1.55

  — Saepe aliàs & his annis fatalibus tam pro∣fundè con∣gelavit (marina Aqua) ut non tantùm plaustra, sed integrum exercitum ad ali∣quot Milliaria Germanica secure vexerit, &c. Inquit T. Barthol. De nivis usu, pag. 43.
• * 1.56

  Barthol. de nivis usu, cap. 6.
• * 1.57

  Glycas a∣pud Four∣nier, liv. 9. cap. 19.
• * 1.58

  In the E∣vening we were in∣closed a∣mongst great pie∣ces (of Ice) as high as our Poop, and some of the sharp blew corners of them did reach quite under us. Capt. Jam. pag. 6.
• * 1.59

  Olaus lib. 1. cap. 14.
• * 1.60

  Olaus Magnus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11. & Blefkenius in Purch. lib. 3. cap. 22.
• * 1.61

  I have seen also the sides lin'd with reeds 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in∣stead of boarding or steening.
• * 1.62

  Pag. 101.
• * 1.63

  Pag. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.64

  In the Sceptical Chymist.
• * 1.65

  The Dia∣logues a∣bout heat and flame.
• * 1.66

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bernard de Palissey au Traitté du Sel commum.
• * 1.67

  De Claves au second Livre das pierres & pierreris, Cap. 2.
• * 1.68

  Ibid.
• * 1.69

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 livre 11. cap. 2.
• * 1.70

  In the Discourses about Antiperista∣sis, the following passages are taken, out of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 narrative, consisting of about two sheets of paper of Joh. Bap∣tista Morinus, published in the year 1619. and titled, Relatio de locis Subterraneis, annexed to a discourse (too much built on Astrological and Aristotelian grounds) of the threefold Region, that he conceives to be as well in the Earth as in the Air.
• * 1.71

  Vnde calor ille procederet petii à praefecto. Respondit, ex partibus infe∣rioribus, inferius enim perpetuo calet. Quod responsum magis adhuc miratus, quaesivi anres ita sese haberet in fodi∣nis omnibus. Respondit ita se habere in omnibus, saltem profundis, ut post profundum Terrae frigidae tractum, in locum calidum descendatur. Et quod, ubicunque terra foditur post similem profunditatem, nullum amplius senti∣tur frigus, sed semper calor, quantum∣cunque profundè fodiatur.
• * 1.72

  — Per∣cunctatus sum an quo magis ac∣ceditur ad terrae cen∣trum, calor ille major percipere∣tur. Respondit, id nunquam fuisse animadversum, nisi interdum dum fodiendo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 venae calidorum Mineralium. — 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Responsa non in unicâ fodinâ, & ab unico praefecto 〈◊〉〈◊〉; sed, &c.
• * 1.73

  Cum descendendo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 illum ma∣gis ac magis augeri sentirem: hujus ra∣tionem petii à praefecto, quod in nullâ adhuc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 similem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 intensio∣nem percipissem. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Mineram Vitrioli paulo inferius existere, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calorem multiplicaret.
• * 1.74

  It was not the Sea, nor the nearness unto the Pole, but the Ice about the land, that let and hindred us (as I said before) for that as soon as we made from the land, and put more into the Sea, although it was much further northward, presently we felt more warmth, and in that opinion our Pilot William Barents dyed, who notwith∣standing the fearful and intollerable Cold that he indur'd, yet he was not discourag'd, but offer'd to lay wagers with divers of us, that by Gods help he would bring that pretended Voyage to an end, if he held his course North∣east from the North Cape. Gerat de Veer in Purchas, pag. 474.
• * 1.75

  Furchas. lib. 3. cap. 15. pag. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.76

  Beguinus in Tyroci∣nio Chy∣mico, lib. 2. cap. 1.
• * 1.77

  Josephus Acosta lib. 2. cap. 11.
• * 1.78

  Gassendi Phy. Lib. 6. Sect. 1. pag. 399. De qualitatibus rerum — ac ad∣di quidem fortassis potest, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 frigoris semina, si quae constant, potissi∣mum ex frigorificis Atomis abire in halinitrum corpor aque ipsis affinia, quando experimur non exsolvi halini trum, quin & penetrando in aquam, ip∣sam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & universa à se contacta refrigeret, & abeundo in halitum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gelidum seu frigidum ventum, sed res pendet ex variis, quae non possunt hoc loco commemorari, Experimentis.
• * 1.79

  Ib. pag. 400. Quomodo possunt corpus∣cula Nitri in aquam infusi illam prae∣ter modum adeo frigidam reddere imò, & per aestatem etiam congelare, dum nitrum nivi glaceive detritae commi∣stum lagenae circumponitur, ipsaque praeter corpus Lagenae penetrant in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contentam.
• * 1.80

  Aug. 1.
• * 1.81

  In the third Pre∣liminary Discourse.
• * 1.82

  Purchase lib. 4. pag. 542.
• * 1.83

  Purchase pag. 811.
• * 1.84

  These voy∣ages are extant in Purchase lib. 1. cap. 13. and this pas∣sage is in pag. 560.
• * 1.85

  Purchase pag. 564.
• * 1.86

  Purchase pag. 415.
• * 1.87

  Purchase pag. 414.
• * 1.88

  Pag. 62.
• * 1.89

  Pag. 61.
• * 1.90

  Pag. 46.
• * 1.91

  Pag. 64.
• * 1.92

  Pag. 66.
• * 1.93

  Pag. 69.
• * 1.94

  A Scep∣tical Dis∣quisition of Antiperi∣stasis.
• * 1.95

  Pag. 702.
• * 1.96

  Pag. 473. 474.
• * 1.97

  Acosta lib. 2. cap. 9. pag. 101.
• * 1.98

  Pag. 109.
• * 1.99

  Purchase pag. 578.
• * 1.100

  See James voyage, pag. 61. & 81. and elsewhere.
• * 1.101

  Purchase pag. 569.
• * 1.102

  Josephus Acosta lib. 2. pag. 111, 112.
• * 1.103

  Purchase pag. 571.
• * 1.104

  Pag. 414.
• * 1.105

  Purchase pag. 415.
• * 1.106

  Voyage de Moscovie & de Per∣se, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. p m. 117, 118, 119.
• * 1.107

  Pag. 119.
• * 1.108

  Pequin.
• * 1.109

  Lib. 1. cap. 6.
• * 1.110

  Pag. 81.
• * 1.111

  Pag. 9.
• * 1.112

  The weather was snowy and foggy, freezing our rigging, and making e∣very thing so slippery, that a man can scarce stand. And all this with the wind Southerly, says Captain James (page 104.) in his Journal 26. of August.
• * 1.113

  Ab his ventis aerem alteratum, esse causam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pestis illa dissolvatur, mul∣ti illorum Affirmant. Quod etiam non videtur penitus à veritate alienū, quan∣do id multis etiam rationibus nobis persuaderi possit, in primisque, &c. Prosp. Alpin. lib. 1. De medicina Aegypt. cap. 18.
• * 1.114

  Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 6.
• * 1.115

  Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 7. pag. 11.
• * 1.116

  Josephus Acosta, lib. 3. cap. 9.
• * 1.117

  Lib. 3. cap. 2. p. 120.
• * 1.118

  Lib. 3. cap.
• * 1.119

  Part 1. cap. 2.
• * 1.120

  Captain James's voyage, pag. 52, 53.
• * 1.121

  Purchase lib. 3. cap. 5. Sect. 2. pag. 495.
• * 1.122

  Captain James 65.
• * 1.123

  Purchase lib 1. cap. 4. pag. 74.
• * 1.124

  Olear. lib. 3. p m. 117
• * 1.125

  Purchase pag. 491.
• * 1.126

  Purchase pag. 491.
• * 1.127

  Purchas. pag. 491.
• * 1.128

  Captain James's voyage, 64.
• * 1.129

  Livre 3. p. m. 117.
• * 1.130

  Livre 3. 116.
• * 1.131

  Purchas. lib. 3. pag. 415.
• * 1.132

  Purchas. pag. 497.
• * 1.133

  Pag 64.
• * 1.134

  Pag. 497.
• * 1.135

  Pag. 56.
• * 1.136

  Pag. 52.
• * 1.137

  Purchas. lib. 3. cap. 5. pag. 496
• * 1.138

  Pag. 65.
• * 1.139

  Purchas. pag. 497.
• * 1.140

  And 'tis from very Northern Coun∣tries, that we usually receive very dark colour'd Furs, and the skins as well of black Foxes as of white ones.
• * 1.141

  Lepores coloris & pellis mutatione an∣ni tempestates sequuntur, ac hiberno tempore albis pilis vestiti, aestivis mensibus eosdem cinereos habent. Li∣voniae nova discriptio, Pag. 303.
• * 1.142

  Pag. 46. & Pag. 89.
• * 1.143

  Num. 35.
• * 1.144

  — Hinc gelidam congelatamque a∣quam graviorem esse non congelata ex∣pertus est Jo. Manelphus, Com. in 4. Meteor. Aristot. Inquit Tho. Bartholi∣nus de Nivis usu cap. 12.
• * 1.145

  If it had not been for the negligence or mistake of one, that I ordered in my absence to freez and thaw the same water, divers times one after 〈◊〉〈◊〉, I might have added the suc∣cess of that Experiment, which I was sorry to miss of, because it might pos∣sibly have afforded an useful hint a∣bout a way to correct stinking water in some Climates or seasons.
• * 1.146

  Olearius, livre 3. pag. 168.
• * 1.147

  In the Se∣ction touching the dura∣tion of Ice.
• * 1.148

  Of the imper fe∣ction of Physicks.
• * 1.149

  Maistre Bernard Palissy.
• * 1.150

  Lib. 1. pag. mihi 23.
• * 1.151

  As it after∣wards did at the least.
• * 1.152

  Quare ferventem aquam adhibuisse oportet qui asserit eam esse minus gela∣bilem, praecipuè salsam. Pag. 571.
• * 1.153

  Tam cito illa congelabat, ut exime∣rem ex eo crustam unam aut alteram antequam non calefacta vet levissi∣me concrevisset. Pag. 572.
• * 1.154

  Here the Postscript ends.
• * 1.155

  Purchas lib. 4. cap. 19. pag. 844.
• * 1.156

  Lib. 3. cap. 22.
• * 1.157

  Volentes igitur piscari sub glacie duo magna for amina latitudine 8. vel 10. pedum, centum & quinquaginta vel 200. passibus à se invicem directa di∣stantia, aperiunt, interquae 30. vel 40. minor a for amina, latitudine uni∣us pedis & semis, ab utroque latere distantia 30. pedum intermedia con∣stituunt, tum per ea, &c. Olai Mag. lib. 20.
• * 1.158

  Olaus Mag. Titu∣lo, De cur∣su glacia∣li, pro pi∣scibus. Quae (An∣guillae) si totaliter glacie constrictae fuerint simul omnes respira∣culum ab aere nou habentes pariter suffocatae moriuntur.
• * 1.159

  Praemittendum est quod generaliter omnes lacus, & stagnales Aquae in mense Octobri incipiunt congelari, gla∣ciesque aucto frigore in plerisque locis tantum condensari, ut ubi venae lacus & stagna viventis aquae non intrant, pisces suffocati tempore resolutionis glaciei inspiciantur, verum ne haec 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tam dispendiosa fiat, dili∣gentiâ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 continue glacies ip∣sa perfringitur ne congeletur. Olai Magni lib. 1. Titulo de transitu gla∣ciali, &c.
• * 1.160

  Pag. 82.
• * 1.161

  Pag. 47.
• * 1.162

  Purchas lib. 3. cap. 5. pag. 487
• * 1.163

  Purchas lib. 3. cap. 1. pag. 415.
• * 1.164

  Of the use∣fulness of Experi∣mental Philosophy.
• * 1.165

  Of the Unsucces∣fulness of Experi∣ments.
• * 1.166

  Rem vero adeo obscuram exemplis similibus illustrabo Brassicae: aqua con∣gelata Brassicam representat, spiriti∣bus vegetalibus à frigore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 atis. Tho. Bartholinus de usu Nivis, pag. 17.
• * 1.167

  Pag. 573.
• * 1.168

  In the unpublish. ed Section of the use∣fulness of Experi∣mental Philosophy.
• * 1.169

  Of the un∣succesful∣ness of Ex∣periments.
• * 1.170

  Where a wonderfully piercing, though not sensibly violent cold, does some∣times suddenly kill men, and yet pre∣serve their Bodies untainted whole years together.