MEMOIE OF BUFFOff. 23 



by means of burning mirrors, as has been recorded.* 

 Buffon commenced his researches with his usual 

 ardour and perseverance, and his experiments were 

 eminently successful. They are the most import- 

 ant which he performed, in those branches uncon- 

 nected with natural histoiy , and it is probable 

 that, had he not been appointed Intendant of the 

 Royal Garden and Cabinet, the various branches of 

 mathematics, optics, &c., would have received the 

 greatest part of his attention, and might have been 

 attended with the most splendid results. We consider 

 therefore that a short sketch of the progress of these 

 experiments may be interesting. 



Buffon commenced his researches, with the view of 

 constructing a burning mirror, which would be cap- 

 able of performing, what had been thought Archimedes 

 could not have executed j but, before commencing the 

 plan, it was necessary to perform many preliminary 

 experiments, relating to the loss of light by reflection, 

 and the best materials which could be used for the con- 



* When the fleet of Marcellus was within bow-shot, the old 

 man (Archimedes) brought out a hexagonal mirror which he had 

 made : he placed at proper distances from this mirror other smaller 

 mirrors, which were of the same kind, and which were moved by 

 means of their hinges, and certain square plates of metal. He 

 Afterwards placed his mirrors in the midst of the solar rays, pre- 

 cisely at noonday. The rays of the sun being reflected by this 

 mirror, he kindled a dreadful fire in the ships, which were reduced 

 to ashes, at a distance equal to that of a bow-shot Tzetzet, 

 Chiliad, II. 119. 



