Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note.

Apparent errors in mathematical expressions have been retained, although apparent typographical errors elsewhere in the text have been corrected. Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained.

Gesperrt font has been condensed. Small capitals have been replaced by full capitals. Brackets extending over several columns have been replaced by columns of standard brackets. Words that are stacked one over the other are rendered thus: {upper|lower}.

Italicised text is indicated by _underscores_. Where an italicised sentence or paragraph includes a word in ordimary font this is also indicated by _underscores_.

Mathematical variables are usually italicised. In order to avoid an excessive number of underscores, and where it is possible without ambiguity, complete mathematical expressions have instead been encased in underscores. These usually extend over mathematical operators (such as "+"), or Greek characters, that are not italicised.

The more complex mathematical expressions have been separated out from the surrounding text. Fifth roots and nth roots are indicated by [⁵√] and [ⁿ√] respectively.

The decimal point may be indicated by a "." or "," while illustrations are referred to as a "Plate" or a "Tab."

The Table of Discourses has been amended to include one omitted title and to correct erroneous page numbers.

_Miscellanea Curiosa._

CONTAINING A COLLECTION

Of some of the Principal

_PHÆNOMENA_

IN NATURE,

Accounted for by the Greatest Philosophers of this Age;

BEING THE

Most Valuable DISCOURSES, Read and Delivered to the ROYAL SOCIETY, for
the Advancement of Physical and Mathematical Knowledge.

As also a Collection of Curious _Travels_, _Voyages_, _Antiquities_,
and _Natural Histories_ of Countries; Presented to the same _Society_.

In Three VOLUMES.

_The Second Edition_; To which is added, A Discourse of the _Influence_
of the _Sun_ and _Moon_ on _Humane Bodies_, &c. By R. _MEAD_, M. D.
F. R. S. And also _Fontenelle's Preface_ of the _Usefulness_ of
_Mathematical Learning_.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed by _F. M._ for _R. Smith_, at the _Bible_ under the
_Piazza_ of the _Royal Exchange_ in _Cornhill_. 1708.

TO THE READER.

Some of the Principal Discoveries and Enquiries, both in _Physical_ and _Mathematical_ Learning, being register'd in the Voluminous Journals of the _Royal Society_, are amongst a multitude of less useful Matters, so Obscurely hid, that but very few inquisitive Gentlemen ever so much as heard of them.

The Design therefore of the ensuing Collection, is to digest in a convenient Method, all the most curious _Philosophical_ and _Mathematical_ Discoveries, as they are to be met with, which may any way tend to the Use of Life or Advancement of Arts and Sciences.

And on this Occasion, it will be convenient to intimate to the Reader;

_First_, That the Theories and Discourses here collected, have already past the Censure of the _Learned World_: Who have acknowleg'd them the most satisfactory Accounts of Nature's Proceedings, wherein some of her greatest Depths are fathom'd, and a Foundation laid for Posterity to build an infinite _Superstructure_.

_Secondly_, That they are related (_Verbatim_) just as they were delivered in, or read before the _Royal Society_: For it has been the Opinion of the most Judicious among those _Honourable Members_, that it is impossible so to abridge them, (which are but Abridgments themselves) as not to render them obscure and unintelligible.

A TABLE OF THE

_Discourses_ contain'd in this _Volume_.

_An Estimate of the Quantity of _Vapours_ raised out of the Sea,
as derived from Experiment: Together with an Account of the
_Circulation_ of the wat'ry Vapours of the Sea, and of the Cause of
_Springs_. Presented to the Royal Society by Mr. _E. Halley_,
F. R. S._ Pag. 1

_The True Theory of the _Tides_, extracted from that admired Treatise
of Mr. _Isaac Newton_, Intituled _Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia
Mathematica_; being a Discourse presented with that Book to the late
King _James_, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 13

_A Theory of the _Variation_ of the _Magnetical Compass_, by
Mr. _E. Halley_._ 27

_An Account of the Cause of the Change of the _Variation_ of the
_Magnetical Needle_, with an Hypothesis of the Structure of the
_Internal Parts_ of the _Earth_; as it was presented to the Royal
Society in one of their late Meetings, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 43

_An Historical Account of the _Trade-Winds_ and _Monsoons_, observable
in the Seas between and near the _Tropicks_; with an Attempt to
assign the Physical Cause of the said Winds, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 61

_A Discourse of the Rule of the Decrease of the Heighth of the
_Mercury_ in the _Barometer_, according as Places are elevated above
the Surface of the _Earth_; with an Attempt to discover the true
Reason of the rising and falling of the _Mercury_, upon Change of
Weather, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 81

_A Letter from Mr. _Isaac Newton_, while Professor of the Mathematicks
in the University of _Cambridge_; containing his new _Theory_ about
_Light_ and _Colours_: Sent from _Cambridge, Feb. 6. 1671/72._ in
order to be communicated to the Royal Society._ 97

_A farther Explanation of the same _Theory_._ 114

_A Demonstration concerning the _Motion of Light_, communicated from
_Paris_._ 118

_An Introductory Essay to the Doctrine of _Sounds_, containing some
Proposals for the Improvement of _Acousticks_; as it was presented to
the _Dublin_ Society, by the Right Reverend Father in God
_Narcissus_, Lord Bishop of _Ferns_ and _Leighlin_._ 121

_A Discourse concerning the Modern _Theory_ of _Generation_, by Dr.
_Geo. Garden_, of _Aberdeen_, being part of a Letter to Dr. _William
Musgrave_, L. L. D. _Reg. Soc. S._ and by him communicated to the
Royal Society._ 142

_A short Discourse concerning _Concoction_ Read at a Meeting of the
_Royal Society_, by _Clopton Havers_, M. D. Fellow of the Royal
Society._ 153

_A Discourse concerning some Influence of _Respiration_ on
the Motion of the _Heart_ hitherto unobserved. By _J. Drake_, M. D.
F. R. S._ 171

_Some Thoughts and Experiments concerning _Vegetation_. By _John
Woodward_, M. D. of the College of Physicians and Royal Society, and
Professor of Physick in _Gresham-College_._ 203

_An Account of the Measure of _Gold_ upon Gilt Wire; together with a
Demonstration of the exceeding Minuteness of the _Atoms_, or
constituent Parts of _Gold_; as it was read before the _Royal
Society_, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 243

_An Account of the several Species of _Infinite Quantity_, and of the
Proportions they bear one to the other; as it was read before the
_Royal Society_, by _E. Halley_._ 246

_An Account of Dr. _Robert Hook's_ Invention of the _Marine Barometer_,
with it's Description and Uses. Published by Order of the Royal
Society by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 250

_A Discourse concerning the _Proportional Heat_ of the Sun in all
_Latitudes_; with the Method of collecting the same, as it was read
before the _Royal Society_ in one of their late Meetings, by Mr. _E.
Halley_._ 256

_Concerning the Distance of the _Fixed Stars_, by the Honourable _Fran.
Roberts_, Esq; F. R. S._ 265

_Mr. _Isaac Newton's_ Theory of the _Moon_._ 268

_An estimate of the Degrees of the Mortality of _Mankind_, drawn from
Curious Tables of _Births_ and _Funerals_ at the City of _Breslaw_;
with an Attempt to ascertain the _Price of Annuities_ upon Lives, by
Mr. _E. Halley_._ 280

_A Discourse concerning _Gravity_, and its Properties, wherein the
Descent of _Heavy Bodies_, and the Motion of _Projects_ is briefly,
but fully handled: Together with the Solution of a Problem of great
Use in _Gunnery_, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 302

_A Proposition of General Use in the Art of _Gunnery_, shewing the Rule
of laying a _Mortar_ to pass, in order to strike any Object above or
below the Horizon, by Mr. _E. Halley_._ 326

_A Discourse concerning the Measure of the Air's Resistance to Bodies
moved in it. By the Learned _John Wallis_, S. T. D. and F. R. S._ 332

_An Instance of the Excellency of the Modern _Algebra_, in the
Resolution of the Problem of finding the _Foci_ of Optick Glasses
universally. By Mr. _E. Halley_, S. R. S._ 348