Miscellaneous Bibliography. 231 
“Sir: Please to give the Nature, Essence, Beginning of Existeuce, and Rise of 
ind in General, with the whole Theory thereof, so as to be able to answer all 
Questions relative thereto. Yours, BENJAMIN THOMPSON. 
Dr. Ellis copies from the old memorandum book of young Thomp- 
son, which has fortunately been preserved, a number of very curious 
things; among them, “ An Account of what expence I have been at 
towards getting an Electrical Machine.” Commencing “1771, July 1, 
‘t pd. brass wyer,’ and giving item by item over ‘iron wyer,’ ‘Pewter 
to make bullets,’ ‘ Old brass,’ ‘1 Book Brass Leaf, ‘Oil bottles,’ ‘Cop- 
per Filings,’ ‘ Silver Brons,’ ‘ Shellac,’ ‘ Laquer,’ ‘ Varnishing brush,’ 
aided him in his memorable researches upon heat, in 
i the wind’s direction. During six months of the year, viz: fom 
October to March, inclusive, this diurnal change\is small, ut dur- 
ing the other six months the diurnal change 1s very great, an 
