it The J^atural Hijlory 



different circumftances perhaps of time, as well as place ; and 

 that poffibly Mtrfennu* might not be fo much miftaken, when he 

 aflignedto each fyllable but 69 feet. 



23. Tonical Echo's, fuch as return but fome one particular Mu- 

 fical Note, I have met with feveral, and do not doubt but they 

 are to be met with in moft arched Buildings, though fcarce ob- 

 ferved or noted by any. Such a one is that in the Gate-houfe at 

 Brafen-nofe College, which anfwers to no Notefo clearly, as to 

 Gamut. The curious and well built Gate of Vniverfity College, 

 to none fo well as B mi. The like Note I met with again at Mer- 

 lon College, in the Vault between the old and new Quadrangles, 

 and in the large arched Vault of Queens College Gate : Whereas 

 the (lately arched Stair-cafe leading into Cbriil Church great 

 Hall, will return all the Notes through the Scale of Mufick. Thefe 

 I muft confefs are but Echo's improperly fo called, becanfe they 

 will exprefs nothing that's articulate, and therefore rather fall 

 under the notation of a Bombws ; jet their caufe being fomwhat 

 nice and fubtile, I thought not fit to pafs them by, but to take oc- 

 cafion from hence to advertife the Reader, that there are fome 

 other inanimate Bodies befide the Load-fione, that though they 

 have no fenfe, yet have a fort of perception, which I take to be 

 fufficiently proved from thefe Vaults, that feem to have a kind of 

 ele&ion to embrace what is agreeable, and exclude all that is in- 

 grate to them : thus are the very feats in Churches and Chappels 

 affe&ed with fome peculiar Notes of the Organ ; and I have a 

 friend (a Violift) whom I dare believe, that fays, his Thigh is 

 thus fenfible of a peculiar Note, as oft as he lights on it during 

 his playing. Some have imputed much of this in Buildings, to 

 the figure and accurate fcruftureofthe Arch, and that where they 

 have different fhapes and magnitudes, there will be different 

 tunings alfo: But I do not find it agreeable to experience, there 

 being another Vault in the entrance into Merton College Chappel, 

 much lefs, and of a far different figure from that other before 

 mentioned in the hmt College, which returns very near, if not 

 exaftly the fame Note : And fo do the Gates of Queens and Vni- 

 verfity Colleges, than which in height, breadth and length, there 

 are few more different, 



24. It muft therefore rather be referr'd to the pores of the 

 ftones, which are fitted to receive fome vibrations of the Air, 



rather 



