254 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO l/Oo. 



of the letter a) wilem rex a. (Angllae). And for the reverse I have some that 

 were coined at lvndre (London), eoper wick (York), winc (Winchester), 

 EXETE (Exeter), linf (Lincoln, I presume, Lyn-Regis not being old enough), 

 lincol (Lincoln), deotfoknd (Thetford), and loync (which I take for Loin 

 or Lancaster). 



Several Experiments on the Mercurial Phosphorus, made before the Royal Society, 

 , at Gresham-College. By Mr. Fra. Hauhsbee, F.R.S. N° 303, p. 21 29. 



Exper. L Showing that Light is producible from Mercury, by passing 

 common uiir through the body of it, after the Receiver is well exhausted. — I 

 took a glass recipient, open and ground at both ends, its content equal to about 

 30 ounces of water. The upper orifice was closed with a brass plate, by means 

 of a wet leather laid on its edge. In the middle of this plate was screwed a 

 stopcock; and at its lower orifice was inserted by cement a small glass tube, 

 reaching from thence to near the bottom of a glass, included in the receiver. 

 In this glass was put as much quicksilver as would cover the bottom of the 

 tube about a quarter of an inch. Being thus prepared, (see fig. 18, pi. 8) and 

 placed on the pump, the stopcock was turned, to hinder the air's passage that 

 way, till the receiver was sufficiently exhausted. Which being done, and the 

 stopcock returned, the air then rushed strongly through the body of the mer- 

 cury, by passing the tube, and blowing it up with violence against the sides of 

 the glass, that contained it, appearing all round like a body of fire, consisting 

 of abundance of glowing globules, but descending again into itself; the phe- 

 nomenon continuing till the receiver was half full of air. 



Exper. II. Showing that Mercury will appear as a Shower of Fire, whilst 

 descending in J^acuo, from the Top to the Bottom of a tall Receiver. — A tall 

 receiver being provided, about 21 inches high, to the upper orifice of which 

 was screwed a glass, resembling those now commonly used for cupping, having 

 an open passage through its neck; in which passage was cemented a piece of 

 small tube, drawn taper to one end by the flame of a candle, which, with the 

 cup, made an entire funnel ; the small aperture of which was stopped with a 

 round piece of stick as a plug, to prevent the mercury entering the receiver 

 before its time. Within this tall recipient was included a glass, about the 

 height of 17 inches, with a round crown like a shade. In this manner (see 

 fig. 19) being placed on the pump, and about a pound and a half of quicksilver 

 put into the funnel, the air was begun to be exhausted, and in 2 minutes it was 

 sufficient to exhibit the phenomenon. Then loosening the plug that stopped 

 the funnel, the mercury, by the pressure of the air, was driven violently into 

 the receiver, striking strongly on the crown of the included glass, which broke 



