^66 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIOXS. [aNNO 1 67 5-(5. 



this age; amongst whom he names the illustrious Bacon, Descartes, TorricelH 

 Boyle, Roberval, Paschal, Huygens, and Guerick. 



Of these l6 essays, The 1st explains the diving-bell, its structure and use. 



The 2d exhibits the chief optical phaenomena of a darkened chamber. — ^The 3d 

 relates the effects of the Baroscope, or the Torricellian quicksilver tube. — The 

 4th shows some experiments of metalline weights floating, and without any 

 other support freely pendulous in water and air. — The 5 th represents some other 

 hydrostatical phaenomena, about glass-bubbles, at first floating on the surface of 

 the water, and afterwards subsiding by afFused oil, &c. — The 6th deduces some 

 consectaries from the before asserted spring and weight of the ever-gravitating 

 air. — ^The 7th contains some experiments of a glass-tube, 36 feet high, flUed 

 with water, and declares their causes from the equilibrium of the air and so 

 much water. — ^The 8th shows some phaenomena in very narrow tubes, viz. the 

 ascent of water in them above its other superficies ; with the reason of it. — The 

 Qth exhibits the eft'ects, and declares the causes of several sorts of thermo- 

 meters. — The 10th mentions a very paradoxical experiment of Franc. Lana. — 

 The nth represents, and reduces to its principles, the force of mechanical 

 powers. — The 12th discourses of an art, both of writing any thing in any 

 tongue, to be read and understood by any nation of what language soever, and 

 of reading and understanding any thing written in any tongue. — ^The 13th con- 

 tains some considerable effects and experiments of the air-pump, partly made 

 by others, partly by himself; all reduced to their proper causes. — The 14th de- 

 clares the uses and reasons of the effects of hygrometers and chronometers. — 

 The 15th explains the structure of microscopes and telescopes, proving their 

 effects by many observations. — The l6th exhibits divers pleasant spectacles of 

 a portable darkened room, and of a catoptro-dioptrical lantern, adding the 

 genuine reasons of them ; and for an appendix subjoins his new, as he esteems 

 it, perpetual almanack, comprehending not only the immoveable feasts fixed to 

 certain days of the months, but also the moveable ones, of Easter, Pentecost, 

 and the rest depending on them ; as also the motions of the sun and moon 

 through the 12 celestial signs, with the moon's menstrual increases and de- 

 creases, &c. 



Besides an appendix, of further particulars about the diving machine, the 

 weight of the air, the new pocket watches, &c. 



III. England's Improvements, in two Parts, &c. By Roger Cook, London, 

 1675, in 4to. 



In the former of these two parts, the author shows, how the kingdom of 

 England may be improved in strength, employment, trade, and wealth, by in- 

 creasing the value of lands, &c. And, in the latter part, how the navigation of 

 England may be increased. 



